https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-636-You-Starve-Above-I-Feast-Below/13464599/
Chapter 635: Heretics Are More Despicable Than Infidels
Chapter 635: Heretics Are More Despicable Than Infidels
Sengoku and Falcon exchanged a glance, the atmosphere becoming heavy.
They remained silent, and the other Marines on the warship dared not speak, only watching the man in the elevator who was just as reckless and brazen as his wanted poster depicted.
“Gulp—”
A Marine struggled to swallow, his hand trembling slightly as he gripped his musket.
He was a colonel who had participated in the War of the Best and was an elite in the first half of the Grand Line, often chasing after Pirates with bounties in the tens of millions. Yet, the moment he saw Sagel, he felt his own insignificance, even more so than during the War of the Best.
If I had to fight this guy...
Falcon keenly sensed the wavering of her subordinates, glanced back, and said:
“It’s normal for there to be differences in strength. What’s important is having an unwavering heart of justice. Some can kill people, but they can’t kill justice.”
Her words seemed to have a magical effect, and the trembling Marines immediately relaxed, gripping their weapons more firmly, their gazes sharp once more as they looked at Sagel.
“Alright, he wouldn’t do something so despicable.”
Sengoku stepped into the elevator and said to Sagel, “But aren’t you afraid? If we were to confront you at Marineford, once you disappear, you’d be a significant threat less.”
Falcon also entered and said, “You, who fear neither life nor death, would you really be willing to let your territory fall into ruin?”
No matter how well Sagel had developed his territory, no matter how prosperous it was, in their eyes, it was nothing more than a larger version of Doflamingo’s.
Wasn’t Doflamingo’s territory once thriving?
Similarly, it was the largest smuggling center.
What Sagel was doing now, in their eyes, was an expanded version of Doflamingo’s, but with more effort invested.
Once a person has something to hold onto, they naturally don’t want to die easily.
At a place like Marineford, once you go up, it’s hard to come down, and for a Pirate, that’s extremely dangerous.
“If I can exchange my life for the world’s destruction, it would be worth it!”
Sagel grinned evilly, “Maybe the higher-ups don’t care, but do you?”
This made Sengoku fall silent.
In a power structure centered around an individual, the disappearance of that person would solve most problems.
For example, Kaido or Rozairogy, and of course, Sagel.
But Sengoku knew better. He possessed an ancient weapon.
As the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, a true member of the highest echelon, he knew many secrets, including those about ancient weapons.
He even knew that the royal tomb beneath Alabasta hid an ancient weapon.
He had been particularly concerned about Sagel’s acquisition of the Poneglyph, and sure enough, now he had it.
And Sagel was right. He knew the thoughts of the Five Elders well after dealing with them for so long.
If they truly made up their minds, to ensure their rule, they would do such a thing.
The cost would be great, and the probability low, but it wasn’t impossible.
“You can’t make the world sink.”
Sengoku shook his head, “I know about Aghored. You only took half the energy; the other half is in our hands. Its power isn’t enough to destroy the world, but it could destroy half of the sea.”
He paused, “The life of the sea shouldn’t be sacrificed for any reckless act. It’s against righteousness. If necessary...”
The unspoken words were clear to the three of them.
Sagel looked at Sengoku in surprise and laughed, “No wonder you’re known for your wisdom and spirit, able to endure working with the enemy. I say, since you’re retired, why not join me?”
“I have no particular animosity towards Pirates, but different positions mean different ways of handling things.”
Sengoku said, “In the end, Sagel, the World Government is the ruler.”
Sagel shrugged and didn’t press the matter.
A person who understands the truth and has the resolve to stick to their choice is the hardest to sway.
Unlike some who talk about the justice and evil of Marines and Pirates, seeming steadfast, but changing their stance at the first setback.
“I heard you want to release Fujitora?”
Falcon sighed, “I didn’t expect a Marine Admiral to be remembered by a Pirate.”
“Who said you can’t use people?”
Sagel grinned, “If you can’t use him, maybe I can.”
Falcon shook her head, saying nothing.
