In the Fleet Admiral’s office, Gandoru sat, distressed.
Everyone was a big shot. He couldn’t afford to offend the Five Elders, nor did he want to mess with Figo. At 74, he knew he was just a transitional Fleet Admiral. The World Government preferred the obedient Raul as the successor, but Raul still lacked some seasoning, so Gandoru temporarily held the position.
He only wanted to get through his term peacefully and retire early. Figo had asked him to convey a “go to hell” to Mendesbin Saint. How could he possibly say that? But what to say instead?
Just then, a Marine he had arranged for came to report that Figo was already at the hospital. Not informing the Five Elders would be indefensible.
As he struggled, the door to his office was knocked on. His expression straightened, and he said in a deep voice:
“Come in.”
The person who entered surprised him greatly. Standing up, he said, “Figo? Why are you…”
“I came to apologize to the Fleet Admiral,” Figo said sincerely. “Earlier, I was in a bad mood and spoke harshly. I apologize for my rudeness.”
Gandoru’s expression softened. “It’s okay, I understand, but…”
“Have you already spoken to the Five Elders?” Figo asked.
“Not yet.” Gandoru didn’t try to bluff. “You dared to say it, but I didn’t dare to convey it.”
“Sorry for troubling you, Fleet Admiral,” Figo apologized. “Earlier, I thought Mendesbin Saint was targeting only me, and I got angry. I didn’t realize he was considering the bigger picture, worrying that all of Doug’s students rushing back might cause chaos.”
Gandoru’s expression turned awkward.
Is he mocking me?
How is this not targeting? For someone like Figo, the Warden of Impel Down, taking a month off with his work well-arranged wouldn’t cause any issues. At worst, he could rotate leave with Vice Warden Kinche. Denying leave entirely was unreasonable.
The same went for Doug’s many students. Commanders guarding a region couldn’t all come back, but a branch with a vice admiral as the highest officer, an officer or two taking a month off wouldn’t be a problem. They had regular holidays to reunite with distant family, yet this time, leave was denied?
This was clearly targeting! Gandoru also found it inhumane, but he didn’t want to express his views, so he just smiled amiably and kept quiet.
Seeing this, Figo said, “I won’t trouble you, Fleet Admiral. If you don’t mind, I’ll speak to Mendesbin Saint myself?”
That would be great. Gandoru couldn’t wait to avoid getting involved, so he quickly handed the Den Den Mushi to Figo. Figo took it and directly dialed.
“What’s the matter, Gandoru?”
“It’s me, Mendesbin Saint.”
The opening words made Gandoru’s heart skip a beat. My goodness, he didn’t even address him as ‘sir’ directly?
Can’t afford to offend. He stepped back, pressing against the wall to give Figo space.
On the other end, Mendesbin Saint was silent for a while. “Gaston Figo? Gandoru, are you there?”
“He’s here. Don’t trouble the Fleet Admiral; it was my impulse to leave Impel Down. I deeply regret it and now resign from my position as Warden of Impel Down,” Figo said.
“…Resign? Haha, Gaston Figo, this is a commission from the World Government. Do you think you can just resign?”
“You’ve seen Doug, right? Now, immediately return to Impel Down. I still won’t pursue your desertion!”
“Then I apply for retirement. Since the age of 20, I’ve been guarding Impel Down for 25 years, spent my prime years there, akin to imprisonment. I’m mentally and physically exhausted and can’t hold on any longer,” Figo said. “I want to get married, have children, and see the world while I’m still young. You can understand that, right?”
Mendesbin Saint was speechless for a moment, then snorted, “The government won’t approve your retirement either! Return to Impel Down, Gaston Figo!”
Figo was surprised. “Can’t resign, can’t retire? I thought I joined the Marines, not sold myself into slavery.”
“Stop playing dumb, Figo,” Mendesbin Saint said bluntly. “You should understand my point. You’ve repeatedly defied government orders. Now, you’re both the Warden of Impel Down and a prisoner! Stay obediently in Impel Down, and in thirty or forty years, you’ll be allowed to retire!”
So, you want to wear me down until I’m old and gray? This wasn’t a big deal for Figo, though. The Five Elders thought they could outlast him, but he could outlast several generations of the Five Elders. By then, he’d be completely invincible, able to storm the Celestial Dragons’ stronghold directly!
