"If you use such a wide-range attack, of course the Guards will assume you are aiming for mass destruction and make their move," one of the women stated.
By the time the pirate came back to his senses, Mihawk the swordsman was already right in front of him.
"Impossible! Fighters this strong... The bounties were just for Nico Robin and the kids...!" the pirate gasped.
"Thinking I was the only obstacle was your mistake, pirate."
The pirate tried to turn his body into sand to escape, but the black handle of a sword slammed into his stomach faster than he could shift.
"Guh... ah..."
"They are all my students. You shouldn't have taken them lightly," Mihawk said coldly.
Even as he lost consciousness, the pirate tried to use his power to escape. Mihawk ignored him and chopped the pirate's neck with a hand hardened by Haki, knocking him out completely.
Mihawk swung his sword to clean it and put it back in its sheath.
"Teacher," the leader of the women called out.
"All of you, that was a good strike. Now, your goal is to produce that sharpness on your own."
"Sir!"
The six members of the Guard gathered silently around Mihawk. They were women who worked closely with him, skilled in both sword fighting and farm work.
"Is he still breathing?" one guard asked, peering at the unconscious man.
"I think we have the prototype Sea-Stone cuffs Kuro made," another suggested.
"Yes. We brought them just in case they could be used as weapons," a third added.
"Bind him," Mihawk ordered.
"...We aren't going to kill him? Or hand him to the Marines?"
Sea-Stone was extremely hard to shape. They had used machines taken from Germa, but after many failures, they only managed to make a few odd-shaped cuffs.
Kuro had said to save the rest of the stone for a future flagship, so these few cuffs were very valuable to 'Black Cat.'
"His target was Robin," Mihawk explained.
As soon as Mihawk said that, the eyes of the Guard members changed. They were originally formed to protect Perona and Robin.
"He wants Ohara's knowledge. But someone might be behind him. Not just the Government, but maybe even the Marines."
"...Headquarters?" a guard asked warily.
They specifically said Headquarters because it was hard to believe Kuzan, the acting leader of the West Blue, would betray 'Black Cat' now.
"I don't know. But just in case, instead of killing him, I want to capture him and see how things move."
"Understood. The problem is where to keep him..."
"When this work settles down, I will go to Mopuchi and Mogwa. We can put him in the jail in Mopuchi."
"Will the guards be enough?"
"With two Guards and Daz Bonez, it will be fine. Plus, Hack is there."
Based on his devil fruit and how easily he agreed to move away from the river, Mihawk figured his weakness was water.
Mopuchi had many Fish-Man Karate users like Hack who used water as a weapon. It would be easier to handle him there.
"And... if possible, I want Kuro to meet him when he gets back," Mihawk added thoughtfully.
"The Captain?"
"Yes. He's not the type to talk under torture, but Kuro is a smooth talker... or maybe Kuro already knows..."
"Just what is this Ohara knowledge that makes such a strong pirate chase after it?" the guard wondered aloud.
--
"So, the Marines want an apology from the World Government, plus some show of sincerity," I summarized, rubbing my forehead.
"Yes," Sengoku confirmed heavily. "We want to push for more if possible, but we cannot compromise on that. It got buried under the Pirate Alliance incident and other events, but the Government hasn't said a single word about that incident. The soldiers who know the truth are angry."
The more I listened, the more depressing it got... Oh no, my stomach is going to die for a different reason.
No wonder Hina and the other Marines have low morale and are siding with a pirate like me instead of the Government.
"So, the Government's final action was releasing the captured Marines," I said.
"Yes, that is right," Zephyr answered, his voice tight.
After my mental public execution by the Five Elders, I went to see Sengoku... He looks thinner than the last time I saw him.
The explanation of the situation was so terrible it made me feel sick.
I'm glad I saw the Five Elders first.
If I had heard this before, my anger might have shown on my face.
"The condition of the released Marines is terrible too..." I muttered.
Don't tear off people's limbs like they are toys, you idiots!
If you call yourselves nobles, try acting a little more civilized!
"Yes... But they are lucky just to be alive," Tsuru said softly.
"...Yes."
I knew many people were treated badly in the original story, but I thought that was partly because they were pirates or slaves. This is way beyond what I expected.
Seriously, what is wrong with Celestial Dragon culture?
How has the Government survived this long with such a sadistic culture?
They are worse than savage barbarians in stories.
Wapol, who I thought was a terrible king, actually looks better than them...
"By the way, are the soldiers okay?" I asked.
"Some begged for death, but Special Admiral Zephyr here persuaded them to stop. Their treatment is done, and those who can move are starting rehab," Hina reported.
Special Admiral Zephyr, who guided me here, frowned as if he couldn't bear it.
Yeah, I guess he would.
It's a good thing Spandine isn't here.
If he walked into this room, he would have been crushed by the hostility.
"The soldiers you rescued, the ones who stayed here, are taking care of them," Zephyr added. "They were proud people who aimed to be great Marines."
So that's where they went. I was worried when they weren't in the group that returned, but I'm glad they are doing well.
They were girls who believed in Marine justice. I was worried about what happened to them.
"To prevent this tragedy from happening again, the World Government must take responsibility," Sengoku declared.
Zephyr, Tsuru, and Hina all nodded.
"But the World Government has its own logic and face to save. It will not go easily," I warned them.
This time, Sengoku groaned in agreement.
That's right. If "please apologize for doing something bad" worked like in moral class, the world wouldn't be this twisted.
"In the meeting starting the day after tomorrow, I might say some unpleasant things to shake them up. Please understand..."
"I know. ...We have been in your debt since that incident," Sengoku said.
"I am adding shame on top of shame, but... I'm sorry. Please lend us your strength one more time," he bowed slightly.
No, actually... You left Kuzan in the West Blue when you wanted him at Headquarters. You checked the Government in the only way the Marines could. You gave us supplies.
I'm the one who owes you, Sengoku...
Really, thank you.
"No, the pleasure is mine," I replied.
After all, pirates can only move like this because of Sengoku's political skill.
"By the way, Fleet Admiral."
But still.
"...Yes?"
"What, is the stiff talk over? Then come over here and have some tea! I've been wanting to talk to you for a while—" Garp shouted from the corner.
"Garp, you be quiet for a moment," Sengoku snapped.
"Why is Vice Admiral Garp here, in this delicate power balance?" I asked bluntly.
"Sorry, Kuro. ...I am truly sorry," Sengoku sighed, his face falling into his hands.