The World Poses a Question

"Then let the world answer."

The Black Spear stopped in front of Lin Qi's brow, the black markings from the spear tip already plastered to his forehead. The wine glasses behind the counter were shaken and slid to the edge. Makino reached out to stop the glasses, but her fingers touched the bottom of the glasses before she pulled them back, first pushing Lin Qi behind her.

Lin Qi didn't back down. He pressed the confirm button, staring at the options that hadn't fully appeared on the Sky Screen yet. His throat was dry, but he still managed to squeeze out, "I don't need to teach you this question, do I?"

Luffy shouted "D!" at the exit of Sabaody.

Robin immediately chimed in, "Wait until all the options are revealed, don't let the Throne exploit any program loopholes."

Nami grabbed Luffy's wrist. "Don't press anything, listen to Robin!"

Golden Light spread across the Sky Screen before the Black Spear, and the options finally appeared.

[Final Countermeasure Question]

[Question: Does the Throne have the right to remove those who expose wrongdoing if its authority is undermined?]

[A. Has the right; the authority of the Throne is above evidence]

[B. Has the right, but must retain the target's memory]

[C. Deletion can be temporarily suspended, but permission must be obtained first.]

[D. No right; those who expose evidence of wrongdoing should be subject to public scrutiny and witness protection]

This time, Luffy didn't try to grab it again. He looked at Robin and nodded before slamming his fist into the Sky Screen option.

"D!"

In the Foosha Village Tavern, Makino pushed Lin Qi behind the counter, but didn't dodge herself. She looked up at the Sky Screen and said, "Foosha Village, D."

The Village Chief, leaning on his cane, pointed at the handcuffed CP Agent at the door and cursed, "D, if anyone would kill just because they're ashamed, I would have kicked that kid out of the village ten times over."

Lin Qi peeked out from behind the counter. "Village Chief, your testimony is quite damaging."

Makino turned to look at him. "Shut up first."

At Marineford, Akainu ignored the risk warning handed to him by his advisor and stamped the seal directly.

"Marine Headquarters, D."

The staff officer gritted his teeth and said, "Fleet Admiral, the Throne Weapon has already pierced the Sky Screen. If the assessment fails, the Navy may be classified as assisting anomalies."

Akainu pushed the document back. "If the Navy watches civilian witnesses get stabbed to death, then that should be subject to investigation."

Sengoku whispered, "I second that, D."

Garp stood at the Port, his fist pressed against the warship's railing, cracking the wooden planks beneath his weight.

"D, whoever dares to kill someone at my doorstep, I'll shove their head into the East Blue first."

He added, "Note: Vice Admiral Garp's statement here does not constitute legal advice."

Garp turned his head. "What time is it, and you still remember this?"

He didn't even look at him. "That's precisely why we need to remember things."

On the Revolutionary Army channel, Long looked towards Foosha Village, his palm resting on a corner of the East Blue on the map.

"Revolutionary Army, D, those who expose crimes must not be eliminated because their authority is undermined."

Emporio Ivankov slammed his fist on the table. "D, if the Throne is afraid of being seen, then it must be seen clearly by the whole world."

On the Scrap Platform, Bonney supported the bear, her voice hardened by clenched teeth.

"D. Lin Qi showed the world that my father is not a weapon."

Xiong looked up and said, "D, witness protection is established."

Lumi stood with the Nine Children, and Mia crouched beside them, holding the children's Name Cards protectively in her arms.

Lumi raised her hand. "D, Mr. Lin Qi didn't hand us back."

Dan yelled at the exit of Sabaody, "D, if the Throne has the power to kill for shame, no one in the underground well will survive!"

Ka Mi Er held up the plaque. "Testimony of the Old Archive Gatekeeper, D, Throne Purge of the Revealer, Equivalent to Destroying the Evidence."

Shanks stared at the Black Spear in the Sky Screen, the tip of his sword carving a deep gash in the ship's deck.

"The Red Hair Pirates, D."

Benn Beckman warned, "Boss, don't take the Sky Screen Slash."

