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Saint Shalria had come to Loguetown for Arton's head, yet the moment CP-0 invoked the God Knights she lost all leverage.
Now, discovering that Hina was branded the sinner who failed to protect Saint Charlos, Shalria's lips twisted into a cruel smile. In her mind Hina was guilty of the gravest crime: Charlos's guards were dead, yet Hina lived—and her comrade Tashigi had even joined Arton. How could she be anything but a criminal?
Jabra hesitated, but a World Noble's order was absolute; he nodded and moved to shove Hina toward Shalria. He might not stop her—but someone else would.
"What do you intend to do to my student?"
A deep, commanding voice cut through the pier. Everyone turned to see Zephyr leap from a Navy war-ship and stride forward. Behind him was the impassive Ain.
"Professor Zephyr?" Hina blinked in surprise, then glanced at Ain.
Smoker exhaled in relief. Unlike ordinary officers, Zephyr carried immense clout—once a Candidate Admiral and now Chief Instructor of the Navy. The World Government might ignore lesser Marines, but it could not disregard Zephyr's wrath.
Doll, Kujaku, and Hibari, however, felt a pang of worry—Arton's diary had hinted the Government would someday betray Zephyr, which meant his influence might not be the shield it once was.
The CP-0 agent frowned. "Former Admiral and current Chief Instructor Zephyr—why are you here?"
"Hmph. If I hadn't shown up, were you planning to drag my disciple away?" Zephyr snorted, turning to Hina. "Hina, are you all right?"
"Hina is fine, sir—but why are you here?" she asked, puzzled.
"A major incident in East Blue, and you're caught in the middle. I happened to be in the Calm Belt nearby, so of course I came," Zephyr said, casting a glance at Ain. "Thanks to Ain urging me, or I might have missed this."
Doll and the others eyed Ain with complicated feelings. Since learning of Zephyr's prophesied betrayal, Ain's faith in the Navy had wavered; bringing Zephyr here might well be her first step toward Arton—or so they suspected. After Tashigi's example, none of them could dismiss the idea of another Marine joining Arton, especially if Ain sought the kind of template power Tashigi had gained to protect Zephyr himself.
Shalria sneered. "Marine, are you going to block me?"
"World Noble, you wish to make my student your slave, yes?" Zephyr asked sternly.
"Hmph, exactly!"
"Not happening."
"There is no not happening. Whoever I choose becomes my slave."
"By statute, World Noble have no right to enslave a Marine," Zephyr replied, eyeing the CP-0 pair. "Does the World Government mean to break its own rule?"
Marines serve under the Government and must protect World Nobles, but they still retain their own legal status. A World Noble may enslave any commoner—never a Marine. Otherwise, who would join the Navy? The Five Elders themselves set that boundary.
CP-0 would never openly claim they could hand a Marine over—however…
"The Five Elders' rule stands," the agent conceded, "provided this woman is still a Marine. But at present she's under grave suspicion. Saint Charlos is dead while she remains unharmed, and her comrade Tashigi has joined Arton. We have ample grounds to investigate her. Should evidence prove she colluded with Arton and the Flameblade Pirates, she will cease to be a Marine—and then she may rightfully become Saint Shalria's property."
Turning to Shalria, the agent bowed. "Therefore, we ask your patience for just a moment, milady."
"Perhaps, once her trial is over, you may do whatever you wish with her."
Those words wiped the color from Zephyr's and Smoker's faces. If Saint Shalria truly insisted on enslaving Hina, then Hina would not be declared innocent; even if she bore no guilt, the verdict would be bent to fit the World Noble's whim.
"Hmph! Why should I wait?" Shalria snapped. "Charlos is dead while she stands here alive—does that not prove her crime? What need is there for any trial?"
She took a step forward, intent on claiming Hina as a slave here and now—when a thunder-crack of displaced air split the sky.
The two CP-0 agents stiffened and looked up—and found a towering figure already beside them.
"Marine Hero—Garp!" one CP-0 man gasped, suddenly grave.
Dealing with Zephyr was troublesome yet manageable… but Garp was another matter. His strength earned special indulgence from the Five Elders; they tolerated much from him.
Saint Shalria's expression darkened as well. "Garp," she hissed, fists clenched.
Garp scratched his white hair, surveying the scene. "You're… a World Noble, right? What's all this?" His gaze landed on Hina's shackles, and his eyes hardened.
"Scum! Is this how you address me?" Shalria raged.
"Yeah, yeah—no time for you right now." Garp waved her off like a buzzing fly.
"Y-You cur!" She stamped in fury, but did nothing more; years ago, Garp had shown open disrespect even in Mary Geoise, and the Five Elders had let it slide. If they tolerated him, what could she do?
Smoker, Ain, and the others stared, stunned that Garp treated a World Noble so casually—and that she could only swallow the insult.
"Garp, why are you here?" Zephyr asked.
"Arton, of course," Garp grumbled. "I planned to intercept him in Loguetown, but the rascal already bolted—had me swimming the seas forever." He shook his head; Sengoku had briefed him by Den-Den Mushi and scolded him plenty.
"So what's going on here? Why's Hina in cuffs?" he demanded, brow furrowing.
One CP-0 agent hurried to explain Hina's case—carefully omitting Shalria's enslavement demand. But Smoker, Kujaku, and the rest loudly filled in that detail.
"So, you aim to enslave Hina," Garp said, frowning at Shalria.
"And what of it?" she shot back.
"Simply that you shouldn't," Garp replied mildly. "It breaks the rules."
"Perhaps, once her judgement is finished, you may handle her as you wish." His tone was even, but his stance—broad-shouldered, immovable—left no doubt.
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