But as before, he could accept this, but they couldn’t impose it. He could voluntarily stay in Impel Down to grind levels and build it up, but they couldn’t restrict his freedom like a prisoner!
After thinking it over, Figo decided to compromise slightly. “I can go back, thirty, forty years, no problem. But I have one last request. Let me stay with my teacher in his final days, and let his students come back if they can. How about it?”
“Impossible!” Mendesbin Saint flatly refused. He didn’t forbid Doug’s students from returning out of fear of what Doug might do before his death, but rather fear of Figo!
He feared that Doug’s decades of students would become Figo’s connections! Then, Figo wouldn’t just have fame and power in the Marines but real influence. Figo was unruly, with the potential to lead the Marines away from his control!
Only Marines willing to be tools for maintaining the Celestial Dragons’ rule were good Marines. Those blinded by foolish justice needed a reality check!
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi suddenly clicked off. Mendesbin Saint was stunned for a moment, then snorted angrily—again! Again, this sudden hang-up! Arrogant, rude fellow!
In the Fleet Admiral’s office, Figo shook his head at Gandoru. “Fleet Admiral, seven years ago, you were responsible for monitoring the Hell Pirates, so you should know that the encounter wasn’t an organized purge but a betrayal by the World Government.”
Gandoru’s expression turned uneasy. He nodded slightly. “I know. Thanks to you, otherwise, countless Marines on the ten Buster Call warships, including Mia and Vice Admiral Doug, might have died or been severely injured.”
“See, they joined the Marines for justice, but the World Government probably only sees them as dogs. Now, they won’t even grant a dying old Marine’s reasonable request.”
This wasn’t an isolated case. Over 700 years, how many situations like Doug’s had there been? A few decades later, when pirates killed a Marine’s wife and children, his students slaughtered, his arm severed, and the World Government recruited the pirate who did it as a Warlord, Zephyr’s situation would be even worse!
Gandoru couldn’t find words, watching Figo leave. He slumped back into his chair in frustration.
As Figo stepped out of Marineford Headquarters, he seethed with anger, planning to discuss it with Ohka. But unexpectedly, Mia awaited him in the plaza.
Following Mia were several familiar faces—Doug’s students who had participated in the Buster Call seven years ago?
“Figo, you failed, right?” Mia said to him. “Sensei said he knows the arrogance of the Five Elders better than you. You were bound to fail. Knowing your fearless nature, you’ll probably impulsively head to the Holy Land to cause a scene.”
Figo was taken aback.
I wasn’t that impulsive, really.
“It’s not just you as Sensei’s student. I’ll go with you,” Mia continued. “Seven years ago, the betrayal by the World Government, the casualties of my ship’s Marines, also deserve an explanation!”
“An explanation!” shouted a Marine rear admiral. “We are also Sensei’s students. We will accompany you!”
“Together! Together!”
The response was overwhelming!
Not just for Doug but also for the tarnished justice in their hearts, questioning their uniforms!
The momentum of dozens of people united! Seven years had passed, but they hadn’t forgotten the World Government’s betrayal; they remembered it even more vividly!
Figo suddenly laughed.
Now, he felt a bit impulsive.
“Let’s go!” he led the way.
Mia followed closely behind him.
The other Marines followed Mia.
The sudden formation attracted more and more attention. Suddenly, another figure joined beside Mia, a vice admiral who had participated in the Buster Call seven years ago. He merely smiled, saying nothing, silently joining the procession.
As the procession moved forward.
The number of people grew! The procession became larger! The momentum grew stronger! By the time they reached the port where the warships were docked, there were already over three hundred people!
A thin old man stood in their way. The procession halted. Figo looked at him, and he looked back at Figo, then suddenly smiled through his wrinkles.
“Taking this old man along?”
“I thought you were going to lecture me about the horrors of the Holy Land,” Figo said.
Ohka laughed and cursed him, then scanned the Marines behind Figo individually.
Rebellion? No, not at all!
This was the resolve and bravery the Marines needed! The Marines must never become mere mouthpieces of the government!
Soon, two warships took flight, heading straight for the World Government’s seat, the Holy Land, Marie Geoise!
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