Looking at Gion and Zephyr's gloomy expressions, Rosse didn't say anything more, simply turning around and heading into the cabin.
What needed to be said, he had already said.
To make subordinates loyal, benefits and emotions alone were not enough.
The most crucial thing was to align the subordinates' goals with one's own, to make them feel that they were fighting for the same purpose.
That's why people say, belief is the ultimate essence of loyalty.
If he had the ability to spread belief, Rosse would've already started religious rule. Unfortunately, he lacked that ability, so he could only think about it.
Since belief wasn't an option, then he had to rely on the next-best thing, a shared goal.
Right now, Zephyr and Gion had no ambitions, they were simply guided by orderly thoughts.
What Rosse had to do was make their hopes for the future align with the order he wanted to create.
Put simply, keep painting a vision, keep brainwashing Zephyr and Gion.
Although Rosse had never done it himself, he had seen and read a lot. No matter how bad the other world was, its society was still more advanced than the slavery-based pirate world.
After subtle guidance, even if Revolutionary Army ideology spread one day, Gion and Zephyr wouldn't feel lost, they'd just stand more firmly on his side.
———
A day passed quickly.
During this time, Borsalino and Yamakaji came to visit Rosse's warship, met with him once, basically just got familiar with his face.
Borsalino's rating was S-, while Yamakaji was only B.
Up until now, only Kuzan hadn't met him yet.
Kuzan had stayed on his own warship these past days, perfectly pretending Rosse didn't exist.
As long as Rosse didn't summon him, he wouldn't visit on his own.
From Kuzan's behavior, Rosse could see the thoughts of the current Navy doves.
Don't provoke, don't approach.
The doves believed they were upholding justice, not working for the World Government.
Very naive and pure thoughts, all good people.
But no matter the world, good people were always the most miserable bunch.
The sea breeze gently blew as Rosse stood at the bow of the warship, gazing into the distance.
A distant island was gradually enlarging, and the towering giant tree on it was becoming faintly visible.
Behind him, Gion and Zephyr, wearing CP0's white suit uniforms, stood upright.
"Ohara, the holy land of historians. The Tree of Knowledge that's survived for 5000 years is truly magnificent."
Rosse raised his head, looking at the tree that almost covered the entire island, and a trace of awe appeared in his eyes.
Ohara covered a fairly large area. Packed tightly, it could accommodate a hundred thousand people.
But a single Tree of Knowledge took up nearly half of Ohara's area.
Especially its incredibly lush crown, like a canopy that blotted out the sky and sun, making most of the island bathed in its shade.
"Unfortunately, today, it will become history," Sakazuki walked to the bow, his tone indifferent.
He didn't care about some 5000-year-old relic. As long as it was something he believed was right, he would carry it through to the end.
"What's the specific procedure according to the plan? I remember there's something about evacuating civilians?", Rosse looked at Sakazuki. With his support in the background, Sakazuki was the real commander of this Buster Call.
"Hmph, the internal department wants to evacuate civilians, only kill all the historians, and then, after all personnel have withdrawn, destroy the Tree of Knowledge," Sakazuki crossed his arms, his face showing dissatisfaction with the internal department's orders.
In his view, those internal folks were too merciful.
If you dare study forbidden knowledge clearly banned, then you should be ready to die.
Those civilians living near the Tree of Knowledge obviously had connections with the historians, most likely provided assistance, and very likely included hidden historians among them.
Justice that isn't absolute, is absolute injustice.
"If it's the department's decision, then let's go with that. I'll go ashore with you."
"But to speak honestly, I still think Vice Admiral Sakazuki would make a better Fleet Admiral. If you were the Fleet Admiral, these historians wouldn't dare mess around. Maybe this Buster Call wouldn't have even happened," Rosse's seemingly casual remark made Sakazuki's eyes flicker.
'Become Fleet Admiral, as if I don't want to?'
But in the Navy, promotion wasn't just about strength.
"Alright, let's go ashore. Vice Admiral Sakazuki, contact me immediately if there's any situation. CP9 reported some interesting people found on the island, so I won't go with you," Rosse waved at Sakazuki. His main reason for coming to Ohara was to satisfy his collection habit. Ohara and those historians weren't within his concern.
"As you command!", Sakazuki, unusually, bowed slightly to Rosse. On the surface, it was a proper farewell to a superior, but in reality, it expressed a shift in his attitude toward Rosse.
The corners of Rosse's mouth lifted slightly, and as he stepped forward two steps, Zannie instinctively lowered her body, allowing Rosse to step on her back.
Ohara had a port, but since they were executing a Buster Call, the warship naturally wouldn't dock, instead staying in shallow waters ready for bombardment at any moment.
To go ashore, they had to cross about one kilometer of sea.
He'd only just begun learning Moonwalk, hadn't triggered any related traits yet, and for now couldn't cross that kilometer easily.
If he swam over, that'd really ruin his image.
But hey, who told him to be a Celestial Dragon?
Once Rosse stood firm, a pair of demonic wings extended from Zannie's back, and a heart-shaped succubus tail also extended from her rear.
The long succubus tail quickly wrapped around Rosse's waist, ensuring his body remained stable in the air.
After doing this, Zannie flapped her demonic wings and soared into the air with Rosse.
Gion and Zephyr saw this and used Moonwalk to follow, one on the left and one on the right.
Even the entire Ohara couldn't compare to Rosse's personal safety.
If anything happened to Rosse in Ohara, all the Marines executing the Buster Call would be implicated.
Standing on Zannie's back, Rosse quickly reached Ohara's shallows.
"Your Highness, for the rest of the journey, let me carry you," Zannie respectfully said.
"No need to carry me, my movement isn't that slow, and the situation over there isn't urgent," Rosse shook his head and stepped down from Zannie.
Though Zannie's riding experience was excellent, he didn't plan to treat her like a mount.
After these days of interaction, Rosse had roughly understood Zannie's personality.
As long as there was a command, Zannie would try her best to execute it perfectly.
At the same time, her biggest wish was to receive fewer commands each day.
Rosse couldn't possibly not command Zannie. That would go against his original intent.
But giving her some occasional breaks was fine.
"Yes," Zannie silently retreated behind Rosse, spreading her Observation Haki outward, constantly alert to her surroundings.
Her mission was to protect Rosse. Even though she wished for a slightly easier life, she would still carry out every mission perfectly.
"Gion, where are they located?"
Upon hearing Rosse's inquiry, Gion immediately reported, "According to the information from Spandine, Nico Olvia is at the Tree of Knowledge, and Nico Robin is at Saul's hiding place."
"Let's check Saul's hiding place first."
"Lord Rosse, with Saul's strength, he might...", Gion slightly frowned.
"With this old man here, what can mere Saul do?", Zephyr snorted lightly, not putting Saul in his eyes at all.
'So what if he's a giant Vice Admiral? He isn't even in the same league.'
Every time Zephyr thought about the former Navy families in Rosse's palace, he felt like beating Saul to death.
'It's fine to disapprove of the Buster Call. If you want to betray the Navy, go ahead. But why drag your comrades down with you?'
'Dragging others down and then doing nothing meaningful, instead running to Ohara to die. He might as well have rebelled during the Buster Call.'
'After all that, what did Saul's fellow Marines become?'
It's not scary if someone has ulterior motives, what's scary is someone being dumb. Zephyr truly understood the meaning of that sentence now.
Today, he would personally cleanse the Navy.
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