บท 125: Chapter 124 New Participant, Zephyr
Why choose Edward Weevil?
The key reason is that he will be chosen as a Shichibukai in the future, which provides a reason and necessity to select him.
In terms of qualifications, Weevil is also suitable. He demonstrated exceptional strength by annihilating over ten pirate crews under Whitebeard's flag after Whitebeard's death. Moreover, he even severed the arm of former Admiral Zephyr, showcasing his power.
Weevil's strength is already sufficient, even surpassing Crocodile, who was recently captured.
However, this is not the crucial aspect that the Five Elder value. The most significant factor that they value in Weevil is his deep enmity with Zephyr.
Weevil not only severed Zephyr's arm but almost killed all the trainees he had at that time. This dealt a heavy blow to Zephyr, causing him to nearly lose all hope. Consequently, Zephyr gradually deviated from the path and started developing in a direction that they did not wish to see.
Since the release of the footage of Weevil becoming a Shichibukai, Zephyr has become increasingly uncontrollable. The pirate guerrilla organization he established became a force that operated independently of the World Government's control, answering only to Zephyr himself.
What does this mean?
It means that Zephyr created a Marine force right under the World Government's nose, which listens to only his commands. Moreover, what irritates the Five Elder even more is that the members of this pirate guerrilla organization were recruited from the Marines.
If Zephyr is allowed to remain in the Marines, he will continue to draw talented individuals from within the organization. This situation is akin to nurturing a tiger that may turn against its master at any moment. They cannot sit idly by and allow him to continue growing.
However, Zephyr holds a unique position in the Marines and is of great importance. Taking action against him would chill the hearts of numerous high-ranking Marines.
But they cannot let Zephyr continue on this path.
So, openly targeting Zephyr is not an option, but they can find a way to force him to leave.
Edward Weevil is the perfect pawn for this.
Since Zephyr already has independent thoughts, they can use Weevil to provoke him and force him to leave the Marines. The guerrilla group would likely follow him as well.
Zephyr would undoubtedly continue hunting pirates afterward, and all they need to do is plant a crime on him during this Zephyr. This would enable them to smoothly eliminate him.
By then, no one in the Marines would have any objections.
In any case, they cannot allow a Neo Marine force to rise.
In a situation that the Marines did not anticipate, the Five Elder have already sent someone to contact Edward Weevil, who is currently being hunted by Whitebeard all over the world.
...
On the other side, in the first half of the Grand Line, Nico Robin, who escaped from Alabasta, encountered Monkey D Dragon who deliberately sought her out in the Grand Line.
Dragon extended an invitation to her, inviting her to join the Revolutionary Army.
However, Robin declined the offer. She didn't want to get involved in those matters.
She was just an archaeologist, someone who wanted to know history.
Dragon could only come up with an alternative plan. Since Robin wanted to know history, she needed to find the Poneglyph. Additionally, Luffy and his crew needed to find Raftel, which required the Poneglyph. Dragon also needed to locate the power that could overthrow the World Government.
Thus, Dragon suggested that Robin join the Straw Hat Pirates.
After considering it, Robin agreed to the idea. In the answer she gave during the QnA, it seemed that she had indeed joined the Straw Hat Pirates in Alabasta, and it seemed that she got along well with them.
Moreover, this would give her the opportunity to search for the Poneglyph and uncover the truth of history, resolving her doubts.
More importantly, she was free now. She could make all her decisions based on her own thoughts.
And all of this is thanks to the QnA livestream, thanks to Luke. Now she possesses the power to control her own life.
A grateful and contemplative expression flashed in Robin's eyes. She didn't know who Luke really was, what his purpose was, where he was now, or when the next QnA livestream would be.
It seemed like she owed this man too much.
...
Meanwhile, Luke was searching for the perfect opportunity for the next livestream on the moon.
He could see all the actions of the World Government.
It seemed that the Five Elder were quite shaken by his final move, the Pluton.
He could observe from the moon as Marine ships patrolled the area around Mariejois in a circular trajectory, day and night. They couldn't even sleep in peace.
It was fun for Luke to see these old timers uncomfortable.
Upon seeing the Five Elder summoning Edward Weevil as a replacement for Crocodile to target Zephyr, Luke immediately realized that a new opportunity had arisen.
...
