Chapter 147: Internal Conflicts Among the Seven Warlords

Hearing this, Moria widened his eyes in astonishment: "He is also a Warlord of the Sea?"

Momonga cast a cold glance and ignored him, as if Gecko Moria were merely an annoying fly.

In fact, Moria's image in his mind was indeed no better than a fly's.

Had Moria not formally requested reinforcements from the Marines in his capacity as a Warlord, Momonga would never have come to rescue such human scum.

However, since this "ally" had made a formal request, Momonga was obliged to fulfill his duty as a Marine officer.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Momonga spoke to Garen with a solemn expression:

"Gecko Moria is a Warlord of the Sea recognized by the World Government. I hope you will spare his life."

Garen simply looked at Momonga with amusement and asked Momonga:

"Moria's crimes over the past few days can be found simply by flipping through the newspapers. Are you really going to protect such piratical scum?"

"Yes."

Momonga replied without changing his expression.

Despite his inner disgust for Gecko Moria, Momonga spoke without hesitation from the perspective of the World Government:

"As long as they do not infringe upon the interests of the World Government and its affiliated nations, the Warlords are entitled to the legal right of pillage."

"This holds true for you as well."

"Hmph!"

Garen let out a cold snort and said with disdain:

"I am no pirate, so please do not lump me together with that maritime trash."

"The legal right of pillage? Can such a ridiculous concept be accepted by Marines who represent justice?"

Momonga's pupils constricted, and the look he cast at Garen held a trace of hidden wonder:

Before coming here, Momonga had heard that this newly appointed Warlord was different from the others—a righteous man whom even Marine Hero Garp held in high regard.

Hearing Garen's dismissive attitude toward the most prized possession of a Warlord—the legal right of pillage—Momonga couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for the exceptionally handsome and righteous knight before him.

The Marine Headquarters had dispatched a Vice Admiral to sign a formal agreement with the Warlord precisely to display absolute military might and intimidate those powerful pirates chosen for the position.

Yet the knight before him was not only not an unruly pirate, but his words and deeds radiated righteousness, making Momonga feel that this trip would save him a great deal of trouble.

However, admiration was admiration, and duty was duty.

Momonga, who practiced absolute justice, would never let personal emotions interfere with his work.

Momonga pondered for a moment, the expression on his face growing even more solemn:

"The Warlord system is a decision made by the World Government. Whether I personally accept it or not is irrelevant."

"Since Gecko Moria has sought help from the Marines in the name of a Warlord, as a Marine officer, I cannot simply sit by and do nothing."

"I am merely a soldier; fulfilling my duty as a Marine is my justice."

"..."

Garen was somewhat speechless, realizing he had probably encountered one of the World Government's hardcore lackeys.

"Ah—"

A shrill scream suddenly rang out from the side, causing both Garen and Momonga to turn their heads in that direction.

They saw that Moria's expression, which had eased only a moment ago, was once again twisted like an evil spirit, and the bloodshot veins in his eyes that had not yet faded burst forth anew: "Absalom!!"

Moria called out his subordinate's name while cradling a corpse that had just breathed its last breath in his large hands.

When Momonga and Garen had been confronting each other just moments before, Moria, who had been trapped and unable to break free beneath Garen's greatsword, finally found the spare time to check on the safety of the subordinate he had just rescued.

However, when Moria reached Absalom's side, he discovered that the user of the Clear-Clear Fruit was stained entirely in crimson, and there was no longer a shred of life in his eyes.

Garen's greatsword had previously struck Absalom directly in the chest and abdomen, its wide blade nearly shredding his vital organs into fragments.

Even Hogback, a genius surgeon, could not save Absalom from such severe injuries, and could only watch helplessly as the modified human possessing beast-like power bled to death as his bodily functions collapsed.

"How could you die? How could you die!!"

Moria's eyes were filled with agony, and the wounds on his body burst open one after another due to the violent explosion of his emotions:

"I clearly fought... I clearly fought this time!"

He gently lowered Absalom's corpse, then turned his bloodshot eyes toward Garen:

"You—you actually killed my com!panion!"

It was hard to imagine that the voice of Moria, a seven-meter giant, could reach such a shrill pitch, brimming with sorrowful emotion.

