The Civilian Witness Seat's Qualification

"Don't interfere."

As soon as Makino finished speaking, the towel that had been on Lin Qi's hand slid to the counter, hot water spilled out along the wooden floor, and black rings climbed from her feet up her skirt. All the villagers in the Tavern who reached out to pull her away were blocked by the Golden Light.

Lin Qi's hand stopped in front of the Golden Light, his fingertips pressed against the invisible wall. The burns on his hands were rubbed open by the edge of the computer, and blood smeared onto the keyboard. But he only stared at the Crown Pattern at Makino's feet.

"Makino, listen to me, don't fight it head-on."

Makino glanced down at Black Pattern, then straightened the water glass on the counter.

"You just heard it too: the person who sets and executes the test must not interfere with the independent review by the witness panel."

Lin Qi gritted his teeth.

"I can request a procedure-related issue."

"You applied, so they say I was affected by you."

Makino looked up at the Sky Screen, her voice carrying the crispness of Foosha Village.

I'll answer it myself.

The entire Sky Screen- covered screen has been fully unfolded.

[Independent review by Civilian Witness Seat]

[Question: Did Makino lose her eligibility as a civilian witness because of her long-standing acquaintance with Lin Qi?]

[A. Disqualified, the Civilian Witness Seat should be immediately revoked]

[B. Disqualified; the Civilian Witness Seats should be designated by the World Government]

[C. Temporarily disqualified, subject to review by the Throne.]

[D. Not disqualified, but must disclose relationships and conflicts of interest; recusal or review should be initiated if Lin Qi's personal interests are involved.]

Garling stood on the Chief Adjudication Platform, black patterns swirling along the scabbard.

"The Civilian Witness Seat should represent ordinary people who are not corrupted by power, but she was from the same village as the question setter, had dealings with him at the same shop, and had taken care of his life for a long time. Her choice was biased towards Lin Qi from the very beginning."

Makino looked at the question but didn't rush to choose.

Lin Qi's lips moved, then he abruptly stopped.

Luffy was getting anxious on the other side of the Sky Screen.

"Makino wouldn't choose randomly; she's scolded me before."

Nami grabbed him by the back of his collar.

"Your words won't help."

Robin looked at Makino.

"The Throne is forcing you to prove neutrality, but witnessing as a commoner is not the same as witnessing as a stranger. The key is whether you can make your relationship public and accept the rules of recusal."

Makino nodded.

"I understand."

Garling said coldly, "Understanding doesn't mean you're qualified."

Makino picked up the towel again, but couldn't reach Lin Qi through the Golden Light, so she put it back on the counter.

I know Lin Qi.

The Sky Screen immediately recorded it.

[Relationship Disclosure: Makino and Lin Qi are residents of the same village and have regular contact with each other.]

The villagers outside the Tavern began to stir.

"What kind of evidence is that? The whole village knows him."

"Does that mean the entire village has no right to speak?"

The Village Chief tapped his cane on the floor, the sound absorbed by the Sky Screen.

"I know him too, and I often scold him for being lazy. So, according to you, commoners can only be hired by people who don't even know Foosha Village?"

Garling didn't even glance at the Village Chief.

"Stakeholder testimony is inherently unclean."

Makino looked up.

"Then let me ask you, are the people designated by the Holy Land pure?"

The black light on the Chief Adjudication Platform stopped.

Garling's eyes darkened.

Makino continued, "You say I know Lin Qi, so I can't witness Lin Qi's crimes, but why can the World Government interrogate the World Government for its own crimes?"

Akainu raised his eyes in Marineford.

"Write this down."

The crane has already written down its record.

"The Civilian Witness Seat raised a counter-questioning regarding qualifications."

Golden Light fell from the Sky Screen, revealing the words.

[Reverse questioning by Civilian Witness Seat established]

[Expanded Scope of Review: Should Witnessing Qualification Be Based on Disclosure and Review, Rather Than on a Relationship of Unfamiliarity?]

Garling finally looked at Makino.

You're changing the subject.

Makino shook her head.

"No."

She bent down and used the rag at her feet to gather the water stains on the ground. Her movements were slow, but her words were steady.

"You say I'm biased towards Lin Qi and therefore unworthy to witness, but I just wrote his reckless proposition into the system."

Lin Qi whispered, "There's no need to remind me of this repeatedly."

Makino ignored him.

"I know him, so I know he's lazy, has a sharp tongue, and tends to downplay problems. I also know that his hand was bleeding just now, but he still wouldn't let go of the computer."

The Sky Screen recorded her statement line by line.

"These aren't reasons for me to protect him, but rather to let me know when I should stop him."

Luffy immediately shouted, "Yes, Makino will stop them!"

Usopp chimed in, "Her Luffy is more reliable than the Navy's."

Luffy turns his head. "Usopp!"

Nami pushed Luffy back down.

"Don't make things worse."

Garling raised his hand, and the Chief Adjudication Platform pushed out an old ledger. The ledger pages of the Foosha Village Tavern were enlarged, showing records of Lin Qi drinking on credit and alterations made by Luffy when he ate Luffy as a child.

[Supplementary Evidence for the Throne]

Makino has long provided food and shelter to those associated with pirates.

