Konoha Yellow Monkey: The salary is in place, and Wukage is useless!

Chapter 499 The World Government's Backstab

After meeting with his teacher Zephyr, Aokiji, who was ready to give up, originally intended to leave the island directly.

However, remembering the plan he had discussed with Kizaru before parting ways, he decided to report the situation here to Kizaru before leaving.

Kizaru, who was also searching for a suitable island in the New World, calmly told Aokiji after receiving his call, "Stay on the island, and I'm confident I can get Zephyr to join us."

Kizaru's composure and confidence stemmed from a piece of information he recalled: in the original story, after the Marineford War, the World Government, in order to fill the gaps in the Seven Warlords of the Sea, chose to appoint the pirate who attacked Zephyr as the new Seven Warlord.

According to the intelligence Kizaru received from Hashirama, the World Government is indeed looking for new pirates to fill the vacancies of the Seven Warlords and has requested the Navy's cooperation, which has angered Akainu.

Having obtained these two pieces of information, Kizaru wouldn't dare say he was 100% certain he could get Zephyr to side with Aokiji and form a new Marine, but he was about 70-80% confident.

Therefore, on the afternoon of the same day that he received Aokiji's call, Kizaru arrived at the island where Aokiji was located, and the two secretly met in a hotel room.

In the small room, which was only a dozen square meters, Kizaru sat on the only wooden chair, while Aokiji could only sit at the foot of the bed.

After settling in, Kizaru asked first, "Is Zephyr still here?"

Aokiji nodded. "Their ships are still under repair; it should take another day."

“Very good! Now, you don’t need to ask about the origin of the information I’m about to tell you. You just need to think about how to use it to persuade Zephyr.” Kizaru’s expression revealed a hint of seriousness. Under Aokiji’s curious gaze, he continued, “According to the information I have, the World Government is recruiting new pirates to become Shichibukai in order to fill the vacancies in the Shichibukai.”

Upon hearing this, Aokiji was somewhat disappointed. He knew, of course, that Zephyr hated pirates and opposed the Shichibukai system, but if it was just information about the World Government recruiting new Shichibukai, it wouldn't be enough to persuade Zephyr.

Kizaru, who had deliberately kept Aokiji in suspense, saw through his thoughts at a glance. He smiled slightly and revealed the even more shocking news in the second half: "According to reliable sources I have, the pirates invited by the World Government this time are the same pirates who attacked Zephyr's training ship."

Upon hearing Kizaru's words, Aokiji's previously calm expression changed, not out of surprise, but with a hint of suppressed anger.

How callous is the World Government? Or rather, what does the Navy really mean to the World Government? What does an admiral who dedicated his life to the Navy, even to the tragic deaths of his wife, children, and disciples, mean to them?

Even just hearing this news, Aokiji could see how disheartening this decision by the World Government would be for the Marines. If he could foresee this, how could the officials of the World Government not know? How could the Five Elders not know?

No, they know perfectly well! They just don't care!

Thinking about all this, Aokiji suddenly felt a little sorry for Akainu, who had overcome himself and stayed in the Navy to become Fleet Admiral. As Fleet Admiral, how could he quell the resentment and anger of his subordinates, and how could he face Zephyr's disappointment and anger?

Aokiji looked at Kizaru, seemingly having made a decision in his heart. He earnestly requested, "I hope you can go with me to see Professor Zephyr. Also, I would like Professor Zephyr to go to the Land of Light for treatment."

Aokiji's request indicates that he is not only planning to use Zephyr's reputation as part of his plan to achieve his goals, but also wants to invite Zephyr to participate in the entire implementation of the plan and make him a true comrade.

Kizaru looked intently at Aokiji and calmly asked, "Have you thought it through?"

"Teacher Zephyr is not only an excellent naval officer, but also one of the very few true heroes who pursue justice on this sea. He is qualified to join us, and his joining will shape the mind and soul of the new navy," Aokiji said solemnly.

"Okay, I believe you!" Kizaru agreed.

Aokiji didn't react much, just calmly looked at Kizaru, his usually placid eyes seeming to have gained a bit of brilliance.

The next morning, in the same tavern as yesterday, Aokiji, accompanied by Kizaru who had temporarily gone invisible, reappeared at the tavern entrance.

Inside the tavern, Zephyr was still sitting at the bar, a third of a bottle of sherry in his hand. Having already noticed the person behind him, he calmly released the bottle and said, "What? Is there anything else you need my guidance on, Kuzan?"

Aokiji pushed open the door and walked in, sitting down in front of Zephyr. He looked at his teacher, who looked somewhat aged, and closed his slightly open mouth again, reluctant to tell Zephyr the news.

"Just say what you need to say! I've lived long enough and experienced everything I need to experience." Zephyr appeared rather nonchalant, noticing Aokiji's hesitation.

