Protected Civilian

Choose D.

Luffy's fist was already raised, Nami was clinging to his arm, her heels dragging two marks on the ground. She turned back and shouted to Zoro, "Stop looking! Help me hold him back! Foosha Village is across the sea from here!"

Zoro reached out and placed his Luffy's shoulder, his sword sheath held across Luffy's chest, and whispered, "Choose first, fighting comes later."

Luffy stared intently at the Tavern entrance in the Sky Screen, his teeth clenched, but he still placed his hand on the option. "D, Lin Qi is from Foosha Village, no one is allowed to arrest him."

Usopp peeked out from behind the crowd, clutching the list. "I also chose D. Boss Lin Qi once gave me some jerky on credit, even though I didn't have any money back then."

Nami turned and glared at him. "There's no need to talk about this now!"

Robin raised his hand to confirm, the red marks from the burns on his fingertips still visible in the Inner Compartment his Straw Hat. "D. The fact that the Silencing Chain without public review is evidence in itself."

Sanji kicked the Holy Land guard who had caught up with him back to the alley entrance. "D, daring to point a gun at a villager in front of a lady, I'll remember that."

Those evacuating from the exit of Sabaody raised their hands. Dan stood by the door, the old markings on his chest had faded, but they were still faintly burning.

He looked at the Tavern in the Sky Screen and shouted to the people next to him, "Choose D! If they can catch a Tavern owner in Foosha Village today, they can say you and I are just materials tomorrow."

Koby held up the Navy ensign and pressed confirm with his other hand. "Navy Independent Review Group, select D, request that Lin Qi be placed on the provisional witness Protection List."

Tashigi immediately added, "Also, request a freeze on the weapons authorization of the Executor on site until the source of the authorization is made public."

In Marineford, Akainu looked at the question but didn't stamp it immediately. The advisors all stared at his hand, and Sengoku didn't urge him either.

An urgent report came through the Den Den Mushi from the East Blue Branch: "Fleet Admiral, an unidentified high-speed vessel has appeared near Foosha Village, suspected to be World Government vessel. Should we intercept it?"

Akainu pressed the confirmation stamp on option D. "Stop."

The staff officer's forehead was beaded with sweat. "What if the other side possesses Holy Land Token?"

Akainu looked up at the CP code illuminated by Golden Light in the Sky Screen. "Let them reveal it."

Crane pushed the temporary decree to his side. "Write it out as an order to protect civilian witnesses and prevent undisclosed Silencing Chain."

Garp stood in the doorway, his hand already gripping his cloak, only stopping upon hearing this. "Sakazuki, at least your order is sensible."

Akainu didn't look at him. "If you leave your post without permission, I will deal with you for disobeying orders."

Garp grinned, a smile that sent chills down the spine of his adjutant beside him. "Then hurry up and send the ship here. I'm on orders to go to the East Blue to protect the witness."

Sengoku pressed his temples, looking exasperated. "Garp, don't turn the Fleet Admiral's orders into your ticket to success."

Akainu picked up the Den Den Mushi. "East Blue 16th Marine Branch, 8th Marine Branch, all nearby patrol ships, turn towards Foosha Village. Target priority: civilian protection over CP capture coordination."

At the Revolutionary Army Headquarters, Long looked at the scene of Foosha Village, his fingertip hovering over the East Blue on the map.

Emporio Ivankov asked in a low voice, "Dragon, are you going in person?"

Dragon didn't answer the question, but instead spoke to the Den Den Mushi: "Informant in the Goa Kingdom, confirm the Port's movements. Put all contact points around Foosha Village into silent protection. Don't approach the Tavern. Cut off CP and evacuate first."

Sabo, hearing about Foosha Village on the outer edge of the Holy Land, also looked up at the Sky Screen. "Chief?"

The dragon's voice echoed, "You remain on the battlefield; someone will go to the East Blue."

Sabo glanced at Garling. "Leave this to me."

Garling stood on the Chief Adjudication Platform, the black markings already stretching along the edge of the Sky Screen towards the East Blue Sea. His blade was no longer pointing at Shanks, but slowly turned towards the Tavern.

"Does a question setter hiding in a village deserve the world's witnesses?"

Shanks raised his sword to block the black markings, the old patterns on the blade burning hot under the pressure. "You're afraid he'll keep giving you questions."

Garling looked at Shanks. "Eliminating threats to the Throne is unnecessary; there's no need to fear that word."

Benn Beckman raised his gun to force back the knight on the flank, and said coldly, "Then why are you in such a hurry?"

Garling did not reply, and the black seal of the Throne reappeared from the crack in the Chief Adjudication Platform, distorting the Golden Light surrounding the Foosha Village scene.

Below the question on the Sky Screen, the vote count is still jumping up.

The number of people choosing option D continues to rise.

