"Next, for the second incident, you may speak, Vice Admiral Atchison."
Atchison's heart was already close to collapse. He gave no answer and remained silent, his head lowered. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and no longer had the strength to say anything.
This was completely different from what he had imagined.
What he had once seen as the mistake of a single Marine had been turned, through Redyat's words, into repeated, crushing blows against the Navy's reputation.
"Let me ask you a question. Just answer it, and you can save a thousand Marines." Redyat said calmly.
Seeing Atchison remain silent, Redyat smiled faintly. He was not surprised. He had already anticipated this outcome.
Even if Atchison refused to speak, Redyat's objective had already been achieved.
As expected, Atchison's face drained of color. He finally understood that Redyat had never intended to give him a choice. No matter what he did, Redyat would reach his goal.
"You devil…" Atchison croaked. His eyes closed weakly as two tears slipped down his face.
"How could that be?" Redyat replied lightly. "I'm simply analyzing the truth. Perhaps this incident will even push internal reforms within the Marines, allowing them to better uphold justice and grow stronger. If so, you should thank me."
Redyat did not wait for an answer.
"Very well. I'll begin."
"A year ago, there was the Ohara Incident. A group of scholars researched forbidden history banned by the World Government. Under government orders, the Marines launched a Buster Call and destroyed Ohara through indiscriminate bombardment. Scholars and civilians alike were killed. Of course, one survivor escaped."
He paused briefly.
"My question is this. What is your view on the Marines' actions in that incident?"
Expressions changed instantly across the world.
Within the upper echelons of the World Government, a sense of unease spread. Unlike the previous matter, which had primarily targeted the Marines, this question clearly risked dragging the World Government itself into the spotlight.
At this point, however, there was no way to stop Redyat.
Agents had already been dispatched to shut down the World Economic News Agency's broadcast, but the headquarters had relocated in advance. It was obvious that Morgans had anticipated retaliation and fled ahead of time.
Still, Redyat's question caused the Five Elders to relax slightly. For now, it seemed manageable.
Far away, in a corner of the West Blue, a small figure wrapped in a black hood trembled.
Nico Robin.
The Ohara Incident was a wound that would never heal. For a full year, she had lived on the run, betrayed again and again, burdened with the name "Demon Child."
Atchison frowned in confusion.
On the surface, the question was simple. He was only being asked for his opinion on the Marines' actions. Yet he was deeply uneasy. Redyat's previous traps had taught him that nothing this man said was ever simple.
He feared another layered snare, one hidden beneath another.
"It's just a single sentence," Redyat said softly. "One sentence, and you save a thousand Marines. You've already saved half. Are you going to abandon the rest?"
Redyat's voice remained calm as he continued.
"Which Marines should be spared, then? Should we kill until only fifteen hundred remain? Or should they kill each other until half are left and earn their freedom?"
"Do you think they'll all die for justice? Or will they slaughter their comrades to survive? Would you like the whole world to witness that?"
The cruelty of the scheme was obvious.
If this were carried out, the damage would be immeasurable.
If the first incident struck at the Navy's high command, then this one targeted the very foundation of the Marines themselves.
If Marines began killing one another, could there ever be trust again? Could soldiers still rely on their comrades? Would civilians still be willing to join the Navy?
The Navy's credibility would collapse completely.
Atchison was filled with despair. He genuinely believed Redyat would follow through. Unable to resist, he could only submit.
"The Marines did nothing wrong," Atchison said hoarsely. "We were carrying out orders to prevent the spread of forbidden history, which included information about Ancient Weapons. If such power fell into the wrong hands, the entire world would descend into chaos. And in chaos, civilians suffer the most."
His chest rose and fell violently as he coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
"This was done for justice. For the world. Some sacrifices are necessary. But for the civilians who died in Ohara, we Marines are deeply sorry."
"I agree," Redyat said, smiling.
The reaction was immediate and stunned.
