The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Zhan Guo sighed, rubbing his forehead. The document in his hand had been crumpled into scrap paper: "This kid... he really doesn't want things to get any bigger."

"Well done! Those bastards deserved to be taught a lesson long ago!"

Garp sat on the sofa, chewing on a senbei (rice cracker), and mumbled something indistinctly.

"They actually tried to capture Ribo! If I were there, I would have intervened too!"

"Garp!" Kong glared, "Do you know what this means?! The World Government has ordered the Navy to hand over Gern immediately!"

"Hand them over? Heh." Zephyr sneered, his eyes sharp behind his sunglasses.

"On what grounds? Guern acted in self-defense. The Den Den Mushi records and witness testimonies from G-33 base in Sabaody Archipelago are all there!"

"He attacked a Celestial Dragon! And..." Kong gritted his teeth.

"You call smashing a Celestial Dragon's head into his neck self-defense?!"

“Isn’t that right?” Zephyr retorted, “Article 37 of the Naval Regulations clearly states that any attack on a general-rank officer entitles the officer to retaliate!”

"Zefa!"

"Steelbow Kong!!" Zephyr slammed his fist on the table and stood up angrily, calling out his name.

"We are the Navy! Do the Celestial Dragons now have the right to attack our people at will?"

Libo is a second lieutenant at headquarters! I personally recorded her file back then!

Furthermore, what does it mean that the Celestial Dragons have suddenly attacked the Navy?!

The other day they announced the Seven Warlords system without our consent, and now they've attacked the three members of the Gern family who are on vacation. What does this mean?!

At this point, Ze Fa's tone relaxed, but became even colder.

"Or... are you now being ridden on the neck by the Celestial Dragons?!"

Faced with Zephyr's questioning, Cyborg Kong was speechless, veins bulging on his forehead, especially when he looked up and noticed...

At this moment, even Sengoku, who usually supported him the most, stood on the opposite side.

"You all think we shouldn't pay?!"

There was silence.

"I only have one sentence," Zephyr said, donning his cloak of justice, "If the World Government dares to send anyone to harm my disciple..."

He turned and walked toward the door, his voice as hard as steel.

"I, Admiral Zephyr of the Marine Headquarters, will be the first to make a move!"

"Moreover, I believe... I won't be the only one who will make a move!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zefa pushed open the door and went out.

Behind him, the three future generals, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino, all stood up at the same time.

"Sorry, Marshal," Borsalino said with a slight smile, "I may be a corporate slave, but I don't want to be upgraded to a slave~"

“Gern is not wrong.” Sakazuki sneered. “If the World Government dares to send anyone, my ‘justice’ will not be compromised.”

Kuzan, hands in his pockets, unusually agreed with Sakazuki: "I'm the same as Teacher Zeffa."

The two, who were usually at odds, actually walked side by side, their backs to each other with a resolute air.

First came the Seven Warlords system, then came the Celestial Dragons' attempt to capture Marines as slaves.

This time, the Navy will not compromise!

Because this is no longer just a matter of whether or not to hand over the personnel.

In everyone's eyes, what Gern did was nothing short of a direct act of resistance representing the Navy!

"Those who hold salaries for everyone must not freeze to death in the wind and snow."

In the end, only Sengoku was left in the office.

He stood at the doorway, glanced back at Steelbone Sky, and said calmly but firmly:

"Marshal Kong, whether it was an accident or something else..."

At least at this point in time, Gern represents 'everything about the Navy.'

“Zeffa is right, this time... 'we' cannot stand on your side.”

Chapter 156 I, Steel-Boned Void, Am Tough!

The Holy Land, Mary Geoise, Hall of Power.

The five elders gathered together, the atmosphere heavy and icy.

"The Navy must give Mary Geoise an explanation for its unprovoked attack on a world noble!" Shepard X. Pitt Saint coldly declared.

"In short, Gern must be handed over!!"

“That’s what they say, but the problem now is…” Topman Vochuli Saint narrowed his eyes, “The attitude within the Navy is quite delicate.”

"Hmph!" Jaigolusia Satan leaned heavily on his cane. "Does the Navy intend to rebel?! Don't they forget who they are?!"

"What good will it do to forget? Do you even know what the situation is like now?"

Even if the Navy really refuses to hand over the people, what can we do? Will the World Government go to war with the Navy?

"The navy is not what it used to be; there are many strong individuals now," Marcus Mazsan said slowly.

"And, most importantly now... we need to figure out who's backing Gern?"

Or perhaps... was he pushed forward by the Navy as a test to oppose our Shichibukai system?

Everyone fell silent, especially as they realized a more serious problem: the navy was truly unable to act at the moment...

Especially Zeff, Garp, Sengoku... and even the next generation of Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, plus Guern...

To this day, not a single one of these top naval forces has expressed support for the World Government!

“Since that’s how it is…” Izambaron V. Nassshurou finally made the decision, his voice icy cold.

"Notify the Knights of God and let Figarando handle it!"

"If the navy won't take action, we'll do it ourselves!"

