At the same time, the Marines gradually withdrew from Alubarna and marched towards Nanohana city in an orderly manner. At everyone's pace, it would take at least a week to walk in the desert.
But such a long journey is already a common thing for these marines.
Even though the surrounding environment is bad, it can be said that they are much better than being at the sea with no land in sight.
But at the forefront of the troops, Aokiji and Kizaru seemed deeply troubled.
"... Did you see the latest news?"
Aokiji asked in a low voice.
Kizaru nodded, setting aside his usual carefree demeanor. He glanced discreetly at Zephyr, who was following behind them.
"Edward Weevil becoming a warlord... The one hit hardest by this must be the old man."
"How's he holding up?"
"No reaction so far. That's what worries me the most."
Kizaru let out a long sigh.
Among Zephyr's former students, Kizaru was one of those who had the worst relationship with him.
But even he couldn't understand what the higher-ups were thinking this time.
Aokiji, on the other hand, looked downright furious.
He knew that there had been recent disagreements between Sengoku and Zephyr within the Marines, but the two were comrades who had fought side by side for many years.
Given Sengoku's personality, it was impossible for him to do such a thing.
Therefore, such a humiliating decision could only be a direct order from the top of the World Government.
"What on earth were those people thinking?"
"When Whitebeard Jr attacked the ship led by Zephyr-sensei, not only was the whole ship of recruits killed in front of Zephyr-sensei but even one of Zephyr-sensei's arms was lost at that time."
"Letting such a person become a Warlord? This is almost a mockery."
"I'm afraid it's not that simple."
Kizaru looked forward silently, his lens reflecting the sunlight so that Aokiji beside him could not see his specific expression; only Kizaru's solemn voice came into his ears: "Since they know the possible consequences, but still make such a choice, it can only prove that they are targeting Zephyr-sensei."
Aokiji also realized this, his brows furrowing deeply into a "川" shape.
"Are you saying that they are forcing Zephyr-sensei to rebel?!"
"With the old man's originally fiery personality, faced with such a situation, what choice do you think he will make?"
Aokiji's breath was choked.
In the Marines, Zephyr is almost one of the few people who have the strongest belief in justice.
But sometimes firmness also means stubbornness.
Once such people's beliefs collapse, they will often go directly to another extreme, and it is not impossible for them to fall into evil ways completely.
Kizaru continued: "A few days ago, Mr. Sengoku told me about this matter and asked me to suppress the old man to prevent him from doing anything extreme under impulse."
"After all, everyone knows my relationship with him isn't good. Even if I had to act against him, it would still be somewhat justifiable."
Aokiji fell silent, his gaze shifting uneasily toward Zephyr, who was following behind the main force with a blank expression. "Maybe what the old man said at the meeting was heard by those people."
There was still half a sentence that Aokiji didn't say.
After all, the Marines are just a tool in the hands of the World Government.
Once it loses its value or there is a possibility of backlash, it will be immediately abandoned.
Even for Zephyr, who has made countless contributions and trained countless elite marines, it is the same.
"We should think about the meaning of the Marines's existence."
Kizaru was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look at Aokiji, and said: "I didn't hear anything."
"Hehe, then, can you not think about anything? Unclear Justice is not real justice."
Kizaru showed no reaction to Aokiji's sarcastic remark, merely responding flatly: "Go keep an eye on the old man."
"Yeah."
Aokiji acknowledged and then stopped walking. He picked up a water bottle and some bread, heading toward Zephyr at the back of the formation.
Soon, he caught sight of the spirited old man.
At this moment, Zephyr didn't look the least bit shaken.
But the calmer he seemed, the more uneasy Aokiji felt.
He had seen something similar before, a Vice-Admiral whose family was slaughtered by pirates and later betrayed by the very civilians he had protected.
At first, he appeared completely fine.
But once everyone let their guard down, he shot himself in the head in his office.
The blood sprayed from the back of his head stained the "Justice" insignia on the wall a deep red color.
"Zephyr-sensei, have some water."
Aokiji shook the kettle in his hand and stuffed a whole piece of bread into Zephyr's hand.
"Just right, I'm a little hungry too."
Zephyr didn't hesitate, popping the cap open and downing the entire bottle in one go, then stuffing the bread into his mouth and swallowing it with a few bites.
After letting out a long breath, he turned his head and looked at Aokiji beside him: "Are you worried that I will do something impulsive after knowing that Edward Weevil has become a Warlord?"
"Uh..."
Aokiji was stunned for a moment but did not deny it.
Zephyr shook his head and continued: "If I really become hysterical because of this, or even rebel against the Marines, then I will follow their wishes and fall into their trap."
"Kuzan."
Zephyr looked up at Aokiji; his eyes were red, but his voice was still as cold as a stone: "They are afraid."
"They fear that I will awaken true justice, fear that this ideology rooted in White Knight Gawain's philosophy will ultimately push the Marines against the World Government."
"I shouldn't be in pain. I shouldn't lose control. I shouldn't break down. I should be happy..."
"I won't let them get what they want!"
The last sentence was almost squeezed out from Zephyr's teeth.
He was trying his best to restrain his anger and suppress the surging emotions in his heart that almost burned his reason completely.
This deep pain of being stabbed in the back also made Zephyr more convinced.
Gawain's views on the World Government and the world pattern are accurate, even deep in his bones.
The cancer that makes this world so chaotic is precisely the order built by the World Government, or in other words, the Celestial Dragons who stand in power and overlook everything.
"Roger has done the first step, so I will do the second step!"
Aokiji was very anxious: "Zephyr-sensei, you..."
But when he looked up at Zephyr, he saw only a pair of calm and almost cold eyes: "What do you think I will do? Hysterical enough to blow up the entire New World with the Dyna Stone?"
"Don't joke!"
"That kind of childish means will not have any practical effect at all. The destruction of the New World will only make the World Government the biggest winner."
"According to White Knight Gawain, the Marines play the role of a pressure regulator in the stable structure constructed by the World Government."
"Then I will show him that the Marines can not only be a pressure regulator under the structure constructed by the World Government but also the sword that pierces the heart of the World Government."
"To establish a new order, the old order must be destroyed, and there must be bloodshed and sacrifice."
"Since revolution means bloodshed and sacrifice, then I will bear all of this."
As Zephyr spoke, Aokiji's expression became more and more solemn.
He knew clearly that Zephyr had finally gone to an extreme, as he had guessed.
However, unlike the extreme he expected, Zephyr was unusually calm at this time, but only Aokiji, as a student, could feel the unusual anger in Zephyr's heart.
"Zephyr-sensei, there may be a turning point in this matter."