"This little brat is quite polite."
Gion muttered.
However, when she saw Ian in person, she couldn't help but feel a sense of amazent.
So young.
Such youth, yet so powerful.
"The Navy doesn't make way for pirates."
Vice-Admiral Tsuru calmly stared at Ian. "And what about the other troublemaker?"
"Right here!"
Yamato cheerfully stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ian.
"It shouldn't be about you."
Ian chuckled lightly.
"Hehehe, isn't that Vice-Admiral Tsuru? It's been a while."
The mischievous troublemaker, Doflamingo, stepped forward, looking down at the battleship. "How's your health?"
"Don't bother with pirate greetings," ca the cool, indifferent reply from the sharp-eyed old woman.
"Exactly, don't co trying to get close with your evil pirate ways!" Gion sneered. "Your fate is already sealed for today."
"Evil?" Ian asked, confused. "What do you an by that?"
"What?" Gion was montarily stunned by his response. Once she understood what Ian ant, she let out a furious laugh. "Are you implying that the evil ones aren't the pirates, but the Marines?"
"Oh! Now that you ntion it," Ian said, feigning a mont of realization. "Although I hadn't thought about it before, now that I reflect on it, it seems that's exactly the case."
Gion couldn't even be bothered to argue.
"If the Celestial Dragons are the cancer of the world, the most evil beings on Earth, then the Marines that protect them are, at the very least, the second most evil, right?" Ian said.
"Hehehe, I'd say those who assist evil, but still pretend to be righteous, are even more evil," Doflamingo added with a smile, agreeing with Ian.
"Shut up!"
Gion, unable to hold back any longer, snapped angrily, "Do you know what you're saying?"
"I think we're more than qualified to judge the Celestial Dragons, especially Doflamingo," Ian remarked.
"There probably isn't anyone more qualified than to discuss the Celestial Dragons," Doflamingo said.
Gion had no words to refute.
After all, this guy used to be a Celestial Dragon!
"I rember there's a tradition among the Celestial Dragons, right, Doflamingo?"
Ian feigned a nostalgic tone. "Every three years, they descend to the lower world, selecting an island for a massacre competition. Once everyone on the island is killed, the island is then incorporated under theWorld Governnt's control."
"..."
Gion's pupils suddenly trembled.
Is this really true?
"Hehehe, Ian, you really know a lot, don't you?"
Doflamingo chid in with a sly grin. "That's right. The incident at God's Valley happened because of the Celestial Dragons' hunting competition, which drew the Rocks Pirates there."
"Impressive," Ian said with genuine amazent. "Kaido-sensei has worked tirelessly for decades, and he may have only killed around a hundred thousand people. But compared to the Celestial Dragons, that's nothing. If they casually wipe out an entire nation, the number of people killed must be several tis what Kaido-sensei has done, right?"
"In the past 800 years, how many people have died in the Celestial Dragons' hunting gas? Ten million? A hundred million? Or maybe a billion?"
"Hehehe, I wouldn't know that," Doflamingo replied, looking at the Navy officers. "Why not ask the Navy? Every ti the Celestial Dragons hold a hunting competition, Navy ships are there to provide protection. They might have statistics on it."
"Oh, speaking of which, the reason Iron Fist Garp is called the Navy hero is because he protected the Celestial Dragons from the Rocks Pirates' attack at God's Valley."
"Tsk tsk, in the end, God's Valley sank, and all the natives died. Truly, the perfect Navy hero—he did an excellent job of preserving the Celestial Dragons' image."
"... What are you all talking about?"
Gion's forehead was covered in cold sweat. She instinctively looked at Vice-Admiral Tsuru.
The legendary figure who had led the Navy even before the Great Pirate Era now had a frown on her face, remaining silent.
Sister Tsuru!
What they're saying… It's a lie, right?
anwhile, in the eting room.
"What?! So, the Celestial Dragons are really that scum?"
Baby-5 shouted loudly, "And they're still called world nobles?!"
"It can't be! How could this happen?"
Drake, pale, scread in disbelief. "It must be those two's slander! The Celestial Dragons, the World governnt... there's no way they could do this!"
