Starting as a pirate, he rose to become the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society.

Chapter 296 Bane: Wano Country? Kozuki? Send Sakazuki to wipe them out!

After getting dressed, Bane stepped out of the cabin, lit a cigarette, and asked, "It's so late, has something happened with the teacher again?"

Ain didn't carry any documents or intelligence; her hands were empty. She looked up at Bane with a cold expression and said, "Aramaki went to Professor Zephyr's place overnight for a secret meeting. The battle at Marine Headquarters will be resolved soon. Aramaki is already planning to surrender."

"Hmm?" Bane asked, slightly surprised. "He's going to vote?"

However, considering this guy's integrity and his experiences, it doesn't seem so unbelievable. Could he really be willing to die for the world's government?

Thinking of this, Bane stroked his chin and said, "It's a good thing overall. Has Professor Zephyr said how he's going to be arranged?"

"Let him become Mr. Sakazuki's aide," Ain replied immediately.

"The chief of staff officer, hahaha, not bad at all," Bane laughed.

Sakazuki himself didn't consider himself the commander-in-chief of the entire army, so this arrangement was quite appropriate.

"Aramaki also admitted that he secretly sent Mr. Garp's grandson, Monkey D. Luffy, to Mary Geoise," Ain added.

Bane paused for a moment, but quickly a look of understanding crossed his eyes as he said, "It really is him."

Everything seems fine now, but perhaps Mr. Garp will have to settle accounts with Aramaki later, such as appointing him as the Minister of Environment of the New World government, with his first task being to completely green the desert nation of Alabasta. (He cannot use his abilities; he must personally plant and cultivate the crops?)

After saying this, Ain glanced at Bane and then said, "A great battle is imminent, and Mary Geoise is extremely dangerous. Young Master, you'd better conserve your energy to avoid making a fool of yourself. I've said everything I needed to report. Farewell."

Seeing Ain's resentful expression, Bane said somewhat strangely, "Hey, you can doubt my strength, but you can't doubt my ability. You're underestimating me, aren't you?"

"No, I was just reminding you to take care of your health, young master," Ain said without changing his expression.

"How strange, you rascal." Bane circled around Ain twice, looking her up and down with a strange gaze.

Bane's relationship with Nami and the others has never been hidden; it has always been open and aboveboard. Moreover, there's nothing shameful about it, as the atmosphere on the high seas is quite tolerant.

This wasn't the first time Ian had encountered a situation like Bane's. Bane thought back carefully and realized that at first, Ian didn't seem to have any emotional issues, but later, especially recently, she seemed to harbor a lot of resentment towards him.

After circling around twice, Bane suddenly seemed to have received an answer. His expression changed, and he looked at Ain in surprise, saying, "You little girl, you wouldn't happen to like me, would you?"

At first, Ain was just an assistant sent by Teacher Zephyr. She didn't have any emotional connection with Bane, so of course she didn't care. As a subordinate, why should you care about your leader's private life?

This is Bane's line of thinking, but now, Ain is acting strangely and reacting oddly to this kind of thing. Does that represent a signal?

Bane's words immediately exposed Ain's cold expression, which instantly turned warm red. Two blushes spread across her face, and her once sharp eyes became incredibly flustered. She stammered, "What are you talking about? Who would like a womanizer like you? Do you take me for some kind of lovesick fool?"

If Ain had merely glanced at him with the look one would give an idiot or even scum, Bane would have thought he had guessed wrong, given an awkward laugh, and let it pass as a joke.

But Ain's panicked appearance only made him more certain.

Seeing Bane's knowing look, Ain stepped forward and kicked him in the leg, retorting, "Besides, I'm twenty-six, and you're only twenty-three. I'm older than you, so don't call me a little girl!"

After saying that, Ain strode away with hurried steps, without looking back.

Bane didn't chase after her. Instead, he stood there, shaking his head and chuckling to himself, exhaling a puff of smoke as he said, "An interesting woman."

February 6, 1523 (Haiyuan Calendar)

The naval civil war that had captivated the world in the New World has finally come to a conclusion.

There were unexpected moments, but also predictable results.

The result, which was considered by most to be expected, was that the new navy of Melvure achieved a complete victory. What was unexpected was that the former Navy Headquarters under the World Government, under the leadership of the last Fleet Admiral, Aramaki, publicly announced its surrender in New Marineford.

The New World Government followed suit, announcing its acceptance of the Navy Headquarters' surrender and appointing Fleet Admiral Aramaki as an assistant to Sakazuki, the Supreme Commander of the New World Government's armed forces.

The following day, the new Grand Admiral Zephyr of Mervue published a speech in the newspaper.

It indicates that the naval civil war has come to a complete end, and calls on all naval bases to recognize the reality, quickly open communication channels with the Melville Naval Headquarters, and strive to restore the navy's responsibility to guard the four directions and maintain order at sea as soon as possible, so as not to allow villains to take the opportunity to stir up trouble.

There is no further information regarding the specific results at this time.

However, following Zephyr's declaration, apart from Mary Geoise and the World Government, all organizations changed their previous names for the current changes in the Navy.

Before this, the naval organization led by Fleet Admiral Zephyr in Melvure was widely known as the "New Navy," and even they themselves referred to themselves as such.

The navy, headed by New Marineford, is still referred to as the "Naval Headquarters".

However, now that the naval civil war has ended, such a designation is clearly inappropriate.

The News of the World was the first to make the corresponding change. In his lengthy article, Morgans referred to the Mervue Navy as the "Naval Headquarters" from beginning to end, and referred to the former Marineford Navy as the "Old Navy".

In other words, in this era of change, there is no longer any "new navy." The new navy that wins the battle is the only legitimate one, while the losers, the former Navy Headquarters system, are swept into the trash can and become the "old navy."

