Who Gets the Pen

"You can't give it the pen."

Luffy's voice crashed into the Tavern from the Sky Screen. The wooden door of Foosha Village was still shaking. The sound of cannons from the outer sea gradually stopped, but the computer on the counter was tangled with Black Line, and the red mark of the Throne's seal appeared on the edge of the screen.

Lin Qi held the computer with both hands, the backs of his hands bearing fine burn marks from the Black Lines. He didn't let go, but looked up at the World Witness Seats.

"Everyone, the third question."

Akainu looked at the screen. "Should the World Government seal off the question-generating Terminal?"

Robin immediately said, "We can't just ask about sealing it off; the Throne will use public safety as an excuse to change the subject."

Long continued, "The question should be whether the party suspected of a crime can independently seize key evidence and investigative tools."

Vegapunk shouted, "Add Terminal access; it's not just evidence, it's a trigger for the Protection Protocol!"

Shanks said, "If the Terminal falls to the Throne, all protected witnesses will be investigated."

Lumi's face paled, and she hugged the Name Card tightly. "I can't give that to her."

Makino looked at Lin Qi's hand. "Lin Qi, loosen your grip, your hand is bleeding."

Lin Qi didn't look at his hand. "If you let go, it will really take it away."

Makino wrapped the towel around the back of his hand and used it to hold down the computer for him through the towel.

"Then I'll press them together."

Lin Qi said in a low voice, "You just sat in the Civilian Witness Seats, don't give it any more excuses."

Makino looked up at the Sky Screen: "The Civilian Witness Seat is protecting the evidence."

Golden Light immediately shone from the Sky Screen beside her hand.

[Civilian Witness Seat Conduct Record: Protecting Evidence Terminal]

Lin Qi was taken aback. "This counts?"

Makino said, "You're in charge of setting the questions, and I'll take care of keeping your hands healthy."

The third question quickly took shape.

[World Witness Seat Question 3]

[Question: Does the party whose crime of destroying evidence has been exposed have the right to unilaterally seize key evidence Terminals and investigation tools?]

[A. Has the right; the Throne can seal away all abnormal objects]

[B. Has the right, but requires naval escort]

[C. The Terminal may be temporarily suspended; permissions will be handled separately.]

[D. No right; the Terminal should be protected by multi-party witnessing, and the suspect should be prohibited from contacting it alone]

The Black Line tightened, and the red seal on the Throne on the computer screen began to press against the gold cover.

Garling said coldly from the Chief Adjudication Platform, "The World Witness Seat does not have the capability to safeguard anomalous Terminals."

Akainu replied, "The Navy has them."

Long Dao: "The Revolutionary Army also has them."

Shanks looked at Garling: "Pirates can guard the ship or the treasure."

Vegapunk raised his hand. "Future Island can provide technological isolation."

Nami rolled her eyes. "You all sound like you just want to take the computer away."

Lin Qi immediately said, "Let me state first that this computer is registered as my personal property in my Tavern."

Robin looked at him. "Now is not the time to fight for ownership."

Lin Qi sighed, "I know, I'm just heartbroken."

Usopp whispered, "Can that computer be repaired?"

Franky called out across the Sky Screen, "Can I take it apart and have a look?"

Lin Qi immediately replied, "No."

While everyone was talking, Garling pointed his fingertip at the Chief Adjudication Platform, and a thin line appeared in the Black Line, curling towards the Blank question card next to the computer.

Lin Qi caught it out of the corner of his eye, raised his elbow to press down on the test paper. "Stealing small items too?"

Makino stepped on the Black Line hanging down from under the counter.

It burrows downwards.

The Village Chief swung his cane and shouted, "Step on it! Step on it for me!"

The Black Line twitched, the cane was shaken away, and the Village Chief took two steps back before being supported by the major.

The major drew his sword and slashed at the Black Line, the blade passing right through the black light, but failing to cut through it.

Vegapunk urged, "Ordinary weapons are useless, vote quickly!"

Akainu stamped. "Marine Headquarters, D."

Dragon: "Revolutionary Army, D."

Shanks: "The Red Hair Pirates, D."

Lumi looked up. "Victim Witness Seat, D."

Makino pressed a button on the computer with one hand and confirmed with the other. "Civilian Witness Seat, D."

As votes were cast around the world, the Black Lines were gradually pushed back onto the screen by segments of Golden Light.

[Answer: D]

[Terminal protection includes multi-party witness verification]

[A criminal suspect may not be detained alone]

[Temporary storage method to be determined]

Just as Lin Qi was about to breathe a sigh of relief, a new notification popped up on the screen.

[Due to the temporary transfer of question-setting authority to the World Witness Seat, the original holder, Lin Qi, cannot restore the authority independently.]

[Please decide on the temporary storage method for question-setting authority from the World Witness Seat.]

The Tavern fell silent for a moment.

Lin Qi looked down at the words and remained silent for a long time.

Makino spoke first, "So, you've kept the computer, but you can't get the pen back?"

Lin Qi smirked. "To be precise, I lent out the pen, and now we need to have a meeting to decide whether to return it or not."

Luffy immediately shouted, "Give it back to Lin Qi!"

Nami slapped him. "Can't you think about the danger first?"

Luffy complained, "He used it quite well."

Robin said, "He did protect many people, but with authority concentrated in one person, the Throne will continue to use that as a pretext for attack."

Akainu said in a deep voice, "The Navy cannot allow unauthorized possession of such privileges."

Dragon looked at Akainu: "We can't hand it over to the Navy either."

Akainu looked at him. "I didn't say I'd hand it over to the Navy."

Shanks said, "We absolutely cannot hand it over to pirates."

