Chapter 112: A Burden of Justice Cast Aside

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Marine Headquarters - Marineford.

Inside the meeting room, a heated discussion was underway, the events of the past two days dominating the conversation.

The clash between the legendary Pirate King's right-hand man, Silvers Rayleigh, and Vice Admiral Ian; the capture of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo and "Golden Lion" Shiki; and Kaido's invasion of Impel Down.

The newly appointed Warlord, Issho (Fujitora), had aided in the capture of Shiki and the defense of Impel Down, proving his Admiral-level strength and unwavering belief in Marine justice. Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly.

Yet, these earth-shattering events had occurred within just two days. Initially, they had dismissed Kaido's actions as another one of his suicidal escapades or perhaps a desire to reconnect with old comrades. 

However, it soon became clear that Doflamingo had been involved in a clandestine alliance with the Emperor, leading to his immediate dismissal from the Seven Warlords. 

His title and privileges were revoked. He had been appointed to maintain balance between the Marines and the pirates, not to facilitate their growth.

Then came the wave of shock and disbelief.

Any one of these events would have been enough to send ripples throughout the world, yet they had all transpired within the same short span.

And at the center of it all was the Black-Winged Devil, Ian, the man who had orchestrated these events.

His rise to power had been meteoric, unstoppable.

Even surpassing the legendary figures of the previous era, Gol D. Roger and Garp the Hero.

"What is there to hide? We announce that Kaido invaded Impel Down, instigating a prisoner riot, and we executed the perpetrators. Simple as that." Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu), his face obscured by a cloud of cigar smoke that filled half the meeting room, responded to Sengoku's question.

Many admired and feared his ruthless brand of justice, his unwavering belief in eliminating all threats, even at the cost of collateral damage. After all, even a single escaped criminal could disrupt the peace of the world.

Revealing the truth, while potentially damaging, would also showcase the Marines' strength and restore order to Impel Down.

Since they couldn't hide it, they might as well embrace it.

"He became Ridiculously powerful. Even we weren't that strong back in our prime. I wonder what the World Government thinks of him." Kuzan remarked.

While Momousagi, Chaton, and several other officers were absent, Marineford was still brimming with Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals. Even Garp was present.

Borsalino, his face contorted in a characteristically lecherous grin, casually clipped his fingernails, seemingly unconcerned. He turned to Momousagi (Gion). "Gion-chan, you were the one who discovered him. Don't you know anything about his background?"

"I don't." Momousagi shook her head. No one was surprised. Since joining the Marines, Ian had largely ignored orders.

He roamed freely, hunting down pirates, and they had simply assumed he was on extended suppression missions. So far, his actions hadn't deviated from the Marines' overall goals.

"Let's move on from that. That matter is settled. Now, we need to discuss the vacant Warlord position and who should inherit it." Sengoku's deep, commanding voice boomed through the room.

He tapped his ceremonial staff against the Transponder Snail projecting images onto the screen. Several wanted posters of prominent New World pirates appeared, familiar faces to everyone present. "I encourage everyone to speak their minds."

The figures before Sengoku began murmuring amongst themselves. There were towering giant Vice Admirals, and at the forefront stood Sakazuki, Borsalino, Garp, and Momousagi. The air filled with cigar smoke, creating a hazy atmosphere. An outsider might have mistaken it for a sauna session for the Marine elite.

"Weevil… I hear he's Whitebeard's son. I don't know if it's true, but he certainly possesses Whitebeard's strength in his younger days. That's why the World Government has placed a 480 million berry bounty on his head. If the rumors are true, it's likely even higher." Borsalino spoke first, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Bwahahaha! It might be true. Bakkin and Whitebeard were on the same ship back in their youth. Even now, he's surrounded by a crew of blonde nurses in leopard-print stockings." Garp's boisterous laughter filled the room.

"Silence!" Sengoku's sharp reprimand silenced Garp, who glared at him. "Shouldn't we wait for Zephyr and Ian to return before discussing this? Is this your decision, or the Five Elders'? Tell me, Sengoku!"

"You know what will happen if Weevil becomes a Warlord. Whether he's truly Whitebeard's son or not, the title alone carries weight, just like Buggy's connection to Roger. What kind of consequences will this have?" Garp pressed, his voice growing louder with each word.

A tense silence filled the room. While many shared Garp's disdain for the World Government, they usually kept their opinions private. Garp, however, never held back.

He roared his disapproval, his voice echoing through the meeting room. Sengoku glared back at him. "Then tell me what we should do! If Dragon hadn't intervened and freed most of the Level Six prisoners, including that treacherous Shiryu, we would be facing a war against both the Four Emperors and the Revolutionary Army."

"I see. So, not only the Five Elders, but you also agree with this decision. It seems Zephyr is leaving. You've chosen Ian, but everything points to him being a man of unwavering principles. Why else would he eliminate Moria, Crocodile, and Doflamingo without hesitation?"

"Sengoku, you're being foolish. Making deals with weak pirates and accusing them of treason is just an excuse. You know why Dragon left. He was deeply disappointed in the Marines and the World Government. He used to look up to you, he strived to become Fleet Admiral!"

Garp argued. The Five Elders' intentions were clear. They wanted to discard Zephyr, a man who had trained countless exceptional Marines, and create another Warlord position. 

If Zephyr didn't leave, Weevil was a suitable candidate. Ian, on the other hand, didn't discriminate based on perceived justice. He saw all pirates as enemies, a valuable asset to the World Government.

...

The World Government was playing with fire, pushing themselves towards a conflict they couldn't win.

Ian wouldn't spare any evildoer, but he wouldn't harm any innocent, regardless of their affiliation.

The World Government, in their conceit, believed they understood Ian, but they were sorely mistaken.

