Sakazuki looked at Enel and said:

“As for whether killing them was right or wrong,”

“That can’t be definitively determined.”

“From a moral standpoint,”

“We were wrong.”

“But from the standpoint of justice,”

“They were pirates.”

“They had to die.”

“Their very existence is a mistake.”

“They drift between justice and evil.”

“Sometimes they happen to stand up for what’s right and are hailed as heroes.”

“They deny the evil represented by pirates, while also denying the justice represented by the Marines.”

“But in reality…”

Enel’s eyes had already become resolute, and he spoke:

“The truth is, such pirates are a minority.”

“Sure, they rescued the people, but they also pillaged and slaughtered as pirates…”

Sakazuki nodded and said:

“Correct.”

“You’re making progress.”

“There are parasites in the Marines, and there are good people among pirates.”

“But does that alone invalidate Marine justice?”

“Does that alone erase the evil of pirates?”

“Every year, the number of civilians slaughtered by pirates is several times greater than the population of this town.”

“And every year, the number of soldiers who die protecting those civilians is also several times greater.”

“Someone like Black, a pirate who did a few good things,”

“Distorts justice and evil with ease.”

“To the Marines who died in battle, and the civilians who were slaughtered by pirates,”

“That is unforgivable.”

Enel nodded firmly.

Sakazuki continued:

“I showed you so much over the past few days.”

“To tell you this — there is no absolute light or darkness.”

“Those who accomplish great deeds cannot act on mere emotion.”

“There is darkness in the Marines, and light among pirates.”

“But sometimes, choices must be made.”

“Even if, in the future, some island is slaughtered and pillaged because the Note Pirates are no longer around,”

“They still must die.”

“They were pirates but revered as heroes, and their will lingers on that island.”

“Influencing the next generation of children.”

“If we let them go just because they didn’t commit atrocities,”

“Then pirates in this sea will never be eradicated.”

Sakazuki gazed into the distant sky:

“The road to light is destined to be filled with thorns.”

“We cannot stop out of fear of sacrifice or softness of heart.”

“Countless have fallen on the eve of dawn.”

“At the Battle of the Valley of Gods, soldiers from the Four Seas branches were shattered layer upon layer.”

“At the Skegli Sea Battle, the G4 Branch was annihilated, and over twenty thousand soldiers from Headquarters’ fleet perished.”

“Those names carved on the Hero Monument in Marineford’s plaza,”

“Aren’t just names.”

“They are lives that once burned brightly.”

“And even those are only a small portion of the sacrifices.”

“Many more fallen soldiers and civilians exist — so many they can’t even be counted.”

“What we carry is the future of the world.”

“We must make choices and bear it all.”

“A slow death by mercy and hesitation, or a desperate counterattack that cuts clean through.”

“What would you choose?”

In that moment, Enel seemed to have grown significantly:

“A desperate counterattack.”

Sakazuki nodded:

“Good — a desperate counterattack.”

“This path will be filled with blood and sacrifice.”

“Civilians, soldiers, loved ones, friends.”

“But we cannot turn back.”

“When you look back and see those lying in pools of blood, you’ll falter, you’ll hesitate.”

“But that will expose your weakness and lead to utter failure.”

“Since ancient times, revolutions have always come with bloodshed.”

“The only thing that can end this chaotic era…”

“Is a blade, not words.”

“Now, what you must do is build up your strength.”

“And when the day comes that you can kill with one strike — remake the world with thunderous might.”

“Throw all the trash into the trash can.”

“The world we remake won’t be perfect.”

“Because wherever there’s light, there will be darkness.”

“But… at least it’ll be better than now.”

Enel gave a firm nod.

The two stood watching the sunset for a long time…

Sakazuki suddenly let out a soft chuckle:

“Let’s go.”

“The lesson is over.”

Under the setting sun, two shadows slowly walked away, growing longer and longer…

…

A few days later

A warship slowly sailed into port.

A burst of Observation Haki spread out instantly from the ship, sweeping across the island.

Garp on the warship couldn’t wait and leapt off:

“Ahahahahaha, found you!”

“Sengoku!!!!!”

His voice echoed across the island, and his figure moved rapidly through the air.

At that moment, Sengoku seemed to sense something — a familiar presence rapidly approaching.

Furrowing his brow, just to be safe, he said to the child he’d just picked up:

“Rosinante, go hide inside the house.”

The dirty little Rosinante was stunned.

In a soft voice, he replied:

“Okay.”

He turned and ran into the house. Just after entering…

Bang!

A figure crashed to the ground. Garp grinned wide as he looked at Sengoku in front of him:

“Ahahahahahahahaha, finally found you, Sengoku!”

Sengoku’s brow furrowed:

“Who are you? Do I know you?”

Garp froze, eyes wide:

“It’s me, Garp! You’ve lost your memory?!”

Sengoku couldn’t figure out this man’s intentions, but instinctively felt he meant no harm.

It even felt like an old friend from many years ago. Slowly, he nodded.

Garp grinned and clenched his Haki-coated fist:

“Must’ve knocked your head during the Skegli Sea Battle.”

“Just need to hit it again.”

Looking at Garp’s ferocious grin, Sengoku felt a deep sense of unease.

He wanted to defend himself, but with his memory gone, Sengoku couldn’t dodge Garp’s punch on instinct alone.

With Garp’s shout, his figure vanished.

In Sengoku’s shocked gaze, Garp shattered his glasses with one punch to the forehead.

Sengoku flew backward, crashing through the house and several trees.

He lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

Rosinante, seeing Sengoku crash through the house, cried and ran toward him in worry.

At that moment, Sengoku was indeed knocked back to normal.

But the dizziness from the concussion, combined with the blending of memories — lost and regained — left his head spinning.

He couldn’t get up, but he was aware of everything around him.

Rosinante’s thin little hands tried to shake Sengoku’s body, but it didn’t budge an inch.

From afar, Garp walked over.

Picking his nose with one hand, he looked at Rosinante:

“Stop shaking him, kid, he’s fine.”

“Where’d you come from? Sengoku pick you up?”

“Move aside. Sengoku’s not quite fixed yet. I’ll give him a few more punches.”

Rosinante spread his small, frail body, standing in front of Sengoku.

Garp’s eyes widened as he tried to scare him on purpose:

“You wanna taste my beloved Love Fist?!”

Rosinante swallowed nervously. His eyes showed fear, but his body didn’t retreat.

Garp raised his fist with a grin:

“If that’s how it is then…”

Just then, golden light flashed behind Rosinante.

“GARP!!!!!!”

Sengoku’s roar echoed.

A hundred-meter-tall golden giant appeared, glowing with white light in his hand, and slammed it down on Garp without hesitation.

Buzz—

Looking at the incoming shockwave, Garp burst into laughter:

“Ahahahahahahahaha! Looks like you’re all better, Sengoku!”

Armament Haki surged and coated his fist as he raised it to strike back.

Sengoku roared with fury:

“Die, you rotten bastard!!!”

—

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