187 With the Justice System

Marineford.

"Rattle—rattle—rattle—"

A torrential downpour scourged Marineford, washing the coagulated blood and shredded flesh from the plaza into dark red streams that finally ran out to sea.

"..."

Countless Marines worked in silence, clearing the battlefield, hauling the bodies of comrades and foes alike.

The air reeked of gunpowder, blood, and rain — heavy and solemn.

Soon the battlefield was cleared.

One hundred thousand elite Marines reassembled in the center of the plaza.

Their uniforms were soaked through with rain and blood, faces lined with exhaustion, yet in their eyes...an unprecedented zeal burned!

"Thud—"

Sengoku walked up the high platform with steady steps.

Three figures followed behind him.

Admiral Akainu, whose lava-like aura made the rain steam around him.

Admiral Aokiji, whose cold sent falling raindrops turning into ice crystals.

And the commander of this war — Blood Hawk — Rayne Hawke!

The four stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the assembled one hundred thousand Marines in the plaza, and the Den Den Mushi broadcasting the image to the whole world.

"People of the world, I am Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Buddha."

Sengoku cleared his throat; his deep voice spread across Marineford and into every corner of the globe.

"Just now, the Emperor of the Sea who had entrenched himself in the New World, 'Whitebeard' Edward Newgate and his pirate crew, were completely annihilated by the Marines!"

"The other Emperor of the Sea, 'Red-Haired' Shanks, attempted to interfere with the Marines' execution of justice — his pirate crew here has also been entirely wiped out!"

"I know some of you may feel fear because of the bloodshed in this war..."

Sengoku's voice rose again, laden with unchallengeable authority.

"But I hereby guarantee to you!"

"The iron fist of the Marines will strike only at evil!"

"The fleet of the Marines will always be the people's bulwark!"

"From this day forward, the chaotic chapter of the Great Pirate Age will be brought to a decisive end!"

"A Marine-led era — a true age of justice and peace — the 'Great Marine Era' — has officially arrived!"

Sengoku paused; his gaze sharpened as if piercing through the screen to sweep over every schemer in the world.

"I advise those who still harbor fantasies about ONE PIECE to open your eyes and see clearly!"

"The two Emperors who rule the seas — this is the fate that awaits you if you set sail!"

"The Marines' resolve to punish evil is unshakable!"

His voice climbed, like rolling thunder.

"Finally, I announce here that soon I will step down from the post of Fleet Admiral!"

"!!!"

The news detonated around the world once more!

Sengoku is resigning?!

"The choice of the next Fleet Admiral will be decided internally within the Navy."

"Believe that whoever takes the post, the Marines' justice will be carried out to the end!"

"Ha—"

When he finished, Sengoku drew a deep breath, saluted the camera, and, through it, the entire world.

Behind him, Akainu, Aokiji, and Rayne Hawke raised their arms in perfect unison.

In the plaza, one hundred thousand Marines seemed to become one man at that moment.

They squared their shoulders and lifted their right arms in salute!

"Swish—!!!"

A hundred thousand salutes rose like an iron-blooded force tearing a hole through the leaden sky!

"Click—"

The live broadcast froze on that frame, then cut off completely.

...

The war is over — now take a cool picture.

...

The West Blue, a small town tavern.

The tavern was deathly silent.

A group of young men dressed like thugs crowded around a Den Den Mushi; any color had long since drained from their faces.

"Glug."

The man who declared himself destined to be the next Pirate King swallowed.

The cup in his hand clattered and fell, shattering on the floor.

"Boss...boss..."

A subordinate's voice trembled, "Do we...still go to sea as pirates?"

"Go to sea?"

The man shuddered violently and slapped the subordinate across the back of the head.

"Go where, my ass!"

"If anyone dares to say the word 'pirate' again, I'll kill him!"

...

Alabasta, the royal palace.

"Br-r-r~"

"Br-r-r~"

The Den Den Mushi on King Cobra's desk wouldn't stop buzzing like mad.

He rubbed his temples with a headache, an embarrassed smile on his face.

Back when he had proactively sent other relatively wise kings letters inviting them to join the Navy, what happened?

Either his letters fell into the void, or he received a few polite replies.

Now, once the Marineford broadcast ended, the phone calls came piling in.

Cobra could imagine how anxious those monarchs on the other end of the line were.

"Sigh..."

Cobra sighed and muttered to himself,

"What on earth are we to do?"

"The Navy only gave five initial recommendation slots!"

"Isn't that going to start a scramble?!"

...

Sabaody Archipelago.

In front of the huge screens, people pressed forward.

The screen had gone black, but the final frozen image burned itself into everyone's retinas.

The Marines' synchronized salute, the blood-stained sky, and the figures standing on the high platform looking down upon all.

"..."

"Thud—"

Law placed his Kikoku lightly on the table.

He stood and scanned everyone present,

"Any objections to forming an alliance?"

No one answered.

Objections?

What more was there to doubt?

Two Emperors ruling the sea had been crushed before everyone's eyes by the Marines.

These so-called Supernovas were like dust before a world-shaking tide.

If they didn't huddle together, the only outcome would be — death!

"No."

Kid rasped the word through clenched teeth.

Others shook their heads in turn, faces uniformly grave.

"Good."

"Then the Supernova Alliance is hereby formed immediately."

"Who will be the leader?"

Law nodded; he didn't care who led — he wanted revenge.

"I will!"

Kid slammed the table. His crimson gaze swept the others.

"Any objections?!"

No one spoke.

"..."

Kid nodded in satisfaction, his gaze returning to the dark screen.

"Blood Hawk — Rayne Hawke!"

He murmured low, "Pirates who fear the Marines..."

"Those are — low-class pirates!!!"