The World Government has hidden countless dark secrets over its eight hundred years.
The establishment of the Marines was not initially about upholding justice. At its core, it was an outer organization of the World Government. Over time, as more and more 'civilians' like them joined, it evolved into what it is today.
If Rozairogy hadn't triggered the Great Age of Navigation, if Garp hadn't climbed Red Land to free the slaves, if the Celestial Dragons hadn't committed so many atrocities, then perhaps things would be different.
"I'm getting old too", Falcon sighed.
"There are no 'ifs' in this world. We must face the reality that lies ahead. If Fujitora joins you, then he must also accept the truth. Even Aokiji became a Pirate, so someone who has only been a Marine for a couple of years can certainly do the same."
The sea is undergoing dramatic changes, and these changes are affecting the Marines as well. The justice they strive to uphold may not last many more years.
Thinking about this, Falcon gave Sagel a deep look.
Young, energetic, and at the age of twenty-four, Sagel has already been recognized by the Pirates as the strongest in the world, surpassing the titles of the world's strongest man and the world's strongest single combatant.
He commands countless powerful subordinates, and he is at the peak of his power.
No one knows what the future holds, but one thing is certain: in thirty years, when they are gone, Sagel will be in his fifties, still at the peak of his power.
At that time, who knows if anyone will be able to match him.
Since the establishment of the Marines, neither the old generation nor the new has matched the current state of affairs, or rather, the era of the Three Admirals. That was indeed the Marines' golden age.
The new generation of Marines has yet to produce anyone truly outstanding, especially compared to the one standing before them.
Falcon said, "Compared to the chaos created by ambitious schemers and rebels, your territory is orderly. If possible, could you try to kill a little less? Even the Revolutionary Army doesn't cause as much chaos as you. If you want to negotiate successfully with us, this is something you could do."
"Hahahaha, my profession is that of a Pirate. The Marines' duty is to capture Pirates and protect the seas, while a Pirate's duty is to kill and plunder. I take my job very seriously."
As for business, that's the domain of the landowners, and it's a different path from that of a Pirate.
"Also, you don't have the final say. Whether or not it succeeds has little to do with you."
Sagel laughed, "If it were up to you, you wouldn't be the ones here to receive me. That's the difference between being a Pirate and a Marine, hahaha!"
To put it simply, killing and arson can be pardoned, or more civilly, it's about living with strategic value.
"This is indeed a curious point", Falcon nodded, not minding whether Sagel was mocking them. He continued, "Logically, you should be more detestable than the Revolutionary Army, yet the attention they receive is greater than yours. The sea is truly mysterious."
Sengoku had the same expression.
Even someone as wise as he could not fully understand this.
The Revolutionary Army doesn't kill kings; they just overthrow them and replace them with new rulers.
For example, in the Solbe Kingdom, after the revolution, the former king was deposed, and the new king was Kuma.
Later, they reclaimed the kingdom, and Kuma was called a 'tyrant.'
But they were very clear about what was happening.
This was the strategy of the Revolutionary Army, and they had already been deemed a major threat. However, what Sagel does is even more extreme. He kills the kings outright.
The strange part is that while the Revolutionary Army is a threat, Sagel is not just a threat; he is eroding the very foundations of rule, causing panic.
The distinction between allied and non-allied nations isn't just about paying tribute; it also involves the relationships between nations. But regardless, they are still kingdoms, and the kings are still kings.
Sagel's actions involve destroying all of that, leaving only himself in power.
This kind of panic is unprecedented worldwide.
Yet, the attitude of the higher-ups toward him as a Pirate is not as urgent as their response to the Revolutionary Army.
"Heresy is more detestable than heretics. Don't you understand this?"
Sagel looked out at the unchanging Red Land cliffs outside the elevator and said, "I have caused panic among the allied nations, but precisely because of me, your usefulness is greater. Hasn't your budget increased recently? My intelligence tells me that after the War of the Best, your budget was cut for a while."
