PFC Chapter 493 The New Navy
Chapter 493 The New Navy
Was Kozuki Oden really an idiot?
When this doubt arose in Yamato's mind, she was startled and quickly shook her head, as if trying to shake all the filth out of her head.
"You're all in cahoots!" Yamato looked at Kizaru and the other two, and simply covered his ears.
Seeing this, Kizaru's smile widened. Knowing the principle of moderation, he stopped lecturing Yamato and instead looked at Aokiji and Crocodile.
Recently, under Robin's guidance, the two of them have been visiting the Land of Light and have gained a lot from their trip.
The Land of Light's technological level is not far ahead of the One Piece world, and in some cutting-edge fields, it may even be lagging behind.
However, in the Land of Light, the implementation of technological theories far surpasses that in the world of One Piece.
In this long-peaceful, democratic, and commercially developed capital city, any technological achievement can immediately enter the sights of the government and enterprises.
With the help of power and capital, and with Tobirama's conscious support and promotion, all kinds of advanced technological achievements can enter factories and people's lives as soon as they pass the evaluation and review.
Such a fast-paced efficiency has brought about rapid changes in people's lives. A constant stream of technological products is constantly impacting people's perceptions and changing their lives.
From the birth of the first car to mass production today, the Land of Light only took three years.
From the appearance of the first radio to the numerous radio stations that are now available, the Land of Light took less than five years.
From the first hybrid improved wheat seed to the seeds that now yield thousands or even two thousand kilograms per mu, the Land of Light has taken less than ten years.
Even today, television sets have been created in national industrial research institutes, but the supporting transmission technology is not yet perfect and cannot meet the requirements for marketization.
The implementation of these livelihood benefits has made the Land of Light seem like a paradise on earth and a heavenly kingdom to Aokiji, Crocodile, and other natives of the pirate world who have entered the Land of Light.
After living there for three days, Aokiji concluded that only Kizaru and the Land of Light could change the chaos on the sea and bring a glimmer of hope to the people.
Even Crocodile, an ambitious man who was more concerned with his own interests, acknowledged in his heart, after witnessing the development and power of the Land of Light, that the future of the seas belonged to the Land of Light, and that the current trend of piracy would end in the hands of the Land of Light.
Crocodile made this judgment not only because of the strength of the Land of Light, but also because he understood the root cause of the continuous emergence of pirates on the sea: the oppression of the World Government and its member countries.
Apart from a few ambitious individuals, most pirates are those who, unable to make a living due to oppression from the World Government and the kingdoms of their member states, take the risk of going to sea and becoming pirates.
If one could live in a wealthy, peaceful country without oppression, and if one had a fulfilling life and enough income to support a family with dignity, how many people would be willing to become a pirate?
It is precisely because he understands this issue that Aokiji is able to decisively judge that the Land of Light is the hope of the sea, while Crocodile understands that pirates will become a declining group.
Even before, when Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, left the Land of Light, he gradually distanced himself from those industries that seriously violated the laws and mainstream morality of the Land of Light. This was because he saw clearly the future direction of the sea and wanted to leave a place for himself and his family on the great ship of hope that is the Land of Light.
Kizaru looked at Aokiji and Crocodile, and without bothering to ask about their feelings, he said directly, full of confidence in the country he had built with his own hands: "I think you have made your own choice."
Aokiji nodded slightly, and Crocodile, without any restraint, nodded directly.
Yamato, sandwiched between the three, slowly lowered his hands from his ears as Kizaru shifted the topic away from him, listening with some curiosity to the conversation between Kizaru and Aokiji.
"After leaving the Land of Light, Crocodile, you and Robin will begin assembling our archaeological team. I will provide you with sufficient manpower, and I have no strict requirements for you. You will have ample time and energy to explore the hidden history." Kizaru didn't care that Yamato was present; in fact, some of his words were deliberately spoken in front of Yamato.
Crocodile exhaled a large puff of smoke, then took the cigar from his mouth and said, "Exploring history doesn't require too many people; too many people will only attract the attention of the World Government."
"Don't worry, I've given you the cream of the crop," Kizaru replied.
After saying that, he looked at Aokiji again and continued, "As for you, Kuzan. Have you thought about your future?"
Faced with Kizaru's question, Aokiji fell silent. He felt that he could do many things with his abilities, but he couldn't think of anything he should do.
Learning from the young people of the Land of Light, and going to serve as governing officials on islands in the East Blue? Aokiji felt that this was not something he was good at.
Joining the army of the Land of Light and going to the front lines in the East Blue to prepare for the war to come? This seemed like a way to utilize his abilities, but Aokiji felt that something was still missing.
