Removal of Command

"Final voting begins."

As soon as those words lit up, the entire Holy Knights around the Chief Adjudication Platform moved. The knights who had been blocked on the outer ring by Kizaru's light path turned around at the same time. Garling's on-site military command mark fell on their armor, and layers of red light covered the golden emblem of the Sky Screen.

Akainu stared at the military command mark on the screen.

"The Navy Seat has requested a freeze on the Knights' response."

A notification popped up on the Sky Screen.

[During the final voting period, sub-propositions that are not part of the main problem must be jointly signed by two or more candidates.]

The dragon continues.

"Jointly signed by the Revolutionary Army."

Makino glanced at Lumi.

"Even the Civilian Witness Seats signed a petition."

Lin Qi typed out the problem statement.

[Knights' Response to the Freeze Question]

[Question: After Garling was placed under on-site investigation, he continued to command the Holy Knights to escort him out of the investigation. Should his duties be temporarily suspended?]

[A. No freeze; commander's orders take precedence over review]

[B. Without freezing, the Knights only obey Garling]

[C. Partial freeze, only prohibiting attacks on five seats]

[D. Freeze. Garling is prohibited from directing armed forces to interfere with his own investigation. Members of the Knights may lay down their weapons and accept independent recording.]

Garling raised his knife.

"The Holy Knights do not accept external censorship."

Shanks stood opposite him, his tone still carrying that touch of languor, but he didn't back down.

"Then ask them whether they'll listen to you or the evidence destruction record."

A knight stood at the edge of the outer ring, the red light on his Chief Adjudication Platform flickering. He looked down at Xing, who had just been rescued, and then at the remnants of the black chain marked by the Sky Screen. He did not immediately raise his gun.

Garling glanced sideways.

Glen.

The knight's body tensed.

"Commander."

"Fight your way out of the passage."

Glen raised the tip of his spear halfway, and Golden Light from the Sky Screen fell in front of him.

[Knight's Personal Confirmation Channel Open]

Those who choose to execute Garling's orders will be recorded as interfering with censorship.

Those who choose to lay down their weapons will undergo independent review to distinguish between accomplices and principal offenders.

Another knight said coldly, "This is division."

Sabo looked at him.

"When you were chasing and killing the children, why didn't you mention that you were being divided?"

Bonney held Star in her arms, her eyes fixed on the Knights.

"Anyone who goes any further, I will write down all your names."

Lumi held up her Name Card.

"Victim Seat, D."

Makino pressed the button.

"Civilian Witness Seat, D."

Akainu said, "Navy Seat, D."

Longdao: "Revolutionary Army Seat, D."

At the temporary Pirate Joint Seat, Buggy looked at the two projections beside him.

Why are you all looking at me?

Marco said, "You press it first."

Jinbe said, "You were the loudest one just now."

Buggy's face turned red.

"I'll press it if I want, D! Who's afraid of who!"

Marco and Jinbe confirmed it at the same time.

[Answer: D]

[Garling's on-site armed response to the Holy Knights is temporarily frozen]

[Knights members enter the personal selection channel]

A layer of black markings on the back of Garling's hand was shaved off, and the power of the Chief Adjudication Platform leaked out of his body, but he did not retreat. Instead, he held the long sword horizontally in front of him.

"Personal choice?"

He looked at the knights, the remaining authority on his face fading away.

"Your surnames, titles, and families were all bestowed by the Holy Land. Lay down your weapons today, and your family members will be the next traitors to be investigated tomorrow."

Glen raised the tip of his gun again.

Shanks spoke.

You are threatening your own subordinates.

Garling looked at him.

You have no right to judge the family.

Shanks said, "I was assessing it as a threat."

Glen looked at Shanks.

"Will our families be purged if we lay down our weapons?"

Sky Screen did not answer immediately.

Lin Qi looked at the five seats.

"We have to answer this question, otherwise they won't dare to release us."

Akainu said, "The Navy Seat has requested protection for coerced witnesses and their unrelated family members, but only on the condition that they testify truthfully."

Long Dao: "The Revolutionary Army supports us."

Makino said, "The Civilian Witness Seat support us; we can't let the Throne use family members as a rope."

Lumi looked at Glen.

"If you really didn't kill the child, then tell me."

Glen's gun tip slowly lowered a little.

Garling's eyes turned cold, and the crown pattern on his blade flew towards Glen.

"Treason is a crime."

Kizaru immediately raised his hand, blocking the beam of light between Glen and the crown mark.

"Oh dear, Commander, the final vote isn't over yet."

A new theme for the Sky Screen has been generated.

[Protection from Coercion]

[Question: After members of the Holy Knights laid down their weapons and testified when Garling threatened their families, should their non-involved family members be placed under temporary protection to prevent retaliation from the Throne?]

[A. Failure to protect; family members can use this as a form of punishment]

[B. Without protection, the knight must bear the consequences himself/herself]

[C. Only noble families are protected; commoner servants are not.]

[D. Protection: No family members or servants not involved in the case shall be subject to retaliation; the knight himself shall still be subject to independent review.]

After reading the question, Buggy couldn't help but exclaim, "Why even choose D?!"

Marco said, "D."

Jinbe said, "D."

Akainu said, "Navy Seat, D, those involved will be tried separately; this cannot be dismissed entirely."

Longdao: "Revolutionary Army Seat, D."

Lumi said, "Victim Seat, D."

