"History will never forget anyone who gave their all for reform!"
Xia Le said with a faint smile.
He waved a hand lightly, and Marines stepped forward to unlock their shackles.
Then his gaze shifted to Dragon.
"I knew you would one day launch this war that would sweep across the world."
"But I never imagined it would come so soon. Even I find your audacity frightening!"
Dragon sighed.
He slowly held out his hands, his shackles clinking together.
The five Army Commanders behind him exchanged glances and held out their hands as well.
"Take them off!"
"This is what we agreed on from the start!"
"When we parted ways in Loguetown all those years ago, I never imagined the day would come when we joined forces."
His voice echoed through the hall, almost deafening.
Xia Le smiled. "Look forward to the day we change the world together!"
"It isn't far off now!"
Dragon nodded, somewhat wistful. "Yes, it isn't far off!"
Red-Haired Shanks and the others also stepped forward, smiling.
"In a sense, you're doing a pirate's work too, Fleet Admiral Xia Le!"
At that, Xia Le laughed. "But I'll never be a pirate as long as I live!"
As the shackles fell to the floor one after another, they marked the pirates' decision to become Marines and join this final war.
It was a natural outcome. They had no other choice.
Free again, Luffy was beside himself with excitement and embraced Sabo and Ace once more, while Usopp and the others went over to Sanji.
"We're Marines too now, Sanji!"
"Life really is unpredictable."
"So we're no longer pirates from today onward? How bizarre!"
"The age of pirates really is over!"
Their murmured reflections rang out, complicated emotions on every face.
The Holy Knights, meanwhile, were unusually silent.