The mobilization of the admirals made the entire Marineford tremble.
Many people did not know why the two admirals were acting together, but they could sense that something major was about to happen in the world.
Meanwhile, under the orders of Fleet Admiral Kong, the entire Marine Headquarters entered a state of battle readiness.
An inexplicably heavy and tense atmosphere spread throughout Marineford, causing many low-ranking Marines to swallow nervously without realizing it.
"What exactly happened?"
"The Vice-Admirals all look so serious."
"This atmosphere... It's just like the night Golden Lion launched his surprise attack back then."
Countless people trembled in fear. Some suspected that Whitebeard was about to attack Marineford and that the world was about to witness an unimaginable war.
West Blue.
At the bow of the ship, a golden scepter glittered brilliantly in the sunlight.
Blue arcs of electricity crackled at the tip of the scepter. Further upward, there was a pair of broad feet and a strong, towering figure.
Kojin stood on top of the scepter, staring straight ahead; his entire body flashed with lightning.
"Buster Call!"
"It's actually a Buster Call... How is this possible?"
"Why would Headquarters launch a Buster Call on Ohara?"
Eveya murmured under her breath, her face still filled with disbelief.
But what shocked and terrified her even more wasn't just that; it was something else.
Thinking of it, the female colonel's eyes locked onto the sturdy back ahead. Her white cape fluttered violently in the sea wind, and the word Justice, boldly printed on it, was dazzling.
"Is the senior official actually going to confront the Buster Call head-on to save the Ohara scholars?"
"No... according to him, this is about defending the bottom line of justice!"
"A crimson red line that must never be crossed, not even a single step!"
"It's also the bottom line of humanity!"
Eveya's entire body trembled.
Those words had only been spoken not long ago, yet the mere thought of them made her feel as if electricity were running through her veins and her blood were boiling.
A bottom line!
The bottom line of justice, the bottom line of humanity!
'But what exactly is justice?'
Is it the equality and righteousness for the weak that the senior official insists upon?
No, not just that.
The senior official once said that justice should be measured by people with their own hearts so they can determine what is truly real and sincere for themselves.
No matter what kind of justice someone believes in, it should at least represent hope. It should be positive, uplifting, and righteous.
Like sunlight in broad daylight, it should pour down warmth, allow all things to grow, and bring light to the world.
"Confronting Headquarters... resisting the world!"
"Is that also justice?"
Eveya's heart trembled.
She had met Ohara's scholars before. They were kind, gentle, and knowledgeable, people worthy of respect.
She didn't know why the World Government wanted to slaughter them, but she knew one thing clearly:
They didn't deserve to die.
On this point, she agreed with the Kojin vice admiral before her.
Slowly turning her head, she saw Crocodile smoking a cigar and blowing out rings of smoke. She saw Bullet smiling with faint excitement on his face.
T. Penn slowly pulled out the longsword at his waist. With a click, he sheathed it again before lifting his head and staring at the tall figure ahead.
Without a doubt, this group's faith was unwavering. No matter how absurd the situation, they only believed in the senior official.
"Then what about me?"
Should I trust him without distractions and follow him wholeheartedly?"
Eveya thought to herself.
Only a moment later, she had her answer.
"Vice Admiral Kojin… is someone worth following!"
"He is not wrong!"
If the man before her was right, then the ones who were wrong had to be someone else.
"We should follow the truth. We should pursue the correct path."
Eveya gripped the longsword at her waist, her resolve firming.
Suddenly, the Den Den Mushi in her arms rang.
The sudden vibration startled her, but she quickly looked down. She saw that the Den Den Mushi had taken the form of an elderly man with a stern, majestic expression.
The caller felt unfamiliar, but she wouldn't mistake it for a prank call.
This Den Den Mushi was an official communication line exclusive to the Kojin Vice Admiral's channel. This meant that only someone of the same rank or higher from Marine Headquarters could connect to it.
"Hello, this is G-18 Branch Colonel Eveya," She said in a deep voice.
"Let your senior official answer the call. We want to speak with him." An old yet authoritative voice came through.
Eveya's heart trembled as if she instinctively felt she was an entire level beneath the speaker, even though it was only words.
This was undoubtedly a high-ranking Marine executive—perhaps someone beyond what she could even imagine.
