It was practically common knowledge that the ones given bounties by the Marines were pirates.
A place where pirates gathered was a pirate force, and the one who stood at the peak of such a force was a pirate emperor.
And since Cross Guild had defeated Big Mom and destroyed Totto Land, it ought to be the new pirate emperor.
But… the moment this "pirate" force was established, it directly used the World Economic News' publicity channels to place bounties on every pirate in the New World.
The way they set those bounties was simple and crude.
For pirates at the ten-million bounty level, they offered twice that value, paid in gold.
For pirates at the fifty-million bounty level, they offered three times that value, paid in gold.
For pirates at the eighty-million bounty level, they offered five times that value, paid in gold.
For pirates at the hundred-million bounty level, they offered ten times that value, likewise paid in gold.
After that, for every hundred-million-level increase, the reward would multiply by ten, paid in gold!
Aside from the Marines, this was the second force in the world to directly place bounties on pirates.
And what made it subtle was that the standard it used was the Marines' own bounty standard, while the chairman of this force was Demon Ren, whose own bounty was as high as 5.2 billion!
Ignoring everything else, that alone was dramatic enough.
"Cross Guild, huh?"
Inside Marine Headquarters, Tsuru stared at the bounty list with flickering eyes. "Although I understood him somewhat from early on, and knew he hated pirates.
"His methods are even contrary to pirates. Rather than a pirate, he's more like an ambitious schemer.
"But this unexpected situation really makes one wonder—what exactly is he thinking?
"To actually do something like this in the New World, at a time like this?"
"If it's that guy, then there's nothing strange about it instead."
Kuzan looked at the compiled intelligence in his hands and said calmly, "If there's anything truly worth paying attention to, it's probably the fact that Whitebeard is very likely working with him."
"Oh? Why do you say that?"
Tsuru raised her eyes meaningfully. "Red-Hair is his mortal enemy. Big Mom started trouble first and was then destroyed as a nation, while she herself fled toward Wano. That's also hatred.
"Kaido had already fought him back at Dressrosa, and during the Marineford War, he also seems to have joined hands with the Revolutionary Army to raid Kaido's main base.
"Out of the Four Emperors, three have become enemies with him. Even if the remaining Whitebeard is included, it shouldn't matter, right?"
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, please stop testing me."
Kuzan shook his head. "I know no more about the Celestial Dragon incident than you do.
"I only know that man is not merely troublesome in terms of strength. When it comes to plots and schemes, he has his own unique mastery as well.
"Once he makes a move, it will definitely be layer upon layer of arrangements that erupt into a dead-end situation.
"Before he completely pulls in the net, you won't know where those layers of arrangements came from.
"When they were put in place, when they were activated—even the slightest signs are hard to glimpse.
"What's even more terrifying is that once his trap is revealed, you'll realize you've already sunk deep into the spiderweb and can no longer move.
"What you think, what you'll do, or anything else—all of it will be within that guy's predictions.
"It's practically… like opposing a prophet."
"…"
Ripples rose in Tsuru's eyes, and the hand holding her teacup trembled. "You aren't joking, are you, Kuzan?"
"I'd rather I were. If that were the case, Headquarters wouldn't have become like this."
Kuzan turned his face slightly and looked out the window.
The Marine plaza, which had once been bustling every day, was now completely empty.
Because of the Marineford War, Marine Headquarters had been forced to relocate. After an internal vote, the new location had been chosen as G-1 Base.
Everyone unanimously believed that the New World would inevitably be thrown into a massive vortex in the future, and having Headquarters closer meant they could respond more quickly.
Akainu believed even more strongly that placing Marine Headquarters at G-1 Base demonstrated the Marines' will to fight the pirates to the bitter end.
But the relocation of Headquarters was not the only reason the place was empty.
The other reason… was the shattering of justice!
Just thinking of it made Kuzan involuntarily recall the scene after Whitebeard's punch back then—the two characters for "Justice" on the main building of Marine Headquarters had cracked apart, collapsed, and were finally buried under the rubble.
It had been an exquisite mockery!
"Justice…"
Tsuru seemed to be touched as well, but she quickly adjusted her emotions and said softly, "If you think we are to make a move against Ren, how should it be carried out?"
"I don't know."
Kuzan shook his head without hesitation. "I think no matter how thorough a plan we make, unexpected factors will definitely appear."
"All right."
Tsuru finished her black tea and placed the cup on the table. Her originally solemn expression suddenly softened slightly. "I've finished what Sengoku asked me to do. Next, would you like to chat with this old woman?"
"I'm just an idle man. If you leave, I'll just go to sleep."
Kuzan said, "But if you have any doubts, you should be able to infer the answers yourself, right? You're the Great Staff Officer, after all."
"Something like this must be asked of the person himself."
Tsuru shook her head, then looked straight into Kuzan's eyes. "You don't want to carry out that mission, do you?"
The eyes were the windows to the soul. Direct eye contact could expose many signals.
At least, that was what Kuzan believed. So he subconsciously avoided her gaze.