Regardless of the form it takes, we must respond.

Even if we take a step back, the Navy should hand over that Mink lieutenant to the Rothwald Holy Family to appease their anger.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"Otherwise, the World Government's face... will be completely lost!"

.......

Inside the palace of the Figarand family in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Golden sunlight streamed through the stained glass, illuminating the luxurious carpet.

Figarando Greene sat quietly in a high-backed chair, his slender fingers gently stroking the rim of a wine glass, the red wine inside as dark as blood.

He slightly raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the CP0 agent kneeling on one knee in front of him, a cold smile curving his lips.

"So, the Five Elders mean... that I should personally 'invite' that Major General 'Tianzhen'?" His voice was deep, with a hint of amusement.

The CP0 agent bowed his head, his voice respectful beneath the mask: "Yes, sir."

“However…” he paused slightly, “I’m worried the navy might…”

“Worried?” Grimm suddenly chuckled. “Are you questioning the authority of the world’s nobles?”

"I wouldn't dare!" the agent immediately bowed his head. "But Tianzhen has a vast network of connections within the Navy. If they refuse to hand over the person..."

Suddenly, Greene slammed his wine glass down on the gilded coffee table, the red wine splashing like blood onto the white marble floor.

"The navy is nothing more than a watchdog for the world government."

He slowly rose, his jeweled rapier flashing half an inch from its sheath with a clang, its cold light illuminating his icy profile.

"For eight hundred years, no navy has ever dared to defy the will of the Celestial Dragons."

"Yes, yes. In short, the Five Elders mean that if the Navy refuses to hand over the people..."

At the very least, they must bring back their lieutenant, Lipo Hope of the Mink Clan, to appease the Rothwald Holy Family's anger.

"Heh." Saint Grimm chuckled, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, and then slowly rose to his feet.

The rapier beside him clattered open half an inch from its sheath, its cold light reflecting on his stern face.

"A mere rear admiral dares to make me personally take action?"

The CP0 agent remained silent.

Grimm walked to the window, overlooking the bustling scene of Mary Geoise, his eyes gradually turning cold.

“However, since he dared to attack a Celestial Dragon, he should pay the price.” He turned around, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

“Tell the Five Elders that I will personally escort ‘Tianzhen’ to the Hall of Power and let them see for themselves the consequences of offending the world’s nobles.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved it, drawing his rapier fully from its sheath, the tip pointing directly at Marineford.

(By the way, I think Figarando Grimold is definitely a pure evil.)

After all, being worshipped and promoted by a group of psychopathic Celestial Dragons means he's not a good person.

......

Naval Headquarters, Marshal's Office.

Steel Bone Kong sat alone behind his large desk, sunlight streaming through the blinds and casting dappled shadows on his resolute face.

At this moment, he was holding a newly delivered secret order in his hand, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

The Den Den Mushi lay quietly on the table, the cold voices of the Five Elders still lingering from the recently ended call:

"The Knights of God have been mobilized, and Figarando Gringu will personally handle this matter."

Steel Bone Kong slowly closed his eyes, his chest rising and falling slightly.

"That kid... really knows how to pick his timing," he murmured to himself, his voice hoarse.

The World Government had just announced the Seven Warlords system, and there were already undercurrents within the Navy.

Now, Gorn's punch has shattered the delicate balance between the Navy and the World Government.

Steel Bone Kong opened his eyes, his gaze falling on a photograph on the table.

That's a group photo of the naval high command at their commissioning ceremony years ago.

The three Sakazuki stood beside him, while Gren stood beside Zeff, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Cyborg Kong actually likes Gorn too, otherwise he wouldn't have only verbally reprimanded him each time.

After all, as the Fleet Admiral, he had a long-term vision and understood very well that Sakazuki, Gern, and the other two were the cornerstone of the Navy's future fight against everything.

“Zefa…” Steelbone Kong gave a wry smile, “Your disciple has really made you proud.”

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the harbor of Marineford.

The warships were neatly moored, and the soldiers were sweating profusely on the training ground.

This is the bastion of justice, the heart of the navy.

And now, the swords of the Knights of God are pointing right here.

Kong took a deep breath, his fists clenching unconsciously. Standing by the window, the fate of the navy seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders at this moment.

"Not only did they announce the Seven Warlords system without consulting me, but now they're trying to intimidate me..."

He gazed at the soldiers training on the field; each resolute figure represented the navy's indomitable will.

“This is the justice we’ve been protecting…” he murmured to himself, his knuckles leaving deep dents on the windowsill.

Suddenly, Steelbone Kong whirled around, his military boots clattering on the floor.

He grabbed the communicator, his voice booming like thunder throughout Marineford:

"Attention, all! In three days, the World Government will be sending Figarando Gringuitor, the Knights of God, for 'friendly exchange'!"

His voice echoed in every corner, from the port to the fortress, from the training ground to the mess hall, and every sailor stopped what they were doing.

"During this period, Marine Headquarters Admiral Zephyr, Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, and..."