"You...want to?"
At the same time, she sharply noticed how the other party had worded their response.
"Have him answer personally."
"At your level, you are not qualified to receive this call."
The old man's voice sounded again. There was a hint of coldness in his words, which made Eveya's pupils shrink and fine beads of sweat appear on her forehead.
She turned her head toward the figure standing atop the scepter, as if seeking help.
The next second, the Den Den Mushi floated up into the air and drifted into Kojin's hand.
"Speak."
A calm voice rang out. Kojin's gaze showed not the slightest ripple.
"You should be able to guess our identities."
"Kojin,"
The old man said flatly.
"I've guessed." Kojin nodded.
Eveya and Crocodile, as well as the others behind them, listened quietly. Curiosity appeared in their eyes.
"The Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars), right?"
Those five simple words drifted out next, yet they made the hearts of everyone on the battleship tighten, their eyes filling with shock and horror.
The Gorōsei!
The true rulers of the World Government, the five old men who controlled the world's power.
"Since you already know, then our conversation from here on will be simpler."
The old man said indifferently. After a slight pause, his voice turned heavy.
"Listen, Vice-Admiral Kojin."
"What happened in Ohara is not something a mere Marine like you can interfere with."
"What's involved here is far more serious than you can imagine. If you turn back now, we can pretend nothing ever happened."
Hearing this, Kojin suddenly laughed.
"I know what you're worried about. And I know what you're afraid of."
The five old men's eyes sharpened at these sudden words, cold light flashing within them.
"Then what exactly do you know?"
Kojin held the Den Den Mushi in his hand, yet his gaze remained fixed ahead.
"Eight hundred years ago, there were the powerful Twenty Nations, meaning the countries ruled by the Twenty Kings."
Just those opening words made the Five Elder Stars' hearts tremble.
"But at the same time, there was another nation—one that was unbelievably powerful."
"It possessed an advanced technological civilization..."
"And power so great it could rival the Twenty Nations combined."
"The so-called Blank History from eight hundred years ago is..."
When Kojin's words reached this point, the sea wind ahead seemed to grow fiercer.
"Shut up!"
An icy roar suddenly exploded from the Den Den Mushi.
"You already know far too much!"
"Do you want to be erased?"
At those words, the smile on Kojin's face instantly vanished, replaced by a chilling frost and a murderous coldness.
He took a deep breath, and a low, savage, crazed roar came from his throat, like a beast.
"Erase me?"
"Then come and try!"
"Crack!"
His right hand suddenly tightened, crushing the Den Den Mushi into pieces that scattered through the air.
An invisible, tyrannical aura erupted outward.
Starting from the battleship, the ripples on the sea ahead instantly froze and solidified.
"Rumble!"
In the sky above, a dazzling bolt of lightning tore through the void.
A suffocating pressure rolled out, crushing everything in its path.
On the battleship, Eveya's eyes widened in shock, and her entire body trembled.
In that moment, the figure before her seemed like the lord of the gods from ancient myths, majestic and overwhelming. Behind him, Crocodile, Bullet, and the others had razor-sharp gazes, their killing intent icy to the extreme.
No one had expected the Gorōsei to call suddenly at this moment.
Even less had anyone expected Kojin to take such a decisive and ironclad stance against those five supreme beings.
"Eight hundred years ago... the Blank History..."
"The Twenty Kings... Their descendants are the Celestial Dragons, right?"
"And that massive nation, powerful enough to rival the Twenty Nations...what was its name?"
Crocodile, Bullet, and the others murmured.
Everyone understood clearly; they had just accidentally heard a world-shaking secret. It was a secret so severe that the Gorōsei had said, "Erase you."
The situation had become extremely complicated.
"You all heard it, didn't you?"
At that moment, Kojin's light, casual voice drifted over.
Eveya raised her head blankly.
"Anyone who heard what was just said will be erased by the World Government."
Another sentence followed immediately after.
The air froze solid.
Eveya's mouth fell open wide, and tears burst from her eyes. Her whole body trembled violently.
The pupils of Crocodile, Bullet, and the others contracted, and their hearts shook fiercely.
"So,"
"Everyone here, just like me, has no choice anymore!"
