Chapter 303: Weitian's True Objective

"What are you saying?!" Akainu's face turned hideously dark, a dark premonition sprouting in his chest.

"Hey, hey, hey... Making a joke like this at a time like this isn't funny at all, Vice Admiral Weitian. The situational parameters right now are unique—we can discuss the Fleet Admiral seat in detail once the war is concluded," one of the Five Elders said with a force-fed laugh.

From the looks of it, Weitian was attempting a direct political coup; otherwise, she wouldn't have delayed her emergence until this exact milestone. She had clearly set her sights on the top command seat of the Marines long ago.

Given her monumental prestige within the Navy, becoming the next Fleet Admiral was essentially guaranteed under normal progression—so logically speaking, why was she in such an ungodly hurry?

Though he couldn't decode her underlying motives, the Elder knew beyond doubt that they had to placate Weitian immediately.

In the current volatile balance, having a top-tier powerhouse step onto their side was equivalent to holding a game-changing trump card.

"I declare it here and now—you shall be appointed the next Fleet Admiral, Weitian! I believe no officer in the Navy will object." The Elder cast a quick glance over the assembled Marine officers.

"We have no objections!" A thunderous wave of cheering erupted across the ranks.

Vice Admiral Weitian had been awarded the title of the youngest Vice Admiral in Navy history at the tender age of fifteen. Since her ascension, she had accomplished monumental feat after miracle. Had it not been for concerns regarding her youth, she would have long since been elevated to the highest military authority as one of the three Admirals.

Within the Navy, her absolute prestige arguably surpassed even the Admirals—and she was a woman!

Since the founding of the Navy eight hundred years ago, zero precedent existed for a female Fleet Admiral, to say nothing of a breathtaking beauty whose physical elegance matched even the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock.

"I said I am becoming Fleet Admiral RIGHT NOW!" Weitian declared once more. Ignoring the Five Elders completely, she stepped slowly toward Akainu.

Being flatly brushed aside caused the Five Elder's body to shiver with rage; never in his long life had he imagined being ignored by a mere Marine.

Every pair of eyes on the field locked firmly onto Weitian and Akainu. The Revolutionary Army commanders stood completely dumbfounded, having zero clue what manner of political drama was unfolding before them.

It wasn't just them—the World Government's high command was equally at a total loss. The three Admirals traded bewildered glances, utterly uncertain of how to respond.

HUMMM...

Swirling tendrils of fire expanded outward from Weitian's frame, fanning gracefully into open airspace. "Let me ask all of you—why did you enlist to become Marines in the first place?!"

The question struck like a heavy thunderbolt directly into the hearts of every Marine on the plaza.

They couldn't decode why she posed such a fundamental query at a milestone like this, yet they involuntarily plunged into deep reflection.

"FOR JUSTICE!" In the midst of the collective hesitation, a young Marine officer stepped forward.

It was the Navy's rising star, Grant—Aokiji's disciple.

With someone taking the lead, dozens of officers stepped forward immediately. "For justice! For world peace!"

"That's right! We became Marines to uphold absolute justice!" The declaration resonated instantly across the souls of every soldier present.

"And... WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR?!" Weitian's sharp gaze swept across the entire Navy assembly.

"FOR JUSTICE!" This time, zero hesitation remained as the soldiers barked back in unison.

"Oh?" Weitian let out a soft, cold laugh, rotating her focus toward a tragic corner of the plaza where corpses were piled like mountains. "And what did THEY sacrifice their lives for?"

The soldiers followed her gaze toward the blood-soaked pile. "They..."

Their fallen comrades... their brothers-in-arms... What had they died for? For justice!

To cast aside one's life for justice, to sacrifice oneself for the world—their deaths were noble and worth it!

In an instant, the Marines felt as though they had reclaimed their core purpose; they had stepped onto this catastrophic battlefield to alter a turbulent era.

They fought for the justice anchored in their souls, and for the families... hidden deep within their hearts.

Seeing the Navy's morale reach a soaring, righteous peak, the Five Elders let out a visible sigh of relief. Casting a glance at Akainu's hideously dark face, a realization dawned on their minds:

Weitian was fundamentally far better suited to lead the Navy as Fleet Admiral!

Fine!

Once this war concluded, they would officially replace Akainu with Weitian as the new Fleet Admiral!

