Watching the man collapse with resentment written all over his face, the Marines in the arena were speechless for a long time. Stillness fell all around.
Are we really Justice?
The thought surfaced in many soldiers' minds.
Isn't what we're protecting the very thing we're destroying?
How did it come to this?
Have we been wrong all along?
Sensing the change in the crowd, Loa spoke before Haisoken could announce the result. "Next one. Let's begin."
Then, to everyone's surprise, Loa picked up the clothes on the ground and covered the pirate's head with them.
"Perhaps you're questioning your own worth and purpose."
"But don't forget: no matter how tragic his past was, he was still a vicious Pirates."
Loa slowly rose to his feet and swept his gaze across the Beast Arena.
An unseen, formless Dragon's Might spread from him. Everyone turned toward him and listened in Stillness, not daring to interrupt.
"Everyone must pay for their actions. He committed crimes, so he was punished. Heaven is always fair; it won't favor one side because someone tells a tale of suffering. He had his reasons, but what about the people whose lives he took? Did they deserve to die?"
"The Marines stand for Justice, always! What we do is Justice, too! There's no need to doubt that."
Loa's gaze settled on the stands. He took in Kuzan's thoughtful expression, Kizaru's leering look, and Akainu's anger.
Then he turned back to Zephyr. "My teacher, Chief Instructor Zephyr, once said there's no such thing as perfection in this world. But as long as we stay true to ourselves, we can bring the world we long for closer!"
That's right!
The soldiers around him came to their senses and tightened their grips on their guns.
*Nothing is perfect. Perhaps what we do