One Piece: Burning the Sun God to Ash

When Sakazuki and Enel arrived at the Marine base, the full moon had already risen into the sky—it was deep into the night.

Enel had recovered by now. Looking at the halted Sakazuki, he asked:

"Not going in?"

Sakazuki replied:

"We are, but not from here."

With that, he grabbed Enel's shoulder and stepped forward.

Their figures vanished in an instant, and the two entered the base from a concealed corner.

Standing atop the tallest and largest building in the branch,

Sakazuki looked at Enel.

"Use your Observation Haki to sense everything here."

Enel nodded.

...

Inside the hall on the middle floor of the building—

Even at this late hour, the Marine base was bustling.

A group of soldiers were carrying crates.

One after another, the crates nearly filled half the hall.

Many of them were still dripping with blood, but the soldiers here seemed accustomed to it.

Once the moving was done, all the soldiers, except for two on lookout at the gate, gathered in the hall.

Branch Commander Demora let out a wicked smile:

"Begin the report."

"Yes!"

The clerk beside him picked up his notes:

"This week's protection money collected: 3.17 million Belly."

"Pillaged treasure and gold from various pirate crews: totaling 43.24 million Belly."

"Captured slaves and pirates sold to human traffickers: profit of 10.32 million Belly."

"Report complete."

Branch Commander Demora looked down at the soldiers and said:

"Same old rules—Ross, distribute the protection money to everyone!"

"Yeah!!!"

The soldiers cheered. Though the money was ill-gotten, in this kind of environment, everyone had become accomplices.

How much can a Marine earn through justice?

The amount Demora handed out in one week was equivalent to two months' salary.

Demora's eyes narrowed slightly, gazing at the group of thoroughly indoctrinated soldiers:

"Alright, alright, keep it down."

"Ross, finish distributing the protection money, then send the rest of the wealth to my quarters."

"I need to divide it up carefully."

"To grease some palms up and down."

His voice wasn't loud, but just enough for every Marine in the hall to hear.

Demora then turned and walked out, no one noticing the faint smirk curling on his lips.

These idiots... hahahahahahaha...

Little did the smug Demora know, two people with incredibly powerful Observation Haki were standing on the rooftop, witnessing everything.

Once Demora had walked off into the distance, Enel spat out two harsh words:

"Parasites! Scum!!"

Sakazuki's calm voice sounded:

"Demora. Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters."

"Assigned to the Sabaody Archipelago branch three years ago."

"Since taking office, he purged all criminal activity within the Navy's jurisdiction and nearby regions."

"Greedy and cunning, with no bottom line."

"Now, think from the perspective of those in power—"

"How would you handle him?"

Enel fell silent for a moment, then said with difficulty:

"Turn a blind eye..."

Sakazuki replied:

"Exactly."

"Let him be."

"Sabaody Archipelago is the gateway to the New World—"

"full of chaos."

"Powerful pirates and bounty hunters are everywhere."

"In just three years, Demora cleansed the entire Marine region and its surroundings."

"Regardless of his character, his ability is undeniable."

"Nearly all of the higher-ups know about what he's done."

"In fact, people like him—among the hundreds of branch commanders—"

"are far from rare."

"And there's nothing they can do about them."

"Do you know why?"

Enel thought for a moment:

"Because our main enemy is pirates."

Sakazuki nodded:

"Correct."

"Pirates are the true threat."

"I'll tell you this—"

"If we punished everyone guilty, at least half of all Marine branches would collapse."

"They may be morally bankrupt, but they know how to win loyalty."

"Some subordinates are clean, but not many."

"In recent years, we've taken in many children devastated by pirates and begun training them."

"But they haven't grown up yet."

"If we remove these people and temporarily promote a new batch—"

"that would expose the Navy's weakness."

Enel looked puzzled:

"Weakness?"

Sakazuki nodded:

"Weakness."

"The Skegli naval battle may have seemed like a victory—"

"but that was just a surface illusion."

"Admiral Sengoku is missing. Admiral Zephyr has retired."

"Over twenty thousand elite soldiers of the Headquarters were killed."

"Right now, the only ones propping up the image of the Navy Headquarters—"

"are Kong, Vice Admiral Garp, and me."

"Some veteran Vice Admirals remain, but they're old."

"The Headquarters is at its weakest—no fresh blood."

"And these skilled, capable branch commanders are the Navy's mask."

"They help the world believe the Navy is still strong."

"That the Navy still protects peace on the seas."

"But that mask won't last long."

"Ambitious pirates, given enough time, will figure it out."

"They'll test the waters."

"If Admiral Sengoku is never found—"

"the balance of power between Marines and pirates will crumble."

"If another Skegli naval battle happens, the Navy will definitely lose."

Enel let out a sigh:

"I understand now."

Sakazuki spoke:

"No need to be so pessimistic."

"It's just not time yet."

Enel looked up:

"How long until it is time?"

Sakazuki gazed into the distance:

"How long... huh..."

"Until you all grow strong..."

"You, Bullet, Borsalino, Gion, Doberman, Dalmatian, Strawberry..."

He murmured a long list of names...

Then fell silent for a long while.

Coming back to his senses, Sakazuki said:

"Come on, let's go back."

"It's too late."

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to see those so-called 'adventurer' pirates."

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