Even Garen, who had single-handedly brought about this tragic scene, and Momonga, the cold and ruthless iron-fisted Vice Admiral, couldn't help but be touched by Moria's heartfelt pain and grief over the loss of his companion—

That was, of course, impossible.

"Hehe... Just a wretched piece of scum. Dead is dead."

Garen chuckled dismissively.

"Hehe... Just a petty pirate grunt. Dead is dead."

Momonga snorted coldly.

The two taunts struck Moria's heart in unison.

After speaking, the two men looked at each other with a hint of surprise.

The look of admiration in Momonga's eyes toward Garen grew even stronger.

Facing the cold gazes of Momonga and Garen, the grief and anger in Moria's heart erupted like a volcano:

"Bastard! I'll make you die right here!!"

"Oh?"

Garen gently lifted his greatsword, the blade still stained with the blood flowing from Moria's body: "Then let's keep fighting."

"Moria!"

Momonga finally bothered to say a few more words to Moria:

"Garen is a Warlord of the Sea of equal standing to you."

"If you obstinately persist in launching an attack against him, then as a Marine officer, I have no reason to protect you whatsoever!"

Moria's face turned abruptly pale, and his heart felt as though it had been drenched in a bucket of cold water.

And the intense pain radiating from the wounds on his body made the fire of anger in Moria's eyes shrink powerlessly:

He knew he couldn't beat Garen.

If Momonga refused to protect him, he would definitely die this time.

"Calm down! Calm down, Lord Moria!"

Dr. Hogback, standing nearby, was so frightened that he trembled uncontrollably, terrified that his boss would do something reckless.

Moria's body swayed for a moment before he slumped powerlessly to the ground.

"What a pity..."

Garen shook his head in frustration and cast a somewhat dissatisfied glance at Momonga:

"Vice Admiral Momonga, must you really protect this fellow?"

"Of course."

"This is my duty as a Marine officer."

Momonga reiterated his inescapable duty as a Headquarters Vice Admiral with a solemn expression, leaving no room for compromise.

"However..."

Momonga coldly glanced at Moria beside them once more, speaking with profound meaning:

"If it's a battle between a pirate and a Warlord, the Marines naturally must stand on the side of our 'ally'."

"However, both you and Moria are Warlords of the Sea, Garen..."

"This is an internal conflict among the Warlords. As a Marine officer, it wouldn't do for me to constantly interfere."

"So after I leave, you can do whatever you wish..."

"Oh?"

Garen's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but look at the fierce-looking Vice Admiral Momonga with surprise:

Although he looked unapproachable and his attitude was as cold as frost, he didn't seem as rigid and stern as imagined; instead...

He possessed quite a bit of ruthless flexibility.

"You...!"

Moria's eyes bulged with rage, and a wave of panic washed over him once again.

How could he not understand the naked intent behind Momonga's words?

Moria's face turned even paler, and he finally saw things clearly:

Momonga the Marine actually wanted to kill him too, but was merely going through the motions due to his duties as a Marine officer;

Upon realizing this was an "internal conflict between two Warlords," Momonga had all the more reason to turn a blind eye, walk away, and leave Garen and Moria to resolve their personal grievances themselves.

Naturally paying no heed to Gecko Moria's reaction, Garen merely smiled and said:

"Vice Admiral Momonga truly lives up to his name of justice!"

"Then I will grant you this favor today and spare Gecko Moria for the time being."

"Thank you for your cooperation."

A hint of a smile actually broke at the corner of the humorless Momonga's mouth.

The smiles on the faces of the two men terrified Moria as if they were evil spirits, while he felt like a piece of fish meat pinned to a cutting board.

"Well then..."

Garen smiled faintly: "When does Vice Admiral Momonga plan to leave?"

Moria shivered all over, his forehead already beaded with cold sweat.

"As soon as we formally sign the Warlord agreement."

Momonga withdrew his sharp gaze from Moria and said in a deep voice: "Once the mission is completed, I will naturally return to Marine Headquarters."

"Great!"

Garen's attitude turned enthusiastic: "Then how long will it take to sign the agreement?"

"This..."

Momonga pointed at the warship on the sea not far away and said:

"The formal agreement is on that warship."

"How fast you can sign it depends entirely on you."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Garen instantly reached a consensus with Momonga and replied happily:

"Vice Admiral Momonga has traveled from afar, so I will naturally do my utmost to assist you in your work."