Kojin bared his teeth in a grin. His eyes looked forward as a deep darkness emerged within them.
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
"The Nefertari family..."
"They really are traitors!"
A cold voice echoed, and the atmosphere in the palace solidified instantly.
"Eight hundred years ago, their ancestor... Lily."
One of them began to speak softly but was quickly interrupted.
"That is history now. The Nefertari household is still one of the Twenty Kings' descendants."
"Their fate can only be decided by the person in the Coiling Ancient City."
After a brief pause, another imposing old man spoke.
"Ohara has touched the forbidden zone of the world. They must be erased."
"This is also a warning to the people of the world."
And since Kojin dares to interfere, he should be wiped out along with them!"
But very soon, someone else spoke up.
"As for his information, I believe everyone here has already read it."
"This man possesses power comparable to Roger and Golden Lion..."
"His bloodline is also somewhat special."
"He is suspected of possessing an Undying Physique!"
These words plunged the palace into silence once more.
After a long while, a soft sigh finally sounded.
"If we cannot erase him, then we'll discuss the next step."
"He still doesn't seem to know his own background."
——
Ohara, West Blue Coast.
A black dot suddenly appeared on the horizon.
After several breaths, the black dot became clearer.
Twenty enormous battleships emerged, their outlines fully revealed.
"Vice-Admiral Kuzan!"
"We've reached Ohara!"
From one of the battleships, a Marine stared at the island ahead and shouted.
"Why are you making such a fuss?"
"We arrived, so what? It's not like this is a mission that will get anyone excited."
Looking impatient, Kuzan stepped forward and muttered as he spoke.
His eyes swept to both sides.
Sakazuki and Borsalino stood right beside him. But the two men showed no reaction.
"So this is Kojin's homeland?"
Kuzan murmured. He suddenly turned his head and asked the Marine beside him,
"Hey, if your hometown was attacked and destroyed by the organization you work for, what would you do?"
The Marine froze, then hesitated before answering.
"I... I'd probably go crazy."
Kuzan covered his forehead with one hand. The look in his eyes, visible between his fingers, was already extremely grim.
"That guy..."
"He'd go crazy, too!"
After a moment of silence, the island grew clearer and closer before their eyes.
"What a damn mission..."
As the twenty battleships approached the island, the shrill whistling of cannon shells rang out.
Flames erupted across the island, and faint screams could be heard. Kuzan stood at the bow, staring at the scene ahead. His expression shifted.
In that moment, he couldn't help but feel hesitation and doubt toward his faction and the justice he upheld.
"Hey, asshole! Don't fire at civilians!"
"Are you stupid?!"
"Just capture those scholars... that's enough!"
An enraged roar came from the side, stirring something within Kuzan.
Even among the demons of hell, there were people who clung to righteousness.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
He saw a tall figure sprinting wildly along the island's coastline.
"Saul."
He spoke the name softly, his heart sinking.
"Being a Marine, you really have to face a lot of things."
In that moment, he felt deep exhaustion, recalling the days when he fought alongside Kojin.
"Those days were much happier..."
When he saw a cannon shell strike Saul, his expression darkened, and he immediately jumped off the ship.
"He's mine!"
On the coast, Saul protected Robin as they ran as fast as they could.
Suddenly, he halted abruptly when he saw a figure blocking the way ahead.
"Kuzan!"
Saul's eyes trembled as he called out the other man's name.
"Justice…"
It changes form depending on your position."
Kuzan sighed.
Suddenly, a piercing cannon shell shriek tore through the air from the sea beside them. Their expressions changed as they both snapped their heads around.
They saw the evacuation ship that had just left the shore.
BOOM!
...explode violently, a bloom of fire bursting into the air.
Seeing this, Saul and Kuzan's faces turned ugly.
But then, in the next instant...
Their pupils shrank suddenly, and their expressions changed once again.
"Rumble!"
A massive bolt of lightning ripped through the void. The skies above Ohara instantly darkened, and storm clouds rapidly gathered.
At the same time, on the terrified evacuation ship... amid flashes of lightning and smoke, a tall, powerfully built figure slowly appeared.
"T-The cannon..."
"The cannon shell..."
"It was blocked by something!"
"We're not dead!"
Shouts of joy rang out, echoing across the sea.
(End of Chapter)
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