Time Travel: Age of Discovery

Hearing these words, Sakaski was slightly stunned, but quietly lowered his clenched fists.

"What can we do? We just need to do our own job. It's not our place to interfere."

As if anticipating this answer, Taiya didn't retreat. Instead, he approached. "What exactly are you defending with your life? Is it just for an unknown mission? Why would you even risk your life to protect that thing? Don't you feel the pity of your own fate?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in Taiya's tone, but he knew very well that his words hit the nail on the head. For Sakaski, reasoning was no longer useful, and the two people's ideas had been difficult to reconcile from the beginning.

A cloud of black smoke filled the air and gushed out from Sakaski's palm. His right fist was as hot as magma, and it seemed that it was about to hit Taia in an instant.

Taiya didn't respond, but simply looked at Sakaski. "This sky-fallen gold isn't as simple as you think. I've discovered something unusual about it. It has the aura of the stars mixed in. If it's really what you say, how could it have such a strange smell? Please consider this carefully."

"Stop rambling!" Sakaski roared like thunder, glaring at Taiya with anger on his face. "As marines, loyalty is our duty. Taiya, since you call yourself a marine, you must understand your position."

The air was thick with emotion, their emotions reaching a breaking point. On the other side of the boat, Smoker stood beside Tina, watching the conflict unfold before him, a look of worry crossing his face.

He didn't understand what had happened, only that his mentor, Taiya, had a dispute with Vice Admiral Sakaski over his trip to Frevans. Not only him, but everyone on board was puzzled, yet they all felt that Vice Admiral Sakaski's decision was more rational.

They were tasked with transporting this fallen gold to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, but now Thea had suddenly changed course to Flevans, leaving everyone baffled. They all knew Flevans was located in the North Sea, where they had started, meaning they would have to retrace their steps.

But this is not the point. They heard that Fravans's lead disease is an incurable disease and no one wants to die there.

Teaya knew that further debate with Sakaski was pointless. But the World Government's cover-up of the truth, its destruction of O'Hara, was still fresh in her memory. And this time, the disaster at Frevans was likely even worse than O'Hara's, a man-made disaster created by the World Government to cover up its own sins.

"It is precisely because of these so-called amber and lead items, and the diseases they claim to cause, that the Fravans are on the verge of extinction! If you believe that the gold that falls from the sky is more valuable than the lives of the people, then there is no need to say more."

Having said that, Taiya no longer wanted to argue. Secrets cannot be made public, and only facts can reveal the truth.

Standing on the deck of another warship, Tina gazed at the sky. It was gloomy and rainy, and it was unclear when it would clear up. Turning her gaze to where Taiya was, an indescribable worry welled up in her heart.

……

Inside the Navy Headquarters, Sora was lying on the sofa in the Commander-in-Chief's office, taking a rest when he suddenly heard an officer rush in to report.

"What's the matter?" Sora, resting with his eyes closed, was disturbed. He opened his eyes and looked at the officer, but there was no trace of accusation. "Marshal, the New World has detected the activities of the Big Mom Pirates. A ship suspected to be from the Big Moms has appeared near the East China Sea." Sora's expression froze, and then his brow furrowed. He ordered the officer to keep a close eye on the Big Moms' movements.

As Sora pondered this, he hadn't anticipated the possibility of Sakaski and Taiya being attacked. If anything were in danger, they would have reported it immediately. But with no news, Sora hoped his worries were overblown. However, the recent sighting of what appeared to be a pirate ship belonging to the Beasts near the East China Sea had aroused his suspicions. Could they be on the move?

Sora picked up and then put down the communicator, a complex state of mind welling up in his mind. The news of Frevans had already reached him; the entire country had been placed under lockdown by the World Government, claiming Perkins Disease was a contagious disease. This move struck Sora as cruel. But there was nothing he could do, even as the Admiral of the Navy.

Sora looked out the window at the clear blue sky and imagined Frefans's real situation.

……

"Absolutely not!" Sakaski refused to allow Thea to use the navy ships to go to Frevans. Especially after the recent turmoil, they had to ensure the safety of the gold that had fallen from the sky. If Thea left without permission, the Big Mom Pirates would surely attack again.

Taiya's plan has come to nothing. He originally planned to let Sakaski lead the team to escort the gold back and go on the journey alone, but now it is a dead end.

"It seems that there is no way to convince him." After the cold words fell, Taiya's right arm was instantly covered with armed color and hardened. He was ready to use his strength to make Sakaski face the facts. Perhaps only in this way could Sakaski change his mind.

The vice admiral's stalemate left the other navy officers unable to intervene and they could only watch the dispute unfold.

"If it weren't for you, Robin, the son of the devil, might have disappeared long ago in the tragedy of O'Hara. Are you sure you made the right choice?" Faced with this question, Taiya didn't answer, but he felt no regrets. He believed his choice was firm enough.

"I repeat, this is not within our responsibility. Mission comes first!"

Sakaski spoke harshly, trying to suppress his anger, hoping to convince Taiya, even though he knew it was futile. Although they had chosen the path of the navy together, they were now drifting apart, as if the road had forked, each heading towards a different distance.