“Not good,” Sengoku’s face grew more troubled.

This was disastrous.

The slander they’d spread was only viable because they assumed Kuke was dead and unable to defend himself. But now that Kuke was very much alive, Sengoku’s stress built until he spat out another mouthful of blood. His injuries, combined with his fury, were overwhelming.

Hurtling backward from Gion’s attack, he was barely holding it together as he shouted, “This is a conspiracy! Kuke, you and the king of Dressrosa have orchestrated this scheme! The Navy will investigate.”

“Oh? Planning to strike against Dressrosa? It’s a member nation—are you really prepared for the consequences? If you try, every Navy fleet and government outpost on the seas might want to prepare their coffins; I can show up at any time.”

Kuke was unmoved by Sengoku’s threat.

There would be no direct confrontation; they’d see who could outlast the other.

Sengoku and the Five Elders paled.

They had considered using such a method, but Kuke’s unpredictability, his Sun and Moon Pirates without a fixed base, made him far more troublesome than any Emperor of the Sea.

Sengoku fell silent.

Kuke turned toward the Den Den Mushi, “Robin, would you mind recounting Sengoku’s words about me earlier? Just so everyone can hear how I was supposedly this terrible traitor.”

With a few concise statements, Nico Robin relayed Sengoku’s words for the world to hear.

Everyone pricked up their ears.

Sengoku’s grand accusations would now be measured against Kuke’s firsthand account. The truth was about to be revealed.

“I betrayed the Navy? I was rescued by them?” Kuke chuckled, his eyes landing on Sengoku.

Sengoku looked away, focusing intently on fending off Gion’s attacks.

“Ridiculous!” Kuke scoffed. “Yes, my homeland was destroyed by pirates. But were they really pirates? For non-member nations, stability is a joke. Was it lack of protection or something more? Sengoku, I think you know the answer.”

Sengoku opened his mouth to respond, but a bolt of lightning struck him, leaving him speechless.

“Yes, incidents like this have happened repeatedly,” Kuke continued. “The World Government covers them up, but people know the truth.”

Citizens from non-member nations nodded in agreement. They knew it was true.

“When I was eight, was I homeless and helpless? Laughable. Gion was with me then, already strong enough to defeat pirates worth over a hundred million. Did I need the Navy’s help? I was worth over a billion berries and had founded the Royal Merchant Guild myself.”

“The Royal Merchant Guild?” someone exclaimed.

“The legendary conglomerate with vast wealth?” others echoed.

“So, Kuke was the head of it? The guild grew quickly but disbanded about a year ago.”

“Right. That was when Kuke freed slaves and sacrificed the guild to protect them.”

“He was a powerful businessman, partnered with Gion. With both wealth and strength, why would he ever need the Navy’s protection?”

“The Navy wasn’t Kuke’s savior at all.”

With this new context, people’s trust in Kuke only grew.

“Yes, I attended the Navy’s training camp, but I paid my own way, spending hundred million of berries to train there. The contract was for ten years, but after just three, they dismissed me. Sengoku… Navy Headquarters, do you even have a record of me as a Navy officer? What right do you have to call me one of yours?”

The crowd erupted in shock.

Hundred million of berries?

“That much money for training?” someone gasped.

“How greedy! And they didn’t even let Kuke finish the program. Even pirates wouldn’t treat him this poorly!”

“Why would the Navy expel someone like Kuke? Were they insane?”

Even Kaido, the so-called “Strongest Creature,” was dumbfounded.

He’d thought he was the most unpredictable figure, but if he’d had a recruit like Kuke, he’d have treated him like a priceless asset, never letting him go.

“The training camp should have my dismissal records. Dare to release those files? And, oh, the reason I was dismissed? For being ‘too weak.'”

Laughter erupted.

“Too weak?” People held their sides, roaring with laughter. Even the staunchest Navy supporters couldn’t help themselves.

Navy soldiers engaged in combat with Hancock stared at Sengoku in disbelief.

Kuke, too weak? If Kuke was weak, then who could be considered strong?

Even Whitebeard wouldn’t dare claim Kuke was weak.

“Hahaha! This is too funny! ‘Too weak’ Kuke, now here to kill the Fleet Admiral himself!”

“That’s karma for you.”

“Serves him right.”

Not to mention anyone else, even some of the Navy soldiers couldn’t help but feel Sengoku deserved this.

Sengoku, however, was beside himself with frustration. Back then, Kuke really had been weak, one of the lowest ranks in the camp. He knew if he tried to explain that, it would only bring him more ridicule. No one would believe him now.

Because now, everyone only believed what they could see.

Kuke was undeniably powerful.

The Five Elders in Mariejois exchanged glances.

Kuke’s discharge and defection had been due to this?

Surely, this had to be some kind of cruel joke.

As much as they despised Kuke, they couldn’t deny that he might be one of the greatest talents the seas had seen in centuries. At just twenty, he had already reached the peak of power.

His growth had eclipsed even that of Roger or Rocks.

And yet the Navy dismissed him for being ‘too weak’?

“Damn it…” The Five Elders looked around in silent fury.

If they could, they would have loved to tear into the heads of the Navy’s leadership. How could they be so dense?

“No matter if Sengoku survives today or not, he is no longer fit to lead the Navy.”

“We once thought highly of him, believed he’d lead the Navy to new heights… Turns out he’s only led it to become the greatest laughingstock.”

“He must be removed!”

The Five Elders had had enough.

“And Zephyr too. That blind fool. No wonder the training camp has been in decline year after year. Get him out!”

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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 154+ at patreon.com/Emik01.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep