"How did it come to this?!"
In the office of the CP9 Director-General, the intercepted communication of a certain pirate echoed quietly.
"Kuro and the Fleet Admiral tried so hard! And that detestable Spandam, he was doing his best, too...!"
This was supposed to be a transmission between pirates, yet all that could be heard was the voice of a young Marine girl.
The girl who followed that pirate around like a little chick, just as her name implied, was screaming.
"We all tried so hard! So why is everything getting so much worse?!"
"...Little girl."
A small bit of static mixed with the sound.
Even without seeing it, Spandam knew what it was.
He was choosing his words.
The pirate holding the receiver was choosing what to say to the girl who must be weeping beside him.
"...The Celestial Dragons grew too accustomed to domination. They get everything just by wielding absolute power. They eliminate anyone inconvenient when the time is right. They have repeated this as their path to success."
After a beat of silence, the pirate finally spoke.
It was an ordinary, unremarkable line.
It seemed they were using some minimal encryption, but it would be broken quickly.
"But... they never understood... that repeating the same success is synonymous with repeating the same failure."
That pirate was intentionally broadcasting this, widening the signal.
A strategy... no, more of a feint, combined with a warning.
"And... this is... purely my own speculation. I have no proof, it's just a feeling, but... I believe the Celestial Dragons—the World Government—has, for the past 800 years..."
"...Never actually won."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
One of the five men gathered in the Chamber of Authority shot to his feet.
"Yes, it all clicks when you think of it that way. For 800 years, the World Government has merely maintained a not-losingsituation. They've spent all this time unable to secure a complete victory."
They should shut down the transmission.
They should have done so the moment he began speaking.
But they couldn't.
They couldn't stop it.
There were far too many people who saw value in this man's words.
"If you can't achieve your objective after 800 years, the standard move is to reassess your strategic goals. And yet, the World Government stubbornly refuses to change its objective."
One of the five, the one who had once schemed to pull Kuro to their side—the War God of Justice—clutched his head.
"You can see it just by looking at Tequila Wolf—where the two royals from Mopuchi were sent. It has been continuing, with no change in policy, for 700 years. When something that appears utterly useless is continued indefinitely, it means there's an unknown reason for it. It means the World Government has a unified strategy, and that it's still in effect."
"For the World Government, the battle is not over. The war is still ongoing."
"But... the only ones who share that awareness are... likely the Five Elders. The Celestial Dragons believe themselves to be victors, despite never having achieved the original victory. They haven't experienced the process of winning... no, they haven't even inherited it."
"That's why they're only capable of wastefulness under the guise of domination. A dominator should, with time and experience, become a ruler. But they remain mediocre dominators, forever. They hold the power to rule the world, yet remain ignorant of it."
"And that is distorting the world beyond repair."
"That is why I said it!"
The other four said nothing in response to the elder's roar.
"We should not have made an enemy of him!"
Only the tall man, the only one still standing, turned his eyes to the elder—Saint Warcury—but remained silent.
"Even if that man..."
"Could become the next Nika...!"
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
—The Nachuro Kingdom has declared its secession from the World Government! The nearby G-472 and 328 bases have followed suit and defected!
—G-121 base is still silent! Requesting an immediate investigation fleet!
—"Report. Arrived in Gree, the port town of Petti Kingdom... There's nothing here. It's empty... Just a few corpses, but no other people... The shops, the houses... Oh god, how could this..."
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
While monitoring the Black Cat's broadcast, reports like roaring thunder flooded the conference room.
Reports of such horror that they painted a hellish scene, even for those who weren't there.
"Send Headquarters' ships to any branch we can still contact! Use them to increase patrol density and restore order!"
The very disaster that the pirate—whose voice was now echoing across the line, the one who had been cooperating with the Marines until just days ago—had feared most had begun.
He had risked turning himself in to the Holy Land to cooperate and stop this, but the situation had devolved into a hell far worse than anticipated.
"Kuro, isn't there something you can do?! With your mind..."
"Impossible. Now that this has happened, any option for a one-shot solution is already gone."
"But—!"
"I even considered an underhanded tactic, like blaming it all on Shiki or Gecko Moria's animated corpses... but the Government already publicized the Marines' 'heroic deeds' to spin the Holy Land attack with an impression of victory. ...I even lent a hand in that cleanup."