The Elders traded satisfied, smiling glances.

Now that the decision had been silently reached in their minds, Weitian's command aura and brilliant presence seemed to shine with even greater intensity. How had they failed to recognize this girl's absolute talent sooner?

"THEY DIED FOR JUSTICE!" tens of thousands of Marines shouted in deafening unison, their combined voice shaking the heavens!

Yet right at the absolute microsecond their fervor peaked, a series of scorching flames erupted from Weitian's eyes, sweeping across the entire plaza.

"WRONG!"

In a fraction of a heartbeat, every smiling face froze.

"W-What...?" The soldiers stared in disbelief, wondering if their ears had played a trick on them. Why would Vice Admiral Weitian utter a statement so completely illogical?

"I said... EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM DIED AS ABSOLUTE FOOLS!" Weitian's voice seemed laced with an intoxicating, magical authority, piercing clean through their psychological defenses to strike their very souls.

Total, suffocating silence descended over the battlefield. Even the Revolutionary Army subversives were left completely baffled, unable to comprehend what this female Marine Vice Admiral was playing at.

Only Dragon's eyes glinted with a sharp, brilliant light as he eyed Weitian with a profound touch of surprise.

"V-Vice Admiral Weitian... W-What do you mean by that?!"

"What do I mean?!" A bone-chilling frost flashed through Weitian's eyes. "Do you truly harbor zero awareness in your hearts regarding why those men were forced to bleed and die out here?!"

Terrified by the sheer intensity radiating from Weitian's gaze, the officer involuntarily stumbled back a step, gasping frantically for air.

Under her fierce interrogation, an undeniable mental picture suddenly flashed through the minds of every Marine.

"They..." For reasons they couldn't articulate, a sudden, vast void hollowed out their chests.

The Five Elders suddenly experienced a dark, terrifying premonition.

Sure enough, in the very next heartbeat, a scene unfolded that made them want to end their own lives on the spot.

"IT WAS FOR THEM!" Weitian swept her arm wide, pointing a finger straight into the high sky.

Her target vector was aimed directly at Dragon's location.

"That's..."

"THE CELESTIAL DRAGONS!" Every pupil on the plaza contracted to a tiny point in absolute, jaw-dropping horror.

Zero onlookers had calculated that Weitian possessed such suicidal audacity—she was openly declaring hostility toward the Celestial Dragons before the entire world!

Not only that, she was forcefully dragging the entire Navy assembly to stand beside her in opposing the World Nobles! It was utter, terrifying madness!

Even Dragon was caught visibly off guard.

Allocating absolute zero concern to the shock-stricken gazes locked onto her, Weitian slowly turned her back. "Your cowardice disgusts me beyond measure. You know with absolute clarity why those men died out here."

"Your own souls have already developed a deep, visceral revulsion toward dying a meaningless death for such trash, yet you lack the courage to speak the absolute truth!"

The anger generated by her harsh insult gradually dissolved into a profound, crushing sense of shame.

"WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU BLABBERING ABOUT?!" Akainu roared in pure rage. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE FALLOUT OF THIS STATEMENT MEANS?!"

Though his own soul held deep revulsion toward the reality, it remained absolute truth regardless.

Which was precisely why he was so infuriated—for an officer to openly declare such treason before the eyes of the world would trigger a catastrophic shift far beyond human control!

Yet Weitian allocated absolute zero attention to Akainu's rage, declaring flatly: "I shall lead you to forge a new era, to pursue TRUE Justice! Who among you is willing to follow?!"

The entire Navy assembly froze on the spot.

"I am claiming the seat of Fleet Admiral to lead the Navy out from under the World Government's tyranny! Are any of you... brave enough to follow my lead?"

Enveloped in radiant crimson flames that amplified her ethereal beauty and domineering presence, Weitian left every soldier paralyzed in awe.

Yet not a single Marine moved.

They were terrified!

"Hmph!" Akainu sneered in cold contempt. "Did you honestly expect these men to follow a little girl down an absurd, delusional path?"

"True Justice? Does a ridiculous concept like that even exist in reality?"

Right as the Marines' morale hit its absolute rock-bottom, a loud, clear voice suddenly echoed across the silent plaza:

"THIS OLD MAN SUPPORTS YOUR ASCENSION AS THE NEW FLEET ADMIRAL!"