Makino said, "The Civilian Witness Seat, D."

[Answer: D]

[Provisional clauses for protection against coercion established]

Glen's gun finally fell to the ground, the metal striking the outer ring of the Chief Adjudication Platform, the sound recorded by the Sky Screen.

The second knight looked at him.

"Are you crazy?"

Glen removed his underarm armor.

"I don't want to kill the children in the maintenance cabin for him."

As soon as these words were spoken, more knights on the outer ring slowed down; some still gripped their weapons, while others lowered the tips of their spears.

Garling watched this scene, the back of his hand, which was gripping the knife, cracked and bled.

"Good."

He turned towards the Sky Screen.

"Since military orders are frozen, let's surrender."

The main problem has been raised again.

[Question: Should Figarland, the Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights Garling, be relieved of his on-site command and listed as the main culprit in the destruction of Holy Land Witness Evacuation Case, and be publicly detained?]

[A. Not to be removed]

[B. Not to be lifted for now]

[C. Remove some permissions]

[D. Remove on-site command authority, freeze trial authority, designate him as the principal offender in the destruction of evidence, and immediately place him in public for evidence preservation.]

Garling suddenly looked toward the temporary Pirate Joint Seat.

"Buggy."

Buggy was initially shrinking back, but upon hearing his name called, he immediately straightened his back.

"What? Trying to bribe me?"

Garling said, "You don't want to see the Roger Pirates' files?"

Buggy's expression changed.

Shanks' eyelids drooped.

"Garling."

Garling ignored him.

"You, like Red-Hair, were brought up by Roger. If you vote C, the Throne can reveal the complete record of what Roger took away after God Valley."

Buggy's curse died in his throat. He pulled his hand back from the button, his fingertips dangling randomly between A and D.

Marco immediately said, "Buggy, don't catch it."

Jinbe said, "This is the second red line."

Buggy gritted his teeth.

"I know!"

Garling continued, "Don't you want to know why the captain was laughing? Don't you want to know the truth about the Laugh Tale? Don't you want to know how much Red-Hair has been hiding from you?"

Shanks remained silent.

Luffy shouted, "Buggy!"

Buggy looked down at the voting button, his exaggerated expression slowly fading.

"Don't shout."

Shanks looked at him.

"Buggy, do what you think is right."

Buggy looked up.

"You bastard, still pretending to be a good guy at a time like this?"

"I wasn't pretending."

"You've always been like this, never saying anything, always hiding everything, and always acting like everyone else will understand."

Buggy continued cursing, he raised his hand and slapped D down.

"But the captain's things can't be traded for children or the right to investigate."

The Sky Screen record has fallen.

[Temporary Pirate Joint Seat, Buggy: D]

Marco pressed it.

"The Whitebeard Pirates, D."

He pressed down Jinbe.

"I am D."

[Pirate Joint Seat: D]

Shanks didn't vote; he just looked at Buggy, his eyes filled with unspoken emotions that had been building up for years.

Buggy immediately pointed at him.

Don't look at me like that, it's disgusting!

Shanks smiled.

"Good."

Akainu said, "Navy Seat, D."

Longdao: "Revolutionary Army Seat, D."

Lumi said, "Victim Seat, D."

Makino looked at Lin Qi.

Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, his hands still on the keyboard.

"Don't look at me, the Civilian Witness Seats aren't mine."

Makino pressed the button.

"Civilian Witness Seat, D."

Votes from all over the world filled the Sky Screen, with civilians, Marine Branches, Revolutionary Army strongholds, Sabaody evacuees, Future Island researchers, the Whitebeard Pirates, and the Red Hair Pirates all converging into a golden river under the same option.

[Answer: D]

[Garling's on-site command has been revoked]

[Jurisdiction over Garling suspended]

[Garling listed as the main culprit in the destruction of evidence in the Holy Land Witness Evacuation Case]

[Public restraint proceedings initiated]

The black light on Garling's Chief Adjudication Platform was torn apart, the crown pattern on his longsword began to crack, and the red light of the Outer Ring Knights' military orders went out one by one.

Glen knelt to accept the gold medal, and the other knights hesitated before also laying down their weapons.

Sabo stepped forward.

"Restrict him."

Kizaru also raised his hand.

"Sir Commander, it would be best if you didn't move."

Garling looked down at the cracked Family Crest on the back of his hand and suddenly smiled.

"You have revoked on-site command."

Lin Qi suddenly saw a red warning pop up backstage.

[Off-site access detected]

[The ancestral decree of the Figarland Family is being activated]

Garling pressed the broken crown emblem into his chest, and half of his body was engulfed by black light.

"But I have something beyond the judgment."

Shanks draws his sword.

He's going to run.

Garling's figure began to peel away from the Chief Adjudication Platform, and black light drilled into the depths of the Holy Land along the remaining cracks in the foundation.

The Sky Screen flickered rapidly.

[Increased risk of restraint failure]

[Target is invoking the Figarland Ancestral Edict: Bloodline Evacuation]

[It needs to be confirmed whether the evacuation permission can be severed by cutting off Garling's Bloodline Evacuation.]

Shanks' name lit up at the edge of the question.

[Figarland's collateral records, Shanks can provide counter-evidence]

Garling looked at Shanks, a twisted look of pleasure finally appearing on his face.

"Red-Hair, if you strike with this blade, you'll admit you're still in the blood of Figarland."