One piece: I,Akaino will not die easily

A few minutes before the start of the Buster Call—On the warship, Kuzan lazily reclined on a sun chair, awaiting the order to attack. Deep down, he was resistant to this military strike.

In his understanding, such caution and relentless effort should be directed towards notorious and heinous pirates, not scholars who were powerless, and certainly not innocent civilians.

Although these scholars had indeed broken the law and needed to be arrested, it was absolutely unnecessary to completely destroy Ohara Island. After all, the island was not only home to criminal scholars but also to many ordinary civilians.

The devastating bombardment from the fleet might erase the "demons" as the government called them, but it would also obliterate the homes of countless innocent people.

However, as a Marine, even if he didn't agree with the Buster Call, he had to carry out the order. This was his resolve as a Marine soldier.

"Justice, it seems, depends on the situation," Kuzan sighed to himself.

"Vice Admiral Kuzan!! It's Vice Admiral Sakazuki on the Den Den Mushi,"

the colonel beside him reported, holding the snail phone as his superior lay lazily on the chair.

"Can't you see your superior is contemplating life?" Kuzan thought with a hint of resentment, but he didn't delay.

He took the Den Den Mushi with one hand, curious as to why Sakazuki would contact him personally at this time. He picked up the receiver: "Hello, Sakazuki?" Kuzan asked knowingly, his tone still lazy.

"It's me," Sakazuki's steady voice came through the receiver, concise and to the point, embodying the demeanor of a true soldier.

"Have you seen the evacuation ships? There are still a large number of civilians boarding.

After the Buster Call is initiated, I need you, as the next in command, to lead the fleet in launching an attack on the entire island."

"...What are you planning?!" Kuzan had a vague guess in his mind.

"My Devil Fruit ability is perfectly suited for this mission.

I will land on the island to carry out the task of destroying the Tree of Knowledge, while also searching for any remaining civilians and bringing them to the evacuation ships."

Kuzan was momentarily stunned. He was familiar with his colleague's usual style—utterly ruthless towards enemy pirates, leaving no survivors.

There were even rumors that he would execute soldiers who he believed were hindering the mission.

But today's words and actions were surprisingly aligned with his own thoughts. Kuzan shook his head.

Regardless, minimizing civilian casualties was always a good thing. He dropped his usual slow tone and spoke seriously:

"Do you need me to accompany you? After all, my Devil Fruit ability has some advantages in terms of protection."

"...That would be even better, Kuzan. This time is different from our usual battles against pirates. Apart from the 'demon' scholars who need to be eliminated, there are still many civilians in the bombing zone. We must reduce unnecessary casualties." Sakazuki nodded.

In truth, when he heard Kuzan offer to join him, he instinctively wanted to refuse. Having someone else by his side might interfere with his plans, but Kuzan's reasoning left him no room to reject.

The Magma Fruit's destructive power was unmatched, but in terms of versatility, it was indeed inferior to Kuzan's Ice Fruit. Sakazuki was a hardened soldier, but his iron will should never be turned against his own people.

A soldier could forge glorious medals of honor by using the corpses and blood of enemies as material. Upholding moral principles might sound easy, but under the influence of great power and authority, one's values and principles could easily be lost.

"Upholding" itself was a challenge, and one could easily be crushed by external forces or even oneself.

Perhaps the Sakazuki of the past wouldn't have even considered the "extra" thought of protecting civilians. But as a transmigrator who had grown up under the red flag, he inevitably prioritized the safety of civilians.

"The military loves the people, and the people support the military" was not an empty slogan.

The long river of history has witnessed countless great armies from ancient times to the present. He clearly understood the immense power that an army supported by the people could unleash.

Whether he was a transmigrator or not, he had never been a short-sighted person.

Sakazuki was acutely aware that only by transcending the limitations of this era's mindset and structure could he walk a path that was both farther and steadier.

With several sonic booms tearing through the air, Sakazuki landed steadily on the coast of Ohara Island.

Alongside him was a tall man covered in a frosty aura. At their level, the Six Powers had long been mastered.

Using Moon Walk to cross the sea, they headed straight toward the direction where the Golden Den Den Mushi had issued the order.

"Kuzan, you search the buildings on the island. I'll head directly to the Tree of Knowledge," Sakazuki said without turning back, adjusting his black gloves as he gave the order.

As a fellow Vice Admiral, Kuzan didn't argue. He simply nodded and swiftly moved towards the nearest cluster of buildings, his body radiating cold.

The black gloves turned dark red as Sakazuki activated his Devil Fruit ability. Thick smoke suddenly enveloped his shoulders, and molten liquid, resembling melted wax but with temperatures several times higher, dripped from his arm.

The heat was so intense that the air in front of him began to distort. Sakazuki's burly body leaned forward, his heels lifting off the ground.

Just as he seemed about to fall to the ground, he transformed into a streak of fire, shooting rapidly across the surface toward the Tree of Knowledge.