Chapter 31: Meeting & Justice

Night had fallen by the time they returned to Marineford. Sleep, however, was a luxury few could afford that night.

Everyone except the hospitalized Onigumo assembled in the meeting room. Aokiji's condition was particularly serious, and even attending the meeting strained him.

"Meeting starts now. I assume everyone's familiar with the topic." Sengoku announced, showing a picture he'd just taken of Luo Ning.

"Didn't we discuss investigating this kid, Sengoku? Any findings?" Garp pressed, recalling Luo Ning's earlier explanation for his deep sea prison visit.

"We investigated, and it matches your report," Sengoku admitted with a grimace. He'd already dispatched someone to apprehend the Marine. The Marines, for all their supposed honor and justice, were riddled with corruption.

As Marshal, his workload was immense. He couldn't micromanage everything, and laxity among local Marines was worsening the organization's state.

Sengoku had always believed in the Marines' absolute justice. Anyone who challenged them faced a grim future.

This time, however, his leniency had backfired spectacularly. They'd stumbled upon a much tougher opponent.

"There are some strange things, though. This guy named Luo Ning suddenly appeared in this village a few years ago and has behaved completely ordinarily ever since.

Even he isn't spared by these corrupt Marines

However, I discussed it with Vice Admiral Tsuru, and I think he might be hiding his clumsiness. Maybe he just wants to live an ordinary life, but those bastards caused trouble for him!"

Everyone, including Sengoku and Garp, agreed on this guess. Getting that strong so fast just wasn't believable.

But even though they all thought that way at first, they eventually gave up on the idea.

In their minds, no one could get that strong that quickly. Not a single person, not even the Pirate King himself, Gol D. Roger.

So they figured Luo Ning was probably hiding his true strength and just wanted to live a quiet life. But their own men messed things up for him.

He even caused a big scene at Impel Down.

"I told you a long time ago that I should take care of these things, but you didn't listen"

Garp muttered next to Sengoku, loud enough for everyone to hear. Secretly, a few vice admirals gave him a silent thumbs up. Garp was the only one who dared speak to Sengoku that way.

"You got a nerve complaining! Why didn't you handle it yourself? Think I can just clone myself like that freak?" Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead as he roared back.

Garp's next comment was a real kick in the teeth, almost making Sengoku choke.

"Alright, alright!" Tsuru interjected, exasperated. "Both of you! We're still in a meeting!" These two old coots loved to bicker all day, Crane knew. They got along well, but there was a time and place for everything, and a meeting wasn't it.

Thankfully, the argument died down, and they returned to the topic at hand.

"In the end, all this caused trouble for us. That big mess makes it clear we need to clean house. A few more incidents like this, and we'll be in deep trouble. It also goes against our core values of justice"

The three Admirals all have their own ideas about justice. Kizaru follows a "do whatever you want" kind of justice, basically just slacking off at work. Aokiji's justice is closer to what most people consider justice. But being a Marine, he couldn't completely disobey orders. That's why he used Saul as an excuse to let Robin go.

Akainu is a walking contradiction. He seems to hate pirates, showing them no mercy. But he also blindly follows World Government orders. He even argued with the Five Elders after becoming Fleet Admiral, but still obeyed them in the end. He wouldn't dare touch the Celestial Dragons, despite their arrogance. Yet, he attacked innocent civilians in Ohara. Judging by his actions, it seems he's done this kind of thing before. All on his side are like this, including the Onigumo who would attack his own Marines if ordered.

Akainu's justice is the most twisted. He's definitely the most obedient soldier the Marines have, more so than anyone else.