At the same time, in a certain sea area in the New World, Zephyr was leading his pirate guerrilla group, hunting down pirates. They had just wiped out a pirate crew.
Ever since his falling out with the Five Elder over the Smoker incident, Zephyr had come to the New World with his pirate guerrilla group.
He had become increasingly dissatisfied with the World Government and, by extension, the Marines. He realized that the Marines were becoming puppets of the Five Elder, and justice had become an empty slogan.
This Marine was no longer the Marine he held in his heart.
The pain he had endured over the years because of the pirates made him detest them. The fact that the Five Elder recruited pirates as Shichibukai had already made him extremely angry. And now, he heard that they were planning to recruit that guy, Edward Weevil, as a Shichibukai in the future, which enraged him even more.
Had they forgotten how that guy had slaughtered so many young Marines?
Their young lives were taken away, and now the government and the Marines were offering protection and amnesty to their killer. He couldn't accept this.
He had discussed this matter with Toshio on more than one occasion. Toshio had assured him that he would do everything possible to prevent the Five Elder from doing anything that would harm their camaraderie.
He had managed to hold back, hoping that things wouldn't come to pass and preserving a glimmer of hope for the World Government and the Marines.
However... as Zephyr looked at the newspaper in his hand, he tore it in half with a loud rip.
The newspaper boldly reported that Edward Weevil had been recruited by the World Government as one of Shichibukai, taking the position previously held by Crocodile, who had been captured by Admiral Kizaru.
Zephyr's face turned dark, and boundless anger surged from the depths of his heart. His eyes glowed with a flame-like fire.
The World Government had betrayed them!
They had betrayed those Young Marine that died!
They had betrayed everything he held dear!
"Unforgivable...!" Zephyr gritted his teeth.
Benz, Ain, and Smoker, who were by Zephyr's side, could all feel their teacher's anger.
Since being reprimanded by the Five Elder last time, Smoker couldn't stand staying at Marineford. So, upon the suggestion of Toshio and Zephyr, Smoker came to join Zephyr's group, evading the spotlight. With Zephyr's presence, they didn't have to worry about being ambushed. They planned to return Smoker to Marineford once the Five Elder had forgotten about this incident.
They never expected the government to actually do something that hurt Zephyr's heart so deeply.
Even though Teacher Zephyr had strongly opposed it, they disregarded his thoughts and feelings and recruited Edward Weevil as a Shichibukai.
What did they take them, these Marines fighting on the front lines, for?
Just pawns to be sacrificed?
Are there any insignificant numbers?
Do they not consider their feelings at all?
Just then, a barrier descended from the warship where Zephyr and his group were located, enclosing the entire ship within it.
At the same time, a sudden anomaly occurred simultaneously all around the world.
A rift appeared in the sky and expanded, forming a dark screen.
Upon seeing this scene, everyone immediately realized what was happening!
The QnA livestream Broadcast was about to begin again.
The news quickly spread among people, and more and more gathered in front of the screens, eagerly awaiting this Broadcast.
They wondered who would participate in the QnA this time and what previously unknown information would be revealed.
Everyone looked forward to the screen.
Since the previous Broadcast, the QnA Broadcast had become the topic of discussion for people during their leisure time.
Whether it was the information disclosed, the unknown truths, or the rewards distributed after the QnA, these were all elements that attracted viewers.
Countless people anticipated the appearance of the QnA livestream, and many hoped to become participants so they could obtain those magical rewards.
If they could obtain that item, even if it was only once, they would possess the power to destroy the world.
For those harboring grudges or ambitions, it was almost the most desired item.
Now, a new QnA Broadcast was commencing, and countless people eagerly hoped to be selected.
As the dark screen appeared, it didn't take long before it started to shine.
What caught people's attention was the silhouette of a warship, and everyone immediately recognized it as a standard Marine warship with the Marine emblem displayed.
What was going on?
Could it be that this time the QnA participant is from the Marines?
Sengoku and others from Marineford, who had arrived at the main square, also felt a surge of excitement. Was it finally the Marines' turn?
Would they finally have the opportunity to access those magical rewards?
Who exactly was chosen to participate in the QnA?
Sengoku and the others focused their attention on the Broadcast, and soon several figures appeared before them.
When they saw the people on the screen, everyone widened their eyes in surprise.
"Teacher Zephyr?!"
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