[Kuro's POV]
Wait! Hold on, young Marine...!
Don't say things that lower morale right when you're speaking on a line you know is being wiretapped!
Things are already bad enough that morale-boosters like Sengoku-san and Otsuru-san could collapse from stomach aches at any moment!!
Don't finish them off right there! Have a little respect for the elderly!
If Sengoku-san actually starts crying and collapses, there really won't be anything we can do!!
I can't bear to watch!!
"You are crying right now because you are frustrated, aren't you?" I asked her gentle.
...Well, I guess you're overwhelmed too, so it can't be helped.
I never thought I'd see that face of yours, the one that used to glare at me even after I kicked you flying, now messy with tears and snot.
I thought we'd spend our whole lives bickering like cats and dogs without me ever seeing a face like that.
"Unjust things are rampant, and the ones who created the trigger for it were the World Nobles who hold the Marines down," I explained, trying to rationalize the chaos. "And now, the timing is terrible. Far from just the Marines, even the Government likely no longer knows what move to make."
Actually, even if I were a member of the Government, what the hell are we supposed to do about this?! Honestly!! You've really invited a ridiculous situation! Why did you do this, Five Elders! ...No, it was the ones above them!!
"...The word 'Justice' is a very cheap thing," I continued aloud. "The moment it is judged to lack substance, it crumbles easily."
I've said it before, the flaw of a divide-and-rule policy is that the risk of being swayed by unexpected divisions increases!
Didn't they learn over 800 years that even if not intentional, personnel will inevitably split into ranks and factions based on knowledge and experience!!
That's why nothing is meshing together!
If they had at least connected the minds of the Celestial Dragons and held the reins, it wouldn't have gotten this bad!
"But, Hina," I said, looking her in the eye. "The fact that you are frustrated... that you were betrayed by what you believed in and are crying out of frustration, means..."
I paused. "That there is definitely something 'right' inside you."
–
The memory of their first meeting likely flashed through Hina's mind.
— You're saying... you didn't intend to kill...!
— Yeah.
When they first met, she thought she was being looked down upon.
It was just her one-sided assumption, but it still frustrated her.
She worked hard so she wouldn't be mocked for being a woman, became a cadet earlier than anyone else in her class along with the problem child of the East Blue, and boarded that training ship—
"Hina, you are allowed to cry. You have reason enough to cry."
And she met this man.
The pirate, Kuro of the 'Silent Step'.
...Captain Kuro.
"The world is distorting too much, and it is becoming impossible for people to hold onto hope as a matter of course," Kuro said.
A man who was more skilled at politics than the Celestial Dragons who should be ruling the world, and who had fought against its contradictions more than the Marines.
"It is more than enough reason for you to despair and shed tears."
He eliminated thieves who hurt the populace, rebuilt livelihoods, and regarding his skill in stabilizing regions, he was a pirate and administrator recognized as one of the world's best by the Fleet Admiral—and even by the Commander-in-Chief, Kong.
"That is exactly why the fact that a human like you cried in frustration is more important than anything else."
The voice of the man whose back she had watched ever since the day they reunited was, as always, endlessly gentle.
"It means you cannot fully give up on goodness. The word 'Justice' is certainly cheap and flimsy, but even so, there was definitely something inside you that felt something there and felt frustration."
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You may cry. But—stand tall regardless."
Gentle, and powerful.
Just like when he deduced the enemy's headquarters during the Pirate Alliance incident from scant information.
Just like when, faced with hopelessly unreasonable orders, he didn't retreat a single step against the world's highest authorities using only words.
"Good is weak and faint, whereas malice is strong and concentrated. Therefore, people end up repeating ugly conflicts like this, but..."
She likely had a terrible look on her face.
With a wry smile, Kuro took a handkerchief from the breast pocket of his usual suit with the hand not holding the receiver and held it out to her.
"If a human like you can feel frustration, then it will be alright."
He smiled. "As long as there are humans who cannot give up on good and keep moving forward."
"The pride known as Justice will absolutely never die out!"
She couldn't take the handkerchief.
Her face was surely crumpled, a terrible face she never wanted to show this man, but she didn't even wipe it.
She just stared blankly at the troubled face of the pirate.
"Straighten your back, Hina of Marine Headquarters."
"Aren't you a proud Marine?"
At those words from Kuro, she snatched the offered handkerchief, wiped her face, and roughly stuffed it into her own breast pocket.
Then, she returned Kuro's words.
However, what she returned was not words.
"Hah!"
A salute.
To the man who would likely continue to stand against this abnormal situation unchanged.
Even if he was an enemy, a pirate, he was worthy of respect—a man to whom respect should be paid.
Before she knew it, the other Marines around them were also saluting Kuro.
Perhaps noticing it from my gaze as I watched them, Kuro looked around and deepened his wry smile.
"...Hey, Kuro."
"Hm?"
"Is there anything the Marines can do?"
"First is grasping the situation. The deeper the confusion, the less progress there is in gathering materials to make a move."
"...Materials."
"Yeah. Not just the Marines, but grasping the damage and movements of the nations the Celestial Dragons visited and their surroundings, and the Marine forces that can respond to contact. The key will be how efficiently we can scrape that together. ...If you can rebuild centered around Sengoku-san, the opening move shouldn't be a problem."
She was a little disappointed at the answer, which was roughly what she had thought.
Even a man like Kuro could only say that much right now?
So, she pressed further.
"Then—what about you?"
"..."
The pirate closed his mouth, having been about to say something into the receiver, and looked back at her.
"If it's you...!"
Kuro stared at her.
He looked, and then let out a small sigh.
"Don't you think I might use this situation to make a quick buck?"
"I couldn't possibly think that!!" She shouted reflexively. "You might use it for your comrades! But even so, you are always..!!"
"...Hina."
There were certainly times when he went too far.
After that day of defeat, she had researched everything about Kuro.
Back when Kuro was more of a simple wanted man than a pirate, he primarily targeted and crushed organizations involved in human trafficking.
There were times he captured such people and sold them off, but he rescued and protected the captured civilians before anonymously asking the Marines for rescue.
While engaging in high-speed combat where he wiped them out before anyone could even see his face, that was one of the reasons his face became known.
And as a result, why his bounty, which had been mere pocket change, skyrocketed.
It was because he didn't hesitate to risk danger in order to save people...!
"I don't have a single reason to doubt you!!"
If it were a lowly soldier like herself, it might be one thing, but he was a man who had won the trust of many officers—even Admirals and the Fleet Admiral.
And yet, the Government—!
"...Hina," Kuro called softly.
"Yes."
"You trust me, do you?"
"I told you. I can't doubt you at this point."
"...I see."
Kuro nodded at her reply and looked over the Marines surrounding them.
They were all soldiers who had followed Kuro's command in that Holy Land.
Or perhaps there were some who still didn't believe, but there was no room to doubt his ability.
"Bege," Kuro said into the receiver.
"Yeah."
"Has the damage caused to the Superior Kingdom by the Celestial Dragons already spread within the Black Cat territories?"
"Yeah. Just that they were attacked and it's bad... Was that a problem?"
"No, it will spread sooner or later. That was just a confirmation. Daz."
"Yeah," Daz replied.
"I want you to make sure as many soldiers as possible can hear this transmission."
"I don't mind, but what do you intend to speak about?"
"Our soldiers have increased, and we've solidified as a force. It's a good opportunity."
"I will tell everyone, including the soldiers, the meaning of the flag with the three-claw marks."