"..."
"What's more, they publicly announced that no Celestial Dragons were harmed. The conditions are too poor to fabricate a scapegoat now."
The pirate's voice on the broadcast was filled with anguish. You could tell just from his tone that he was genuinely trying to wring out any possible countermeasure.
"I can't tell the full extent of the impact on the Marines from here. ...But if units start to break off and become regional warlords..."
"...What... happens?"
"The nations' distrust of the World Government will become critical. Even if they could hide the Celestial Dragons' atrocities, many countries will see this as a fatal flaw in the Government's ability to govern. They'll either try to increase their own standing within the Government, or they'll break away. ...In any case..."
"The command structure and enforcement power of the Government and the Marines will plummet. They'll be lucky to just slow this disaster's progress..."
Everyone in the room, all the brave and wise leaders who had supported the Marines—even the Fleet Admiral himself—was struck speechless.
They were certain it would happen, and they couldn't think of a single move to overturn the situation.
All they had were minor, symptomatic treatments that would likely be ineffective against the swelling damage.
(Somewhere... we must find a game-changing move! But... we don't even have the personnel to grasp the current situation, let alone execute it!)
"What was everything we did for...?"
"Don't think such stupid things, Hina."
"But! We trained, we defeated pirates, we even stabilized the Holy Land... We were just getting started!"
The voice of the girl who had been attached to Kuro, the one who could have been a key to resetting relations in the event of the worst-case scenario, was hoarse.
Sengoku suddenly recalled the face of that official. The desperate, death-defying expression of that courageous man who had risked his life to get ahead of the disaster.
"This way, the Marines are meaningless...!"
Just as he had then, Sengoku found himself reaching for the coat on his back, gripping it tightly.
"Justice...!"
The two characters for "Justice" on his back crumpled under his grip.
"...has no meaning at all!"
"It does. ...The meaning of justice will never disappear."
"But!"
"Because you're crying, aren't you?"
His hand... loosened.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
(Wait! Wait, young Marine...! Don't say things that will crush morale when you know this is being broadcast! The people meant to raise morale, like Sengoku and Tsuru, are already at a level where they could collapse from stomach ulcers! Don't finish them off! Have some respect for the elderly! If Sengoku actually breaks down crying, it's really all over! It'll be too pathetic to watch!)
"You're crying right now because you're frustrated, aren't you?"
...Well, you're at your limit, so I guess it can't be helped. I never thought I'd see your face—the one that glared at me even after I kicked you—all messed up with tears and snot. I thought we'd just be bickering rivals for life.
"What's wrong is rampant, and the ones who started it are the World Nobles holding the Marines' leash. And the timing couldn't be worse. Not just the Marines, but the Government itself probably has no idea what to do."
(Seriously, if I were part of the government, what would I do?! This is a catastrophe! Why did you do this, Five Elders! ...No, the one above them!)
"...The word 'justice' is very cheap. The moment people decide it has no substance, it shatters easily."
(The weakness of a divide-and-conquer policy is the high probability of being thrown around by unexpecteddivisions! Did they not learn in 800 years that personnel will inevitably split into ranks and factions based on knowledge and experience?! That's why nothing lines up! If they had at least managed to keep the Celestial Dragons' consciousnesses aligned and held their reins, it wouldn't have gotten this bad!)
"But Hina. The fact that you're crying in frustration... that you feel betrayed by what you believed in... That means..."
"That there is something right and certain inside of you."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
—You're... saying you didn't intend to kill Hina...!
—Yeah.
When Hina first met him, she thought he was looking down on her.
It was entirely one-sided, but it had still been frustrating.
She had worked hard so she wouldn't be underestimated as a woman, had become an officer candidate early alongside that problem child from East Blue, and had boarded that training ship—
"Hina, you're allowed to cry. You have every reason to."
And she met this man.
The pirate, "Stealthy Foot" Kuro.
...Captain Kuro.
"The world is just too distorted. It's becoming a place where people can't even hold onto hope."
A man more skilled in governance than the Celestial Dragons, a man who has fought the Marines' contradictions more than any Marine.
"You have more than enough reason to despair and shed tears."