[His stance on civilian affairs is questionable]

Lin Qi's expression changed.

"You went through the Tavern's ledger?"

Makino also saw the accounts, stopped tidying up the rag she was making, and then put the rag back in the bucket.

"That's the meat Luffy stole when he was a child."

Luffy looked up from the Sky Screen.

I paid it back later.

Nami looked at him.

When did you pay it back?

Luffy thought for a moment.

"I said I'd come back to you before I went to sea."

Sanji closed his eyes briefly.

"That's called not paying back."

Shanks couldn't help but chuckle, and Benn Beckman reminded him from the side.

"Boss, make the record public."

Shanks stopped immediately.

Makino looked at the ledger.

"I give Luffy food because he's a village boy, not because he'll become a pirate someday."

Garling said, "You also hosted the Red Hair Pirates."

Shanks looked up. "I'll pay the bill."

Makino looked at him.

"I didn't pay a few times."

Shanks touched the flask, then put it back.

"I'll fix it later."

Garling's voice grew even colder.

"Just admit it."

Makino turned back to the Sky Screen.

"I run Tavern. As long as customers don't hurt anyone or steal anything, I'll give them drinks and food."

She looked at option D on the question.

"If this is called pollution, then the Taverns, restaurants, and inns in Ports all over the world cannot serve as witnesses for ordinary people."

Dan raised his hand at the exit of Sabaody.

"I can testify. If civilian witnesses can only be found from people who have never been near pirates or the navy, then those of us who have been captured by the Holy Land have no right to speak, because we have all been touched by them."

Lumi, holding her Name Card, nodded in agreement.

"Sister Mia took care of me, and she knows me. Can't she prove that I am Lumi?"

Mia crouched down beside her.

"It can be proven."

Robin took over the conversation.

"Relationships don't automatically create pollution; concealing relationships does."

Akainu said in a deep voice, "Navy Review Seat Opinion, D."

The staff officer cautioned, "Fleet Admiral, if the Civilian Witness Seats are retained, it will affect Lin Qi's eligibility to vote."

Akainu looked over.

"Therefore, we should preserve it through rules, rather than removing it based on the preferences of the Throne."

Dragon confirms. "Revolutionary Army, D."

Shanks looked at Makino.

"Red Hair Pirates, D, additional disclosure: Red-Hair was once entertained by Makino, and does not advocate disqualifying her because of this."

Benn Beckman whispered, "Add this to the book too."

Shanks sighed.

"I remember everything."

Lumi held up her Name Card.

"Victim Witness Seat, D, Sister Makino protected Lin Qi, and she protected us too."

Makino raised her hand to confirm.

"Self-trial by Civilian Witness Seat, D."

Garling pressed down on the hilt of the knife.

"Self-audits should not be included."

A pop-up Sky Screen appears for verification.

[The self-reviewed ballots from the Civilian Witness Seats do not represent decision-making power, but only record the individual's will.]

[The votes for the remaining four seats are valid]

[The public is welcome to add their comments]

The villagers of Foosha Village were the first to press D.

The Marine Branch soldiers looked at the major, and the major pressed D as well.

One by one, the laborers exporting from Sabaody threw D into the Sky Screen, and even the children who had just been rescued had their wishes confirmed by doctors.

[Answer: D]

[Makino does not lose her right to be a witness as a commoner because she knows Lin Qi]

[Relationship Disclosure Established]

[Conflict of Interest Rules established: Matters involving Lin Qi's personal assets, private penalties, and resettlement must be publicly explained by Civilian Witness Seat and subject to review by the other seats.]

[Civilian Witness Seats reserved]

The black ring receded from under Makino's feet, and the Golden Light by the counter dissipated, finally allowing Lin Qi to reach out and push the towel to her side.

Are you alright?

Makino picked up the towel and instead pulled his hand over to wrap it again.

You seem to need this more than I do.

Lin Qi looked at her, the words swirling in his throat, but he managed to squeeze out only one.

"Thank you for earlier."

Makino tied a knot.

"After you thank me, you still need to pay back the money you owe."

Luffy shouted, "My share is also on Lin Qi's tab!"

Lin Qi looked up. "Why should I?"

Nami patted Luffy on the back of the head.

"Because you have no money."

Laughter finally broke out in the Tavern, but this easing of tension didn't last long.

On the Chief Adjudication Platform, Garling pressed the tip of his knife against Hei Wen; the second phase of the Contamination Review had begun.

[The Throne is attempting to corrupt the World Witness Seat]

[Target: Victim Witness Seat, Lumi]

The Name Card in Lumi's arms lit up with a black border, and just as she was about to speak, the name on the card was covered by a crown pattern.

[Throne's Allegations: Lumi was young and influenced by the rescuers; her choices were not independent.]

Garling looked at her.

"Children's consent can be taught by adults."

Lumi hugged the Name Card tightly, her lips moved, but she looked at Bonney first.

Bonney clenched her fist, about to speak, but a line of golden characters descended from the Sky Screen first.

[The rescue team is not allowed to answer on Lumi at this time.]

Lumi's fingers rested on the edge of the card; her voice was soft, yet it carried clearly into the Sky Screen.

"Then this time, I'll say it myself."