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Chapter 269: Justice with Nowhere to Hide
Above the plaza, the atmosphere remained bizarre.
The pirates had reined in their killing intent, and the Marines maintained their formation. The two sides were clearly divided, locked in a strange standoff of peace.
The mockery on the faces of Doberman and Onigumo became even more glaring under the suppression of the three Emperor-level leaders. They enjoyed the thrill of trampling legends underfoot. They enjoyed the angry yet helpless gazes of the pirates.
In their view, they had already won this verbal exchange.
However.
"Oi, oi, Marines."
A voice, slightly lazy as if the speaker hadn't fully woken up, rang out abruptly.
1st Division Commander, "Phoenix" Marco.
He walked slowly out of the crowd. No blue flames burned on his body, and his face even wore that signature sleepy expression. He shoved his hands in his pockets, tilted his head, and looked at the group of Marine officers whose momentum had changed drastically.
"You can eat whatever you want, but words... you can't just say whatever you want, yoi."
"Listening to you just now, it seems you think we pirates aren't worthy of talking about 'family' and 'honor'?"
Doberman scoffed coldly, the muscles on his scarred face twitching.
"Is that not the case?"
"A bunch of scum who burn, kill, and loot at sea—worthy of family? It's the biggest joke in the world!"
Hearing this, Marco didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled. It was a smile three parts playful, seven parts mocking.
"Scum who burn, kill, and loot?"
"Well said. Truly well said, yoi."
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over his indignant pirate companions before finally landing back on Doberman's face.
"Then I would like to ask you Marines."
"You lot who represent 'Absolute Justice,' you high-and-mighty big shots."
"What do you think about the 'Goa Kingdom' matter?"
Goa Kingdom?!
These two words were like an invisible spike, instantly stabbing into the hearts of every Marine present!
The ferocious smile on Doberman's face froze instantly!
Onigumo's six hands gripping his swords tightened violently!
Even Gion, who had been calm and seemingly detached, suddenly darkened in expression, her sharp gaze locking onto Marco!
The pirates were stunned for a moment, and then, a heaven-shaking roar of laughter erupted!
"Hahahaha! Well said, Commander Marco!"
"Goa Kingdom! That was a World Government allied nation!"
"I heard it was overthrown by the Revolutionary Army recently, right?"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, how pitiful. Those noble Celestial Dragon lapdogs probably don't even have a home now!"
"Where was Marine Justice? Why didn't you go do something about it?!"
Every taunt was like the sharpest knife, stabbing precisely into the Marines' lungs!
Goa Kingdom!
This was the biggest stain on the World Government and the Marines in recent times! An allied nation had been uprooted by the Revolutionary Army right under the Marines' noses! This wasn't just a military failure; it was the loudest slap in the face to the "Justice" and "Order" they touted!
"That... That was the Revolutionary Army's doing!"
A young Marine Major, face flushed red, couldn't help but shout in rebuttal. "It had nothing to do with us Marines!"
"Oh?"
Marco raised an eyebrow, his smile becoming even more playful.
"So you Marines can't handle the Revolutionary Army, yoi."
"And here I thought you were omnipotent."
"Pfft!"
Lucky Roux nearly spat out a mouthful of chicken. Yasopp was shaking with laughter, having to hold onto a companion to stand steady.
"It's over, it's over! They've lost face in front of the whole world!"
"Can't even handle the Revolutionary Army, and you brag about 'Absolute Justice' every day?"
"Your justice is watching your own people get overthrown, then running here to show off in front of us pirates?"
"What kind of bullsh*t justice is that?!"
"Pah!"
"A bunch of trash!"
The pirates' mockery became increasingly unscrupulous.
On the Marine side, everyone's faces turned iron-blue, ugly to the extreme! They felt as if their faces were being pressed into the ground and rubbed repeatedly with the sole of a shoe! Burning pain!
Especially Doberman and Onigumo. They had just been smug about their new power from the Dungeon, but now, it felt like they had swallowed flies!
Power? Yes, they became stronger. But Marco's words made them realize a cruel fact. Personal strength could not cover up the incompetence and failure of the entire organization!
"You..."
Doberman gritted his teeth, squeezing out a word. He wanted to refute, but found he couldn't!
The Goa Kingdom incident was an ironclad fact! A mark of shame nailed to the Marines that could not be erased!
"Gurararara..."
Whitebeard's signature laugh echoed through the venue again. This time, his laughter was filled with undisguised satisfaction! He looked approvingly at his son, Marco.
As expected of his family! In a fight, the Whitebeard Pirates feared no one! In a war of words, they wouldn't lose an inch either!
On the other side, Shanks also couldn't help but laugh. He stroked his chin, looking with interest at Gion, whose face was alternating between green and white.
"You...!"
Vice Admiral Doberman's scarred face twisted with extreme rage, his entire body trembling slightly. The black light of Cursed Energy from the Dungeon surged out uncontrollably from his eyes! A cold, ominous aura instantly spread.
"You're courting death, Phoenix!"
Onigumo was even more direct. Six arms gripped his sword hilts simultaneously. The Breathing Style filled with curse power was already circulating in his body! As soon as the order was given, he was confident he could make that arrogant blonde brat pay the price within three moves!
However!
"Enough."
Gion's cold voice, like an icicle in winter, instantly pierced into the ears of Doberman and Onigumo.
"Do you want to fight here?"
"Have you forgotten Mr. Blake's rules? Or do you want all of us to be banned from entering forever?"
Doberman and Onigumo froze violently. The killing intent and anger in their eyes were doused by cold water, extinguishing most of it instantly.
Right...
The rules.
The iron laws set by that man, which could not be violated!
"But, Gion!"
Doberman gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed out. "Are we just going to let these pirates insult us?!"
"Where is the dignity of the Marines?!"
"Dignity?"
Gion turned her head. Her beautiful eyes were filled with cold mockery.
"Dignity is won with fists, not shouted with mouths."
"Since they caught us on a failing, then stand there obediently!"
"Take it!"
The pirates' laughter grew even more unrestrained. The members of the Whitebeard Pirates held their heads high, looking at Marco with admiration and pride.
As expected of their 1st Division Commander! He didn't lift a finger, but with just his mouth, he slapped the Marines' faces until they were swollen!
═════ To Be Continued ═════
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