Shanks didn't look away. "I know, I await judgment."

Garling stood on the Chief Adjudication Platform, his Black Longsword still stuck in the center. He looked at the voting lights filling the Sky Screen, his face no longer showing any extra expression.

The number of people cannot change authority.

Sabo used a water pipe to block a knight's attack, and flames rolled up the steps.

"Then why are you even holding a trial?"

Garling glanced at him sideways. "To make the weak admit that they need to be ruled."

With a flick of his wrist, Sabo forced the knight to retreat amidst the flames.

"What they're admitting now is that you have no right to kill."

The Golden Light from the Sky Screen pressed down on the Black Spear, but the black markings on the Throne refused to retreat. The spear tip continued to inch forward, and a strand of Lin Qi's hair was burned off by the black light and fell onto the computer keyboard.

Makino grabbed Lin Qi's shoulder. "Lower your head!"

Lin Qi stared at the screen. "It can't be too low, or it will follow suit."

The projected image of Garp had faded to just an outline, yet it still blocked the doorway.

"Don't be a show-off, kid."

Lin Qi smirked, "I didn't want to back down, but the problem is it was aiming straight for my forehead."

The final judgment from the Sky Screen has finally been made.

[Answer: D]

[The Throne has no right to remove those who expose wrongdoing simply because its authority has been compromised.]

[The countermeasure was ultimately successful]

The outer layer of the Black Spear cracked, but the spear shaft did not recoil; instead, the Crown Pattern lit up, tearing a narrow notch in the Golden Light.

Vegapunk exclaimed urgently, "It removed the reason for the purge, but the weapon projections are still carrying out the old orders!"

Akainu asked coldly, "Sky Screen, were the old orders illegal?"

[Illegal]

"Then stop them."

[The authority to set questions has been temporarily transferred to the World Witness Seat]

[The current question setter cannot post new questions independently.]

Lin Qi looked at the screen, his fingers still on the keyboard, only to find that the input box had turned gray.

"Hey, this isn't what we agreed on."

Robin immediately said, "The price has taken effect. You've handed over the right to set the questions to the World Witness Seat. Now, the World Witness Seat needs to formulate the questions."

Luffy scratched his head. "Who's on the World Witness Seat?"

Nami looked up at the Sky Screen: "Don't tell me the whole world is brainstorming solutions together, that would be chaos."

The Sky Screen quickly provided an answer.

[Temporary Formation of the World Witness Seat]

[Seats must cover: victim witnesses, civilian witnesses, naval investigators, Revolutionary Army investigators, and pirate witnesses]

[Until the five seats are confirmed, the final countermeasures will only maintain the minimum level of protection]

The Black Spear pressed forward a little further, the Golden Light protective layer gleaming from the friction, and fine dust fell from the Tavern's wooden beams.

Lin Qi glanced at the five seats and muttered, "This system is quite particular about procedures."

Makino glared at him. "Don't comment on the process now."

Luffy raises his hand. "Pirates, witness my arrival!"

Shanks spoke up at the same time, "I'll do it."

Their voices collided with the Sky Screen, but the system did not immediately confirm.

[Conflict among candidates for the Pirate Witness Seat]

[Requires approval from the protected entity and must not exacerbate the risks Old Days Indexes ]

Nami immediately stopped Luffy: "Don't argue, the index on you is already troublesome enough."

Luffy frowned. "But Lin Qi is from Foosha Village."

Shanks looked at the Foosha Village Tavern: "Lin Qi, you choose."

Lin Qi looked at Luffy, who was rushing over anxiously in Sabaody, and then at Shanks, who was bearing the pressure from Garling on the outer edge of the Chief Adjudication Platform. He tapped his fingers on the gray keyboard.

"Pirate Witness Seat, Red-Haired Shanks."

Luffy immediately shouted, "Why not me?"

Lin Qi looked up. "Because you need to protect everyone's evacuation now, don't bring the Straw Hat along."

Luffy pouted unconvinced, but Robin nodded.

"A reasonable choice."

