"It's quite conflicting, isn't it? Killing in the name of justice, only to realize in the end that killing itself has nothing to do with justice." Tullius wiped the short sword in his hand as he looked at the confused young man before him. It was as if he was looking at his younger self. "Just as the Legion Commander said, there are too many unanswered questions on the battlefield."
Sakazuki paid no attention to the small commotion behind him. He surveyed the burning pirate ships around him, while the marines on the various ships were evacuating in an orderly manner.
He did not bother to preach about beliefs. After years in the military, he understood that instead of shouting hoarse slogans about the righteousness of justice, it was far more satisfying to engage in an exhilarating slaughter.
War is the continuation of politics, but whether politics is just or not, Sakazuki dared not say.
As someone who climbed from the bottom to his current high position through war achievements and severed heads, he understood clearly that war, despite its complexity as a concept, was simple for those who actually fought it—war meant killing.
The location, the cause, the mission objective. Who to kill.
From the very beginning of its formation, the Expeditionary Army was both flawed and nearly perfect.
Its flaw lay in its lack of the duties that other navy forces bore—stationing, patrolling, and protecting civilians.
But its perfection was precisely because of this "flaw." From its inception, it had only one function, a singular purpose from beginning to end—hunting.
Sakazuki was acutely aware that the Legion possessed a purity that many armies envied, bringing it closer to the true essence of a military force.
The Vice Admiral at Marine Headquarters spoke his final declaration into the transponder snail: "The Legion does not know failure—only relentless battle until death! And I, your Legion Commander, shall fight to the bitter end."
"Fight to the death!" "Fight to the death!"
The veteran soldiers roared in response. Yet, as an experienced commander, Sakazuki understood the reality of the Legion's current state. This was merely the beginning of an awakening.
"Fighting to the death" sounded grand, but how many elite soldiers could truly accomplish it?
No army dared claim from its inception that it could fight and win against all odds. An elite force capable of counterattacking in dire straits was never built overnight.
First, one had to learn how to dominate in favorable conditions.
"Legion Commander, what is our next objective?" Lindemann deactivated his Devil Fruit's invisibility and suddenly appeared beside Sakazuki.
"On the way to the North Blue, do not let a single pirate ship escape." Sakazuki looked toward the direction of the North Blue, curling the corner of his mouth as he decisively issued the annihilation order. Since this was the very purpose of the Expeditionary Army, he had no qualms about leading such a fearsome force.
His trusted subordinate seemed to have guessed Sakazuki's intention. He smiled and inquired, "Even if it means delaying the army's arrival in the North Blue?"
Sakazuki did not hesitate in the slightest and nodded. "Relentless pursuit of armed pirates will cultivate a thirst for blood. Eventually, they will become unrestrained. When that time comes, the Expeditionary Army—this well-honed machine of slaughter—will be ready for its next phase of training."
"Your will, sir." The Fox smiled, saluted, and took his leave. As he passed by the deck, Lindemann happened to run into his superior, who was organizing soldiers to clean up the battlefield.
"Vice Admiral Onigumo, do you think this training exercise will help the Expeditionary Army reach our expected goal?" Lindemann asked.
"Training?" The fearsome-looking Vice Admiral unexpectedly shook his head. "Lindemann, have you not realized yet?"
The Fox's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he immediately deflected the question. "Realized what?"
Onigumo turned his gaze to Sakazuki's towering figure. "I have never seen a training exercise like this before. But I have seen something similar."
Lindemann, playing along, asked, "Oh? Something similar?"
"Did you know? In my hometown, wild wolves often roam the wilderness." Onigumo squinted his eyes, as if reminiscing about his childhood.
He lit a cigarette, taking a deep inhale. "One of my deepest childhood memories was when I stayed overnight at a shepherd friend's house. That night, the wolves came. The white alpha wolf led the pack and raided the entire sheep pen."
Onigumo stared at Sakazuki's back. "And today, I see it again."
"The wolves have arrived, huh?" Lindemann shrugged with deep understanding.
"What a pity," Onigumo sighed as he looked at Lindemann.
The transparent man was genuinely confused this time. "What do you mean?"
Onigumo turned to leave for the vanguard ship. "Pity that a fox appeared among the wolves."
"Hah?!" The Fox was momentarily stunned, then stomped his foot in anger. "I'm super fierce!"
The North Blue, where the roaring waves crashed endlessly, yet dozens of giant snails remained unmoving, steadfast against the violent sea. This marked the third year since Vinsmoke Judge had established his formidable army of evil. In 1501, after Vegapunk, who had been researching life factors alongside him, was taken away by the Navy, Judge had managed to escape back to his homeland.
The Germa Kingdom, utilizing the lineage factor theory, conducted data-driven research under the leadership of the exceptional scientist Judge. His team developed cloning and modification technology, using the lineage factors of Germa's elite soldiers to create clones that could be mass-produced in five-year cycles.
The first batch of clone soldiers exhibited remarkable traits—fearlessness in battle and absolute obedience. Using them as his backbone, Judge rapidly formed a massive army. He was determined to achieve what generations of Vinsmoke kings had long dreamed of—unifying the North Blue.
"A Navy fleet?" Judge lifted his head from his throne, frowning slightly. He immediately sensed something unusual. Normally, the Navy branch stationed in the North Blue was frequently occupied with the region's powerful pirate crews. However, it was rare for them to mobilize an entire fleet.
The King of Germa paced anxiously. He wore a golden war helmet, and his long golden hair draped over his waist as he stood. He was tall—so tall that he even towered over the genetically enhanced elite clone soldiers.
"You're saying that the Navy's grand fleet mentioned in the reports is the one frequently appearing in the newspapers recently? Are you certain of this information?" Judge questioned.
"Yes, Your Majesty! The Operations Department compared the photographs with the images from the newspapers. Everything matches perfectly, from the fleet's composition to its sheer size," the clone soldier promptly replied.
"Damn it, what is the Burning Legion doing in the North Blue?" Judge muttered, rubbing the sharp black mustache at the bridge of his nose and anxiously stroking the small beard on his chin.
The situation was critical. The latest batch of Germa 66 clone soldiers was nearing full maturity. Even though the Germa Kingdom was a member of the World Government, it did not fear an expeditionary force arriving from the Grand Line. With the immense military strength bolstered by advanced technology, Judge was confident in winning against an ordinary naval fleet.
However, military strength itself was not the issue—the true concern lay in the fleet's commander.
What truly unsettled Vinsmoke Judge, the King of Germa and head of the Vinsmoke family, was the man who had just arrived in the North Blue leading this powerful fleet—Sakazuki.
Years ago, when Vegapunk was captured, Judge had managed to escape with the research data on lineage factors. Now, the massive fleet advancing from the Grand Line likely had a clear objective—those very research secrets.
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