Ace's excitement was almost uncontainable.
He liked this.
He was a child who lacked love, a man who had never felt a sense of belonging, an individual devoid of collective pride.
But he had always craved these things.
Besides brotherhood, Ace lacked everything.
Being Roger's son, he lacked security; he lacked parental love; he never dared to hope for romance. Besides his brotherhood with Luffy and Sabo, he seemed to have nothing, yet craved everything.
After joining Whitebeard's crew, he found security, fatherly love, a sense of belonging, and collective pride.
He became a devoted member of the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard's son, even his death stemming from Akainu's insult to Whitebeard, prompting his furious retaliation.
His conviction, if channeled into revolution, would be an unwavering revolutionary fire.
As Sabo's brother, he should have been involved, but fate cruelly intervened.
Now, Ace seemed to have found meaning.
He rose from the railing, stepping forward to join the ranks.
With the left side of the deck full, he joined the right, the first among the prisoners, standing tall.
His presence drew many gazes.
A 50 million Berry bounty pirate captain was somewhat famous, even in the Grand Line.
Especially since Isuka and her men had been specifically pursuing Ace and his crew.
"Kid, you need to move to the back." Devils Luck William, emerging from the captain's cabin, pushed Ace aside with his massive frame, taking his place with a bright smile.
"Hee hee." Ace chuckled, uncontesting, standing beside William.
"This troublesome captain." Masked Deuce laughed, muttering, then rising from Isuka's side to join Ace.
The Spade Pirates one by one joined Ace, quickly forming a rank, moving to the second row.
A collective atmosphere spread, everyone motionless, yet unified, despite differences in height, build, clothing, status, and gender.
They abandoned their individual identities, standing in their ranks, united under a single name.
Revolutionary Army!
The Boa Sisters on the highest platform of the stern were moved by this sight.
As masters of Observation Haki, they could almost hear the same burning word echoing in their hearts.
The word might vary, but its meaning was the same as what they learned from Alistair.
Revolution!
They would revolutionize!
Overthrow the Marines!
Overthrow the World Government!
Overthrow the Celestial Dragons!
Hancock turned, her face flushed, asking her sisters, "Sandersonia, Marigold! Did you see that?! He was telling the truth! He didn't lie to me! He really will overthrow the World Government! He really will kill all the Celestial Dragons!"
Compared to Luffy's attack on the Celestial Dragons,
This act of bringing the Marines into their ranks, completely undermining the Celestial Dragons' power and military strength, was a true counterattack!
"Hey, Isuka, join us!" Ace suddenly turned to the still-dazed Isuka.
"We promise, we will never attack civilians!"
"Look how many innocent people the Marines have harmed! Isuka, join us! If we're wrong, correct us! If we're guilty, judge us!"
"But not within the Marines!" he shouted.
Ace still had feelings for Isuka.
"Marines who commit crimes face no punishment. Is a slap on the wrist considered punishment? Are lives so cheap?"
Ace's shout didn't solidify Isuka's resolve, but it strengthened the wavering Marines.
This touched upon the issue of corruption and lack of oversight within the Marines. Like Captain Nezumi, or Spandam, the corrupt second-generation Marines. Regardless of their character, they were merely transferred back to headquarters, always able to leverage their family's influence to restart their careers. Upright Marines, however, faced lifelong repercussions for any mistake—unless they were powerful enough for the Marine Headquarters to ignore.
One by one, they joined the ranks behind the Spade Pirates, turning to look at their former superior with hopeful eyes.
They knew their superior's abilities; she was demoted to a petty Second Lieutenant in the front lines of the Grand Line for rejecting a second-generation Marine's advances. Now, she could abandon the corrupt Marines and join this new, vibrant organization.
Not only them, but the Marines who had already firmly joined the pirates' ranks also turned, looking at her with pleading eyes.
If she didn't join, they might have to kill her to prevent leaks. They didn't want to do that, neither did Ace.
The most likely outcome was that, conflicted, they would let her go, and this fledgling organization would be crushed by the World Government in its infancy.
Isuka, already moved, sighed under everyone's gaze. She slowly stood up, leaning on her sword, limping to the back of the ranks, straightening her chest.
The air on the deck thickened. Everyone looked at Alistair with burning eyes, awaiting his words.
Alistair paused. "Our path isn't one of assassination—assassinating a few Celestial Dragons, a few World Government officials, destroying a few World Government affiliated countries, killing a few kings, and basking in the glory."
"Our path is one of righteousness."
"We will carefully accumulate strength, boldly assess our enemies, infiltrate their ranks, unite those who share our ideals, and then, with righteous might, dismantle the World Government's affiliated countries one by one, undermining their power in the Four Seas, and finally, concentrating all our strength to overthrow the Celestial Dragons' mainstay: the World Marines!"
"This is our path!"
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