At the New Marine Recruit Camp training grounds, Wright, who had hurriedly tidied himself up, changed into formal uniform, and rushed over, was pushed to the very front of the formation by Rosinante and Smoker.
He looked up in confusion and saw Zephyr entering from the training ground entrance, with Shuzo following behind him. Instructor Gumir was nowhere to be seen—it seemed the branch truly was short on personnel, and he had already departed to take up his post at the G-2 Branch.
"There are still ten minutes before it starts. You're reasonably punctual," Zephyr said when he saw Wright had just taken his place. "It's not so easy to see you looking flustered these days, kid."
What did that mean? He deliberately hadn't notified me in advance just so he could see me make a fool of myself? Teacher Zephyr, you've changed. You used to spoil me!
Seeing the dark look on Wright's face, Zephyr seemed to realize that his stern persona was slipping. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly before he swiftly put on a serious expression. "All right, straighten up! Today, Fleet Admiral Kong, Admiral Sengoku, and all the vice admirals currently at headquarters will be here to observe and give speeches."
"The New Marine Recruit Camp exists to cultivate the backbone of the Marines. If you want to develop under a particular vice admiral from now on, today is the time to choose."
"You've spent your usual days at Marineford and have all heard about the reputations of the vice admirals. Today, the vice admirals themselves will explain their leadership philosophies and answer your questions. And you will also face their selection! Make good use of this opportunity."
Zephyr checked the time. "All right, it's about time. The rest is up to you!"
"Thank you, Chief Instructor, for your guidance!"
Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong stopped outside the training grounds. Hearing the uniform shouts from within, he smiled with satisfaction. "Sengoku, Zephyr has trained another group of talents this time. The Marines are fortunate to have Zephyr. As Marine Admirals, the two of you have supported the situation these past few years, one from within and one from without. It has been hard on you."
Admiral Sengoku, behind him, said in a deep voice, "Zephyr has always held fast to his position as a Marine Admiral. He has always upheld his justice!"
"No one has worked harder than you, sir... Zephyr is still waiting. Brother Kong, please go in!"
"Hehehe... all right!" Kong turned and opened the door, striding into the training grounds. "Let us see what the future backbone of the Marines is truly made of!"
Inside the training grounds, Zephyr had just taken his place on the podium when the doors opened. A robust old man with a towering spiked hairstyle and pointed beard—Fleet Admiral Steel Bone Kong—walked in wearing a Justice Coat. Behind him came, in single file—
Headquarters Admiral Buddha Sengoku, with his afro, braided beard, and round glasses; Headquarters Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp, baring his big square teeth with no hint of propriety; the short elderly woman vice admiral in a light purple suit and Justice Coat—Great Staff Officer Tsuru; and the younger generation of vice admirals—Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan, Squirrel, Burning Mountain, and Dalmatian.
The big shots took their seats in the guest area. Chief Instructor Zephyr signaled for Shuzo to distribute the Training Camp students' personal files to them, then nodded to Fleet Admiral Kong. "Brother Kong, let's begin."
Kong nodded and rose to stand before the podium. "Training Camp elites, today is an important day—the day you leave the Training Camp and take your first step toward officially becoming the backbone of the Marines!"
"In the Great Pirate Era, the days ahead will be even more difficult than they are now. Vast numbers of pirates are pouring into the Grand Line. As the Marines who uphold World Peace and justice, we bear ever more arduous duties and missions! And you, as the elites of the new generation of Marines—your choices, your perseverance, and your strength will all become the foundations upon which justice is built!"
"Work hard, young people, in the name of justice!"
"In the name of justice!" the students roared in unison, filled with resolve. At least at this very moment, the word "justice" shone so brightly.
What... is my "justice"? Wright watched Kong step down from the podium as Sengoku took the stage to speak. Admiral Sengoku follows "Justice that Reigns Over the World." After becoming Fleet Admiral, he had no choice but to change it into "Absolute Justice," representing the Marines, in order to intimidate the Marines...
The future Three Admirals' views on justice should already be set. But their "justice"... the difference is only in how they exercise justice as Marines. They do not seem to have stepped outside the framework of the Marines to view justice itself.
Heh. In this world, the Marines represent justice... that basic concept is wrong. The Marines are merely the public face of the World Government, a violent tool used by the World Government to suppress the seas. Their function is more often "elimination"—eliminating things unfavorable to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons—instead of fulfilling the military's most fundamental duty: protection. Protecting the fundamental safety and interests of the overwhelming majority.
Exterminating pirates? Protecting civilians? Before the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, those things are not worth mentioning. Tragedies caused by the Celestial Tribute are everywhere. Compared to that, the relationship between the World Government, commoners, pirates, and Marines is simply that of landlords, tenant farmers, thieves, and thugs...
Thus, under a system where landlords exploit tenant farmers, whether the thugs wipe out every thief and do not care if tenant farmers are killed or wounded in the process, whether they only fight thieves when they come knocking while usually sleeping around and treating the tenant farmers pleasantly, or whether they simply guard the gate and act as dutiful employees, the essence is the same.
Their so-called "justice" only protects the interests of the "landlords"—the World Government and the Celestial Dragons!
That is not true justice.
True justice protects the fundamental interests of the greatest number of people.
"Wright, you..."
But... if I want to achieve true justice, I need strength, influence, and comrades...
"Wright!"
And the Marines—the current Marines—are...
"Wright! You little bastard!"
"!"
Wright's wandering thoughts were jolted back by an angry roar. The moment focus returned to his eyes, he saw a massive fist coated in Armament Haki appear before his face, accompanied by Old Man Garp's long-unheard bellow: "You dare ignore me when I'm talking to you!"
"Huh?"
There was no suspense. If Wright, distracted, without Haki activated, and standing in the safe environment of a Marine training ground, could dodge Vice Admiral Garp's Iron Fist, then Garp could retire and go home to watch his grandsons.
Bang!!
"Looks like after not seeing each other for so long, you've forgotten what my 'Fist of Love' feels like, brat!"
Garp stood where Wright had been, hands on his hips as he laughed heartily. Wright... lay face-down in the large crater Garp had punched into the ground, twitching slightly. For a moment, the scene was utterly bizarre.
"..."
The students stared, dumbstruck, their jaws nearly dislocated. Zephyr covered his forehead and fiercely rubbed his temples. Shuzo lowered his head to stare at his feet, as though there were ants moving house down there. Sengoku's eyelid twitched violently, his outstretched hand frozen in midair as if he had tried and failed to stop someone. Vice Admiral Tsuru's lips curled slightly, her eyes full of wistful memories. The younger vice admirals wore strange expressions, entirely unsurprised by Garp's behavior... they had experienced it to varying degrees.
"Hahahaha..." Fleet Admiral Kong burst into laughter. "This is the top student of this year's Training Camp? Just as the files said... interesting!"
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