A pirate and statesman recognized by the Fleet Admiral—even the Commander-in-Chief, Kong—for his skill in eliminating threats to the populace, rebuilding their lives, and ensuring stability.
"That's exactly why the fact that someone like you is crying in frustration is so important."
His voice was as gentle as it had been since the day they reunited.
"It means you can't give up on 'good.' The word 'justice' is cheap and thin, but it means there was somethinginside you that felt it, that was pained by it."
"Cry. It's okay. But... still, hold your head high."
Gentle, and powerful.
Just like when he deduced the enemy headquarters during the Pirate Alliance incident.
Just like when he faced that absurd order and didn't back down an inch against the highest authorities in the world.
"Good is weak and faint, while malice is strong and potent. That's why people repeat such ugly conflicts..."
Her face must be a mess.
Kuro chuckled, taking a handkerchief from his suit pocket with his free hand and offering it.
"But if someone like you can feel that regret, it'll be okay."
"As long as there are people who can't give up on good, who keep moving forward..."
"The pride known as justice will absolutely never be extinguished!"
She couldn't take the handkerchief.
Her face was surely a crumpled, horrible mess that she never wanted this man to see, but she didn't even wipe it.
She just stared, stunned, at the troubled-looking pirate.
"Straighten your back, Marine Headquarters Petty Officer Hina."
"You are an honorable Marine, are you not?"
At his words, Hina snatched the handkerchief, wiped her face, and shoved it roughly into her own pocket.
And then, she replied to Kuro.
Not with words.
"Sir!"
A salute.
To the man who would, without doubt, continue to face this crisis.
To an enemy, a pirate, who nonetheless deserved—must be paid—respect.
She realized the other Marines around her were also saluting Kuro.
Noticing her gaze, Kuro looked around, and his wry smile deepened.
"...Hey, Kuro."
"Hm?"
"Is there anything the Marines can do?"
"First, grasp the situation. The deeper the chaos, the less progress has been made on gathering the intel needed to act."
"...Intel."
"Yes. Not just the Marines, but the damage and movements in nations the Celestial Dragons visited and their surrounding areas. A grasp of which Marine forces are responsive. How efficiently you can scrape all that together is key. ...If you can rebuild around Sengoku, the first move should be fine."
The answer was about what she had expected. Hina was a little disappointed. That even a man like Kuro could only say that much.
So, she pressed further.
"Then... what about you?"
"..."
The pirate closed the mouth he had been about to use to speak into the receiver and looked back at her.
"A man like you...!"
Kuro just stared. Then he let out a small sigh.
"You don't think I'll use this situation to make a killing?"
"Like Hina would ever think that!"
She shouted reflexively.
"You might use it for your crew's sake! But even then, you always...!"
"...Hina."
"Always!"
He had gone too far before. Hina had investigated him thoroughly after that day of defeat.
Back when he was more of a simple wanted man than a pirate, Kuro had targeted and crushed organizations involved in human trafficking.
He had captured and sold those criminals, but he had always rescued and protected the civilians, then anonymously requested Marine aid for them.
He performed high-speed combat where he wasn't even seen, but he had become known for that very reason.
And his small bounty had skyrocketed as a result.
Because he doesn't hesitate to take risks to save people...!
"Hina has no reason to doubt you!"
He was a man who had won the trust of not just a grunt like her, but of Admirals and even the Fleet Admiral. And yet, the Government...!
"...Hina."
"Yes."
"You trust me."
"Hina told you. Hina can't doubt you now."
"...I see."
Kuro nodded at her reply and looked around at the other Marines. They were all soldiers who had followed his command at the Holy Land. Maybe some didn't trust him yet, but none could doubt his ability.
"Bege."
"Yeah."
"Have reports of the 'Superior' damage by the Celestial Dragons spread through the Black Cat crew?"
"Yeah. Just that they were attacked and it's bad... Was that a problem?"
"No, it would have spread sooner or later. That was just a confirmation. Daz."
"Yeah."
"I want as many of our soldiers as possible to hear this broadcast."
"Fine, but what are you planning to say?"
"Our forces have grown, and we've solidified as a power. This is a good opportunity."
"I'm going to tell every one of them, soldiers included, the meaning of our three-clawed flag."
***
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