Two Reasons

Outside Vice Admiral Doug's home, Miya and Figo exchanged a look for a moment.

Figo tilted his head toward the door.

Miya said, "No, Teacher's body is definitely fine. But he's been furious over similar things many times before—this is the first time he's kicked me out of the house, saying he needs rest. It's probably because the matter involves those Celestial Dragons. Since he's powerless, his anger is even greater."

"Is that so?" Figo said. "That makes sense, they are Celestial Dragons... Speaking of which, is the force around them really that strong? Even the Laughing Pirates' attack failed."

"Of course not. The Laughing Pirates were discovered by Headquarters the moment they infiltrated Sabaody Archipelago. We barely had time to react, and even then, we almost missed it." Miya said.

If they had been one step later, maybe that would have been better... She thought silently, not voicing it.

Figo had some thoughts of his own.

The two fell silent for a moment.

The Celestial Dragons were descendants of the 20 Kings who founded the World Government 700 years ago. Claiming to be 'descendants of the creators,' they enjoyed every privilege. If offended, the Marines' highest combat power, the Admirals, and the World Government's top intelligence agents, CP0, were unconditionally dispatched to ensure their safety.

Because of these privileges, the vast majority of Celestial Dragons were arrogant, ignorant idiots and the dregs of humanity. Their existence was the greatest insult to the Marines' justice!

But what could be done about it?

Generation after generation of Marines never lacked righteous individuals, yet a group like the Celestial Dragons had existed for 700 years—that said a lot.

"Speaking of which, if Teacher Doug often hears stories like this from his students, isn't he worried his own sense of justice will waver?" Figo asked again.

"Teacher's Inspire-Inspire Fruit isn't just used on us," Miya said. "He often uses it on himself too. It's fine. He'll probably be better after a day of rest. Let's visit Teacher's house again tomorrow morning. There should still be over a dozen people from our year's elite class left at Marine Headquarters. I'll try to find a few."

Humans were social creatures. Figo accepted Miya's goodwill: "Thanks. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, see you." Miya waved.

The two parted ways, each heading off.

Figo looked left and right. Marine Headquarters' residential area was sizable, with bustling shops and lively commercial streets, mostly run by the families of Marines—fair and honest.

He still carried the Doham treasure dug up on Huoyu Island in his arms. He'd find a shop later to cash it in. For now... he'd go see how dilapidated his home, untouched for eight years, had become.

Figo weaved through the blocks. After about twenty minutes, he found the place in his memory.

The surrounding layout hadn't changed much. His modest house still stood there.

But to Figo's surprise, the outer walls weren't very worn—they seemed newer than he remembered, as if freshly repainted.

Sweeping with Observation Haki, Figo was even more startled... There were people inside. Several of them.

What the... Was his home occupied?

He didn't remember it being a rental. This was a house assigned by Marine Headquarters.

Figo walked over and knocked on the door.

Three seconds later, the door opened.

He didn't see anyone at first. What caught his eye were various woven ribbons and streamers. The living room was decorated like there was some happy occasion.

The next second, several people jumped out.

"Big surprise!"

"Hahaha, Lord Figo!"

"Welcome back to Marine Headquarters!"

"Wahhh... Finally seeing Lord Figo again, I missed you so much!"

Figo froze for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh: "It's you guys, hahaha..."

They were several jailers who had left Impel Down over the past eight years—all familiar faces to Figo!

"Figo, surprised?" Another familiar voice came from the side. "I heard our Flower of the Marines was walking with some stranger. From their description, I guessed it was probably you back. In a rush, I could only notify these few."

"Wahh, as expected of Lord Figo!"

"Even though it's Lord Figo, I'm still so jealous! Rear Admiral Miya belongs to everyone!"

Figo ignored the snot-nosed brats and turned around.

A cloak of justice. A Vice Admiral's rank.

Figo greeted, "Long time no see, Seazer. Pulling a sneak attack like this on me."

"It's not a sneak attack." Seazer gestured at Figo's home. "You stayed two extra years in Impel Down for me. I had to do something for you. These guys were eager to help tidy up your house when they heard. Your home's been cleaned out—ready to move in anytime!"

"Thanks." Figo smiled. Not knowing those former classmates, he wasn't without acquaintances at Marine Headquarters. And compared to those people, the friends he'd made himself felt closer.

The group joked and reminisced, and before they knew it, they ended up at an izakaya. Glasses clinked, drinks flowed freely, from afternoon until late into the night. Only Figo and Seazer were left standing when they left the bar.

Seazer was also drunk, his tongue thick: "Fi, Figo, I gotta go home."

Figo's body swayed too. He gave Seazer an OK sign, parted ways with him, turned a block—and then there was no trace of drunkenness left on Figo!

His powerful physique gave him an immense alcohol tolerance, far beyond Seazer's.

"Now... I've got an alibi." Figo murmured in his heart.

He unfolded the Prison Archives, flipped to Jellal's corresponding page, and focused his consciousness on Event 1: Killing the Celestial Dragon Saint Cassilia!

A pointing arrow appeared.

It was moving slowly.

The Celestial Dragon Jellal attacked was Saint Cassilia. After being attacked, the displeased Celestial Dragon would surely return from Sabaody Archipelago to Holy Land Mary Geoise quickly, and was currently at sea—but a Marine Admiral would not be escorting him back!

Marine Headquarters, Sabaody Archipelago, and Holy Land Mary Geoise were roughly positioned in a triangular formation, each about 500 li apart.

This sea route was extremely safe, lying within the Calm Belt, where pirate ships never appeared. No one could travel between the two islands in a single night. Figo's swimming ability, demonstrated at Impel Down, only covered 50 nautical miles—he was merely someone with excellent swimming skills.

But a Fish-Man was different!

That's right, Figo intended to complete Jellal's Character Event before the target returned to the Holy Land.

There were countless reasons to dissuade him from going; Figo could easily list a hundred.

'Tragedies happen every day in the world—are you going to intervene every time you hear or see one? You can't manage them all.'

'Don't become a slave to the archive, risking any danger just to complete a Character Event.'

'Killing a Celestial Dragon is like poking a hornet's nest, not to mention the possibility of failure.'

'There are too many giant Sea Kings in the Calm Belt; you might not even be able to swim through safely.'

'Don't let your saint complex run wild. Why take such a risk for a stranger who's a pirate?'

'Coming to the world of pirates, you have to get used to the disgusting species that are the Celestial Dragons. Just avoid them.'

Only two things convinced Figo.

First, completing this Character Event would grant Figo the reward of Conqueror's Haki.

Second, he wanted to go.

He really wanted to go.