"Is this okay, Robin?"
Hancock, holding Robin tight, whispers in her ear. She knows she can dodge any surprise attack on her own and turn most enemies to stone right after.
"Hm?"
"He is the one you could call your enemy, right?"
"...Yes."
For Robin, that island was not filled with happy memories.
She was treated like a bother at the house she was left at.
There were strict limits on what she could eat and wear.
There were people who treated her like family.
The archaeologists were like family and taught her many things, but she never once felt what it was like to have a 'home.'
"But... I'm sure the Captain would hate doing something that hurts people."
But, from the day she was found hiding in that empty barrel, she had a home.
Back then, it was on a ship that never stayed in one place.
Now, she has a home on an island she helped build with everyone.
She will never forget the pain of Ohara... of her homeland.
She will find the other Poneglyphs.
She will solve the mystery of the blank 100 years, the deepest wish of those who sleep on that island.
But she also wants to follow the wishes of the Captain who protected her and gave her a home and family.
She didn't want to force him to do something she knew that kind person would hate.
"No, Robin. Once the Captain decides someone is an enemy, he is completely ruthless."
"Uh, yes... I know that, but..."
"I agree. He would probably keep that man alive but not alive, and completely drain his life away."
"Mihawk, please go sew your mouth shut."
--
'You think we... are not prepared?'
You Five Elders, if you're willing to talk, then I've already won!
A good speech is the most basic way to stir people up!
"That's how it looks to me."
'You still seem to be fearless. What do you think we are missing?'
"Then let me ask you. Is the 'world' you think of and the 'world' the Marines think of the same thing?"
'...'
Like I told these guys before, the World Government has a weak spot.
They keep missing their chances to fix things.
"The World Government rules the world using three divisions."
I don't plan to break up the World Government, but if I can use this to keep the World Nobles in check, it's worth poking them a bit.
"First, the absolute class system of the World Nobles and everyone else. Second, the planned and extreme hate for people from non-member nations. And third... keeping conflicts going between the member nations."
They probably can't fix these problems even if I point them out.
They can't make real changes unless they change the World Nobles.
And that's what the World Government can't do. Especially not now.
I'll make you see that this is your weak spot!
"The first two, I can almost understand. But the last one clearly shows your problem."
'Oh, that one?'
One of the Five Elders speaks. I can't tell who it is just from the voice, but someone is playing along.
'The member nations all have their own reasons. Are you saying we should use force against them?'
"But nations are also things that can't change easily without some help or pressure from the outside, right?"
'I don't think it's right to interfere so easily.'
"Then what is the point of the Levely? Of all the problems that need to be solved, how much can you proudly say the World Government has helped?"
You haven't forgotten I used to be an apprentice at a merchant's house, have you!?
I was always paying attention to those details to decide what to do. I know all the details of the last three Reveries!
My company even did business with the royal family of the Goa Kingdom. They told me everything when I praised them a little.
I also listened to other East Blue royal families and studied them. I can't believe I'm using that knowledge now!
"Your policy is to create a group to be hated, just to make the World Nobles seem all-powerful. You use the Heavenly Tribute to weaken the member nations. And you leave seeds of conflict to make them fight each other. Isn't that right?"
Divide and conquer... it's such a basic tactic.
"That's why you are slow to act for the member nations. Because, to the World Government, the member nations are just a buffer zone that also produces things to protect the Holy Land."
It's an obvious trick. The kind Crocodile or that jerk Doflamingo might try in 20 years.
In a way, I'm doing the same thing by blaming the pirates and mafia.
...
Come on, say something!
I'm not just trying to make you the bad guys here!
Kuzan, Hina, stop grinding your teeth!
"And that itself is not evil. It's not."
In some ways, it can't be helped!
"No matter what anyone who isn't responsible says, a nation's most important job is to survive. That is a truth that cannot be changed."
'...You are...'
"If we think of the World Government as the nation of the World Nobles, it all fits. They must have been tired too, after surviving the blank 100 years, which was probably some kind of war. So, they made a plan to survive. They made a bigger group and used it as a shell."
Building a world this perfect for the World Nobles... yeah, I'm sure they did things that would be called evil. This is the One Piece world, after all.
Yes, I think so. I do... but it's also true that it was a great achievement.
I only know the story up to around when they reached Wano Country, and my memory is fuzzy. But based on my time living here, keeping some order for 800 years in this violent world is amazing... even if they are part of the reason it's so violent.
Saying there was a "better way" is just hindsight.
I can't deny the 800 years that have passed, in which some people were definitely saved.
"That part is fine. But for all this time, you never updated that survival plan to fit the times. The gap between the Government's 'world' and the member nations'...'world'—and the Marines' 'world'—just gets bigger every year."
And this gap probably created pirates who couldn't stand the Government's control or the abuse of non-member nations.
That must be what most pirates were like before the story of the One Piece treasure.
'...That is just your guess.'
"Then why was the Government's help so late this time?"
'We were focused on stopping the damage from spreading.'
"Did you weigh that against the risk of revolution or more pirates?"
'In fact, the damage was kept much smaller than we expected.'
"Now, will the Marines be happy with that answer?"
'...The people's support comes after the results.'
"I see. That's true. You have a point."
We're the ones getting results here, though!
Well, too bad for the Five Elders, but if they don't argue, I'll push ahead with this idea.
This kind of public show is all about impact and performance.
They were careless and let me on stage. I won't hold back.
Besides, to get the Government and the Marines to meet in the middle, we first need a story the Marines can accept, even if it's not the whole truth.
"The Marines stand for justice. New recruits join looking for that justice... or maybe just for safety."
Even if they are new, they are still soldiers.
"And even though they should be in training, they are counted as numbers and sent out in a crisis like this. They are sent out... and some of them fall."
