Persuaded by the three princes, Neptune was also tempted. However, the decision-making power did not lie with him but with Shirahoshi, who was at the core of it all.
Neptune spoke calmly, deliberately softening his tone, afraid of adding even the slightest pressure to Shirahoshi. "Shirahoshi, what do you think? Are you willing to join this life-or-death war?"
Hundreds of years ago, Joy Boy possessed world-peak combat power and even controlled the three ancient weapons—Uranus, Sea King, and Pluton. Even so, he still lost in the battle against the World Government.
Without a doubt, this was a difficult path, a path of life and death, a path of no return.
Once on this path, it was either life or death!
Neptune could not make the decision for Shirahoshi. He wanted to hear Shirahoshi's own thoughts.
Due to the harassment of V. D. Black IX, Shirahoshi had stayed in a single room for years, rarely exposed to the outside world.
As the Sea King Poseidon, who possessed world-destroying power, she was more innocent than most people.
Faced with the gazes of her father and three older brothers, she felt a bit scared, tears welling up in her eyes.
This immediately panicked Neptune and the three princes. Even the previously excited princes lost their decisiveness and hurriedly comforted her, "Shirahoshi, we were just joking earlier. Whether to join the Shadow Garden or not is entirely up to you."
However, the gentle Shirahoshi was stronger than they imagined. The tears in her eyes ultimately did not fall, and her firm yet soft voice echoed in the room. "I—I want to try!"
"Ah, what did you say?!" Neptune and the three princes were surprised, not expecting Shirahoshi to make such a decisive decision.
"I want to try!" Shirahoshi took a deep breath, her tone gradually steadying. "I know this is the path chosen by my father and brothers, and it is also the future my mother hoped for before her passing.
During my limited outings, I heard the discussions of the people. They spoke of the cruelty of humans and their unwillingness to accept the unequal status quo.
So, I also want to participate in this revolution. I want to change the status quo!"
Upon hearing this, Neptune and the three princes were utterly shocked. Even as Shirahoshi's family, they had never seen this side of her.
Sea King Poseidon, a monster among monsters capable of commanding the Sea King Species—how could she possibly be weak at her core!
Do not mistake gentleness for weakness!
New World, Dressrosa.
Royal Palace Villa.
Beside the open-air swimming pool, smooth marble floors were laid out. The Donquixote Family, led by Doflamingo, gathered here to watch the world-shaking live broadcast that had just taken place.
The broadcast ended, but no one in the Donquixote Family spoke, all looking worriedly and fearfully at Doflamingo at the forefront.
The executive Trebol broke the silence, asking with concern, "Doffy, are you okay?"
"Fufufu, how laughable, truly laughable!" Doflamingo suddenly burst into laughter. "That Fox is such an idiot, talking about how all people are born equal, and saying that even gods can be killed! Fufufufufu, it's too ridiculous!"
Diamante tapped his sword hilt on the ground, producing a crisp sound as his wild laughter intertwined with Doflamingo's: "Hahaha, did this guy get his head slammed in a door? 'All people are born equal'—what nonsense! The weak should be trampled underfoot—that's the truth of this world!"
Pica's muffled voice rumbled: "Ridiculous nonsense. The rules of this world have always been set by the strong. Equality is just self-comfort for the weak! In my opinion, that Fox is nothing but a fool for spouting such stupid words!"
"Fufufu, you're absolutely right!" Doflamingo stood up, looking down at Dressrosa from the high platform. "The weak are born to submit to the strong. They don't even have the right to choose death!"
At that moment, Baby5 timidly raised her hand, her voice as faint as a mosquito's: "Um—should we maybe pause the slave trade for now? I heard Shadow Garden is deliberately targeting human trafficking. Compared to them, we seem—we seem like the weak ones—"
As soon as these words were spoken, the laughter in the room choked in their throats and abruptly ceased.
Doflamingo's forehead veins bulged, his fierce eyes fixed intently on Baby5.
Just as the other executives thought Doflamingo was about to erupt in anger, he suddenly sat back down in his beach chair: "Stop the slave trade for now—"
"Huh?" The other executives momentarily doubted what they had heard.
"That's right, compared to Shadow Garden, I am the weak one too!" Doflamingo did not voice this thought aloud, keeping it to himself.
He clenched his fists, filled with resentment.
Judging by the power Shadow Garden had displayed so far, Fox alone, with that peculiar spatial ability, could easily destroy Dressrosa and take everything from him.
He didn't dare gamble!
This was the sorrow of the weak—only now, he was the weak one!
Grand Line, first half, Marineford.
Upon returning to Marine Headquarters, Ivan was immediately promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral, becoming the youngest Vice Admiral in Marine Headquarters history.
In the past, such an event would have drawn widespread attention, but now, everyone at Marine Headquarters was focused on the recently concluded live broadcast.
After his promotion to Vice Admiral, Ivan also gained the qualification to attend Marine Headquarters' highest-level meetings.
At that moment, in the emergency conference room at Marine Headquarters, all the officers remained silent, the atmosphere heavy as iron, with even breaths seeming too light to dare make a sound.
They were waiting, waiting for Admiral Kizaru to return.
Whoosh!
A dazzling flash of light flickered and vanished, and Kizaru's figure appeared in his seat.
As soon as he appeared, Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately asked: "Kizaru, what's the situation?"
Kizaru's expression was slightly more solemn than usual: "It's terrifying, you know. As soon as I and the God's Knights arrived, Fox immediately used that strange spatial ability to escape, leaving behind the nearly destroyed areas 1 through 29."
"Damn it!" Accompanied by the sound of a fist slamming the conference table, Akainu roared in frustration: "Do we really have no way to subdue Fox? Must we just let him run wild?"
Everyone understood Akainu's anger.
After Fox publicly executed three Celestial Dragons while the Marines did nothing, even laid-back individuals like Kizaru felt quite annoyed, let alone the radicals.
Some of them could understand Fox's actions, but they would never allow it.
They had their own justice and would never permit those who defiled order to act recklessly!
After another moment of silence, Sengoku rubbed his temples, feeling he had aged far too much recently. "In today's emergency meeting, I want to ask everyone how you view this live-streamed crime.
More importantly, what charges should we assign to Fox, and how high should his bounty be?"
Silence persisted. No one present answered.
At this critical moment, Garp stopped chewing his Senbei and laughed heartily, being the first to voice his opinion. "Hahaha, if you ask me, that kid Fox did a great deed! We don't have to increase his bounty at all!"
"Garp!" Sengoku was truly furious that Garp would cause trouble at a time like this.
"Ahem, I was just joking—but I think we could ask young Ivan. He's just been promoted, so we should give him a chance to show his stuff, right?" Garp suddenly winked at Ivan, shifting the responsibility.
Ivan: "————"
Garp's deflection worked perfectly. Sengoku's eyes lit up, and he immediately turned his gaze to Ivan, asking, "Vice Admiral Ivan, what are your thoughts on Fox?"
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "GoddessTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!