Chapter 543: Zephyr's Opposition
When the other officers finally processed what had been said, they too reacted.
"Fleet Admiral, we cannot agree to this!" several Vice Admirals immediately stood up to object. "The Seven Warlords of the Sea... it's a nice name, but isn't it just recruiting pirates to carry out the Marines' justice? Can that still be called justice?"
Kong watched as officer after officer stood, their faces masks of discontent. He felt his authority being challenged. It seemed this great defeat had cost him all his prestige within the Navy.
He lowered his head, saying nothing.
Seeing this, Sengoku, at his right hand, waved his hand. "All of you, sit down. Let the Fleet Admiral finish."
The officers heeded Sengoku's words. Though still displeased, they sat back down, their expressions unchanged, waiting for the Fleet Admiral to give them a proper explanation.
"Hah..." Kong took a deep breath.
"I know you are all unhappy, but do you think I am not?" he said, his voice heavy as he looked at the many pairs of eyes fixed on him. "The failure of this operation has crippled the Marines, and it was all due to my flawed decision-making. The consequence is that the Navy has lost its control over the seas. It will take time to restore the Navy to its former glory, but the World Government cannot wait that long. The Seven Warlords of the Sea is the solution the World Government has devised to assist the Navy in suppressing the seas during this period."
But Kong's words were clearly having little effect. Everyone was still furious, their faces grim.
Bang!
"Since when do we Marines need the help of pirates?" Zephyr demanded, his head bowed as he slammed a fist on the table. The suppressed rage radiating from him made even Sengoku, sitting beside him, look over with concern. Sengoku placed a hand on Zephyr's shoulder, pressing down gently, signaling him not to get too agitated.
"Then you tell me what we should do!" Kong shot back, his own anger flaring. "What will the Navy use to suppress the seas? The five or six thousand defeated and wounded soldiers we have left in the port? Or perhaps you can single-handedly clear the seas of all that trash? If you can, I will gladly hand over the position of Fleet Admiral to you!"
This Zephyr had been contradicting him from the very beginning, and it was getting on his nerves.
"Fleet Admiral, what are you saying? Please calm down. Zephyr is only thinking of the Navy's best interests!" Tsuru interjected, trying to smooth things over.
"He's thinking of the Navy? Am I not? I have already fought as hard as I can for us, but this is an order from the Five Elders of the World Government! Furthermore, this proposal was made three years ago, and I opposed it then! But now, the situation is dire. We Marines have no power to choose!" Kong roared, pounding the table, emphasizing every word.
His outburst silenced everyone. Tsuru, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Garp all lowered their heads without a word. Aokiji, Akainu, Kizaru, and the others didn't even have the right to interject, listening silently from the back.
The meeting room was quiet for a long time. No one spoke; no one moved. Zephyr kept his head down, his expression dark and conflicted.
Kong looked at the faces of everyone present. Aside from Zephyr and a few of the more radical officers who still looked conflicted, the others showed no expression. This brought Kong a small measure of relief.
"Zephyr, I know you are dissatisfied, but we are in a difficult position," Kong said, his tone softening as he looked at the other admiral with pleading eyes. "I take full responsibility for the failure of this operation. I have already submitted my resignation to the World Government. What the Navy needs right now is recovery and stability. Once we have accumulated enough strength, the Seven Warlords will be nothing more than disposable pawns. This is just an expedient measure by the World Government."
Zephyr looked up at Kong and, after a moment, gave a slight nod. He had compromised. He had no other choice. The Navy had no say in this matter. This meeting wasn't to ask for their opinions; it was merely to inform them, to have them prepare themselves mentally.
With Zephyr's concession, Kong breathed a sigh of relief. As for the lingering dissatisfaction of a few other officers, he could ignore it. In the face of the bigger picture, individual opinions could be disregarded.
The meeting quickly came to an end. The Navy began the long process of licking its wounds. Kong could now report the Navy's compliance to the World Government.
When the Five Elders received the message from Fleet Admiral Kong, Saint Marcus Mars looked at the intelligence report. "The Navy has agreed. However, this Zephyr is rather tactless."
"Zephyr? He's just a washed-up old man. Pay him no mind. Just let him train the new recruits so the Navy can recover its strength quickly," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn said, unconcerned by Zephyr's opposition during the meeting.
"Mm," Mars nodded, not dwelling on the subject of Zephyr.
"By the way," Saturn continued, pulling out Kong's resignation letter, "in his report, Kong submitted his resignation. Should we approve it?"
"Hmm? Why would Kong submit his resignation at a time like this?" Mars wondered aloud. "The Navy is at its weakest. It needs someone like Kong to provide stability. For him to think of resigning now..."
"Heh! It's all because the failure of this war has made his position as Fleet Admiral precarious," the other Saint Saturn said with a sneer. "He wants to use our hand, the World Government's, to stabilize his own position. But this is fine. The Warlord system has only just begun. We need a Fleet Admiral who will listen to the World Government. I believe Kong will be agreeable. Although we all favor Sengoku, now is clearly not the time." He saw right through Kong's petty scheme. After holding power for thirty years, did they really think he would give it up so easily?
"A lust for power... this is good," said Saint Shepherd Ju Peter. "We're not afraid of his ambition, we're afraid of him having none. Publicly reject this resignation. Tell him the World Government needs him, the Navy needs him. Give him plenty of face."
"Alright, I'll reject it then," said Saint Jaygarcia Saturn.
"However, Kong has indeed been Fleet Admiral for too long," added Saint Topman Warcury. "Once the Warlord system is stable, we should have him step down."
"Will he step down obediently?" asked Ju Peter.
"We'll just give him the empty title of Commander-in-Chief. I trust he knows what's good for him," Mars said.
"Commander-in-Chief? That is a fine title," the other Saturn chuckled. The other four Elders smiled as well.
Their discussion quickly concluded. A rejection notice was issued from the office of the Five Elders and transmitted to Marine Headquarters.
In front of all the assembled Marine officers, the official rejection of Fleet Admiral Kong's resignation was announced.
"Fleet Admiral Kong of the Steel Bone, you have served the Navy diligently for over thirty years. Your contributions are immense. You must not be discouraged by a temporary defeat. The Navy needs you. The World Government needs you. The people of the world need you to lead the Navy to suppress the seas. We hereby reject your request for resignation. Continue to command the Navy and contribute to world peace."
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