Benn Beckman whispered, "Boss, you're quick to admit it."

Shanks looked at Foosha Village: "This pen is too heavy; whoever carries it will be the center of attention."

Lin Qi looked up. "You're discussing this quite seriously, but could you let me say something first?"

Makino asked, "You want it back?"

Lin Qi glanced at the villagers outside the door, then at the Name Card in Lumi's arms and the wounds on the bear's body in the Sky Screen.

I want to, but I can't take it like before.

Robin's eyes flickered. "You want to revoke permissions?"

Vegapunk immediately chimed in. "System permissions may not support splitting."

Lin Qi looked at the computer prompt: "It just said that the temporary storage method is pending, which means there are options, but they just didn't pop up."

Akainu asked, "What do you suggest?"

Lin Qi tapped the dusty keyboard. "I will execute the proposal, and the World Witness Seat will have the veto power and the power to hold those responsible accountable. It involves erasure, memory extraction, evidence seizure, underage victims, and the Gate of Old Days. All five seats must review it."

Long Dao: "That is, the joint question-setting rules."

Shanks said, "Lin Qi continues making pens, the World Witness Seat holding the pen caps."

Luffy paused for a moment, then asked, "What's the use of the pen cap?"

Usopp said, "To prevent him from poking people randomly."

Lin Qi pointed at Usopp: "The analogy is awful, but it's close enough."

Makino looked at him. "Then who will prevent chaos in the World Witness Seat?"

Lin Qi was stumped by the question.

Robin said softly, "Public record."

He added in Marineford: "Every veto, every review, every authorization must be automatically and publicly recorded, and the victim must be allowed to request a re-examination."

Lumi raised her hand. "Can the victim say no?"

Long nodded. "That should be possible."

Akainu said, "The Navy Review Seat agrees to include Victim Objection Channel."

Shanks looked at Lin Qi: "You accept?"

Lin Qi's smile was somewhat bitter, "I've already been exposed as Transmigrator Anomaly Record, what's the point of being picky about the approach?"

Makino frowned. "Speak properly."

Lin Qi immediately changed his mind. "I accept."

The theme of World Witness Seat has emerged.

[World Witness Seat Question 4]

[Question: Should the question-setting authority for the God's Live-Streaming Q&A System be restored to be held solely by Lin Qi?]

[A. Should be restored separately, without constraints]

[B. Should be sealed away by the World Government]

[C. Should be placed under the trusteeship of any power]

[D. A common set of question rules should be established, with Lin Qi retaining the right to implement them, and the World Witness Seat retaining the right to review, veto, and hold accountable.]

Garling looked at option D, finally revealing his anger.

"The World Witness Seat have no right to reconstruct God's authority."

Lin Qi looked up. "You just wanted to take over unilaterally, and now you're saying you have no right?"

Garling ignored him and only gave orders to the Chief Adjudication Platform.

"Activate stigma record."

The black patterns in the Sky Screen revealed a series of images: the first question before the Paramount War, Garp's punishment, Whitebeard's departure, turmoil in the Navy, Blackbeard's plan being exposed, and old images of the collapse of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.

[The Throne as Proof]

[Lin Qi's exam questions once triggered large-scale social unrest]

[If option D is adopted, it will further exacerbate global instability.]

Sengoku frowned as he looked at Garp on the screen.

Garp, however, took a step forward.

I choose D.

Sengoku looked at him. "Are you sure? The first question puts you in the spotlight of the whole world."

Garp grinned, but his smile was unpleasant, "What I've done has been seen, so be it. Am I supposed to hand over a life-saving problem to the Holy Land just because I'm ashamed?"

Akainu also chose D.

"Disorder does not equate to crime, and order maintained by concealing evidence is not protected by the Navy."

Dragon confirms D: "The Revolutionary Army agrees to the Common Rules."

Shanks looked at Garling: "The Red Hair Pirates, D."

Lumi held up the Name Card: "Victim Witness Seat, D."

Makino looked at Lin Qi: "Civilian Witness Seat, D, but I have to add one thing: Lin Qi can no longer act recklessly behind Foosha Village's back."

Lin Qi immediately asked, "Can this not be written into the system?"

[In the record of additional civil constraints]

Lin Qi looked at the prompt: "No, really remember?"

Nami laughed from the other side of the Sky Screen: "Serves you right."

The voting lights converged, and option D overshadowed the Throne's stigma record.

[Answer: D]

[Establishment of Joint Question-Setting Rules]

[Lin Qi reinstated as exam setter]

[The World Witness Seat has the right to review, veto, and hold accountable]

[All high-risk topics require five publicly available records]

The computer input box lit up again, and the Black Lines on the back of Lin Qi's hand faded, leaving only the burn marks.

Makino breathed a sigh of relief and pressed the towel onto his hand, "Don't move, wrap it up."

Lin Qi looked at the keyboard that had lit up again and said in a low voice, "Finally got it back."

A new red warning then popped up on the screen.

[Once Common Rules are established, the system will automatically review historical propositions.]

[If historical propositions are maliciously manipulated, the relevant chain of evidence will be marked as contaminated.]

Garling raised his head, and the black patterns on the Chief Adjudication Platform re-converged.

"Review every question he sets."

Lin Qi's expression changed.

Robin whispered, "That's what it really wants."

On the Sky Screen, the first historical question was raised.

[History Exam Question Review 1]

[In the upcoming Paramount War, whose actions ultimately led to Fire Fist Ace's death?]

[Subject of Investigation: Did Lin Qi maliciously manipulate family relationships and war?]

Garp's name was once again brought to the forefront of the world's attention.