Questioning and the Start of Battle

"Eh!!"

After Vice Admiral Garp spoke, the entire bridge fell silent.

"Then, it really is Vice Admiral Garp, isn't it?"

"There's no mistake, that's that Marine Hero!"

"But he said that Dragon was his son?"

People felt confused.

Although the Revolutionary Army is far from being as famous as it will be a few years from now, and Dragon hasn't yet been called the most dangerous man in the world, just by looking at the attitude of the bigwigs in CP towards him, you can tell that he is definitely a hardcore criminal!

How could such a criminal be the son of Marine Hero?

People are marveling at how magical the world is.

"Huh? It seems the Sengoku said this was something that couldn't be talked about?"

Vice Admiral Garp belatedly scratched the back of his head, then laughed heartily, "Let's just pretend we didn't hear anything, it's nothing important anyway."

How could I possibly forget!

People looked at each other, puzzled. This Marine Hero seemed somewhat different from the legends.

Dragon shook his head helplessly. His old father had always been like this. When he was a child, he even wondered who was older, him or his father, and who was the adult.

"Alright, Vice Admiral Garp, now's not the time to reminisce about father-son ties,"

The Vulture broke the awkward silence with his voice, "You saw the scene for yourself. To oppose the government, Dragon has even started cooperating with pirates."

Vice Admiral Garp glanced at Vulture, then turned his gaze to Sirius. "Black Wolf brat?"

"Nice to meet you, Vice Admiral Garp."

Sirius laughed and said, "I grew up listening to the legends of you and Roger."

"Hmph, you're really not learning anything good," Vice Admiral Garp Sirius. "You've become a pirate at such a young age!"

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Sirius laughed and said, "The World Government usually refers to people like me as pirates."

After listening to Sirius's words, Dragon seemed deeply moved, "The World Government calls all those who are not bound by it sinners, even those who are only pursuing freedom."

"Stop talking nonsense, kid!"

Vice Admiral Garp roared, "Absolute freedom is not needed anywhere! This world needs the protection of rules!"

That's the truth.

Sirius nodded slightly.

Pirates are free enough, but 99% of them are scum.

Humans are creatures that are easily corrupted if they are not subject to external constraints.

That's why Sirius felt he was truly remarkable.

"But what we need is not the rules of World Government."

Dragon refused to back down and loudly retorted to his father, "Father, the rules we need are not rules that allow the Celestial Dragon to do whatever they want and exploit the whole world!"

Vice Admiral Garp's anger intensified. "Arrogant brat! Do you even know that it's this so-called 'unnecessary rule' that has kept this world stable for eight hundred years!"

"Yes, it's true that the Celestial Dragon are all scum."

"Eh--"

People were once again stunned.

Is this something Marine Hero should say?

Those are Celestial Dragon! Descendants of gods, Celestial Dragons residing at the pinnacle of the world!

The highest level of World Government.

Did I say something I shouldn't have again?

The old man laughed heartily, seemingly to cover his embarrassment, "Just pretend you didn't hear that."

"This guy is quite interesting, Sirius," Yamato a grin. "No wonder Roger acknowledged him as an opponent!"

Sirius smiled slightly.

He is indeed a very extraordinary man.

"Ahem, Mr. Garp, isn't this the time to talk about this?"

The Vulture coughed twice, ending the awkward silence once again. "Time to prepare for battle."

Vice Admiral Garp's smile faded. He unbuttoned his shirt collar, loosened his tie, and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms that looked as if they were forged from steel.

Dragon's expression turned slightly serious. He knew his father's strength better than anyone. "Sirius, leave Father to me. Vulture, you handle him. Is that alright?"

"Certainly."

Sirius answered with a smile.

By this time, Vice Admiral Garp had finished his preparations. He cracked his neck, making a popping sound, and said,

"Dragon, I've been sailing the seas as a naval officer since before you were even born. What you do is your prerogative, but if you choose to oppose justice, I cannot turn a blind eye!"

"Wait!! Vice Admiral Garp!!"

Then, just as tensions were rising and an unprecedented battle was about to erupt, a sharp voice rang out.

Vice Admiral Garp turned around.

Then I saw a fat man with a look of grim determination on his face push through the crowd and walk out from behind.

"Hey! Brownie! What do you think you're doing!" Luo tried to pull him back. "This isn't a fight for you!"

But the fat man was fearless. He frowned, shook off Luo's hand, and strode out.

The fat man took a deep breath and looked up at Vice Admiral Garp, the great hero of the navy and a legend of the high seas.

His idol.

The fat man raised his right hand and saluted Vice Admiral Garp. "Former Captain of the East Blue Bran Island Naval Branch salutes you, Vice Admiral Garp! I have a question!"

The Marine Hero paused for a moment, then returned the salute. "You asked."

A sudden sense of foreboding arose in the Vulture's heart.

"My question is very simple, Vice Admiral General,"

Brownie took a deep breath, then shouted, "To be an enemy of the government is to be an enemy of justice. So, are all the criminals in this country enemies of justice?"

"Just because their ancestors committed a crime hundreds of years ago, are the people who have lived here and toiled to death generation after generation also enemies of justice?"

"Just because the motherland is not Affiliated Nation of the government, does that mean the people who are arbitrarily captured and brought here to be slaves are also enemies of justice?"

"Just because Revolutionary Army were found in the area, they were arrested. Are they, regardless of age or gender, also enemies of justice?"

"Vice Admiral Garp! I was banished here for protecting these bastards!"

Brownie, tears streaming down his face, exclaimed, "So, he's an enemy of justice too?"

"..."

The Marine Hero are silent.

Although he was unaware of Brownie's ordeal, he was aware of the situation in the country.

Because I know it, I pretend I don't.

He glanced blankly at the assembled laborers.

The overwhelming anger made him look away in shame.

"Vice Admiral General! Please answer me!"

Brownie shouted, "You say that government order brings stability to the world, so, for this stability, are we nameless people who can be sacrificed? Without any real meaning whatsoever!"

"If you say so, if this is the Navy's justice, then come and kill us!"

At this moment, the people, inspired by Betty's abilities, finally mustered their courage.

"That's right! What kind of justice is this?!"

"What did we do wrong to deserve being captured and enslaved? To live on this bridge for generations to come!"

"Is the navy only there to protect those who cause us suffering?"

"What a load of bull! They're just accomplices!"

"..."

The Marine Hero clenched his fists, unable to utter a single word.

"When innocent people are bullied, we either choose to aid and abet the evildoer or help them fight back."

At that moment, Luo's voice rang out. He stood next to Brownie and said, "Staying on the sidelines and not taking sides is just helping the perpetrators suppress the bullied."

"Navy's justice? Ha, that's just self-deception."

"Luo, well said!"

Sirius laughed heartily.

The experiences of the past few days have indeed given Luo a clearer understanding of the world.

Why is the navy considered the face of the government?

Sirius laughed and said, "Because they are the ones helping the government to paint a rosy picture, crack down on pirates, and arrest criminals. It looks pretty good, but this kind of justice is what protects the true evil of this world."

"Isn't that funny?"

Vice Admiral Garp's forehead veins throbbed, and then he sighed dejectedly.

Across from him, Dragon suddenly noticed that his father's spine was no longer as straight as it used to be.

"Black Wolf! Shut up!!"

Roaring, the Vulture launched itself toward Sirius.

"Oh, are you angry?"

Sirius chuckled, "Then let's go! I'm too lazy to waste any more words."

He went to meet him.

The battle has finally begun.