Aokiji glanced at the tavern owner who was heading towards the kitchen, then looked back at Zephyr and said calmly, "The World Government is recruiting new pirates to fill the vacancies of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

"Hmph!" Zephyr snorted angrily, but did not lose his composure. He had long been disappointed, or rather, numb to, the World Government's actions in this regard. "Those guys will pay the price for their mistakes sooner or later."

Looking at Zephyr, Aokiji sighed inwardly and continued, "According to the intelligence I have, one of the pirates recruited by the World Government this time is the same pirate who attacked you, Zephyr-sensei."

Zephyr's initially disdainful expression froze instantly. He gripped the mechanical arm holding the bottle tightly with his right hand and crushed the bottle, a surge of betrayal and rage erupting from his heart.

There was a loud bang!

Zefa's robotic arm embedded itself in the counter. He stood up excitedly, his heart filled with the flames of hatred, the anger of suffering, and the sorrow and confusion brought about by the shattering of decades of life's beliefs.

Zephyr closed his mouth again, no longer asking any more foolish questions. He believed that Aokiji would not lie to him about such an important matter.

Looking at his teacher, who had become even older at this moment, Aokiji felt a mixture of sympathy and concern, but even more so, anger towards the World Government.

Such a government, full of oppression and injustice, and betraying meritorious service, should be completely overthrown and eliminated.

Instead of comforting Zephyr, Aokiji extended an invitation directly to him.

“Teacher Zephyr, I came to see you yesterday, intending to invite you to join my plan, but your performance yesterday made me feel that for you, in the remaining days, leading your disciples to hunt pirates and avenge those disciples who died in the past might be a better destiny. So I chose to leave.”

As Aokiji calmly recounted his story, Zephyr gradually regained control of his anger and composure. He sat back down, wanting to see what his disciple had to say to him.

"But last night, I received this intelligence from within the World Government, so I changed my mind. I told you the intelligence not only to let you see the darkness and depravity represented by the World Government and even the Navy, but also not to turn you into a machine of revenge under the catalysis of hatred and anger."

I've come to you because I want you to join my plan, a plan that can truly change this ocean!

Under Zephyr's gaze, even the lazy Aokiji spoke with a touch of passion: "I want to build a new navy, a pure navy that truly belongs to justice!"

Upon hearing this, Zefa's eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, widened involuntarily. His first reaction upon hearing about this opportunity was that his disciple was dreaming.

"You want to build a new navy to replace the current one and maintain order and justice on the seas?" Zephyr appreciated his disciple's idea, but didn't think he could do it. "Do you know how much it takes to maintain a navy? It can't be done with just enthusiasm!"

Faced with this question, the old Aokiji might have mentioned Kizaru, who was hiding nearby, and directly stated that he had reached an agreement with the Land of Light and received material support from the Land of Light.

But now, with a more mature mindset, Aokiji began teaching his teacher, "Teacher Zephyr, the question you raised is the same one that I and other Marines were misled by in the past. We always believed that the World Government provided the resources that supported the existence and operation of the Marines, and that the Marines could not exist without the World Government. So, for the sake of the Marines' existence, even if we knew that the orders issued by the World Government were wrong and unjust, we had to deceive ourselves and choose to carry them out for the sake of the greater good."

But clearly, this line of thinking is wrong. We have not seen the truth and essence of how this world works. We have misunderstood what truly sustains us. They are not the lofty world government, but countless hardworking civilians. It is the output of their labor that sustains the entire navy's consumption.

Therefore, what we need to protect is never the world government, nor the kings and nobles of the member states, but the countless working people.

Zephyr listened to Aokiji's speech, feeling inspired, enlightened, and somewhat surprised. During a brief pause in Aokiji's speech, he asked with a hint of hesitation, "Kuzan, have you joined the Revolutionary Army?"

Aokiji shook his head, took a deep breath, and said with a solemn tone, "I did not join the Revolutionary Army, and the Revolutionary Army members were unaware of this either. All they pursued was simply to overthrow the World Government. What truly inspired me and showed me the way forward was the Land of Light, and that man named Kizaru."

Kizaru? If Zephyr had heard this name before, the first thing that would have come to mind would have been his troublesome disciple, Admiral Kizaru Borsalino.

But after the Marineford War, Kizaru no longer represents Admiral Kizaru, but the Kizaru who rose to power on the seas in a single day and is now universally recognized as the strongest being, the ruler of the Land of Light.

At this moment, upon hearing that Aokiji and Kizaru had made contact with the Land of Light and were preparing to form a new Marine, Zephyr's mind began to race.

On one hand, he agrees with the ideas preached by Aokiji, but on the other hand, his past background makes him naturally distrustful of Kizaru and the Land of Light.

"Was that information also given to you by Kizaru?" Zephyr asked.

Aokiji didn't answer this time, because Kizaru appeared beside him, smiling under Zephyr's gaze, and said, "I told Aokiji the information. If you doubt its authenticity, you can return to the Navy to verify it." (End of Chapter)