The offensive and defensive positions had switched.
Top fighters like Silas—just the aftershocks of their battles could destroy entire islands. In ordinary people's eyes, their every move was like natural disasters, leaving no room for resistance.
If Silas were still at Mariejois's edge, then regardless of his wishes, his battle with Stephens and Saint Lucas would affect countless escaping slaves.
This was even more true at Red Port beneath Mariejois.
But now it was different. Silas had broken into Mariejois's heartland.
Here were no slaves liberated by Silas.
Only slaves and guards are devoted to Celestial Dragons, wanting to protect and obey them. Silas had no reason to hold back for them.
Instead, Stephens and Saint Lucas were now constrained in battle.
Stephens looked at fleeing Silas, shouting loudly, "Silas, is this your measure? You dare not face us directly, instead targeting innocent civilians?"
"Innocent? Civilians? Haha, Stephens, are you trying to make me laugh?"
Silas found it amusing. He attacked Celestial Dragons and was called an indiscriminate killer, while Stephens had just threatened him using slaves.
What was that called?
Cleaning up trash?
Now by attacking Mariejois, he forced Stephens and Saint Lucas to pursue him. Even Glinton, fighting Harald, wanted to break free and stop Silas's further destruction.
This was the Holy Land of Mariejois.
Just destroying Mariejois was enough for the World Government to sentence them to death, let alone Silas's recent rampage killing dozens of Celestial Dragons and numerous guards.
Glinton dared not slack off anymore.
Though he feared fighting Silas, thinking of failure's consequences, he had to go all out to escape Harald.
"I will not let you pass."
Though Harald had lost a leg and was not as agile as before, he was still a genuine Admiral-level fighter, stronger than Glinton by a notch.
Plus, his massive attack range meant if he did not want Glinton to leave, escape would not be easy.
Neither Silas nor Harald forgot their operation's purpose.
Not to conquer Mariejois.
But to help more slaves escape!
Now most slaves had evacuated Mariejois, climbing down the Red Line. Even with this world's extraordinary human physiques, crossing the Red Line's nearly 100,000-meter height was not achievable short-term.
Now it depended on how long he and Silas could delay.
At this moment, below the Red Line at Red Port, led by the White Wolf Pirates, pirates were helping giants brought by Harald assist slaves descending the Red Line.
Originally their manpower was far insufficient.
But Rona's appearance brought many Marines who had decided to follow her in saving slaves, believing in Rona and upholding their inner justice.
"Quickly, prioritize rescuing elderly and children."
"Stronger people block the Marines!"
"Rear Admiral Ella, are we not Marines?"
Ella, commanding the rescue, fell silent for a second, then shook her head.
"From the moment we decided to save these slaves, we were no longer Marines."
Ella admitted that when Rona announced cooperation with the White Wolf Pirates, her reaction was intense. She could understand Rona having special feelings for the White Wolf Pirates' captain but could not accept her aiding evil.
She was a Marine. Even abandoning that identity, she had her principles. Identity changes could not alter her justice-seeking heart.
But what if what Rona did was right?
Slavery should not exist anyway. Even the World Government had issued laws banning slavery, yet closest to the World Government and Marine Headquarters existed the world's largest slave market.
What irony!
"I will not join the White Wolf Pirates. Though I admit I think that guy is different from ordinary pirates, I cannot deny they are still pirates."
"I am just somewhat tired."
"I do not know if my heart is truly just, but the Marine Admiral identity has indeed hindered what I want to do."
Rona's voice seemed to linger in her ears.
"So I want to do what I personally believe is right."
"Ella."
"Can you supervise me?"
Ella admitted she might have the world's most willful superior, but decades of interaction left her unable to say "no."
She had only one condition.
"Just remember to avoid me next time you sleep with White Wolf Silas."
"Eh? You were there too?"
"Are you an idiot? I just went to buy food, then turned around to find you chatting with that vicious White Wolf Silas."
Ella looked at Rona with heartbreak.
"Chatting with White Wolf Silas was one thing, but you actively took him to a hotel."
"Admiral, are you that desperate?"
Though she probably should be desperate. After all, Rona was fifty years old.
A fifty-year-old virgin.
However you thought about it, it was pitiful!
But Ella forgot her Admiral specialized in emotion-sensing Observation Haki.
"Ella, are you any better?"
A thirty-something virgin mocking a fifty-year-old virgin.
Pot calling the kettle black?
Ella was defeated.
Anyway, after Rona and Ella's discussion, they brought several hundred people to launch this spectacular liberation operation.
Rona had been a Marine for decades.
If not for her limited preparation time and deciding against recruiting more beyond known subordinates, given her Marine popularity, with proper preparation she might have split the entire Marine force.
Even now, Rona taking several hundred Marine elites dealt the Marines a heavy blow.
Weakened strength was secondary. More important was reputational damage.
Many would question what unconscionable acts the Marines had committed to make their flagship Admiral defect?
However, defection alone would only damage Marine dignity at most.
But their actions had exceeded Marine and even World Government tolerance.
Predictably, no. This was not future events but what had already happened.
After Silas and Harald went to Mariejois, below the Red Line, Marine warships appeared before everyone.
Reinforcements from Marine Headquarters had arrived!