Two Reasons

Outside Vice Admiral Doug's home, Miya and Figo stared at each other for a while.

Figo nodded toward the door.

"No, Teacher Doug's health is definitely fine," Miya said. "He's gotten angry plenty of times over similar things before, but this is the first time he's sent me out of his house and said he needed to rest. It probably has something to do with those Celestial Dragons. He must be even angrier because he can't do anything about it."

"Is that so?" Figo said. "I guess that makes sense. They are Celestial Dragons, after all... Speaking of which, are the forces around them really that strong? Even the Laughing Pirates' attack failed."

"Of course not. The moment the Laughing Pirates infiltrated Sabaody Archipelago, Headquarters discovered them. We only had time to react because of that, and we still almost arrived too late," Miya said.

If we really had arrived a moment later, that might have been better... she thought silently, keeping it to herself.

Figo had his own thoughts, too.

The two fell silent for a while.

The Celestial Dragons were descendants of the 20 Kings who had founded the World Government 700 years ago. They considered themselves "descendants of the creators" and enjoyed every privilege. If anyone offended them, the Navy's strongest fighters—the Admirals—and the World Government's highest-ranking intelligence agents, CP0, had to deploy unconditionally to ensure their safety.

Because of their many privileges, most Celestial Dragons were arrogant, ignorant fools who thought they were above everyone else, and the dregs of humanity. Their existence was the greatest insult to the Navy's justice!

But what could anyone do about it?

There had never been a shortage of people devoted to justice in the Navy, generation after generation. Yet a group like the Celestial Dragons had existed for 700 years. That alone said a lot.

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

"Teacher's Inspire-Inspire Fruit isn't only used on us," Miya said. "He uses it on himself all the time, too. He'll be fine. He'll probably be better after a day's rest. Let's come by his place again tomorrow morning. There should still be more than a dozen people from our elite class who stayed at Marine Headquarters. I'll see if I can find a few."

People were social creatures, and Figo accepted Miya's offer. "Thanks. See you tomorrow?"

"Mm. See you." Miya waved.

The two parted ways and went their separate directions.

Figo glanced around. The residential area at Marine Headquarters was quite large, with bustling shops and lively commercial streets. Most were run by Navy families, and they were all honest businesses.

He still had the treasure Doham had buried on Huoyu Island with him. He'd find a shop to exchange it for cash later. For now... he'd go see how run-down his home had become after eight years away.

Figo made his way through the neighborhood. About twenty minutes later, he found the place he remembered.

The surrounding area hadn't changed much, and his little house was still standing.

But to Figo's surprise, the exterior walls didn't look very old. In fact, they looked newer than he remembered, as if they'd been repainted.

A sweep of Observation Haki left Figo even more surprised... There were people inside the house. Several of them.

What was going on... Had someone moved in?

He didn't remember ever renting it out. It was a house assigned to him by Marine Headquarters.

Figo walked over and knocked.

Three seconds later, the door opened.

At first, he didn't see anyone. What caught his eye was a mess of braided streamers, and the living room had been decorated as if there were some sort of celebration.

The next moment, several people jumped out.

"Surprise!"

"Hahaha, Lord Figo!"

"Welcome back to Marine Headquarters!"

"Boohoo... We finally get to see you again, Lord Figo. We missed you so much!"

Figo was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing. "So it's you guys! Hahaha..."

They were a few jailers who had left Impel Down over the past eight years. Every one of them was familiar to Figo!

"Figo, surprised?" another familiar voice came from the side. "I heard that our Flower of the Marines was walking around with some stranger. After hearing the description, I guessed you'd come back. We were in a hurry, so I only had time to notify these few."

"Boohoo, no wonder he's Lord Figo!"

"Even if it's Lord Figo, I'm still so jealous! Rear Admiral Miya belongs to all of us!"

Figo couldn't be bothered with the snot-nosed idiots, so he turned around.

A justice cloak. The rank of Vice Admiral.

Figo greeted him. "Long time no see, Seazer. You really pulled a sneak attack on me."

"I wouldn't call it a sneak attack." Seazer gestured toward Figo's home. "You spent two extra years in Impel Down in my place. I had to do something for you. These guys were eager to help get your house in order, too. We fixed it up ages ago, so you can move in whenever you want!"

"Thanks." Figo smiled. He didn't need to meet up with his old classmates to know that he wasn't a stranger to everyone at Marine Headquarters. Besides, these friends he'd made himself felt closer to him than those people did.

The group chatted and reminisced, then ended up at a tavern, raising their cups and drinking to their hearts' content. From afternoon until late at night, only Figo and Seazer were still standing when they left.

Seazer was drunk, too, his tongue thick as he spoke. "Fi-Figo, I need to go home."

Figo swayed as well and gave him an OK sign before they parted ways. But once he turned down another street, there wasn't a trace of drunkenness left on him!

His formidable physique let him break down alcohol far more efficiently than Seazer ever could.

Now... I've got an alibi, too, Figo thought.

He opened the Prison Archives and turned to Jellal's page, focusing his attention on Character Event 1: killing Saint Cassilia!

An arrow appeared, pointing in a direction.

It was slowly moving.

The Celestial Dragon Jellal had attacked was Saint Cassilia. After being attacked and having his mood ruined, the Celestial Dragon would surely return from Sabaody Archipelago to the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, soon. He was out at sea now, and the Admirals wouldn't accompany him on the voyage back!

Marine Headquarters, Sabaody Archipelago, and the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, formed roughly a triangle, with about 500 miles between each location.

This route was incredibly safe, lying in the Calm Belt, where pirate ships wouldn't appear. No one could make a round trip between the islands in a single night, either. Figo's swimming ability in Impel Down had only let him swim 50 miles. He was just an exceptionally strong swimmer.

But Fish-Men were different!

That was right. Figo planned to complete Jellal's Character Event before the other man returned to the Holy Land!

There were plenty of reasons to talk him out of it. Figo could easily think of a hundred.

Tragedies happen all over the world every day. Do you have to step in every time you hear about one or see one? You can't help everyone.

Don't become a slave to the archives. Don't take every risk just to complete a Character Event.

Killing a Celestial Dragon is like kicking a hornet's nest, and there's a chance you'll fail.

There are too many giant Sea Kings in the Calm Belt. You might not even make it across safely.

Don't let your sense of justice run wild. Why take a risk like this for some pirate you don't know?

You're in the world of pirates now. You have to get used to the disgusting species called Celestial Dragons. Stay out of their way.

There were only two things that could persuade Figo.

First, completing this Character Event would earn Figo the benefit of Conqueror's Haki.

Second, he wanted to go.

He wanted to go very badly!