He wanted to make a greater contribution to the construction of the Land of Light, and help the Land of Light end the chaos in the sea more quickly.
Seeing that Aokiji was silent, Kizaru took the initiative to suggest, "Why don't you return to the Marines?"
"The Navy?" Aokiji looked at Kizaru with some surprise.
“Yes, Navy!” Kizaru answered affirmatively.
Aokiji looked into Kizaru's eyes and seemed to understand something from his gaze.
"You want me to help the Land of Light win over the Navy?"
Kizaru nodded. "The reason why the Land of Light is currently stuck in the East Blue is because we don't have enough manpower to maintain order across the entire sea. If we can get the Navy to join us, even just a portion of them, it will greatly alleviate the manpower shortage problem."
Aokiji listened silently without saying a word.
Kizaru continued, "I know this might be a bit difficult for you, so this is just a suggestion, not an order. I hope you can think about it carefully. If you return to the Navy, with your previous reputation and connections, you can garner a lot of support from the Navy. At the same time, you can also help us identify which forces within the Navy are worth winning over and which can be abandoned."
“I need some time,” Aokiji replied very seriously.
Kizaru smiled and nodded. "You have plenty of time. Also, besides the Navy, I have another suggestion: becoming a pirate, or rather, forming a new force independent of the Navy and pirates, is also a good option."
At this point, Kizaru paused, and under the interested gazes of Aokiji, Crocodile, and Yamato, slowly said, "For example, the new Marines!"
"A new navy?" Aokiji murmured in surprise.
Not only Aokiji, but Crocodile and Yamato, who were standing nearby, also showed surprise and astonishment. They were clearly surprised by Kizaru's suggestion.
"Yes, the new Navy! An admiral who left the Navy, an admiral who does not agree with the new Fleet Admiral, still does not forget the justice in his heart, and has decided to build a Navy on the high seas to practice the justice in his heart!" Kizaru described to Aokiji with a somewhat excited tone.
"As a former Fleet Admiral, you have formed a new Navy to fight pirates and uphold justice. I think Akainu, the Navy, and the World Government behind them will not interfere with the organization, and may even be happy to see your actions and secretly support you."
"But what's the point?" Aokiji asked, somewhat confused.
"The existence of the new Navy is its greatest significance. You can recruit righteous heroes on the high seas to cultivate potential manpower for the Land of Light. You can also select those pirates who are worth educating and transform them into the warriors we need. More importantly, the existence of the new Navy will become a stepping stone and a path for future Navy soldiers to defect."
For many soldiers, surrendering directly is something they may find psychologically unacceptable.
However, if one does not agree with the existing navy's ideology and style, does not agree with the world government's rule, and chooses to join the new navy established by you, a former admiral, then psychologically, one might be able to accept it more easily.
The new navy happened to have good relations with us and the Land of Light, thus forming a cooperative alliance to resist the World Government. Ultimately, everyone achieved victory, becoming a new united front and eventually merging into one entity – a perfectly logical outcome.
In calm words, Kizaru described in great detail to Aokiji a path to split the Navy, a path that would thoroughly undermine the foundations of the Navy and the World Government.
After listening to this, Crocodile couldn't help but admire Kizaru's brilliant scheme. Yamato, on the other hand, had only one thought in his mind: "They can do this?"
As the person directly involved, Aokiji felt a surge of excitement. After listening to Kizaru's description, he truly felt that he had found a way to make a difference.
"I do," Aokiji replied simply and directly.
"Very good!" To be honest, Kizaru would have preferred Aokiji to choose the second suggestion over the first one. After all, he had already infiltrated two Marine Admirals as spies in Marine Headquarters and had also placed many ninjas in the middle ranks of the Marines, which was enough for the Land of Light.
Kizaru looked at Aokiji and said encouragingly, "The new Navy is not just a stepping stone for the Navy to defect. I hope that in the future, the new Navy will become the best naval force in the Land of Light."
"It sounds incredibly stressful," Aokiji complained, but his usually lazy eyes suddenly shone with an unprecedented brilliance.
“Starting from scratch, building a nation’s navy from scratch, is an experience that not everyone plans to have,” Kizaru said with a chuckle.
“You’re right, but I can’t do it alone,” Aokiji reminded him.
Kizaru was well aware of this, and he assured him, "Don't worry, the Land of Light will provide you with all the necessary support, whether it's manpower or supplies. However, on the surface, the new Navy must be an independent force."
"Oh, of course I know." Aokiji scratched his head, feeling like he had taken on a tough job.
Crocodile looked at Aokiji with envy. Compared to personally building a new navy, a navy that would one day belong to the Land of Light, managing an archaeological team was a world apart. (End of Chapter)