The two old friends glared at each other, neither backing down. No one dared intervene, fearing they would become collateral damage. Finally, it was Garp who broke the silence.

Regardless of the reasons, Dragon had become the leader of the Revolutionary Army. He, on the other hand, had distanced himself from Marine affairs, leaving Sengoku to shoulder the burden alone.

"I didn't consider your feelings." Garp said, his voice heavy with regret. Sengoku was carrying a far greater weight than him.

If Dragon were still a Marine, the organization would be thriving. He and Sengoku would have likely retired, spending their days indulging in their eccentric hobbies.

"Zephyr-sensei has returned…"

Outside Marine Headquarters, a commotion erupted. Zephyr, having concluded his conversation with Dragon, had arrived.

His standing within the Marines was equal to Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru. Garp was the hero who had cornered Gol D. Roger, Sengoku the Fleet Admiral who tirelessly worked to maintain order, and Tsuru a wise and respected advisor. 

Zephyr was a beloved instructor, having trained over half of the current Marine force. Even those who hadn't been his direct students had benefited from his guidance.

His most famous students included the current Admirals, Smoker, Hina, and many others. He was a man of unparalleled influence.

"Ain, Binz, Shuzo… It's been a while. You've all worked hard."

Marines greeted the trio warmly.

Shuzo, a Longarm, was a master of the Six Powers. Binz, clad in ninja garb, possessed the Mosa Mosa no Mi, allowing him to control plant life.

Ain, with her flowing blue hair and large, expressive eyes, was, alongside Tashigi, one of the rising stars of the Marines, their beauty captivating the hearts of many.

"Where's Sengoku?" Zephyr asked a nearby Marine, his heavy mechanical right arm, a seastone-powered grinder created by the scientists at Vegapunk's lab, clanking against his side. It had replaced the arm lost to Edward Weevil.

The Marine replied, "He's in the meeting room…"

He had initially wanted to prevent Zephyr from interrupting, but considering his status, there was no one who could stop him. He had earned the right to participate in these discussions.

Zephyr made his way towards the meeting room, leaving Ain, Binz, and Shuzo to catch up with their fellow Marines.

He practically kicked down the meeting room doors. The room was dimly lit for the sake of focus, and no one noticed his arrival.

He saw Weevil's enlarged wanted poster projected on the screen, clearly the prime candidate for the vacant Warlord position. His face contorted in a grimace.

His eyes, hidden behind dark sunglasses, were unreadable, a mixture of emotions swirling within him.

Betrayal, heartbreak, disappointment…

"Zephyr!" Garp exclaimed.

"Zephyr, you're back! You should have let us know. We would have thrown you a welcome party!" Sengoku said, surprised, not fully grasping the gravity of the situation.

Momousagi and the other officers were worried, fearing a clash between their beloved instructor and the Fleet Admiral. Sakazuki and Borsalino, however, wore expressions of amusement.

The main event had arrived. The show was about to begin. Perhaps Sengoku would finally relinquish his position. He was too weak, too subservient to the World Government.

"Sengoku, tell me, do you and the Five Elders truly intend to appoint Weevil, the man who murdered my wife, children, and students, as a Warlord of the Sea?"

Zephyr's voice was low and dangerous, his seastone grinder arm slamming against the table before the projected image. The sound echoed through the room, and the officers trembled, their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Zephyr, you know Sengoku wouldn't agree to this. It was the Five Elders' decision… Sengoku is in a difficult position." Garp quickly intervened, the only one brave enough to speak. He frantically gestured towards Sengoku, urging him to reconsider.

Sengoku, however, simply nodded. "While I disagree with it, this decision benefits the Marines. For the greater good, we must make sacrifices. I'm sorry, Zephyr."

The Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals present braced themselves for the inevitable explosion. They knew Zephyr's tragic past. If Shiki was the most tragic figure among pirates, Zephyr held that title within the Marines.

Known for his mercy, his refusal to kill, he had lost his family and students to a pirate who was later appointed as a Warlord of the Sea, granted the right to plunder and pillage.

He had left the Marines but continued to hunt down pirates, only to be betrayed by his own students, lured into a trap and left for dead.

"It doesn't matter anymore. This isn't the first time the World Government has wronged me. When the Warlord system was established, most of us opposed it, but they implemented it anyway. Now, they're recruiting a pirate who slaughtered Marines. This world is nothing but a game to them."

Zephyr's voice was calm, yet his words dripped with bitterness and disillusionment. As he had told Dragon, he had realized too late that he had wasted his life serving the Marines.

"There's one thing you can be sure of. I won't become a pirate… Also, I just met with Dragon. He's an ambitious, righteous, and exceptional man… Be proud of him, Garp."

"I no longer have to bear this absurd burden of justice." Zephyr declared. If the establishment of the Warlord system and Dragon's defection had sown seeds of doubt, the recruitment of the man who had murdered his family and students, all in the name of "justice," had shattered his faith completely.

Dragon, branded as a criminal, was fighting for true justice, a justice worth believing in.

Brrrring… Just as Zephyr opened the door, ready to leave the meeting room, and perhaps even Marine Headquarters, the Transponder Snail rang, connecting to the meeting room's public line.

"Hello, who is this? Speak quickly, I'm in a meeting…" Sengoku, still fuming, snapped at the caller, only to be met with a calm, indifferent voice. "It's Ian. It seems you're right on schedule for your meeting."

"Ian! Do you have any idea what kind of mess you've created?! A distinguished veteran is about to leave the Marines because of you!" Sengoku's anger subsided slightly, but his voice was still laced with irritation.

"Instructor Zephyr?" Ian asked. While Zephyr was a highly respected instructor, they had never met.

And with his current Yonko-level strength, he doubted anyone could be his teacher.

Still, he addressed him with respect.

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