Chapter 122: Escape to Freedom

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Noir's expression went blank. Oh right, we blew up the ship. How are we supposed to get back?

A ship could slide down an ice ramp and return to the sea, mainly because the ship was broken...

If a person slid down an ice ramp into the sea, they might end up broken too...

Aokiji struggled to keep himself upright, staring at Noir with a cryptic smile for a long time.

The stare made Noir's hair stand on end. He wondered if Aokiji had some strange fetish.

Fortunately, Aokiji spoke again after a while. 

"Your speed won't be enough to catch him. And I'm injured. Let's just head back and report."

Kizaru looked at him in surprise, as if seeing Aokiji in a new light. "You're letting him go?"

"Those who were kidnapped are Celestial Dragons. Aren't we supposed to capture him and hand him over to the Government?"

Aokiji gave Kizaru an odd look, his voice muffled. "Can you beat him?"

Kizaru's old face flushed. After a long silence, he begrudgingly admitted, "If he hadn't copied my ability, taking him down wouldn't be a problem. But now…"

Aokiji turned away. "Exactly. I'm injured. Even if we blew up the ship, do you think you can hold Noir back alone and rescue all the Celestial Dragons unharmed?"

Kizaru's comical eyes narrowed as he shook his head. "Seems... likely... perhaps... probably not…"

Noir clapped his hands and laughed. "Uncle Kizaru is a man of self-awareness."

Just then, the ice Aokiji had created to slow down the warship began to crack and break apart.

Seizing the opportunity, Noir dashed forward, leaving a shimmering afterimage in his wake, his blade aimed at Kizaru, who was shielding Aokiji.

Kizaru reacted instantly, pulling Aokiji out of the attack's path and flashing away from the warship.

With the delay, the warship broke free from its icy restraints and began to plummet once more. Noir quickly resumed creating the ice ramp.

Over two thousand people, now free, cheered as they slid down the ice towards the sea.

Despite the bumps and cracks along the way, tears of joy streamed down their faces.

The vast ocean, the clear blue sky... they had missed this sight...

They were finally going home! They were finally free from slavery!

And they owed it all to their savior.

All eyes turned towards Noir, filled with fervent admiration. Their spirits soaring, they showered him with praise and gratitude.

"The Black-Clad Savior repelled two Admirals single-handedly!!"

"I can go back to find my parents! I wonder if they're still alive..."

"Freedom… but I have no family left..."

"I... neither do I."

The initial jubilation gave way to a somber realization as they spoke of their hardships and the loved ones they'd lost.

Years of enslavement had left them estranged from the familiar sea. This melancholic undercurrent dampened the celebratory mood.

Noir, focused on maintaining the escape route, listened to their conversations, his brow furrowed in thought.

Those who were strong, he could recruit into his crew.

But what about the weak?

And those who no longer wished to risk their lives, who no longer desired adventure? He couldn't build each of them a home, could he? 

Wait a minute…

He actually might be able to do just that.

Back on Skypiea, he had obtained a chance to create a sky island, but he hadn't found a suitable use for it.

And his current strength was more than enough to carve out a territory for himself. He could even establish a kingdom if he wanted to.

That's it! The Kingdom of Noitem!

The thought excited him.

Robin had mentioned that although Noitem had fallen, the ruins of the island still existed somewhere in the New World. Noir could find it and rebuild his kingdom!

The idea appealed to him more and more. He could not only uncover the mysteries of his past but also establish a secure base of operations.

With his copying ability, he needed a safe haven where he could spend time honing the powers he acquired and solidify his strength.

Noir had a plan. Upon returning to the sea, he wouldn't rush to the New World. He'd gather Robin and the others first.

For their safety during the Heavenly Tribute heist, he'd had Blueno teleport them back to Thriller Bark.

The Ark Maxim had also been returned by the Revolutionary Army and was docked there. Looks like he had to backtrack…

But it was for the best. Only Thriller Bark could accommodate such a large group of people.

On the ice ramp, the liberated slaves laughed and cried, embracing each other, savoring their newfound freedom.

Some, former pirates who had long abandoned their savage ways, climbed onto tables and sang, their antics bringing laughter and tears to the eyes of the crowd.

There was no fine wine, no gourmet food, but the ships were filled with joyous chaos, an unbridled sense of happiness spreading throughout the makeshift fleet.

As they sailed towards freedom, the former pirates led the crowd in a song, a song that embodied freedom and love, a song that belonged to the sea...

"Yo ho ho ho, Yo ho ho ho, "

"Binks' Sake to you I shall bring."

"Like the sea wind, free and untamed, we'll sail the waves."

"On the other side of the sea, even the sunset is lively."

"The songs of birds, drawing circles in the sky..."

"Binks' Sake" painted a picture of the sea as seen through the eyes of adventurous pirates, a sea of hope, laughter, and boundless freedom...

The song resonated deeply with everyone present.

They, too, were returning to the embrace of the sea. They were no longer slaves!

The joyous singing filled the deck. Noir couldn't help but smile, humming along softly, despite his lack of musical talent.

For some reason, Enel and Wyper had formed an unlikely bond with the freed slaves.

They were now singing and dancing together, their arms slung over each other's shoulders, their laughter and boisterous voices echoing across the waves.

The aloof and formidable God and the fierce warrior, since joining Noir's crew, had shed their former personas, embracing the ragtag group with open arms.

Even the stoic Blueno tapped his foot to the rhythm, a smile gracing his lips as he watched the lively scene unfold.

"A bunch of people with no sense of danger..." Lucci muttered, his hands in his pockets, Hattori perched on his shoulder. He turned and walked back into the cabin.

Blueno found the scene amusing.

Normally, Lucci would have reprimanded them, silencing their boisterous celebration...

Was it because of the Captain's presence that he held back?

Or did he simply not want to spoil the mood?

Heh, who knows? That stubborn tsundere…

The joyous laughter echoed across the blue sky. Behind them, on the remnants of the collapsing ice ramp, Kizaru and Aokiji hovered in the air.

Kizaru glanced sideways at Aokiji. "You didn't use your full strength, did you?"

Aokiji didn't answer, shaking his head and pointing to his injured leg. "It doesn't matter. This injury is enough for a report. They can't blame us."

Kizaru swallowed, unable to voice his thoughts.

Aokiji, noticing Kizaru's silence, offered a weak smile. "Don't worry. He's copied both of our abilities. It would be difficult to defeat Noir in a one-on-one fight."

Kizaru nodded, letting out a lazy sigh. "Kidnapping Celestial Dragons… it's both a death sentence and a life preserver."

Back on the warship, it wasn't just Aokiji's words that had changed Kizaru's mind. He'd realized something.

Killing Noir was impossible. Destroying the ship wouldn't work either, because Noir held the lives of several Celestial Dragons in his hands.

If pushed too far, Noir could easily kill them, just as Kizaru could easily kill the slaves.

This wasn't over. A furious counterattack from the Marines and the Government was inevitable.

But if Noir could withstand that pressure and survive, he would become a legend, a force to be reckoned with in the world.

Aokiji pondered for a long time before turning to Kizaru. "Borsalino, do you think what the Marines uphold is true justice, or simply the will of the Government…?"

"Which side should I stand with?"

Kizaru looked at Aokiji with a detached expression. "Why choose a side? The world's currents flow as they will. We simply need to observe."

"When the tides begin to shift, the direction will become clear."

Aokiji's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time he'd heard Borsalino talk about such things.

But Kizaru's seemingly apathetic words resonated with him. Aokiji smiled. "Ambiguous justice, huh...? I think you're right."

Kizaru shrugged, muttering under his breath, "Well, well... that was a lie." 

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