Watching the figures slowly approaching, Hui knew this war was becoming increasingly interesting.
With the arrival of these people, Konan and her group's defeat was inevitable if they relied solely on themselves.
However, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Difficulties and desperate situations forged people the most effectively.
Today's battle was destined to leave behind blood and tears.
Yet, for Konan and the others, these blood and tears would become their greatest treasures from this world.
Only through loss could one truly learn to cherish.
Only through upheaval could one fundamentally change.
Every member of his Fourth Calamity Legion had to become the elite among elites, with iron-like determination and unwavering perseverance.
"Don't disappoint me. Teach them a harsh lesson… Garp!"
Hui muttered to himself, his gaze deep and contemplative.
At the forefront of the approaching group was none other than the legendary Garp, the Marine hero himself!
Of course, he was no longer a Marine at this point.
On his ship, Garp stood with a calm expression, gazing out at the distant sea, precisely in the direction of Post Island.
"Vice Admira… Lord Garp, we're now just ten nautical miles away from Post Island. According to our intelligence, the Shinobi Nation and the Avengers should already be engaged in battle," reported a middle-aged man who approached Garp.
He'd intended to address him as Vice Admiral but quickly corrected himself, remembering that Garp was no longer a Marine officer but a free agent.
It wasn't just Garp; the entire crew had been elite Marines but had now chosen freedom alongside him.
The reason behind Garp's departure from the Marines wasn't due to disillusionment or despair. Rather, it was a strategic necessity. Only by abandoning his Marine identity could he participate in this war against the Shinobi Nation without fearing potential consequences.
If he remained a Marine Vice Admiral, any conflict with the Shinobi Nation would inevitably lead to retaliation against the Marines, especially if the Shinobi Nation truly had connections with "God."
Now, having abandoned the Marines, even if Garp annihilated the Shinobi Nation, and even if the Shinobi Nation had ties with God, any revenge would fall solely upon him, leaving the Marines untouched.
After all, he was now not just a defector but also a wanted fugitive.
The official reason? Disobeying orders, attacking Fleet Admiral Sengoku, severely injuring him, stealing a warship, and betraying the Marines.
With such outrageous crimes, it was natural for the Marines to issue a bounty on his head.
But, naturally, everyone understood the hidden truth behind this incident.
It could be considered a clever and transparent plot, an open conspiracy orchestrated by the Marines against the Ninja Pirates.
Without clearly understanding the relationship between the Ninja Pirates and "God," the Marines would never have dared openly declare war on them.
But the Ninja Pirates had wiped out an entire force of 40,000 elite Marines, burying them forever beneath the sea.
Such deep enmity had to be avenged at any cost.
Now, presented with this golden opportunity to completely eradicate the Ninja Pirates and the Shinobi Nation, the Marines would never willingly pass it up.
Therefore, to exact revenge, Garp had to defect from the Marines. Only Garp could singlehandedly change the course of this war.
Only with Garp's defection would the Marines remain completely unrelated.
If God decided to seek vengeance, he could only target Garp personally, not the Marines.
And if it turned out that the Ninja Pirates had no connection with God after all, Garp could always return to the Marines without fear of criticism.
This was precisely the brilliance of an open conspiracy.
"Ten nautical miles, is it? Full speed ahead. I want to hurry and slaughter every last one of those bastards!"
Garp spoke, his usual sunny expression entirely gone.
He no longer carried his past bold and carefree demeanor, replaced instead by a face filled with chilling killing intent.
He had never wanted to become like this, but the previous incident had profoundly impacted him.
Perhaps, given enough time, he might once again become that Marine who once possessed the heart of a pure and noble man.
But for now, he hadn't recovered from that blow.
Those had been 40,000 Marines…All dead.
Buried beneath the sea, right before his eyes, forever lost.
He had wanted to save them, but at the time, he simply couldn't.
That feeling of helplessness had driven him to despair.
Many nights afterward, whenever Garp closed his eyes, he saw their faces.
His adjutants, his subordinates, his comrades, the younger generation he had high hopes for…
Those faces haunted him, making it nearly impossible for his heart to recover its former state.
Because, as a Marine hero, being forced to watch those people die helplessly was an unbearable blow for him.
"Yes, sir!"
The middle-aged man responded loudly before hurrying off to urge the crew onward.
The majority aboard the ship were middle-aged or older, all of them over forty-five years of age.
They had passed their prime, their strength gradually declining, though not yet drastically so.
In just a few years, they'd become elderly veterans, their roles diminishing even further.
These people should've been peacefully enjoying retirement, yet now they had defected from the Marines, marching once again into war.
All for one purpose: revenge!
Using their steadily weakening bodies, they would avenge the forty thousand Marines who died.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku lay seriously injured in a hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His heart was complicated.
Although Garp's betrayal was merely a carefully crafted open conspiracy, after wiping out the Ninja Pirates, as long as "God" didn't retaliate, Garp could easily return to the Marines as the Hero Vice Admiral once again.
But if the Ninja Pirates truly had close ties with "God," and retaliation began against those who participated in their destruction…?
At that time…
"Garp…"
Sengoku murmured quietly, repeating Garp's name with deep worry reflected in his eyes.
Beside him, Vice Admiral Tsuru could only sigh silently, offering quiet prayers for Garp's safety.
This scheme of betrayal had been devised jointly by the three of them, of course mainly due to Garp's own insistence.
"You mustn't die, Garp. You must return alive," Tsuru prayed inwardly, her expression growing distant and melancholy.
At the same time, those across the seas closely watching this war quickly noticed Garp's approach toward Post Island.
"Is that… the Hero Garp? The Marines have actually joined this war?!"
Someone shouted in disbelief, never expecting the Marines would get involved in this battle.
"Aren't they afraid that the Ninja Pirates really might have unclear connections with God? Aren't they afraid the Sea would once again enact its vengeance against the Marines?"
Many voiced similar concerns, convinced the Marines had gone completely mad.
But soon, someone noticed the latest bounty poster.
"Look here! Garp actually has a bounty on his head!"
Seeing the information on the bounty poster, the pirate exclaimed in shock, even rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
It was simply unbelievable!
Who was Garp? The legendary Marine who defeated the Rocks Pirates, the Hero Vice Admiral, a symbol and banner of Marine pride, an icon in whom many Marines placed their faith.
Garp was practically the living embodiment of Marine spirit!
Yet someone of his standing was actually now wanted by the Marines!
How could anyone possibly believe such a thing?
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