And that movement made Tsuru nod slightly.
"It seems that is indeed the case. It also fits your character.
"Honestly, the gentlest person just had to eat the coldest fruit, creating the conflicted and self-doubting you of today.
"You ought to be as cold and ruthless as ice, just as a poison person would like poison."
At this point, Tsuru shook her head again. "But if you were like that, we wouldn't have chosen you."
"…"
Kuzan did not speak. He merely looked at Tsuru, understanding in his heart what she wanted to say.
"This has been a long process, accompanied by repeated trials, tempering, tests, and even paving the road for you.
"The current Headquarters' vice admirals suffered heavy losses, but even so, a considerable proportion of the vice admirals still stand on your side.
"But you should also understand what made Sengoku choose the exchange."
Tsuru said softly, "It was the will of the World Government and the Five Elders, because they stand above the Marines.
"We are the greatest violence in the world, and this violence comes from the World Government. It comes from their order.
"So—as a soldier, you have the obligation and responsibility to carry out what order demands."
'Including slaughtering civilians?'
Kuzan involuntarily clenched his fists. He truly wanted to say those words aloud, but he could not.
Because he understood very clearly just how much effort and expectation people like Sengoku and Tsuru, people with ideals of their own, had poured into him.
Becoming an Admiral alone did not make someone qualified to sit in the Fleet Admiral's seat!
"Just this once. Make them acknowledge you. This is Sengoku's intent as well."
At this point, Tsuru directly stood and picked up the tea tray. "I feel certain you have different thoughts, but this is Sengoku's only hope.
"If change is to happen, it needs a point of intervention. Akainu cannot do such a thing.
"He is a second Sengoku. At most, he is a little better than Sengoku.
"And you may be the turning point for the Marines' future."
Kuzan still did not speak. Footsteps sounded, followed by the closing of the door, and then they gradually moved away.
Tsuru paused briefly in the corridor before her footsteps slowly disappeared.
—
Rustle, rustle.
Kuzan stuffed himself into the sofa, his dark-green sleep mask pulled up to his brows.
Yet his fingers moved up and down between his brows, still unable to pull it down.
Somewhat irritated, he rose to his feet and paced back and forth through the room. Then, accompanied by the sound of the door closing, what remained in the room was a whisper as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"Who is justice?"
"Who is justice?"
In the corridor, Smoker leaned against the wall with a cigar in his mouth, staring straight at Kuzan before him.
Facing his old friend, Kuzan could not say anything, because he could not answer that question either.
After a moment of silence, Smoker slowly exhaled a mouthful of white smoke. "If you can't answer that, then answer me another question."
"That's too sly, Smoker. When did you become like this?"
Kuzan barely forced out a teasing remark, then said, "Ask away. I just can't guarantee I'll be able to answer."
"Was the appearance of the Celestial Dragons related to Demon Ren?"
"…"
Kuzan fell silent for a moment. It was not strange for Smoker to have guessed that.
After all, Ren seemed to have had no intention of keeping this matter secret. He had merely created a shallow time gap before and after to separate the events.
But for anyone with a brain, realizing that something was wrong was far too normal.
What was abnormal was why Smoker would ask him.
Just as he was about to say something, Smoker raised a hand and interrupted him.
"You're a good person, Kuzan, and I also trust your judgment. After all, we're old friends.
"No matter what you do, there must be a good reason in it.
"So I only came to confirm this and then… tell you something."
What appeared along with those words was a Marine document.
"I resigned. So did my subordinate, Tashigi."
Smoker looked at his stunned friend and said calmly, "There is no justice of ours here, so we are leaving.
"Just like those people. But there's a difference. After resigning, those guys seem to plan on following Mr. Zephyr to form another Marine force.
"That's definitely going to be a huge problem, and I don't think it has any meaning.
"I plan to go take a look at Cross Guild. That place welcomes anyone who hunts pirates, no matter what their past identity was."
As he spoke, he handed over today's newspaper. The content printed on it was Cross Guild's external "recruitment," or rather, "invitation."
Bring the head of a pirate with a bounty of ten million or more.
Report to Whole Cake Island, the former site of Totto Land, and immediately obtain the status of a Cross Guild member.
The benefits that came with membership were not many. One of them was the ability to double one's earnings from hunting.
But the problem was—
The New World had more pirates than anywhere else. This was the pirates' domain.
Who would be so bored as to become a hunter for Cross Guild?
And now, Smoker gave the answer. He wanted to go there, or even join.
"Why…"
Kuzan asked almost subconsciously.
"Didn't I already say the answer?"
Smoker waved a hand, then turned and left without the slightest reluctance.
Kuzan did not try to stop him, because he knew there was no point.
For those who pursued the justice within their hearts, after the Marineford War, there was no longer any room here for their justice.
Perhaps justice did exist here.
But that justice belonged to the Celestial Dragons.
As for that point, even Kuzan himself often woke from nightmares because of it, let alone them.
(End of Chapter)