"Ah... this?" Dragon stared at the execution platform with visible confusion.
Before coming, he'd anticipated the Marines gaining tremendous power from Roger's execution, using it to suppress pirate activity worldwide. Instead, the situation had reversed in an instant.
The square erupted into celebration, people cheering and jumping with wild excitement as if every single one planned to set sail immediately as pirates, searching for Roger's treasure.
The Marines had been completely played by Roger at the final moment. Rather than discouraging pirates, this would stimulate them to unprecedented madness.
Dragon could practically see the new era arriving before his eyes. Not a new age for the Marines, but a revolutionary epoch for pirates themselves.
Finn glanced at Dragon. "I can't talk now. This happened suddenly. Goodbye."
Before Dragon could respond, Finn kicked off the bell tower and flew through the air. Within seconds, he'd landed directly on the execution platform.
He looked at Roger, still sitting cross-legged, having not fallen despite losing all life. Without hesitation, Finn pulled out a spare broadcast Den Den Mushi and connected to Loguetown's transmission signal.
"SILENCE!" Finn's voice boomed across the square.
His shout seemed to snap everyone from their shocked revelry. Most people looked toward the execution platform with surprise. Doflamingo, Crocodile, Mihawk, and others who'd begun leaving paused and turned back.
"I am Vice Admiral Rodriguez Finn of Marine Headquarters," Finn said with absolute authority. "On behalf of the Marines, I hereby warn the world: Pirate King Roger is dead. You're welcome to search for his treasure as you please, but remember that the Marines will always be watching. Going to sea is risky. Committing crimes is dangerous. If you want to find Roger's treasure, become an adventurer. Form a treasure-hunting team. Become a bounty hunter. You don't have to become pirates."
His voice hardened like steel. "But if someone insists on choosing piracy's evil path, be very careful of Marine blades falling on your heads!"
His words dampened some people's enthusiasm, at least temporarily. But Finn knew the actual effectiveness would likely be minimal.
Good words cannot persuade someone determined to die.
He'd said his piece. Anyone who still chose to seek death would receive no mercy if they fell into his hands.
After a brief pause, Finn's expression shifted to a slight smile. "By the way, here's breaking news for everyone. Golden Lion Shiki was secretly arrested by our Marines one week ago. The Pirate King has been executed. The Pirate Overlord has been imprisoned. This fully demonstrates that the Marines possess both qualification and capability to strike devastating blows against evil organizations like pirates."
He let that sink in before continuing. "From now forward, the Marines will continue upholding justice, cleaning the seas, and protecting civilians. If you possess energy and nowhere to direct it, why not join the military instead?"
Finn took a deep breath and addressed the entire world through the broadcast. "Justice may arrive late, but it will never be absent. Whether it takes ten years or twenty, we Marines will never allow this world to fall into the hands of evil and chaos!"
He clenched his fist and raised it high, looking at the gathered crowds. "JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!"
The Marine soldiers throughout the square seemed moved by his declaration. Their voices rose in unified chorus: "JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL!"
Standing on the bell tower, Dragon's eyes held surprise. He hadn't expected Finn's eloquence and oratory skills to be so impressive. In mere moments, he'd brought the chaotic situation under control and partially restored the Marines' position.
"But the tide of this era rolls forward," Dragon murmured quietly. "One person alone cannot stop it, Finn. Farewell."
His figure vanished like dispersing wind.
At the Marine base, the senior officers released collective breaths of relief.
Chief of Staff Tsuru's expression eased slightly. "Fortunately, Finn showed quick thinking. But things have reached this point regardless. Everyone, prepare to face the coming wave. Roger's final words won't be easily erased by Finn's speech."
"Justice will prevail," Gion said softly, repeating Finn's declaration.
Sakazuki nodded with grim satisfaction. "Finn issued all necessary warnings. Anyone who still doesn't listen deserves no mercy. We kill them on sight."
Tsuru sighed heavily. Regardless of circumstances, they needed to return to Headquarters. She stood and gestured decisively. "Prepare to return to Marineford. The Fleet Admiral and higher leadership must make decisions on these matters."
Soon after Finn rejoined them, the Marine warships slowly departed Loguetown's port.
Roger's dying declaration swept across the world through live broadcast and the following day's newspapers.
Just as Dragon had predicted, the tide of an era couldn't be resisted by one individual alone. Even Finn's supplementary warning, demonstrating Marine determination, proved insufficient.
As time passed, the brewing storm grew increasingly terrifying.
Countless people raised pirate flags symbolizing evil and plunged into the new era's wave, answering history's call. For a time, thousands of ships raced across the seas. Pirates appeared almost everywhere.
Chaos and evil quickly impacted the entire world's order. Even the World Government felt overwhelmed. Within one week, they'd received suppression requests from dozens of member nations.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford - Strategy Meeting
Fleet Admiral Kong sat at the head of the conference table, his expression severe.