"How is that impossible?!"
Law, who had been unusually gloomy, sneered. "My country was destroyed because of the World Governnt!"
"..."
Drake looked at Law, confused and dazed.
"Have you ever heard of White Lead?"
White Lead?
Drake had heard of it.
It was said to be a very rare and precious mineral.
"My holand, the white city of Flevance, you should've heard of it,"
Law clenched his fist, "It's rich in White Lead, and the World governnt has been profiting from the trade of it since a hundred years ago."
"But they never told us the truth, that White Lead is highly toxic, and the toxins accumulate over ti! It wasn't until last year that the toxins reached a breaking point, and the entire nation was plunged into ruin!"
"But what did the World Governnt do? The ones making a fortune from the White Lead trade? They turned a blind eye! They allowed our nation to be attacked by neighboring countries, who mistakenly thought it was a widespread epidemic, and they sent their armies to wipe us out!"
Drake staggered backward, looking into Law's eyes. The lifeless emptiness in them filled him with dread.
"I only have two years left to live! I will take my revenge on this world! I will destroy everything I've seen!"
Drake suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
What turned him into this? Was it the pirates? Or was it the World Governnt?
No… it was the Navy that protected the Governnt, wasn't it?
Outside.
"Justice? Being a dog for the Celestial Dragons, and sending in Vice-Admirals if they're hard… Do they even deserve to talk about justice?"
Ian shook his head. "In the end, who do all these pirates exist for? Half of the world's nations aren't even protected by the Navy because they can't afford to pay the Celestial Dragons' ridiculous 'Heavenly Tribute' for their pleasures. And then,"
Ian stretched out his hand, pointing at the Navy below, "You just ignore them. Your so-called justice treats them like they don't even exist."
"Seriously…"
Ian shook his head. "They're better off than Whitebeard's crew. At least on Whitebeard's islands, he didn't charge outrageous protection fees, and when sothing happened, he actually put in the effort."
Ian deliberately avoided comparing the Beast Pirates.
"Hehehe! Isn't it obvious?"
Doflamingo laughed maliciously, "Justice also has its stance! Only those willing to serve the Celestial Dragons are recognized as humans!"
In the eting room,
Drake was slumped on the floor, his eyes devoid of light.
Is this what justice is?
He waited for the Navy to argue back.
But there was nothing.
He suddenly thought of his father.
Had his father only fallen from grace after realizing this harsh reality?
"The Celestial Dragons are Celestial Dragons! The Navy is the Navy!"
Suddenly, a gentle voice interrupted the silence.
Everyone froze for a mont.
Both Law and Baby-5 looked at the man who spoke, bewildered.
Rosinante stood up. He stared at Drake and said seriously, "At least the Navy's justice in maintaining order isn't a facade."
"You can talk?!"
Both Law and Baby-5 couldn't help but shout.
Drake stared at him in disbelief.
"At least," Rosinante's tone carried a hint of bitterness, "For eight hundred years, we've protected the world."
He added, "Half of the world."
"You guys?"
Law froze.
Drake remained silent for a mont. "So, what they said is true?"
"…"
Rosinante didn't answer imdiately.
He took a deep breath and then said, "Now's your chance. Co with , Drake. I'll take you to the Navy."
"…"
Drake lowered his head.
Then,
"I'll send you to hell!!"
The young man, who seed so calm earlier, suddenly exploded in fury, crashing into the unsuspecting Rosinante and knocking him to the ground. "What the hell is this so-called justice! Go die!!"
"This so-called justice, these Marines— they can all go to hell!"
Drake turned to look at Law and Baby-5. "What are you two waiting for? This guy's a traitor!"
On the snail's screen, both Ian and Doflamingo's expressions beca sowhat strange. They exchanged a glance; this developnt was certainly unexpected.
It seems this live broadcast has been quite effective.
"Don't worry,"
Doflamingo said casually, "I had Senor leave behind a ssage."
So, in the end...
Ian turned his gaze toward the Marines.
What should they do with them now?
**********
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