139 Chapter 138
Zephyr's declaration was broadcasted across the world through the screens.
Many people had previously misunderstood Zephyr, thinking that he gave up resurrecting his loved ones in order to save himself. However, they were shocked to learn that he actually did it for justice, for the purpose of creating a world without pirates.
He chose justice over personal emotions.
This revelation left those who had misjudged him deeply moved. They looked at this Marine hero, who had almost taken an extreme path, and couldn't help but bow their heads in respect.
This was the first time they saw the Marines apologize to them.
In the past, whether it was the mistakes in Alabasta, the abuse of power by Aokiji that almost caused the destruction of Water 7, or the massacre by Akainu in Ohara, or the bombardment of Goa Kingdom and Sabo by the Tenryuubito, the World Government and the Marines never took a stand or offered apologies.
Instead, they would desperately try to salvage their reputation and cover up their actions. But their operations were never about admitting their mistakes; they were only about saving face.
In the eyes of the people, the World Government and the Marines didn't care about their opinions or attitudes. They only cared about their own reputation.
Zephyr's sincere apology starkly contrasted with the indifferent actions of the World Government and the Marines.
Seeing Zephyr bow his head, those who were initially angry at his plan to destroy the New World gradually let go of their anger.
Before the incident even occurred, Zephyr recognized his mistake, sincerely apologized, and decided to spend the rest of his life making amends.
There was no reason for them to remain angry.
What was most crucial were Zephyr's words. He announced the establishment of the NEO Marines, vowing to eradicate all pirates in the world for the sake of future lives being born into a world without pirates.
Justice that fails to protect people is not justice!
Different from his previous terrifying ideas, it was clear from Zephyr's words that he intended to form a Neo Marine to replace the existing one. He believed that with his guidance, he could cultivate a second Marine force.
A Marine force that would not be controlled by the World Government, that would not exist for the sake of the Tenryuubito' interests, but solely for the sake of justice and the eradication of pirate forces.
This idea rekindled hope in many who had previously wanted to join Zephyr's Neo Marines but gave up due to his extreme actions.
To be honest, there was no one more suitable for this role in the world than Zephyr.
His personal character was beyond question, as long as he didn't go to extremes. The entire Marine force would be hard-pressed to find someone who could compare to him.
Moreover, the current Marines were the result of Zephyr's guidance. With him present, they believed that he could train a second Marine force.
A Marine force that was not controlled by the World Government and did not exist for the sake of the Tenryuubito' interests—a pure Marine force.
This idea resonated with many people, both commoners and royalty alike.
They had long grown tired of the World Government using Marines as puppets.
In their eyes, while the Marines provided them with protection, they were also oppressing them.
The Marines were like sheepdogs in a sheep pen, and the pirates were the wolves outside. It would be ideal if the sheepdogs could eliminate the wolf.
Through an agreement between the sheep and the dogs, the sheep traded their wool for protection, and the dogs traded the wool for food. Both sides benefited without middlemen taking a cut.
This was the ideal state they envisioned.
In reality, this was the model that the kings of the allied countries had in mind. They were puzzled as to why the World Government would claim a large portion of the benefits when it was their money and the Marines who protected them.
Sharing the benefits was one thing, but why did the Tenryuubito, those world noble, have to ride on their heads? You take our money and now you have to step on us too?
If the Tenryuubito were the only issue, that would be one thing. But now a king had emerged as well.
Then what were the kings of these allied countries? Village chiefs?
If the World Government had a king, what did that make them?
By joining the World Government, were their countries still their own?
Zephyr's change of heart and his decision to build the NEO Marines to rival the World Government's Marines fell right into their plans.
The NEO Marines must be established, there was no other option. If they didn't establish it, they would eventually be completely swallowed by the World Government and become its subjects.
Not only did it need to be established, they also needed to help build it.
Only then could the seed of hope sprout and grow, free from being smothered by the World Government.
They could also escape the control of the World Government and have new choices.
Whether it was for Zephyr's justice or for their own salvation, at the moment Zephyr's declaration was announced, there was a large number of people around the world who wanted to join the NEO Marines.
The current Marines and government had disappointed them greatly. But with Zephyr, they believed a truly just Marine force could be established.
The eradication of pirates and a future where new lives could live in a world without pirates—such a scene might actually be possible.
The World Government had been attempting it for eight hundred years, but there was no end in sight. If they could see this future in their lifetime, it would give them hope.
Zephyr's words sparked intense reactions among the masses. At the same time, it stirred something in many Marines. However, they realized that building a Neo Marine force was not such a simple matter.
The world still needed them to maintain order. While they yearned for the future Zephyr spoke of, sometimes people had to face reality.
The reality was that the world relied on the Marines for its stability. Without the Marines, the world would descend into chaos. The World Government might not be ideal, but the Marines depended on the World Government for their operations.
Life wasn't just about poetry and distant horizons; they also had to face the reality in front of them.
The Marines at Marineford watched Zephyr's speech on the live broadcast. Some were overwhelmed with excitement, others were deeply moved, and some yearned for what Zephyr described. However, in the end, no one took off their Marine uniforms and chose to leave.
...
In Mariejois, in Pangea Castle, the faces of the Five Elders were as black as coal.
Everything was developing in the direction they least wanted to see.
They had originally thought that Zephyr would choose to resurrect his loved ones, and as an old man, he wouldn't be a threat to the Marines and CP0.
However, to their surprise, Zephyr chose the enhanced healing potion, and not only did his hand recover, but his body and lifespan were also enhanced.
The current Zephyr was similar to the situation when Whitebeard consumed the Life Potion and returned to his peak.
One must remember that Zephyr was on par with the likes of Garp, Sengoku, Whitebeard, and Roger in his era. Without the burden of his previous injuries, it would be several times more difficult to defeat him now.
What angered the Five Elders even more was Zephyr's declaration. It was a blatant provocation against the Marines and the World Government.
Furthermore, it cleared away the negative impact caused by Zephyr's previous actions. If Zephyr truly intended to establish a Neo Marine force, many people would likely choose to join.
The expansion of the NEO Marines meant a shake-up in the World Government's control over the seas.
This was something they couldn't allow to happen, no matter what.
And now, Zephyr had more time to achieve his goal. A more terrifying enemy than Dragon had emerged.
If they couldn't capture Zephyr this time, he might truly create a Neo Marine force in the future.
Moreover, the more serious consequence was that once the NEO Marines demonstrated reliable strength, it would inevitably lead to defections within the Marines. After all, the higher-ups of the Marines were all Zephyr's disciples.
Not only that, the Neo Marine force meant the emergence of a new World Government. Non-allied countries and allied countries would seek their protection, forming a new alliance.
The accumulated power of the World Government over eight hundred years would quickly crack, and power would shift to the new government.
Their authority would be completely shaken!
At that time, they either had to defeat this challenger and reclaim their power, or be defeated by the challenger and have them replace the World Government as the new rulers of the world.
Thinking about this possible scenario, the Five Elders couldn't sit still.
They had to crush this threat in its infancy. No matter what, Zephyr must not be allowed to escape!