Admiral Sengoku stood before a projected world map, pointer in hand, indicating various regions as he spoke. Finn and numerous other high-ranking Marine officers had returned from Loguetown and now sat attending this emergency strategy session.
"Currently, there are no major changes in the New World, but we cannot afford complacency," Sengoku said grimly. "I have reason to believe this is merely because the wave hasn't reached the New World yet. Looking at the overall situation, I can draw the following conclusions: Roger is dead. The Pirate Era has begun. The Four Blues are now in chaos. The branch bases we established in those seas lack sufficient combat power. This unexpected situation has left us unable to suppress the Four Blues adequately. Currently, only East Blue remains relatively stable. The other three seas have suffered serious disruption."
"Regardless of circumstances, the pirate population will continue growing," Chief of Staff Tsuru added. "This presents a severe challenge for our organization. I hope everyone can demonstrate their full capabilities and clean the seas as quickly as possible."
Finn stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking. "Judging from current conditions, the Four Blues' chaos is only the beginning. Once they've finished fighting internally, the strongest from each sea will emerge. These people will definitely attack the Grand Line. Though Roger didn't state it explicitly, in their minds, his treasure must be in the New World. They'll follow Roger's example, pouring into the Grand Line from the Four Blues. After breaking through the first half, they'll fight their way into the New World searching for treasure. Or pursuing their own ambitions."
The other officers nodded. They'd already reached similar conclusions without Finn stating the obvious.
"Continue," Sengoku said, studying Finn intently. "Do you have recommendations?"
Sengoku had always trusted Finn's strategic mind.
"Yes, Admiral." Finn stood, teacup in hand, and walked to the projection screen. "The Four Blues' branch bases have low combat power and insufficient personnel. This is a long-standing problem accumulated over years. We cannot reverse this deficiency in a short timeframe. Therefore, judging by current reality, though it's regrettable, I believe we should abandon any hope of suppressing the Four Blues' pirates quickly."
Several admirals' expressions shifted immediately, seemingly disapproving of his apparent "appeasement."
Sakazuki frowned, preparing to voice objections. But just as he opened his mouth, he reconsidered. Finn had always been someone willing to fight and kill without hesitation. Sakazuki would never doubt that. Someone like him shouldn't be a defeatist.
Thinking carefully, though Finn's words were harsh, they were accurate. The Marines genuinely couldn't rapidly suppress countless pirates across the Four Blues. The vast majority of these people couldn't even legitimately be called pirates yet. "Bandits" was more accurate.
With small sampans or leaky fishing boats, three to five hooligans gathering together dared to sail under skull-and-crossbones flags. The Great Pirate Era's beginning was truly chaotic. All kinds of riffraff claimed pirate status.
This phenomenon would continue for several years until the initial fervor cooled somewhat.
Sakazuki represented the Marine hawks. When he didn't refute Finn's remarks, others who'd been ready to object remained silent rather than risk offending him.
Finn sipped his tea before continuing. "Therefore, I believe our current priority isn't competing with these so-called 'pirates' within the Four Blues. Instead, we should rapidly establish defensive positions throughout the Grand Line's first half. We must prepare to handle any impact before they leave the Four Blues. We wait for them to exhaust themselves, minimizing evil and chaos's influence. Once we've weathered this first, largest, most complex, and most chaotic wave, then we can suppress the Four Blues properly."
Sakazuki touched his chin, finding merit in Finn's argument. Rather than performing thankless tasks, reorganizing the Four Blues' defenses while conducting guerrilla warfare against pirates...
Better to directly strengthen the Grand Line's first half, wait for them to tire, form a defensive line, and deliver a crushing blow.
Fleet Admiral Kong nodded understanding. Simply put, Finn meant trading space for time. Because everything happened too quickly, the Marines lacked measures or preparations, getting caught off-guard in the Four Blues.
Now, Finn wanted to temporarily concede the Four Blues, buying time for the Grand Line's first half to avoid being caught unprepared when the wave arrived.
Though the plan had flaws, it sounded remarkably effective under current circumstances.
"Does anyone object?" Kong asked first. Seeing no one speak, he nodded decisively. "Then we follow this plan. Adjust our current focus. Devote all efforts to building a defensive line in the Grand Line's first half. We aim to eliminate all pirates flooding into the Grand Line in the future."
"Yes! Everything for justice!" Sakazuki, Kuzan, and other Marine officers responded with solemn determination.
Kong's expression lightened slightly. "Well, now that strategy is settled, don't dwell on setbacks. Focus on your duties. Now let's discuss rewards for Roger and Shiki's captures."
Hearing that, Finn quickly returned to his seat with visible anticipation.
Here it comes. I'm about to receive my Admiral Candidate title, right?
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