We Don't Need to Wait for the Torch, We Are the Light

"Hahahaha~~"

In an instant, the scene exploded like a pot being stirred, and waves of laughter erupted. Even Fleet Admiral Kong, Admiral Sengoku, and Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed that what resonates most with people are often the truest things.

Mo Xingchen glanced at Garp, who was also laughing heartily, and continued:

"I've been thinking for days about what I should talk about. But I realized that all the meaningful topics seem to have been covered by the seniors. So today, I won't talk about those heavy subjects. I'll talk about something light: Living!

The world is so vast, the scenery so beautiful. Only by living can you see it all – see the sunrise, see the sunset paint the sky, see the stars and moon climb into the heavens. This is a kind of happiness."

Seeing a bit of silence from the crowd, Mo Xingchen, for some unknown reason, picked up the microphone stand. Ignoring the electric crackle, he walked towards the front of the stage, snapping his fingers and saying:

"In terms of simply living, we have indeed achieved that. But as 'humans,' we can't just exist. We always live for something, which gives rise to dreams, and subsequently, various identities. And we choose to become Marines, clad in justice, carrying justice, defending justice, and executing justice. Therefore, we live for the weak!

When we execute justice, many people live because of us. Conversely, when we fail justice, those who could have lived might die.

So, this is the meaning of our existence as Marines! To allow more of the weak to... live!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from below, especially from the passionate seniors in the front rows. Mo Xingchen nodded in acknowledgment, gesturing with his hand towards the back, and continued:

"Now that we understand living, and why we live, let's go a step further: how to live successfully. Do you regret not capturing a pirate? Do you blame yourselves when a comrade falls beside you? Do you ask yourselves in the quiet of the night, 'I've tried so hard, why did it still turn out this way?'

Why did some become Vice Admirals, some Rear Admirals, some stand on this stage giving speeches, while you can only listen from below? Their achievements are better than yours, their combat power is stronger, yet they still choose to pursue further studies. Are they naturally superior to you, or have you let yourselves down?

Watching the audience start to whisper, and some even curse, Mo Xingchen didn't intervene. No one wants to admit they are a failure. He waited quietly for the soldiers' emotions to ferment. As the noise grew louder, and even the seniors began to frown, Mo Xingchen let out a light chuckle.

"Hehehe, no, that's not what effort is. You read a few pages of a book and decide it's useless. You train for a week and start complaining that it's not yielding results.

Effort is not self-deception, thinking that others' success is due to luck. You might say he was lucky to eat a good Devil Fruit, but what about Vice Admiral Garp, or Admiral Zephyr?

So, when you start complaining, please ask yourselves: the knowledge point you didn't understand last time, do you understand it now? The push-up you couldn't do last time, have you surpassed it now?

Success is never achieved overnight. There are no shortcuts to success. You haven't succeeded because you've stopped running on the path towards success.

Success is different from failure. We can wait for failure, but we can never wait for success to arrive!

Do you think I'm mocking you?

I haven't succeeded either. I still can't defeat Vice Admiral Garp, Admiral Sengoku, or even that pirate, Whitebeard!

So let's pick up the studies we've dropped, pick up the training equipment we've discarded. As long as we put in the effort, we can achieve anything!

If you think the Marines are flawed, then work hard to improve them!

If you think the Marines have shortcomings, then strive to improve yourselves and change them!

If you think your colleagues are ignorant, then work hard to guide them!

Where we stand is called Marine Headquarters! It is the land of justice!

If you can't find the book by searching the title, try searching for the author. Perhaps the name has just been changed!

Whatever you are, that is what the future of the Marines will be. If you are light, then the Marines will no longer be dark!

Those who can act, act. Those who can speak, speak. If you have a little warmth, shine a little light!

Even if it's just a faint glow in the darkness, we don't have to wait for a torch. Because we are the light!

If there are no torches hereafter, then we are the only light! And let our light, the light of the Marines, the light of justice, shine across the entire sea!

And this is what it looks like for us Marines to live successfully. I have finished speaking. Who agrees! Who opposes!"

After speaking, Mo Xingchen placed the microphone back on the podium with a thud, the sharp electronic screech piercing everyone's eardrums.

"This old man agrees!"

Admiral Sengoku stood up and shouted loudly. He had never felt so passionate before, not even during the execution of the Pirate King. With someone taking the lead, everyone else chimed in with "Agree." They had all been "PUA'd" by Mo Xingchen. Usually, they would drone on about empty, grand notions of justice, but they had never heard such an impassioned speech.

A shifty-looking man adjusted his tea-colored sunglasses and muttered to himself, "Light? Aren't I the 'light' within the Marines!"

Sakazuki, holding a cigar, blew out a puff of smoke.

"Borsalino, as a friend, I sincerely want to ask you one thing!"

"What?"

"Do you have any shame?"

With the awarding ceremony concluded, the elites from the training camp each received their warships and set out on missions and patrols. Meanwhile, Mo Xingchen began a new round of his leisurely life. However, his interview and speech had caused a massive stir across the seas.

New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

Marco, with his pineapple-shaped hair, held some Belly and complained to the News Bird that had just landed.

"Why did it take so long this time! Were you slacking off? The news is already outdated! It's not unreasonable for me to get a 20% discount, is it!"

Listening to Marco's words, the News Bird's expression gradually contorted, struggling, before it finally shook its head resolutely. It pulled out a stack of newspapers and pointed to the headline.

"Here, this is the money for the news. No need to give me change. Have a good day!"

With that, it took the newspapers and dashed across the ship. The News Bird stared at the pile of coins, totaling less than 100 Belly, was stunned for a moment, sighed, and flew away, shaking its head.

Meanwhile, Marco was sprinting towards the mast where Whitebeard was located. The other division commanders, seeing him rushing with the newspaper, assumed a major event had occurred and followed him.

Whitebeard heard the commotion and looked up at his "foolish sons" running towards him.

"Marco, what is it? Why the rush?"

"Old man, we have new information about that new Marine recruit who caused a big scene at Sabaody Archipelago last time!"

If you find this book to your liking, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.