[Pirate Witness Seat: Shanks, Confirmed]

[Requires the individual's consent]

Shanks raised his sword. "Agreed."

There was no dispute over the Navy Seat. Just as Akainu was about to speak, Sengoku stopped him.

"Sakazuki, you're fine representing headquarters, but it would be best if the Independent Review Group were also included in the terms."

Akainu looked up at the Sky Screen: "Navy Review Seat, Fleet Admiral Akainu of the Marine Headquarters, along with the Independent Review Group, will jointly record this."

[Navy Review Seat: Akainu, confirmed]

On the Revolutionary Army channel, Dragon said directly, "Revolutionary Army Review Seat, Monkey D. Dragon."

[Revolutionary Army Review Seat: Dragon, Confirmed]

In the Victim Witness Seat, Bonney looked at Lumi, and Lumi looked at the bear.

The bear whispered, "You can refuse."

Lumi hugged the Name Card tightly. "I don't refuse, I want to sit."

Bonney crouched down. "It's dangerous."

Lumi looked at Lin Qi in the Sky Screen: "He was in danger just now too."

A notification appeared on the Sky Screen.

[Victim Witness Seat: Lumi, under investigation]

[Guardian confirmation required]

Xiong looked at Lumi: "I confirm she's volunteering, but she requests seated protection."

Vegapunk immediately chimed in. "Future Island provides secure cover; coordinates will not be disclosed."

[Victim Witness Seat: Lumi, confirmed]

In the end, only the Civilian Witness Seat remained.

In the Tavern Foosha Village, the Village Chief puffed out his chest. "I'm here."

Makino pressed down on his cane. "You almost choked on the smoke just now."

The Village Chief retorted angrily, "That's still better than you using a bottle to block a knife."

Lin Qi watched the two arguing and was about to interject when Sky Screen locked onto the Tavern entrance first.

[Civilian Witness Seat Candidate: Makino]

Makino looked up, her hand still on Lin Qi's shoulder.

"I?"

Lin Qi immediately said, "No, she's just the Tavern owner; this has nothing to do with her."

Makino turned to look at him. "You're Tavern owner too."

Lin Qi choked.

The Sky Screen display continues.

[Reason for nomination: On-Site Civilian Witness, actively protected the target, and a representative of the Foosha Village residents]

Garling finally spoke, his tone as cold and hard as that of someone on the judge's bench.

"If confirmed by the Civilian Witness Seat, she will be bound to the question setter as part of a joint Protection Chain."

Lin Qi's expression changed.

"Sky Screen, change players."

[The current question setter does not have the authority to change the question individually.]

Makino removed her hand from Lin Qi's shoulder and walked forward to the counter.

Lin Qi said urgently, "Miss Makino, this isn't about serving wine and food; sitting on it might attract the attention of the Throne."

Makino didn't turn around; she simply kicked the broken bottle she had just put down under the counter to prevent anyone from stepping on it.

"Lin Qi, when you first arrived in the village you asked if there was internet here, and I didn't kick you out."

Lin Qi was stunned.

Makino looked at the Sky Screen: "Now you're asking me if I want to testify, and I won't back down."

Golden Light descended from the Sky Screen.

[Civilian Witness Seat: Makino, under confirmation]

[Requires the individual's consent]

Makino looked up.

I agree.

Suddenly, the Black Spear thrust forward, piercing through the Golden Light. The Throne Mark aligned with the Protection Chain between Makino and Lin Qi Chief Adjudication Platform, Garling drew his long sword, and the black inscription was spread out before the World Witness Seat could take shape.

[Throne Intervention]

[The Civilian Witness Seat can be seen as assisting the abnormal]

Lin Qi's face darkened as he looked at the words.

"It doesn't dare kill me, so it wants to attack her first."

Before Makino could speak, a new notification popped up in the Sky Screen.

[The World Witness Seat has not yet completed its first joint proposal.]

[Please ask the first question before the Black Spear breaks through.]

The tip of the Black Spear pierced through the Golden Light, leaving only a thin Light Screen between itself and Makino's chest.