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

In the end, all the turbulent emotions were suppressed to the deepest part of his heart, turning into a barely audible sigh.

He knew that Kuzan had no reason to lie to him.

And all of this points to that man.

Gern Reginald Sigmar.

He, single-handedly, stirred up the chessboard of an entire era.

All the contradictions and ambitions were forced into a final showdown, a situation where bloodshed was inevitable.

"Looks like you've made some good friends again, Kuzan."

Gern's voice broke the silence at the prison entrance without warning.

He walked in with steady steps, carrying two bottles of wine.

His marshal's coat draped naturally behind him, his face expressionless, his gaze lingering briefly on the redhead.

The latter met his gaze, her eyes filled with complex emotions, but she remained silent.

It then landed on Kuzan.

Kuzan twitched the corners of his mouth, trying to make his usual lazy smile, but it aggravated the injuries on his face, making him look somewhat comical.

"Oh dear, it seems I can't have a drink with you!"

He shook his wrists, which were bound by chains, and the sea stone clanged against each other with a dull thud.

Gern didn't reply, but just looked at the guard officer standing solemnly to the side like a statue.

"Unlock his sea stone."

The command is concise and leaves no room for doubt.

The guard visibly stiffened, his face revealing undisguised hesitation and fear.

He looked at Kuzan.

This is former Navy Admiral "Aokiji"!

Even if injured, once freed from their restraints, a sudden attack in this confined space could have unimaginable consequences!

His lips trembled as he stammered, "Marshal Gern, this... he's extremely dangerous..."

At the same time, the inner scream almost burst from his throat: This is a general-level combatant! Releasing him from his restraints... that's too risky!

Seeing the guard's fear and apprehension, Gern casually waved his hand.

"fine."

Two words, a simple and understated description.

Then, in the blink of an eye, before anyone could react...

bass!

A faint, dark purple streak of light flashed from Gern's waist!

There was no earth-shattering sound, only a faint, almost inaudible "sizzle" like cutting through thin paper.

The black sword "Eight Desolations" was drawn, slashed down, and returned to the waist.

All in one go.

However, the special shackles made of sea stone on Kuzan's wrists and ankles broke off cleanly.

The fracture surface is as smooth as a mirror, with very few fragments scattered.

Gern didn't even glance at the broken shackles.

He looked again at the pale-faced guard officer, his tone still calm.

"If he still wants to make a move now, then..."

“I will kill him here myself.”

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness and absolute confidence, making the temperature in the entire prison seem to drop several degrees.

The guard officer shuddered instantly, all his words of advice stuck in his throat.

He had no doubt about the truthfulness of Gern's words.

The man before them was none other than "Tianzhen," who had just slain the "god's" agent!

"Yes...yes! I understand!"

The guard officer saluted almost as if fleeing, then hissed at the other equally terrified guards.

"Get out! Stay outside and keep watch! No one is allowed to come in without the Marshal's order!"

In the blink of an eye, only Gern and two other prisoners remained in the cell.

Kuzan moved his wrists, which were still somewhat stiff and numb after regaining their freedom.

He bent down to pick up a bottle of wine from the ground, bit off the cork with his teeth, and took a big gulp.

"Hiss—ha!" He let out a long sigh, smacked his lips, and a genuine look of pain and helplessness appeared on his face.

"Kizaru and Enel really went all out!"

My whole body aches... especially Enel. He really went all out; you have to talk to him about it.

Gern also opened his bottle, but didn't drink it immediately. He simply held it and walked to the outside of Kuzan's cell, looking at him through the bars.

Why did you join Blackbeard?

The question was straightforward, without any preamble.

Kuzan paused slightly as he drank.

He put down the bottle and met Gern's gaze.

The cold light from the cell ceiling cast a faint shadow on his face.

There was a few seconds of silence.

“If I were to say…” Kuzan’s voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of self-mockery.

"I want to kill Blackbeard, do you believe me?"

Gern did not hesitate at all.

"Believe."

The answer was crisp and decisive, without even a thought process.

Kuzan was taken aback, seemingly not expecting such direct affirmation.

He stared into Guern's eyes, trying to find a hint of perfunctoriness or probing, but found nothing.

A moment later, Kuzan suddenly laughed.

It wasn't his usual lazy smile, nor was it a self-deprecating smile; rather, it was a smile tinged with a sense of relief.

"Heh... I know you believe me." He shook his head, took another swig of wine, and the alcohol seemed to alleviate some of the pain in his body.

"But what's done is done, and the future has not happened."

"And now..."

He looked up at the cold walls of the cell.

"It's just that the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates' 10th ship, a senior officer, was arrested by the Navy."

“Yes!” Gern looked at him quietly, the bottle in his hand still untouched.

"What are you planning to do to me?"

"The one who's going to deal with you isn't me, it's Lieutenant General Garp."

"uh-huh?"

"Gern, are you serious, Mr. Karp?!"

He'll kill me! Damn it, we have so many friends here!

"Hahaha!" Gern finally took a sip of his drink. "Besides him, who else has the chance to break the rules?"

"It hurts, but at least the master isn't killing his disciple, is he?"

"But I've been expelled from the sect."

"Mr. Garp also said he would arrest his own grandson!"

Chapter 719 Holy Land Quarrel

The Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Hall of Power.

The five elders' seats, which once symbolized supreme authority, are now three vacant.

Three high-backed chairs representing the highest authority in different fields.

It stands there coldly, silently recounting the devastating losses of the Battle of Eghad.

Topman Vocuri Saint, Izambaron V. Nassuro Saint, Jaigorusia Satan Saint.

Three "stars" have fallen.

Only Shepard X. Pitt Saint and Marcus Maz Saint remain among them.

Below the hall stood the core members of the "Knights of God" that the Holy Land could currently summon.

And a few representatives of Celestial Dragon families who possess special status or combat power.

They are the World Government's hidden last sword, and the last line of defense beneath the Void Throne at this moment.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Maz Saint coughed, breaking the deathly silence.

"I have summoned you all because... the situation has deteriorated to an irreversible point."

"Fleet Admiral 'Skyquake' Gern Reginald Sigmar has officially declared war on the World Government."

Its fleet and top-tier combat forces will march on the Red Line in three days, their target... Mary Geoise, Pangaea.

Despite being mentally prepared, the news, confirmed by the Five Elders themselves, still caused a suppressed commotion among the crowd below.

“And the Battle of Egherd…” Piet Saint added, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

“Saint Nasshoulang, Saint Satan… and Saint Vochuli… were all destroyed by the Heavenly Tremor.”

"The Five Elders... three died, two were lost."

These words, like a final death knell, struck the hearts of everyone.

Three dead and two missing!

The core of supreme power that had ruled the world for eight hundred years nearly collapsed during World War I!

Dead silence.

A deathly silence even more thorough and more desperate than before.

at this time

"Oh."

A mocking laugh broke the suffocating silence.

Standing at the very front of the crowd, clad in magnificent knight's armor

Figarand Greene, with his crescent-shaped head, slowly raised his head and stared at the two remaining members of the Five Elders above him.

"Back then, Tianzhen first attacked and killed Saint Charles in the Sabaody Archipelago."

We should do everything in our power to nip it in the bud!

Instead of repeatedly engaging in so-called 'observation,' 'probing,' and 'compromise'!

His voice grew louder and louder, filled with long-suppressed accusations.

"It's you! It's your indecisiveness, the Five Elders, that has allowed him to grow up time and time again!"

They let him grow too powerful! They even let him eventually control the entire navy!