Swish!
The moment Sengoku finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over Marineford and the people around the world watching the live broadcast. It was as if the world had suddenly turned into a vacuum, devoid of any medium to transmit sound.
Except for some elderly individuals who had lived through that era, everyone else was left dumbfounded, their minds seemingly frozen, unable to speak for a long time.
"Is this why the Battle of God Valley was concealed?"
"Such a powerful Pirates crew, annihilated by the Marines within God Valley! Rocks perished and Bob, who committed heinous crimes, was executed!"
"One can only imagine how brutal that war must have been! It's almost comparable to the current battle."
"But... why would the World Government hide such a thing and for forty years at that!"
"If it weren't for Shiki uncovering this history, we still wouldn't know about it!"
"Something like this should only bring glory to the Marines, shouldn't it?"
"..."
Some marveled at the horror of that battle and the grandeur of the Battle of God Valley.
But at the same time, a question arose in their hearts.
The Marines annihilated the most formidable Rocks Pirates of that time and executed the infamous Bob.
Such an achievement is nothing short of a monumental feat!
Thinking this, some turned their gaze toward the execution platform where Sengoku stood, their eyes filled with a hint of doubt.
Feeling the weight of their stares, Sengoku raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression calm and composed.
"Although the Marines used their strength to eliminate those scums!"
"The act of slaughtering Celestial Dragons and openly opposing the World Government had a profoundly negative impact across the globe!"
"So, to prevent Bob's detrimental influence from corrupting the minds of the next generation, the World Government decided to bury all information about him, and naturally, the battle he participated in as well!"
"All of this was for the sake of world peace, so that everyone could live happily."
"..."
Sengoku delivered the speech he had rehearsed in his mind over a dozen times, his tone measured and his rhythm perfectly controlled.
He had prepared these words long before the Battle of Marineford began.
He didn't believe that these remnants of the old era, having lived for so many years, were only capable of violence.
He could understand Whitebeard's actions as an attempt to rescue Ace, but Shiki and Kaido were likely driven by revenge.
Their goal was to undermine the World Government's authority and indeed, Shiki had brought that past back into the spotlight.
On the other hand, hearing Sengoku words, the pirates below and the viewers closely following the developments at Marineford nodded thoughtfully.
"So that's how it is! No wonder the World Government wanted to bury this history!"
"This Bob was truly terrifying! His strength must have surpassed even that of the Pirate King Roger! It took so many powerful Marines to take him down!"
"If a figure like him from forty years ago were to appear today, even Dragon, the World Government's most wanted criminal, wouldn't be able to match him, would he?"
"The blockade of such disappearances is indeed justified. Just think back to when Roger shouted 'ONE PIECE' before his execution, which already triggered a chain reaction and ushered in the Great Pirate Era!"
"If this matter hadn't been concealed, there might be even more pirates today!"
"Hmm~ Speaking of Roger's final moments... I seem to recall something!"
"Before his execution, he shouted someone's name—it seems it was Bob!"
"Could there be some unknown relationship between the two?"
"..."
Hearing Sengoku's half-truth confirmation, the Marines, pirates and civilians all wore expressions of understanding.
Only some elderly individuals from various regions shook their heads and sighed deeply.
They wanted to speak up, but they knew no one would believe their words now.
After all, who would take the words of a few old men seriously compared to the Marine Fleet Admiral?
However, among the crowd, some noticed that Bob name had been shouted by Roger during his execution, right after "ONE PIECE."
But they only felt there might be some connection between the two and didn't dwell on it further.
***
"Sengoku words are so shameless but also convincing!"
"I almost believed him."
On the deck of the Revolutionary Army ship, Dragon watched Sengoku righteous face on the screen and spoke solemnly.
In the original timeline, he was the leader of the Revolutionary Army in this world, the World Government's most wanted criminal and the son of Garp.
But in the current timeline, he had another identity—a member of Bob alliance.
Initially, as the son of the Marine hero Garp, Dragon had no intention of rebelling against the World Government.
On the contrary, influenced by his father, he held boundless admiration for the Marines under the World Government.
He even entered Marine Headquarters and was trained as a Marine with great potential.
However, during his years as a Marine, while traveling across many seas with the intent of eradicating pirates, he witnessed too many injustices.
These stemmed from the brutal actions of the Celestial Dragons and the so-called justice of the World Government.
Perhaps his father Garp could endure being a lackey of the World Government, even the Celestial Dragons, but he could not.
The underhanded deeds of the World Government made him, a Marine draped in the cloak of justice, feel deeply ashamed.
The Buster Calls, black-market deals, the massacre of entire tribes, capturing people as slaves—he had seen too much of this darkness, which completely shattered his faith in the Marines and made him utterly despise the unjust justice established by the World Government.
After that, he resolutely resigned from his Marine position and under Bob's guidance, gradually became the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
Overthrowing the World Government became his life greatest pursuit.
And he knew that in this world, only one person could achieve this—the leader.
The true power behind the Revolutionary Army!
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