"But since I became one of the Four Emperors, the budget has returned, and it's even more than before. Your surveillance ships are everywhere in the Totto Land front, and I know some new branches are being built. Could it be because you have too much money to spend? Who else could you be guarding against if not me?"
"But the Revolutionary Army—"
He glanced at the large crates inside the massive elevator, opened one of them, and revealed the food inside.
"The Revolutionary Army doesn't target you, nor does it target the pirates, or even the World Government. What they oppose is the Celestial Dragons. Overthrowing the affiliate nations and refusing to pay the Celestial Gold, in other words, they aim to replace the shell of the World Government with a new regime. That's a life-or-death struggle."
Sagel sneered as he looked into the rock wall, "See what they're doing now? Cutting off the food supply to those scum, disrupting their routes. Haven't things been quieter for you lately?"
"Unfortunately, they lack the courage for the final step. I say, since the masks are off, why not just rush in and kill all the Celestial Dragons? Without those guys, the few old men left would be powerless. They'd still need you, and with time, you might even become one of the Five Elders."
"Damn you! We're not cowards!"
A high-pitched voice echoed from within the rock wall. A round-faced, bearded Giant with a sticky voice burst through the wall, revealing his massive head, and shouted, "We're not like you. We have principles and won't engage in indiscriminate killing!"
As the rock wall crumbled, a group of crows flew out and transformed into a man wearing a long-beaked mask.
Mori, the commander of the Western Army, and Crow, the commander of the Northern Army.
Both were rare powerhouses, capable of fighting on par with the likes of Fujitora and Green Bull.
"Sagel."
Crow said gravely, "I didn't expect you to come here. Even someone like you has to bow to the World Government?"
"Trying to provoke me? Do you plan to act here?"
Sagel looked up at Crow, who was flying in the air, and sneered, "I don't care what you do normally, but while I'm here, if you cut the ropes above and make me lose face, some people won't have any face left either."
He didn't care what the Revolutionary Army did, but letting him fall right in front of his eyes would be no different from slapping him in the face.
Tee could ambush the former headquarters, Bardugo, and he could destroy Camelot.
"You bastard!"
Mori, holding a steel trident, was about to lunge forward.
"Stop, Mori!"
Crow shouted, stopping Mori's movement, "I'll explain to Dragon myself, but this time, we can't act!"
"We've been cut off from food for days, and now, at this moment, I can't take it anymore!"
Mori whined and retreated back into the cave, while Crow transformed back into coal dust and reformed at the cave entrance.
"Revolutionary Army, indeed. You're hiding deep."
Sengoku glanced at Crow and said, "What you're doing will only make people angrier. What is Dragon really up to?"
"It's always been for the revolution, never changing."
Crow met Sengoku's gaze without fear, "We aren't enemies with the Navy, even if our ideals differ. We can cooperate. Dragon just can't find his place in the Navy, but against evil, we should stand together. Once we defeat the Celestial Dragons and win the war, we'll make the world more peaceful."
With that, he transformed back into coal dust and scattered into the cave, and the rock wall was pushed back into place, restoring Red Land to its original state.
"From Garp's lineage."
Sengoku rubbed his forehead in frustration, "The D Family, are they really that trouble-prone? Dragon should have been a good Navy officer."
"Not necessarily."
Hawk said coolly, "Our biggest pirate isn't from the D Family. Are you hiding something?"
"Didn't you investigate thoroughly?"
Sagel sneered, "Robin is my cousin, my original surname is Nico, from a civilian family in Ohara. If blood really decided everything, Giants would be the royal family of this world. You might as well join Elbaf."
By now, he was certain that humans were not the true masters of the sea. The true masters were the Giants, and even the current structures were designed for Giants, not humans.
Talking about bloodlines?
Perhaps long ago, humans were the slaves of the Giants.
"We've arrived."
The elevator stopped, and Sagel looked at the seemingly endless steps ahead, a smile playing on his lips, "Last time, I killed a Celestial Dragon to get up here. This time, it's to destroy the world. Indeed, storming Marineford is easier than paying tribute to a king."
(End of Chapter)
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