As Mo Xingchen was listening himself into a drowsy stupor, Gion beside him nudged his arm and reminded him softly,
"Your turn on stage."
Mo Xingchen stepped onto the platform. Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally draped a Justice Coat bearing Vice Admiral insignia over his shoulders, handed him the microphone, then stepped aside.
Holding the microphone, Mo Xingchen looked over the crowd below. Only after the square gradually fell silent did he begin to speak:
"The last time I stood on a stage to give a speech was many years ago. Yet I realized that so many people seemed to have disappeared from sight forever.
Order existed because of us, but maintaining order came at a cost. Those of us still alive, and the comrades who had died, made me understand that every meeting could be our last, and every farewell might be our final goodbye.
In the end, none of us could resist death. So live brilliantly, and die with honor. If I can never see you again, then I wish you good morning, good afternoon, and good night."
After finishing, he saluted and stepped down from the stage.
Applause was not the first sound to rise. Instead, waves of sobbing came from the formation of recruits. The officers all turned to look at the crying soldiers, but this time, no one called them cowards.
The seagull flag swayed in the wind as the ceremony continued. Fleet Admiral Sengoku unleashed his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, and with a furious roar of "Let the Navy's justice reign over the world," the ceremony came to an end.
Afterward, Mo Xingchen followed Garp and the others to the Marshal's Office to celebrate Fleet Admiral Sengoku's move. He noticed that Garp looked somewhat helpless, even a little angry, and quietly asked:
"Uncle, what's wrong?"
"Sengoku's justice ends here. From now on, he can only uphold the Navy's justice."
Mo Xingchen scratched his head, not quite understanding. Then he looked at Robin, who had come over to find them. Her eyes were misty too, with tears still clinging to her lashes, so he asked:
"What's wrong with you now?"
"Big brother, if you can't see me anymore someday, will you wish me good morning, good afternoon, and good night too?"
Mo Xingchen was so annoyed that he flicked Robin on the forehead.
"You're so young. Why are you already so sentimental?"
Everyone arrived at the Marshal's Office. Its master was no longer Kong, but Sengoku. By all rights, Sengoku should have been beaming over the move, yet there was no smile on his face—only a trace of sorrow.
Mo Xingchen was puzzled. What was with these people, one after another? Then soldiers hung a framed plaque on the wall and pulled away the red cloth covering it. Written on it was not Sengoku's long-held creed, "Justice That Reigns Over the World," but "Absolute Justice." Only then did Mo Xingchen understand. So this was the cause.
"It looks weird."
Garp scratched his head as he looked at those words. Sengoku knew Garp was deliberately trying to irritate him, but even Sengoku himself had no mood to argue while looking at them. After more than forty years in the Navy, the justice he had upheld had suddenly changed. This was not his justice, but the justice required of a Fleet Admiral by the World Government.
"Uncle Sengoku, don't be so sad. It's just a different plaque. Is the justice in your heart really that shallow? Does it rest on just a few words? Do you know what it means to obey in public and defy in private? Do you know what it means to replace one thing with another?"
"Explain."
"Come on, what are you now? You're the head of the strongest military force in the world! What are you afraid of? Just carry out the justice that reigns over the world in your heart. If anyone dares to talk crap, you point the way, I'll dig the hole, and Uncle Garp can bury them!"
"Yo ho ho ho ho!"
"Get lost!"
"Got it!"
Mo Xingchen grabbed Robin and made a quick escape, still muttering nonstop. They really hadn't read enough. This was what happened when you lacked education. If it were him, he would definitely teach those five old men a hard lesson—tell them what it meant to hold the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, and what an emperor was: whoever had strong soldiers and powerful horses deserved the throne. If they dared say one more word, he would make them understand the meaning of, "Your Majesty, why are you plotting rebellion?"
Robin listened to Mo Xingchen's rambling all the way and carefully spoke up:
"Big brother, can I discuss something with you?"
"Go ahead."
"I want to set sail."
"Why?"
"I want to search for Poneglyphs."
"Come on, what's there to search for? Just ask me. I know all about them. I can tell you—"
"Ahhh! Shut up! You bastard, don't spoil it!"
Robin did not think too deeply about why Mo Xingchen knew, but she believed that the big brother who had taken care of her for seven years would not lie to her. She quickly stood on tiptoe and covered Mo Xingchen's mouth tightly with both hands.
Mo Xingchen blinked at Robin. After she hesitantly loosened her hands,
"It's too dangerous for you to sail alone. Your big brother can take you to find them. I guarantee we'll find them every time."
"No! That would be way too unchallenging! You're so annoying! Don't casually crush a young girl's dream so easily, you bastard brother!"
Mo Xingchen covered his forehead, looking helpless. Then he saw the determination and hope in Robin's eyes. After a moment of silence, his heart finally softened, and he sighed:
"Sigh... so you've reached your rebellious phase! Fine, what reason could I possibly have to stop a beautiful young girl from pursuing her dreams?
Sigh... remember to bring the Den Den Mushi. If you run into anything you can't handle, make sure to call your big brother. Don't stubbornly try to endure it alone."
"Big brother, you're the best! I love you most!"
Robin happily jumped onto Mo Xingchen, kissed him on the cheek, then ran home in delight. It seemed she intended to pack her luggage and leave immediately.
Mo Xingchen shook his head and leisurely followed behind. By the time he got home, Robin had already packed her things. The two then headed for the harbor, and Mo Xingchen kept reminding her along the way:
"Don't forget to train your body even when you're out on your own. Your Observation Haki has awakened, and you need to work hard to awaken Armament Haki too. Otherwise, you'll be at a disadvantage if you encounter a Logia Type."
"Remember to develop your Devil Fruit ability properly. Don't always think about growing arms on the surface. Try growing them inside your enemy's body instead. That way, you can crush their heart directly. If you can't picture it, read more medical books and learn more about human anatomy."
"And remember to eat properly, sleep properly, and don't stay up late. That's how you'll grow taller."
"..."
Robin listened to Mo Xingchen's nagging with a smile the entire time, without the slightest impatience. She knew he was the closest family she had in this world, and she cherished having someone who cared for and worried about her.
She knew that under her big brother's protection, she would be safe and could do whatever she wanted. Everything she wanted, everything she wished to pursue, was within easy reach. She also knew that her request was somewhat unreasonable, yet her big brother had still agreed.
Robin leaned against the railing of the departing ship, looking at the man on the dock who was like sunlight, like a gentle breeze, like a clear spring. Smiling through her tears, she waved and murmured:
"Big brother, thank you for saving me from the darkness!"
Before you continue