The Path His Father Left Behind
The firelight in the Sky Screen grew brighter and brighter, and the man in white outside the wooden house had already broken down the door.
The man grabbed a wooden stick from behind the door and blocked the first blow.
"Walk."
He said to the bear.
The bear clung tightly to the doorframe.
"I'm not leaving."
The woman rushed over and hugged him tightly.
"Obedient."
"Only if you survive will your life have been worthwhile."
The bear's tears fell onto his mother's sleeve.
"And what about you guys?"
The woman looked at the man, her eyes filled with tears.
We'll remember it for you.
As soon as those words were spoken, the glint of swords outside entered the room.
The Sky Screen suddenly shifts to the next memory.
Years later, the young bear sat by the mountain road, clutching the wooden plank in his arms, his face bearing new wounds.
Standing next to him was an old man wearing a tattered coat, carrying a rope for gathering firewood.
"You've gotten into another conflict with the villagers."
The old man asked.
The bear lowered its head.
They said my family should disappear.
The old man put down the firewood.
"What did you reply?"
The bear raised its face.
"I said, no, it should be the people who drive others to their deaths who should disappear."
The old man smiled.
That sounds like your father.
The bear's shoulders tightened.
You know my father.
The old man sat down and tapped his pipe lightly on the sole of his shoe twice.
"Know."
"I still remember what that guy said before he left."
The bear looked at him.
What did he say?
The old man exhaled a puff of smoke.
He said that if his child were to survive, he would let the child see a bigger sea.
"Don't let him spend his whole life only seeing pursuers."
Bonney's fingers were trembling when she heard this.
This happened when you were a child.
The bear nodded slowly.
"Um."
Bonney stared at him.
"You never told me any of this."
The bear looked at her.
"I don't want you to know how I was forced to grow up."
"Just know this: you weren't abandoned."
"You've been protected all along."
"Vegapunk said in a low voice."
"There must be something else in this memory."
As expected, the Sky Screen continued.
[Additional memories revealed.]
[The Buccaneer Tribe coming-of-age ceremony is not a religious festival.]
[It's about leaving home.]
[Each surviving child must leave their tribe's territory and find someone who can hear them.]
[Because if everyone stays together, the target will be captured in one fell swoop.]
They dispersed in order to perpetuate their legacy.
Upon hearing this, Robin's palms clenched slightly.
That's why they dispersed the fire.
"It's not about escaping."
"It's about letting the seeds scatter into the soil."
Aokiji leaned against the door and said softly.
"They sound like a bunch of people who refuse to admit defeat."
Sabo nodded.
"They're like a group of people who know they can't hold on to what they have, so they pave the way for those who come after them."
The dragon gazed at the Sky Screen.
They knew someone would come and wipe them out.
So first, learn to break yourself down.
Kizaru raised his hand and rubbed his temples.
"What a hassle."
"What the World Government hates most is probably people who leave a way out for others."
Inside the Marine Headquarters, Akainu suddenly spoke.
"Then why are there still some of them alive in the bear generation?"
The Sengoku was silent for a moment.
"Because some people weren't killed in time."
"Also because someone hid the child."
"Furthermore... the World Government underestimated them."
Garp put the cup down.
"Underestimating your abilities will ultimately lead to your downfall."
On the Holy Land side, the Five Elders' expressions were already quite grim.
We can't let them keep talking.
"But the Sky Screen have already broadcast our clan's history to this extent."
"Then let's shift the focus."
How to transfer it?
"They're calling the Erasure Order 'epidemic prevention'."
Do you even believe it yourself?
"As long as the people believe it, that's enough."
Imu tapped the armrest lightly with his finger.
"It's no use."
"Continue."
In the Sky Screen, the young bear stood on the edge of a cliff, the wind blowing the hem of his clothes high.
The old man stood at the back.
Where are you planning to go?
The bear looked at the sea.
"Go find a place where I'm needed."
The old man turned and asked.
"Why."
"That's what the bear said."
"Because my father said that the backs of the Buccaneer Tribe are used for carrying things."
"If there are always people in this world who are oppressed, then I will go and lift up what is oppressing them a little."
The old man stared at him for a long time.
Do you know the price of those words?
The bear did not turn around.
"Know."
But I still want to go.
Suddenly, a group of people rushed into the frame. The man in the lead wore a white mask, and the emblem peeking out from under his clothes made people feel uneasy.
"We found him."
"The remnants of Buccaneer."
The bear turned around, its eyes immediately filled with wariness.
The old man tossed his pipe aside and stood in front of the bear.
"You guys are pretty quick."
The man in the white mask glanced at him.
"Get out of here, you old bastard."
The old man chuckled.
"If you want to catch a child, you'll have to step over me first."
Bonney turned pale upon seeing this.
"This group of people..."
Vegapunk gritted his teeth.
"He's a former member of the World Government."
"He later became a professional cleaner."
Sabo clenched his fist.
"So the bear was already being targeted when it was a cub."
"Dragon said."
"They started watching very early."
"They even counted how many people were left in their clan long ago."
The video continued playing on the Sky Screen.
The old man was kicked away, and the bear was pinned to the ground by several people.
The man in the white mask squatted down and reached out to pinch the bear's chin.
"Do you know why people like you make everyone uncomfortable just living?"
The bear stared at him without saying a word.
The man smiled.
Because you will remember.
"It will hurt."
"I'll shield others from harm."
"It will bring back to mind things that should have been forgotten."
"This kind of group is useless; they're too dangerous."
The bear stared intently at him.
"What are you afraid I'll remember?"
The man stood up.
"I'm afraid you'll remember what you should forget."
"I'm also afraid that one day, you'll actually lift up that sun again behind someone's back."
"In that case, many people will start to think, 'So, rules can be overturned too.'"
That won't do.
Bonney pressed her hand to her chest, her breathing erratic.
"Sun."
"They're even afraid of this?"
Robin said softly.
"Because that wasn't the real sun; it was a banner of rebellion."
That marked the beginning of an era.
Sky Screen caught up with that statement.
[Supplementary Judgment.]
The true sin of the Buccaneer Tribe lies not in their strength, their numbers, or their knowledge of the truth.
[But the point is that once they are alive, they will restore the truth that "anyone can be saved."]
The whole world was deathly silent.
Luffy stood at the bow of the ship, his eyes unblinking.
"Is this the reason they have to be killed?"
"Because they're afraid everyone will be saved."
Nami glanced at him.
"You've put it quite well this time."
Luffy gripped his Straw Hat tightly.
"Then we absolutely cannot let them win."
In the scene depicted on the Sky Screen, a bear was being dragged up, its back covered in wounds.
But he still looked up at the old flag that was being blown askew by the wind.
The old man lay on the ground, blood trickling from his mouth, yet he was still smiling.
"Remember."
Don't follow their example.
Don't hate anyone.
You need to find someone who can shoulder the burden with you.
The bear looked at him.
"Can I find it?"
The old man coughed.
"It can be found."
"A kid like you will always find a group of people willing to help you carry things."
Upon hearing this, Bonney's nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face.
He's right.
You actually did run into it later.
You bumped into me.
The bear gently placed its hand on her back.
"Um."
I ran into you.