Chapter 15: Naval Betrayal? Sengoku Spits Blood

"Enies Lobby Destroyed!"

"The Hidden Secret Behind the Holy Land Invasion: Vice Admiral Gion Joins Kuke's Radiant Eclipse Pirates as Vice Captain. Was the invasion of the Holy Land orchestrated by the Navy?"

"Kuke Reappears After Two Weeks, Destroying Enies Lobby. What has the Navy been doing this whole time? Were they really hunting him?"

"Is the Navy and Kuke's feud just a play?"

The newspapers from major press outlets wasted no time spreading the news across the seas.

The shocking headlines, all related to Kuke, rocked the entire world.

People reading the news were dumbfounded.

Yet, they found the speculations in the newspapers quite plausible.

"So that's it! Mr. Kuke, someone of such power and capability, who we'd never heard of before... he must have been secretly trained by the Navy!"

"It makes sense! The invasion of the Holy Land and the destruction of Enies Lobby were all part of the Navy's plan to assert dominance over the World Government!"

"Impressive! Fleet Admiral Sengoku is a genius!"

"Is the Navy finally rebelling against the World Government? The global balance of power is about to shift."

The Navy's reputation suddenly surged.

In the eyes of many, the Navy had always been respected, especially by commoners who saw them as protectors. The only stain on their reputation was their connection to the World Government and, more specifically, to the Celestial Dragons.

…

Meanwhile, in the New World, aboard the Whitebeard Pirates' ship…

"Father, could it be true? Is the Navy really planning to go to war against the World Government?"

"The power dynamics of the world are about to change," Marco and the other commanders excitedly gathered, discussing the news.

If the Navy really did rebel against the World Government, pirates would have a much easier time ruling the seas, and the world would become a haven for them.

"It's fake. Absolutely fake. Sengoku is the most loyal dog of the World Government. There's no way he'd ever betray them," Whitebeard shook his head, tossing aside the newspaper. "It's all nonsense."

"So it's not true," Marco and the others sighed, clearly disappointed.

It would have been amazing if it were real.

"If the Navy isn't involved, then that means the Holy Land invasion and the destruction of Enies Lobby were all Kuke's doing," one of the commanders pointed out.

The others couldn't help but gasp in shock.

"Kuke is terrifying! He's a madman!"

"To invade the Holy Land and destroy Enies Lobby, those are feats no one has dared to even think about in centuries!"

"And not only did he dare, he succeeded. Even I have to admire him."

These hardened commanders, known as monsters in their own right, found themselves feeling a rare sense of respect for Kuke.

Even Whitebeard couldn't help but take a long look at Kuke's picture in the newspaper.

After a few moments of silence, he chuckled, "Gurarara... interesting kid. I wonder if he'll make it to the New World alive."

…

While Whitebeard quickly saw through the fake narrative, many others did not.

Rumors that the Navy was preparing to rebel against the World Government spread like wildfire across the seas.

"No wonder the Navy seemed to be hunting Kuke with full force, yet for two weeks, they haven't been able to catch him. The whole thing must be a farce!"

"Tch, the World Government must be crying right now."

Doubt and suspicion filled every corner of the world.

Back in the Holy Land, the Five Elders sat around a table, glaring at the newspapers.

Their eyes bulged with fury, veins throbbing on their foreheads as they clenched their fists, filled with a growing sense of panic.

"Did the Navy really betray us?" one of the elders growled.

"Vice Admiral Gion has defected, and the Holy Land was infiltrated—so it was all an inside job?! What exactly is Kuke's identity? He wasn't even on our radar before, and now he's wreaking havoc. Was he a Navy officer too?!" The Five Elders' angry roars echoed throughout the Holy Land.

"Summon Sengoku immediately! Have him bring all the Admirals to the Holy Land!"

The Five Elders were genuinely alarmed.

This was no small matter. If the Navy had truly turned against them, the World Government's control over the seas would crumble.

"If they refuse to come, it means the Navy can no longer be trusted."

A murderous glint appeared in the eyes of the Five Elders.

If the Navy was no longer trustworthy, then both Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the Admirals would need to be eliminated.

…

At Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face was twisted with rage.

He had just received the news that Enies Lobby had been attacked. Immediately, he dispatched forces to the island.

"That sneaky brat tricked us! He never went to the New World at all!" Sengoku seethed, feeling as though he had been made a fool of.

He had been played by a boy, toyed with like a puppet.

"Vice Admiral Gion has been exposed. It's too late to cover it up. I can't sit around any longer. I'll personally go capture him. No matter what, he won't escape again today," Sengoku growled, fury burning in his eyes.

There was no other option. He had to bring Kuke in, or he would have no explanation to offer the World Government.

Arriving at Enies Lobby, Sengoku found only wreckage floating on the water.

The island was no more.

"Where is he?" Sengoku demanded, turning to Admiral Aokiji.

Aokiji shrugged, "By the time we arrived, he was long gone. We searched for miles but found no trace of Kuke."

Sengoku ground his teeth in frustration, his eyes bloodshot. Kuke had slipped through his fingers once again.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, are we really going to war with the World Government?" Aokiji leaned in and whispered.

Sengoku froze.

His heart dropped.

"Kuzan! Do you realize what you're saying? Just for that statement, I could throw you into Impel Down!" Sengoku snapped, his voice trembling with fear. His eyes darted around, checking to make sure no one else had heard.

"Fleet Admiral, I'm just repeating what the newspapers are saying," Aokiji said calmly, handing Sengoku the latest issue.

Sengoku's face darkened as he scanned the pages.

His expression shifted from rage to terror. His hands trembled, his skin paling as he realized the gravity of the situation.

In sheer panic, Sengoku coughed up a mouthful of blood. The situation was killing him.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Five Elders have issued a direct order. You, along with all the Navy's top officers, are to report to the Holy Land immediately for a meeting. No delays will be tolerated."

Sweat poured down Sengoku's face.