Justice Truly Exists!

"Regretting it now? You said you knew I'd guessed you would do this. Did you think the World Government and the Five Elders wouldn't guess it too? Why did you have to act personally? I could have stopped you just now," Figo said.

"Regret? I won't regret it." Doug reined in his emotions and shook his head. "I used the Inspire-Inspire Fruit to convince myself to be a coward for decades. I probably don't have many years left to live. So I thought it over and over, and in the end, I still felt that taking up justice again was more important than being immortalized in Marine history!"

He raised his voice and shouted, "All Marine soldiers! On the first day we joined the Marines, we wrote the word justice upon ourselves!

What is justice?! Is the Marines' justice nothing more than obeying orders, capturing and killing pirates?!

No—justice is fairness!

When faced with injustice, we Marine soldiers must have the judgment to recognize it! Look at the ignorant children on that ship across from us. Just because they are aboard a Revolutionary Army ship, are we supposed to treat them all as Revolutionary Army members and bombard them to death in order to reduce our own losses?!"

"Vice Admiral Doug!" The silver-haired CP0 agent whom he had sent flying earlier climbed out of the water, half the mask on his face shattered. He said furiously, "Do you know what you're doing? Those children are innocent? They've already been bewitched by the witch. They're all seeds of evil!"

"They should at least be given the right to choose. Today, I want them to see clearly that justice still exists in this world! Even if only a few people turn back because of me, it will all have been worth it!" Doug replied.

"You..." CP0 was about to continue when a shadow suddenly fell over him from behind.

Figo looked down at him. "If future events can be used to condemn someone in the present, then I think what you're about to say will sound very unpleasant. So I'll have to kill you in advance.

You... wouldn't object, would you?"

"Gaston Figo..." CP0's body trembled slightly, sweat seeping from his forehead.

In the end, he did not dare move, nor did he dare say another word.

Doug grinned and looked around at the warships nearby. The Marine officers had all gathered at the rails, their gazes focused on him. Only now that the burden in his heart had finally lifted did he realize that many familiar faces were among them—his former students.

Though he could no longer remember many of their names.

"Teacher Doug, tell us what we should do next," a Rear Admiral asked him.

"It's been a long time since we last received your instruction," a Marine Colonel added.

"Yeah, we'll listen to you!"

The voices gradually swelled. Having taught in the Marines for thirty years and inspired countless people with the Inspire-Inspire Fruit, Doug's prestige was no less than that of the Fleet Admiral or Marine Admirals.

Doug burst into laughter and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Then let this old man teach you one more lesson! You must believe without doubt that even though the Marines have all sorts of flaws today, there will always be people who hold the line of justice. One day, someone will awaken the justice in everyone's hearts!

This world will never be beyond saving!

Every sin will be punished!

Marine soldiers! Blind Witch, children, scoundrels, innocent people—no matter what you have experienced, what you have done, or what pain and misfortune you have endured, please believe that the Marines of justice are not mere lackeys who only obey orders! Justice truly exists!"

The power of the Inspire-Inspire Fruit surged forth.

His powerful voice echoed across the sea.

The Marine soldiers stood solemnly at attention, receiving his lesson.

Most of the children aboard the Revolutionary Army ship looked bewildered, but the word justice echoed in their hearts. Perhaps when they grew older, one day they would suddenly understand the meaning of that old man's actions today.

The Revolutionary Army members who had once been innocently captured and made into slaves fell silent one after another. Did justice truly exist in this world?

The irredeemable villains felt even greater panic instead. Someone urged in a low voice, "Good chance! The Marines are in chaos themselves! Hurry and get out of range of their cannon fire while we can. Don't believe the words of those damned Marines!"

Sapphire took everything in.

The ship slowly began moving again, and Sapphire's Observation Haki foresaw even more scenes.

Scene One: Figo delivered a flying kick to the bow of their ship, shattering the massive vessel and sending it sliding backward all the way to shore.

Scene Two: When Figo came flying in with his kick, she stepped forward to block him with her sword, only to be knocked back by Figo's arm as their ship was kicked back to shore again.

Scene Three... Scene Four...

No matter how she tried to stop him or what method she used, she could not change the outcome of Figo making his move!

So she said, "Stop the ship."

"S-Saintess?"

"Stop." She raised her voice.

Some were unwilling, but none dared defy Sapphire's prestige. The ship, which had just started moving, stopped once more. In the next instant, Figo crossed the air with several Geppo steps and landed on their bow.

After the spectacle of him running across the sea, coupled with the pressure he naturally exuded, the Revolutionary Army members at the bow immediately retreated several steps warily. The children's attention was drawn to him as well, their large and small eyes looking at him with curiosity or nervousness.

Sapphire stepped forward through the crowd, and her words made the villains turn pale with terror. "A Marine Admiral?"

"No, I'm not." Figo said, "I'm Figo, Director of Impel Down. Hello."

"Impel Down..."

"Jellal is doing fine. He eats well, sleeps well—he just worries about you all the time."

Sapphire froze for a moment, then a smile appeared on her lips.

"There are so many children. More than a hundred, I'd say? Did you take in so many children to cultivate reserves for the Revolutionary Army?" Figo asked her.

Sapphire shook her head. "I want to say that wasn't the case, that I only wanted to give those wandering children a home. But actually, I knew that what happened today would happen sooner or later. Being taken in by me might not have left them better off than continuing to wander.

So perhaps that was the reason.

I've wronged them. I selfishly decided their futures. I wanted them to help me ask where exactly Brother and I went wrong.

I wanted them to help me ask whether this world still has justice and hope. To ask why slaves must exist. To ask why Celestial Dragons exist. To ask why living... is so difficult?"

In the end, there was still resentment.

"Do you believe in justice now?"

"Yes, I do."

Sapphire answered firmly.

A smile bloomed across her face, as pure and clean as when Figo had seen her as a child in Jellal's Character Event.

At the same time, she held her hands out in front of her, wrists together as if inviting Figo to cuff them. "I miss Brother Jellal."

"Saintess?!"

Figo glanced at the crowd. "You'll be reunited. Since you don't intend to resist, there's no rush to arrest you. As for where these children will go, we won't make that decision for them either.

Choose three people from the Revolutionary Army—three you think are most suitable—to stay with the children. Any children willing to join the Navy can board the warship. Those unwilling to do so can leave with those three people, wherever they want. No one will pursue them. But you need to convince them not to be part of the Revolutionary Army anymore. The Revolutionary Army has no future."

In a world where great power was concentrated in the hands of individuals, revolution was never so easy. Even Figo could not think of a good solution for the moment. This rabble aboard the ship would only be throwing their lives away.

The moment Figo finished speaking, the uproar aboard the ship grew even louder.

"Saintess, why would you..."

"Don't listen to the Navy's lies! He's trying to sow discord between us! Let's fight them!"

"This guy actually dared to come aboard our ship alone. As long as we capture him..."

"I'm sorry, everyone. I'm tired." Sapphire interrupted them apologetically, then asked Figo, "Could it be five people?"

Figo considered it. "Four."

It was like haggling at a marketplace.

In just a few words, the fate of this ragtag Revolutionary Army had already been decided!