As if she had already anticipated this outcome, Mary Geoise made no comment on the result of the naval civil war, but privately, transport ships heading to the East China Sea became more frequent.

The calm between the world's ruling government and Mary Geoise is widely regarded as a sign of weakness, and their transfer of assets to the East China Sea cannot be kept secret from those with ulterior motives on the high seas.

For a time, various opinions such as "the collapse of world governments," "rule by dividing the sea," and "the collapse of the old order" filled the entire ocean.

Immediately afterwards, the Germa Kingdom, which had fled in disarray from the New World War to the North Sea and stirred up trouble in the chaos, announced its full support for the Melvyu Naval Headquarters and the New World Government.

Vinsmoke Judge publicly issued an apology, stating that he had no choice but to join the pirates because he was unreasonably oppressed, retaliated against, and attacked by the World Government. During that time, he felt ashamed and remorseful day and night.

Furthermore, in order to atone for his sins, he is willing to unconditionally share Germa's science and technology with the New World Government and pay 200 billion Berries as an apology to support the establishment of the New World Government and the maintenance of order.

Of course, since the New World Government is now just an empty shell, Judge made such a "touching" declaration and actively contacted Baroque Works, hoping to hand over all the 200 billion Berries in funds and technology as soon as possible.

But in reality, no one on Bane's side paid any attention to him; he was too insignificant to be worth mentioning.

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

Nico Robin is a woman with a kind face but a ruthless heart. When Judge took the initiative to offer her money and technology, she naturally did not refuse and accepted it all in one go.

As for what attitude the New World government will have towards Germa after all the turmoil is over, we'll see then. You think I can influence you with pillow talk for two hundred billion? That's underestimating Nico Robin.

Following Germa's statement, the North Sea nations also announced that they would sever all ties with the World Government, withdraw from the membership system, and resolutely support the policies of the Melvure Naval Headquarters and the New World Government.

In contrast to Germa's indifference, Sengoku's leader, who was stationed in Melvure, finally stepped forward in the face of this situation. During a live broadcast on Den Den Mushi, he announced that a joint conference of the New World Governments would be held in Melvure in April of the 1523rd year of the Kaiyuan Calendar, which is two months later. He invited leaders from all parties who were willing to join this new order system to go to Melvure for multi-party discussions.

This was actually a signal sent to the world by the Warring States period's strategy of cutting off the enemy's supply lines.

In April, anyone who came to Melville could be considered a friend. We might not know who came, but we would definitely make a note of who didn't.

At that time, they will all be listed as "enemies" and purged!

Three days after Sengoku made this speech, Elbaf, the world's strongest nation and the land of giants, issued a formal response.

The current leaders of Elbaf, Blue Oni Donri and Red Oni Brogy, along with former Navy Vice Admiral Saul and Nico Robin, former Baroque Works executive finance minister and current acting finance minister of the New World government, delivered a joint public address.

It is claimed that if the New World Government complies with the new laws described in the declarations, such as abolishing the Heavenly Gold and thoroughly and resolutely cracking down on slavery, then Elbaf will support and join the New World Government system, and will soon send representatives to Melvure to participate in this joint conference.

For hundreds of years, the world government on Mary Geoise has hoped to establish a union relationship with the strongest nation, Elbaf, but it has never succeeded, at most only gaining more giant units for the navy.

But right now, the New World Government doesn't even have a real organizational structure yet, and Elbaf has already stepped forward to offer his support.

The influence of the world's leading superpower is still significant, and many wavering countries have secretly made up their minds.

February 22, 1523 (Haiyuan Calendar)

Bann arrived at the gateway to the New World and joined forces with the allied fleet of Zephyr and other organizations, besieging Mary Geoise and blockading its three ports in the South Sea, the New World, and the North Sea.

The fleet, so large it blotted out the sky, even stretched out a horizontal line through the doldrums.

On the very day Bane arrived, the Amazon Lily fleet finally made its appearance. Surprisingly, Boa Hancock, widely recognized as the world's most beautiful woman, appeared alongside Princess Shirahoshi, the officially recognized world's most beautiful woman from Ryugu Palace.

Next, Princess Shirahoshi, representing the Neptune royal family of Fishman Island, announced her full support for the Melvure Naval Headquarters and the New World Government. She will travel to Melvure with her brother to participate in this joint conference.

As the fleet reunited, Bane watched the ship merge with Zephyr's battleship and felt a mix of emotions.

Just then, Ain walked up behind him, holding a document in her hand, and said, "Young Master, in the New World, the new Shogun of Wano Country, Kozuki Momonosuke, has announced that he will fully support us."

Although Ain was teased by Bane a few days ago, she returned to normal the next day. Bane didn't cause any trouble, and the two continued to interact as usual.

Before she could finish speaking, Bane asked in surprise, "The shogun of Wano Country has changed? Wasn't it Kaido's underling, Kurozumi Orochi, before?"

"After we wiped out the Beasts Pirates, it seems that Momonosuke Kozuki has fled back to Wano Country from the outer seas and, with the support of his retainers, has set things right," Ain reported in general terms.

Bane sneered, "What do you mean by 'correcting wrongs'? They talk as if they're respectable people. Kozuki Oden was the former second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, an important member of the Roger Pirates, and one of the culprits who stirred up the chaos of the Great Pirate Era. Kozuki Momonosuke was born on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship, and many of his retainers have piracy history. Do they even deserve to join us? Pass on my order to reject Wano Country's illegal application for government status. After that, have Sakazuki kill them. Doesn't he like to exterminate everyone? Wano Country is perfect for him to do that."

(End of this chapter)