Hello, everyone. I'm a Brain-Brain Fruit user. (￣▽￣~)
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The world of One Piece.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford. The Judiciary Department's courtroom.
The Chief Judge, who had three heads, sat at the highest seat. Six pairs of eyes gleamed with a chilling light as they all stared toward the defendant's stand.
To the Chief Judge's left, Marine Headquarters Marshal Sengoku stared gravely at the pile of documents before him.
The jury seats were filled with senior officers from Marine Headquarters.
In the front row sat two of the Three Admirals, Marine Headquarters' greatest fighting force: Admiral Sakazuki and Admiral Borsalino.
Seated on either side of them were the Admiral candidates, Vice Admiral Gion and Vice Admiral Kaki.
All the Headquarters Vice Admirals, led by Momonga, Onigumo, Doberman, and Akainu, were present, seated behind the two Admirals and the two Admiral candidates.
Like Sengoku, the two Admirals present and most of the Vice Admirals looked grave as they stared toward the empty defendant's stand.
Dozens of Marine Headquarters Officers filled the seats along either side of the courtroom. Since the trial had yet to begin, they were whispering among themselves.
"Silence!"
The Chief Judge suddenly raised his gavel and slammed it down. "The trial is now in session!"
After a brief pause, all three of the Chief Judge's heads turned toward the doors, and they spoke in unison. "Bring in the defendant!"
Meanwhile.
Outside the courtroom doors.
Akira, dressed in a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral's uniform, stared at the closed doors across from him, lost in thought.
Before he knew it, six years had passed since he'd unexpectedly crossed over into the world of One Piece.
Over those six years, he'd worked hard to master the Navy Six Styles, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki. He'd also honed his swordsmanship to the level of a Great Grade Swordsman, and a year ago, he'd unexpectedly awakened Conqueror's Haki.
Of course, none of that was important.
What mattered was that when he'd first joined the Marines, it wasn't for some lofty ideal of justice. He'd simply wanted to survive a little longer in this world.
So, while training to grow stronger, he'd done his best to get along with his colleagues.
He believed that no matter what world you were in—even one as strength-driven as the world of One Piece—not everything came down to fighting. Knowing how to navigate human relationships was a skill that worked everywhere.
As he spent time with his colleagues, he gradually realized that life was miserable for most of the rank-and-file soldiers. They not only had to be ready at any moment to risk their lives against powerful pirates, but also had to worry about making ends meet!
That was because the Marines' salaries were practically negligible, while the higher-ups were always going on about justice.
As a transmigrator with no family or friends in this world, he didn't care how much he earned. All he needed was somewhere to sleep and a mess hall where he could fill his stomach. But the other Marines couldn't live as carefree a life as he could, with no one but himself to feed.
Once he learned about their situation, he used every paycheck to help colleagues in need.
Gradually, more and more Marines became his friends. Whenever they went out with their superiors to capture pirates, the Marines he'd helped were always the first to rush in ahead of him, forming a human wall to make sure he stayed safe.
As he grew stronger and his reputation around Headquarters spread, he soon caught the attention of the Headquarters Officers.
After a year of missions away from Headquarters, he attended the officer training camp. As soon as the six-month course ended, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant at Headquarters. He got his own subordinates, and his salary rose considerably.
Taking advantage of his position, he began lining his pockets. Then he distributed all his "ill-gotten" gains to subordinates in need. He also secretly "colluded" with bounty hunters, deliberately letting certain pirates escape so the bounty hunters he'd tipped off could capture them right away. Then he split the bounties with them.
As time went by, his strength grew rapidly, and his rank rose right along with it. In just a few short years, he became a Headquarters Vice Admiral.
By the time he became a Headquarters Vice Admiral, he'd helped tens of thousands of Marines. Many of them, thanks to his support, no longer had to worry about their families and could devote themselves wholeheartedly to the cause of justice, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Some became his subordinates. Others, grateful for his help, came to regard him as their guiding light.
But all good things came to an end.
When he diverted a substantial sum of public funds to help several officers in need, he caught the attention of Marine Headquarters' Internal Investigation Unit. In the end, they arrested and imprisoned him.
As Akira stood outside the courtroom, staring distractedly at its closed doors, they suddenly swung open.
Two court bailiffs hurried over. Facing him, they stood at attention and saluted. They didn't distance themselves from him just because he was now a criminal. On the contrary, their eyes were filled with admiration.
"Vice Admiral Akira—"
Before Akira could react, the dozens of Headquarters Officers standing in neat rows behind him all took a synchronized step forward.
Hearing them, Akira turned around. His gentle gaze swept over the dozens of officers, their faces alight with fervor, and he gave them a faint smile.
Then, without hesitation, he lifted his chin, squared his shoulders, and strode into the courtroom.
Whoosh—
The moment Akira entered, the Headquarters Officers seated on both sides of the courtroom rose almost in unison and turned to face him. Some looked fervent, some clenched their fists, and most watched him with eager anticipation. A few, of course, were so nervous that sweat poured from their foreheads!
The fervent officers and those watching eagerly were all people Akira had helped. The nervous ones were officers who'd worked with him over the years. If Akira revealed everything about them during his trial, they would face prison just as he did.
Akira ignored the officers as they stood and walked straight to the defendant's stand. Then he lifted his head slightly to look at the three-headed Chief Judge on the bench.
Seeing this, all the officers who'd stood up turned around as well, directing their attention to the Chief Judge.
"Vice Admiral Akira!"
Feeling the invisible pressure suddenly bearing down on him, the Chief Judge swallowed nervously. Then he picked up his gavel and struck it down, speaking gravely. "The evidence of your embezzlement and bribery is conclusive. According to the Internal Investigation Unit's findings, you've embezzled a total of two hundred billion Beli since joining Marine Headquarters. Do you admit it?"
"Yes." Akira nodded.
"Good!" The Chief Judge secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then continued. "But the investigation unit spent three whole months investigating and searched everywhere, yet they found only one hundred and twenty thousand Beli in your home! Where did the two hundred billion Beli you embezzled go? Did you have accomplices who helped you divide up the spoils?"
At those words, the entire courtroom fell silent.
Some were shocked to hear that Akira had embezzled two hundred billion Beli, yet had only a hundred and twenty thousand at home. They all knew how much he'd helped them over the years, but they hadn't realized that after embezzling so much money, he'd kept almost none of it for himself.
Some were moved. Others nearly suffocated with nervousness when they heard the Chief Judge ask whether Akira had accomplices.
"No one helped me divide up the spoils!"
Akira's voice rang out like a great bell, clearly reaching every officer in the courtroom. "I spent it all myself."
"You're lying!" The Chief Judge's voice rose sharply. "According to the investigation unit's findings, you own no assets. You live in an apartment provided by Headquarters, and the furniture in your home hasn't been replaced in six years. How could you possibly spend two hundred billion by yourself?!"
Akira's expression didn't change. "I like to use Beli to light my cigarettes."
Before you continue