[Protection controversy enters the stage of global witnessing]

[Key parties required to confirm: local resident testimony, naval protection order, and the threatened individual's consent]

Inside the Foosha Village Tavern, two CP Agents had already stepped inside, their guns pointed at Lin Qi behind the counter.

The older agent glanced at the notification on the Sky Screen and said coldly, "Don't let him speak, take control of the computer first."

Lin Qi, hands raised, watched them walk around the table, his face still bearing the expression of someone greeting customers while running Tavern. "I'm saying, you should at least follow some procedure when you arrest people, the questions haven't even been answered yet."

Another agent raised his gun slightly. "Shut up."

Makino stood in the doorway, the basket lying at her feet. She didn't pick it up, only staring at the gun. "You can't take him away."

The agent turned around. "Step back."

The villagers gathered at the alley entrance, and the Village Chief, leaning on his cane, squeezed through the crowd, his face flushed with anger. "Lin Qi has run Tavern here for years, and he's always collected taxes on time. You say he's a dangerous person? Where's the evidence?"

The order came through the Den Den Mushi: "Clear the area."

The agent's fingers tightened on the gun handle, and the Golden Light from the Sky Screen immediately pressed down on the back of his hand.

[Additional verification triggered]

[With unarmed villagers present, the Executor must not fire.]

The agent muttered a curse under his breath, while another agent quickly walked behind the counter and reached for the computer.

Lin Qi lowered one of his raised hands and pressed it against the edge of the computer. "Don't touch this; my Tavern's ledger is inside."

The agent sneered. "Ledgers?"

Lin Qi looked at him. "There are quite a few people who owe money, and it's being broadcast live worldwide, so let's give them some face."

Makino, whose face had been tense, teared up upon hearing this. "Lin Qi, stop joking around."

Lin Qi looked up at her, his tone softening. "Miss Makino, please tell the Village Chief that there are first-aid kits on the second shelf of the counter; we might need them later."

The agent frowned. "What do you mean?"

Lin Qi looked at the screen; the computer screen was black, and the confirmation bar for the Protection Protocol was moving forward in the center.

[The person being threatened has to confirm their willingness]

[Should I apply for Protected Civilian Witness status?]

Lin Qi stared at the line of text, his finger hovering over the confirm button, while the voices of the villagers outside the door could still be heard.

"Boss Lin Qi is just an ordinary person!"

"He only knows how to close the door when pirates come!"

"Last time, the bandit tried to drink without paying, and he even hid behind the counter and called for the Village Chief!"

Lin Qi's expression faltered. "Hey, this kind of testimony doesn't have to be so convincing."

The Village Chief, enraged, pointed his cane at him. "You're still being picky!"

Lin Qi smiled and pressed the confirmation button with his fingertip.

[I confirm]

Lin Qi applies for Protected Civilian Witness status

[Factual Basis: Arrested in a temporary Silencing Chain by the Holy Land; unarmed villagers were present at the scene; identity disputes have not been fully investigated publicly]

[Judgment in progress]

Garling's blade spun on the Chief Adjudication Platform, its black stripes piercing the scene of Foosha Village. "The dispute over identity will be decided by the Throne."

The black lines tore a corner of the Sky Screen surface, forcibly revealing a new question.

[Additional cuts to the Throne]

[Question: Should the suspected question setter be considered a threat to global stability and eliminated first?]

[A. Yes]

[B. Yes, review it again after clearing it]

[C. No, public review required]

[D. No, and prior removal would confirm the crime of Silencing Chain.]

Luffy roared, "D!"

Akainu then pressed confirm. "D."

A dragon's voice came from the Revolutionary Army channel. "D."

Shanks looked at Garling, his sword pointing forward. "D."

At the entrance to Foosha Village, Makino also raised her hand, her voice trembling but she didn't back down. "D, Lin Qi is from our village."

The Village Chief slammed his cane heavily on the ground. "D, the village is responsible for collecting his unpaid liquor tax; it's not your place to kill him."

Watching this scene from behind the counter, Lin Qi muttered under his breath, "Village Chief, let's not talk about taxes now."

Golden Light descended from the Sky Screen.

[Answer: D]

[Prior elimination constitutes a crime of Silencing Chain]

Lin Qi temporarily listed Protected Civilian Witness

[Protection Protocol Activated]

The guns on the two CP Agents were simultaneously locked by Golden Light, and tiny characters appeared on the triggers.

[No firing]

The older agent's face darkened, and he drew his short blade. "No need for a gun."

Lin Qi stared at the knife, his hand slowly reaching under the counter. "Are all you CP members this uncivilized?"

Before the short blade could fall, the back door of the Tavern was suddenly pushed open, and a tall figure wearing a dog-head hat squeezed in, carrying half a bag of rice crackers.

"I've heard that someone wants to take over Foosha Village."

Garp looked up at the two agents in front of the counter, and the smile on his face vanished.

"Who gave you the audacity?"