'...That's right. A soldier is a soldier, even a new one. They were brave.'
"Yes."
That's right. They all fought bravely. They are fighting.
I'm glad the Five Elders agreed. If they had treated it as nothing, it would have been hard to fix this.
"During the first attack by the pirate alliance, the 178th Base near Mogwa Kingdom lost 7 new recruits... and 78 soldiers in total."
I arranged for the collection and repair of the bodies of the Marines who died on the first day, and for their funerals. It's the worst feeling.
The young Marines, probably their friends, were singing the Marines' song... "Sea Guide," I think? They sang it while crying...
Kuzan looked so sad then, too.
"You probably know this, but as of today, we have lost 836 soldiers in the West Blue alone, and 1,329 are badly injured."
Private Highland was moving supplies on a retaken island when a hidden pirate...
Captain Terrier's son, Private Dale, died defending Area A.
The unit led by Captain Marinoa was sunk before help could arrive.
Private Kelpie, Sergeant Karelia, Commodore Schnauzer, Private Kelly, Private Kubas...
Some soldiers are still fighting hard for the Marines even though their own families are missing in this mess.
"It doesn't matter if they are new or old. They accept both the good and the bad of any order from the government. They push down their fear and go to the battlefield."
'What is your point? So far, your view of an army is no different from ours.'
"You don'I don't understand?"
'...No.'
"That's why. That is exactly why the government that orders its army... its soldiers... to throw away their lives, is not allowed to lie about its main purpose."
--
...He hasn't changed. He hasn't changed at all, Kuro.
The man who once fought him was exactly the same as when they first met in that hidden warehouse.
Ah, I see. So those girls, who were just products back then, saw this side of him.
The only difference is the view.
That day, the boy pirate he faced kicked back the cannonball he had his men fire. Now, that same man has his back to them, facing the distant World Government... no, facing something huge.
"You might move soldiers without telling them much. You might limit information to stop them from hesitating. That's normal."
No wonder those girls became soldiers in just six months. After seeing this...
Even his own men, who didn't leave, are holding their breath, unable to look away from the pirate's back.
No, they can't look away.
"It doesn't matter if the mission is clean and just, or if it's a disgusting, evil plan. Soldiers must be loyal to the army, and the army must be loyal to the government. They must follow their orders."
"No matter how unfair or frustrating those orders are, the soldiers prepare themselves and go to their deaths."
"They take their weapons and risk their lives on the sea. They push down their complaints and fears. They prepare themselves to kill people, and to be killed by people."
'The enemy is a pirate or a criminal. What is the problem?'
"No, they are people. A soldier might forget that for a moment, an army might accept it... but an army that keeps lying about it is the weakest thing there is."
The Marines are also watching Kuro, not moving.
Even those who can't hear his voice can't look away from the pirate, Kuro.
"The soldiers prepare for the worst, pushing everything down, to protect the world. But the government giving those orders is lying. The gap between the World Government's world and the Marines' world grows too large."
"If that's the case, what are the soldiers fighting the terror of pirates for?"
"What did they die for on the battlefield?"
The soldier named Hina, who looks about Kuro's age, is also watching him with different eyes.
"A government that lets them hold that lie cannot be right. And a government that doesn't try to fix it is not prepared to rule."
"Elders, I want to ask you."
"Can you proudly say that today's Marines still have justice?"
"Can you promise they are not just pawns used by the Government?"
"In the hearts of the Marines who risk their lives on missions..."
"Does their pride still shine...!"
--
Ah...
As Admiral Kizaru, his mission in the West Blue was to guard supplies to save the people.
His other mission was to see "Black Cat" with his own eyes.
This is...
The Marines around him are frozen, as if they are stuck.
This is... not good.
He is sure of it.
If he's going to kill him, it has to be now.
This is the only chance to kill this pirate.
After all, some of the soldiers are suddenly... collapsing. Some of the mafia and pirate soldiers are also passing out and falling.
The Marines, mafia, and pirates don't notice because no one can take their eyes off the man named Kuro.
The Government will never accept that pirate...
If I don't kill him now, he will become a huge problem for the Marines... and for the Government.
No, I said that wrong.
This was the last chance.
The swordsman protecting Ohara's "demon," Nico Robin, and the Vice-Captain have been sending faint killing intent toward him for a while now.
The moment Kizaru's fingers twitched when he saw a piece of Kuro's power, the "Marine Hunter" started watching him, all while joking with Nico Robin and another young girl pirate.
Daz Bonez doesn't seem to have noticed, but he is still on guard.
If Kizaru attacks Kuro, the "Marine Hunter" will block the first hit. Then Daz Bonez will quickly gather the other "Black Cat" soldiers and a fight will start.
--
'Of course. The Marines stand for justice. There is no room for argument.'
Meanwhile, the talk continues.
A pirate and the Five Elders, talking. This strange event has probably never happened in history.
At the Five Elders' words, the pirate gives a small, sly smile, as if he was waiting for it.
"Then, the only problem is the gap with the Marines. And you are just failing to grab the chance to fix it."
'That's right.'
"I see. My mistake. In that case, I have a humble suggestion. If you don't mind..."
'Fine. Let's hear it.'
"If you have a gap in understanding, and that's making you miss chances to work together, then you just need a third person to help you talk."
'...Don't tell me, you...'
"I request a formal meeting between a representative of the Government and a representative of the Marines."
The pirate said it simply, as if it were nothing.
"If you accept this, I, 'Silent Step' Kuro, will come to Mary Geoise alone and unarmed, to act as the third party."
He is suggesting something that sounds like suicide, but...
"What do you say?"
The pirate "Black Cat" smiled, sure that he had already won.
--
Join Patreon.com/AHumanMadeMOFO to read ahead right now!