Chapter 753: The ideological dispute among the old marines

...

The huge conference hall was silent.

Except for Ajin who seemed to have expected it, the others were all looking at the veteran in front of them who had dedicated his entire life to the navy in shock.

"What's wrong? Didn't I explain it clearly enough?"

Zefa looked around and continued.

"You can continue to endure it if you want! Anyway, I can't continue to tolerate the chaos of the World Government!"

"Zefa!"

"Shut up and listen to me! You don't need to remind me what to say and what not to say!"

"I am already old, and I don't have many years left to live anyway. I don't want to live a life where my conscience is condemned every day! I don't want to fight for justice all my life, only to end up with a dishonored reputation in the end! If that happens, when I go to the other world, I will be too ashamed to face those navy officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for justice and my deceased family members!"

"So, starting today, I want to officially withdraw from the navy! Marshal Zhan Guo, please approve it!"

As Zefa said this, he took out the resignation letter he had written in advance and placed it solemnly in front of Zhan Guo.

"you!"

Zhan Guo's face flushed.

"Are you really determined to leave the Navy?"

"That's right!"

The two looked at each other, and their eyes seemed to sparkle across the air!

"Hahaha. I say, Zefa, you are such an old man. How come you are even more impulsive than me? Even if it is just a temper tantrum, there is no need to say it to this extent."

At the critical moment, Karp was not confused and stood up to try to ease the atmosphere.

"Yeah, Zefa, don't get excited. We have decades of comradeship. What are you doing? Put this thing away first, Sengoku! Regarding the prisoner escape, I think our navy can also do something secretly. As the saying goes, there are countermeasures for every policy. The order of the Five Elders is not to make the collective escape of high-risk prisoners in Impel Down public, but it does not prohibit our navy from taking action against them, so it is not considered as disobeying the order of the World Government."

Vice Admiral Tsuru also tried to resolve the conflict between the two by starting from the point of conflict that caused the quarrel.

"Hehehe."

Zefa smiled somewhat sadly.

"Don't you realize something is wrong? Since when did our navy have to beat around the bush to enforce "justice"? How sad!"

"I have finally understood. As long as the Navy has to unconditionally obey the orders of the five old men of the World Government, the Navy will never represent true justice! So you don't have to persuade me anymore. I have made up my mind to leave!"

Zefa directly rejected their kindness.

"Okay, okay! You are amazing! You are noble! You are a righteous person who cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in your eyes and cannot stand the slightest filth! And I am a puppet marshal who only obeys the orders of the World Government!"

Zhan Guo could no longer suppress the anger in his heart, he stood up and shouted loudly.

"You are so courageous and thoughtful. Why didn't you fight for the position of marshal? I admit that I didn't do well enough. I really want to know what choices you would make if you were really in this position and faced the same problems and concerns as me? And what path would you lead the navy on?"

"Hey, Sengoku, why are you also..."

Lieutenant General He rubbed his brows with a headache.

"Hmph! Zhan Guo, stop telling me that sacrificing a small number of people to protect the majority is also a just theory. Unjust things are unjust things. They will not become just acts of helplessness for any reason or excuse."

"Sometimes I really don't understand how much pressure the World Government has put on you! Is it true that if you dare to say "no" at all, there will be no navy on this sea tomorrow? If that's the case, then is there any need for this navy to exist?"

Zefa said righteously.

"Okay, okay! In that case, I can't force you to stay and stay with us old guys to be ruined and lose your reputation! Your resignation has been approved by this Marshal!!"

Zhan Guo said this and took out the seal to stamp it.

"Hey, hey, hey! You guys are all over 70 years old, why are you still acting like little kids and getting really angry at the slightest provocation?"

Vice Admiral Tsuru was about to step forward to stop him, but was held back by Garp.

"Let them be! Let's not try to persuade them anymore, Ahe."

Garp's expression gradually became serious. He could understand Sengoku's difficulties, but he also had the same idea as Zephyr in his heart, putting aside everything and just doing justice in his heart, regardless of anything! Even if he got a bloody head, he would have no regrets!

"This is not a matter of age. This is a clash of ideas between two old marines who have devoted their entire lives to the justice of the navy!!"

"Alas! It's just at this time!..."

"boom!"

The seal of the Admiral fell heavily! The result of this debate was settled!

"Teacher Zefa! You..."

The four admirals of the navy present also showed shocked expressions. They did not expect things to develop like this.

"Zeff... Sengoku... Alas! Why has it come to this?"

Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed helplessly.

Zefa turned a deaf ear to him, picked up the stamped document and walked out. After pushing open the door, he turned around and looked at the Admiral who was sitting dejectedly in the chair and said.

"Zhan Guo, you got one thing wrong."

Zhan Guo slowly raised his head when he heard this. Pressing the seal seemed to have almost exhausted all his strength.

Zefa paused and continued.

"It's not that I didn't fight for this position in the first place! It's that I, like all the other marines, chose to believe in you, and believed in your righteousness that reigns supreme!!"

"boom!"

Zefa closed the door and left without looking back, leaving behind Marshal Sengoku, whose pupils were trembling violently, and several naval leaders with complicated expressions.

"Marshal Sengoku, are you really going to let Zephyr rebel against the Navy? At this critical juncture?! The former admiral of the Navy, who has been serving as the Navy's chief instructor since his retirement, Black Arm Zephyr's departure from the Navy is bound to cause a huge shock given his influence in the Navy!"

Sakasuji narrowed her eyes and spoke seriously.

"Hey, hey, hey! What do you mean by rebelling against the navy? Watch your words, Sakaski! He's just an old man in his seventies who can't work any more and wants to retire!"

Kuzan opened his mouth to refute.

"Hmph! Don't be so naive! I'm thinking about the navy. Mr. Zephyr left with dissatisfaction with the World Government and the navy. What if he really takes the opposite path from us? If we want to stop him at that time, I'm afraid it will cost a lot!"

Sakasuji crossed her arms over her chest, crossed her legs and said indifferently.

"So according to you, should we take action against an old marine who has devoted his whole life to the navy?"

"I didn't say that, but for the sake of the Navy we should at least stop him from leaving or not let Zephyr-sensei take anyone else away."

"Alright, stop arguing, this matter ends here. The navy already owes him enough, and there is no reason not to let Zephyr leave."

Vice Admiral Tsuru said calmly.

...