No one had expected Redyat to side with the Marines.
Ohara was famous across the world, the land of scholars, home to the Tree of Knowledge, the greatest library in existence. Scholars, civilians, and irreplaceable knowledge had all been wiped out.
And yet, Redyat was agreeing with them.
"The Marines did nothing wrong," Redyat continued. "Destroying an island to prevent the spread of Ancient Weapon information and stop the world from spiraling into chaos saved countless lives elsewhere. Sacrificing one island for global stability is not, in itself, wrong."
"The World Government is the current ruler of this world. Regardless of past history, the scholars knowingly violated the law. They were powerless, yet chose to challenge authority. It was inevitable they would be dealt with."
"The last group to uncover that history was the Roger Pirates. What happened to them? They escaped repeatedly, but in the end, the Pirate King was executed. His crew disbanded and vanished because they knew things they should not have known."
"If even they met such an end, what chance did a group of defenseless scholars have?"
Confusion spread.
Why was Redyat defending the Marines? Had he changed sides?
Then he spoke again.
"I personally witnessed the Ohara Incident. My only goal was to save the books that were about to be destroyed."
Now people understood.
Ohara had not been destroyed solely because of Ancient Weapons. The Void Century was at the heart of it.
"Ohara should not have been destroyed," Redyat said calmly. "The World Government gave those scholars a chance. If they had abandoned their research into the Void Century, the Buster Call would have been halted."
"Ohara housed the greatest scholars in the world, the Tree of Knowledge, and countless civilians. Even the World Government understood the consequences of its destruction."
"But the scholars refused. They would not bend. They did not even consider pretending to comply and continuing their work in secret later."
"The destruction of Ohara was the result of their stubborn defiance."
"The Void Century is the World Government's dark history. It is only natural for any ruling power to conceal its past. No country would allow others to dig freely into its sins."
"Researching history is not wrong. But if uncovering that history could unleash irreversible disaster upon the world, and civilians would pay the price, then is that research still just?"
"History itself is innocent," Redyat concluded softly. "What doomed them was their weakness. They were ants trying to shake a mountain."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"Well said!" one of the Five Elders exclaimed in Mariejois, his face flushed with excitement. "Ignorant scholars."
He had been the one who issued the order, enraged by their defiance.
If they had only agreed, the World Government could have dealt with them quietly over time. The Tree of Knowledge was not beyond control.
Now, many listeners realized something.
Redyat was not speaking as a pirate, nor as a Marine. He was speaking from the perspective of the world itself.
After all, what nation would tolerate an investigation into its own dark past?
"Of course," Redyat added, "killing all the civilians was still excessive."
At Marine Headquarters, many officers let out quiet breaths of relief. Some of the guilt they carried over Ohara eased, at least slightly.
On the surface, Redyat's words seemed to defend both the Marines and the World Government.
But beneath that surface, he had tied together the World Government, the Void Century, and Ancient Weapons.
That alone was enough.
Ambitious minds across the seas began to stir.
The Revolutionary Army, in particular, paid close attention. Though still young, its ideology already posed a grave threat. Rising Heavenly Tribute, increasing oppression, and spreading images of injustice all fueled unrest.
Chaos bred opportunity.
And opportunity bred rebellion.
Ohara, once erased, would inevitably return to the world's attention.
Far away, Kozuki Oden watched the broadcast in silence.
He had been to the final island. He understood the truth Roger had uncovered. He also understood why Roger had chosen to ignite the Great Pirate Era.
But understanding did not mean agreement.
Now a shogun, Oden bore responsibility for his people. Chaos was no longer something he could embrace so lightly.
As for Redyat, he felt no concern over revealing his role in saving Ohara's books.
With his growing reputation, it would surface eventually. Professor Clover would have realized the truth long ago.
And Clover was already dead.
Some truths, Redyat knew, only became truly dangerous once they were revealed.
And the sea was far from chaotic enough.