Chapter 88: 88. Vice Admiral's Rebellion, The Usual Method Of Smearing

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- Tsuru salvaged by the Marines was returned to the port in a disorganized state. Although her Devil Fruit grants her the ability to clean both living and non-living things, sea water remains her absolute nemesis. She had not forgotten that Alex possessed the ability to control sea water, but she did not anticipate him wielding the Double Fruit with such mastery, creating an unforeseen result in an instant. Coupled with that terrifying Haki, her own Observation Haki momentarily faltered, leaving her utterly defenseless. In that brief moment, she was struck directly. Thick towels were quickly retrieved from the overturned warship by the Marines and used to cover her hurriedly. However, seeing the departed Gion, Vice Admiral Tsuru felt a fleeting yet profound sense of helplessness that seemed to grow within her heart. Moments later, a massive explosion erupted from the distant sea. Towering waves rose skyward, reaching tens of meters high. A man with a robust build leapt from the water, landing firmly at the port, causing a slight tremor beneath him. "Vice Admiral Garp!" The female Marines waiting at the scene called out in excitement upon seeing him. "Am I late, Tsuru?" Garp asked, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness as he took in the state of the overturned ship and Tsuru's condition. Seeing that she wasn't gravely injured, he let out a sigh of relief. "No, you're on time. I just failed to restrain the enemy," Tsuru replied with a shake of her head. Since the incident involving Gion, both Tsuru and Garp had been heading in this direction. Tsuru had relied on Garp's arrival to bolster her confidence against Alex and ensure Gion's and the Marines' safety. But neither the process nor the outcome had unfolded as she had anticipated. Garp, momentarily silent, processed her words. After receiving word from Sengoku, he had ordered the warship to continue escorting the allied kings and raced alone toward Flevance at full speed. Yet, despite his efforts, it was clear that the battle was already over. Breaking the silence, Tsuru said, "Let's head back. I'll report everything to Sengoku myself." Understanding her mood, Garp said nothing further. Instead, he approached the overturned warship, gripping it firmly with both hands. With a mighty effort, he lifted the massive vessel—large enough to house thousands—and set it back into the sea. Once everything was in order, the group began their return to Naval Headquarters, the atmosphere somber. Shortly thereafter, shocking news spread during a Marine meeting: Vice Admiral Gion had defected. Though Marines defecting due to external circumstances or personal struggles wasn't unheard of, it was unprecedented for someone of Vice Admiral rank to abandon the organization after so many years of service. Only two individuals in Marine history had ever done so. The revelation left the room divided. Some were furious with Gion for her role in the incident; others directed their anger at Alex for his actions. Among them, Tokikake, the Marine known by the codename "Chaton," was particularly incensed. His frustration boiled over as he proposed marching into Wanokuni to retrieve Gion. This impassioned declaration, however, was met with a sharp reprimand from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. "Sending forces to recover one of our own is not the same as subjugating a territory," Sengoku stated firmly. "Pirates marching into Marineford and Marines marching into the New World are entirely different matters." His words silenced the room, leaving no room for further debate. This incident appeared to be the result of collusion between Gion and Alex, but the true culprit was undoubtedly the tragic fall of Flevance, orchestrated by the World Government. Neither Sengoku nor Tsuru was willing to openly address this core issue, even though it left both of them deeply unsettled. Ultimately, with an outcome that could not be hidden and under the influence of the Five Elders, the proposal to send troops to pursue Gion was quietly dismissed. Instead, a newspaper condemning Gion for her betrayal was distributed worldwide, an attempt to mitigate the damage this incident had inflicted on the World Government and the Marines' reputation. In the aftermath, Sengoku arranged for Chief of Staff Tsuru to take a leave of absence, and the Marine's focus shifted to easing tensions in North Blue, particularly where Doflamingo's activities had created pressure. As the newspapers circulated across the seas, one warship flew high above the waves. Onboard, Gion studied the publication that denounced her as a traitor to the Marines. While many facts were presented, they were laced with baseless accusations, painting her as a selfish deserter. Adding insult to injury, the paper rehashed rumors of her past, claiming she had been "snatched" by Alex years prior. Though unsubstantiated, this detail had been deliberately included to stoke the flames of conspiracy theories. "How does it feel? The World Government's usual tactics?" Alex asked, watching her frown with an amused smile. Gion shot him a sharp look before folding the newspaper shut. Though Alex was now technically her superior, she felt no real subordination in their interactions. "Even though I've seen this sort of thing before, experiencing it firsthand is... unsettling," she admitted. The newspapers were a weapon that reached every corner of the world. While Gion didn't care much about her reputation within the World Government or the Marines, she felt a sting knowing how these lies might affect the people she cared about. She reminded herself that by joining Alex's side, she had already abandoned any hope of maintaining those connections. "Feeling uncomfortable? Seems like you care more about public opinion than you let on," Alex teased with a laugh. "You don't need to give weight to their views," he continued, gesturing toward the paper. "The same system that allows a simple newspaper to reshape the world's understanding can just as easily be turned against them. Justice, truth, history—they're all written by the victors. "Take the World Government. They preach justice today, but can you be certain they weren't the villains a few hundred years ago? And just the same, even if I'm branded an evil pirate now, one day I could be celebrated as the embodiment of justice." Gion glanced at Alex, her expression softening. "You're as eloquent as ever," she said wryly. Though she deflected with sarcasm, his words had struck a chord. The sting of the newspaper's accusations faded slightly as she reflected on his perspective. She had chosen this path willingly, and there was no turning back. If the man standing before her could truly confront the injustices of the world, perhaps, in the end, a brighter future awaited them all.