"Fairness and justice must remain in the hands of the few... yet live in the mouths of the many."
"I am deeply dissatisfied with this so-called 'justice.'"
"So, one day, I will bring true justice to these seas."
Thus spoke Michael.
At this moment, he stood as the keynote speaker for the trial's opening remarks, delivering a profound yet accessible speech.
However, the trial organizers who had previously agreed on the proceedings, were now wiping cold sweat...
This part definitely wasn't in the script.
Still, Michael's brief speech was undeniably stirring.
It also caused some of the judges, whose biases had begun to show, to slightly correct their stance.
Only slightly, of course.
Overall, they still leaned in Michael's favor.
After all, his side had overwhelming evidence and motive.
Moreover, it was the World Government itself that had originally allowed Tom to atone for his crimes through merit... only to suddenly backtrack now.
There was simply no way they could win this case.
Thus, from the very beginning, this trial had no real suspense.
The true uncertainty... lay outside the courtroom.
For instance...
The standoff between the SWORD Classified Special Forces and the God's Knights.
At the forefront of the God's Knights stood Figarland Garling.
"Tsk tsk, this isn't good..." Rosinante muttered, eyeing the burly old man before him.
Aside from his bizarre crescent-shaped hair and beard, the sword at his waist was the most striking feature.
"Might I ask what brings the God's Knights here?"
"...Hmph. Are you the descendant of someone who willingly renounced their Celestial Dragon status?"
"And what if I am?" Rosinante tilted his head. "The name Donquixote... fills me with nothing but sorrow."
"Donquixote—a name that should be brimming with honor and dignity. How can you speak of it so disdainfully?" Figarland Garling shook his head.
"You're just as incomprehensible as that absurd father of yours."
Rosinante frowned at Figarland Garling.
His emotional control and leadership skills were among the finest in the entire SWORD.
Otherwise, Michael would never have entrusted him—a man still carrying the burden of being a double agent—with the most critical financial responsibilities.
"If you find it unreasonable, you're welcome to take your own life and go ask my father in heaven what he was thinking... Oh, I'm sorry—you're Figarland Garling, the so-called 'King' of God Valley! I suppose heaven would be quite difficult for you to reach."
"Such a sharp-tongued brat." Figarland Garling showed no signs of being provoked.
"But still too green... I'm not here to fight you, so save your energy."
Yet the moment he finished speaking, a small arrow formed of blue Judgement flames shot straight toward Garling's forehead.
"Oh?"
Without the slightest panic, Garling drew his sword with a motion that seemed slow but was deceptively fast, cleanly slicing the arrow until it dissipated.
"Such an ability... You must be Grand Inspector Michael, whose name has long been celebrated across the seas?"
"Damn right, it's your grandpa, Michael." Michael stretched his four wings, descending slowly from the sky.
"For an old fossil like you to pick a fight with my subordinates—isn't that a bit unreasonable?"
"I can understand your protective instincts... But you are not Celestial Dragons, so you could never comprehend us." Though Garling's tone was far more amiable than those of the idiotic, bloated Celestial Dragons, this very amiability carried an arrogance that seeped from his bones.
"After all, we are fundamentally two different kinds of beings."
"Right, your bloodline is so 'pure'—the original twenty, wasn't it?" Michael smirked.
"I'm from some backwater place in the South Blue, you know. A family living alone on a deserted island... But even we know that in human society, only pets and livestock bother distinguishing bloodline purity."
Michael's lips curled into a vicious grin as he stared at Figarland Garling.
Unsurprisingly, the supreme commander of the God's Knights could no longer maintain his facade of civility—his face flushed with fury.
Michael looked at him and suddenly burst into laughter...
"Pfft—HAHAHA! Look at that serious face of yours, like you're actually considering whether you're a pet or livestock!"
Michael led the uproarious laughter, and his subordinates quickly followed suit.
Especially Hancock, who laughed so hard she leaned back further and further until she struck her iconic pose from the original series.
After his momentary lapse, Figarland Garling didn't bother with further words. Instead, he slowly drew the sword at his waist.
Instantly, an overwhelmingly sharp aura surged from the scabbard.
Michael's face lit up with excitement...
Finally, after all this time, the old bastard had taken the bait!
As expected of the God's Knights' supreme commander—his strength was undoubtedly on par with Garp and Sengoku.
But who was he?
Michael!
The Marine's Grand Inspector, Vice Admiral Silver Falcon, hailed as the third most powerful figure beneath the Fleet Admiral and the Great Strategist.
"Is it starting? Is it starting?" Michael shouted excitedly at Figarland Garling.
"You come here... Actually, never mind, I'll come to you. Everyone knows I, Michael, am the most respectful towards elders—you old fart!"
...
"Issho-san, you've arrived."
The appearance of "Fujitora" Issho caused all of CP9 to show expressions of caution and shock.
Before they came to carry out their mission, Spandam had told them that a special person would be coming to meet them...
But they never could have imagined it would be "Fujitora" Issho.
Issho, though ostensibly joining the Marines directly after passing the World Military Draft tests...
In reality, he had another identity...
CP0.
"Do you all understand what this mission entails?"
"To find the blueprints for Pluton!"
"Good, let's move out... For secrecy's sake, we absolutely cannot cause any casualties in Water 7 until everything is completed..."
Issho said as he turned around and tapped his way out of the area.
The CP9 agents exchanged glances.
CP0, who were usually countless times more ruthless than them, were telling them not to kill?
Weren't they professional spies and assassins?
If they weren't going to kill, were they really supposed to just play shipwrights?
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