Luo Xing showed no surprise at Akainu's actions.
He didn't consider Akainu despicable either—at most, it was just a sneak attack.
Akainu upheld Absolute Justice. He firmly stood on the Marines' side and believed that no matter what methods were used, all pirates—and anyone who threatened the World Government—had to be eliminated.
There was nothing inherently wrong with that.
If Luo Xing were in Akainu's position, he would likely do the same.
Akainu was a qualified and resolute soldier.
In contrast, Aokiji's laziness, Kizaru's ambiguity, Garp's indulgence toward his son and grandson, and even Sengoku's tolerance of Garp—
All of that was, in a sense, a kind of irresponsibility toward justice.
Of course—
Luo Xing didn't believe the Marines' version of justice was the true justice either.
At the end of the day, they were merely dogs upholding the rule of the Celestial Dragons.
Even Akainu, with his so-called Absolute Justice, still had to endure reprimands from the Five Elders.
So what, then, was true justice?
There was no clear answer.
Justice was never absolute—
It was always tied to one's position.
From Luo Xing's standpoint within the Beasts Pirates, his justice was simple:
To overthrow the World Government, destroy the existing world—
And rebuild a new one from its ruins.
A world where his wife, Yamato, could fulfill her dream of letting everyone eat their fill.
In the end—
Right and wrong would be written by the victors.
That was the only eternal truth.
"Old man!!"
Suddenly, a grief-stricken shout rang out nearby.
Luo Xing turned his head.
It was Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea.
Before joining the Beasts Pirates, Jinbe had once sailed under Whitebeard and was also a close friend of Fire Fist Ace.
If not for Luo Xing binding him through the interests of Fish-Man Island, Jinbe would have already rushed to Marineford to aid Whitebeard.
Even now—
He still wanted to help.
With a loud thud, Jinbe dropped to his knees before Luo Xing and bowed deeply.
"Lord Luo Xing, please use that door to send me to Marineford!"
Luo Xing replied calmly:
"You want to go die?"
"Aren't you worried about the future of Fish-Man Island?"
Jinbe answered without hesitation:
"Even if I die, Fish-Man Island already belongs to the Beasts Pirates' camp. I've already sent that message back!"
Luo Xing smiled faintly.
"You are the most respected figure among the Fish-Men. Even King Neptune might not surpass your influence."
"If I let you go to your death, how could Fish-Man Island truly submit to me?"
That was only the surface reason.
The real reason was—
If Jinbe died, it would become far harder for Luo Xing to gain the trust of Princess Shirahoshi.
While he could force things if necessary—
When it came to that pure, innocent, and tearful little princess…
He didn't have the heart to do so.
Jinbe froze, caught in a dilemma.
"But… the old man needs me…"
"Relax," Luo Xing interrupted.
"I don't want to see the Marines show off their power either."
Under Jinbe's stunned gaze, Luo Xing took out a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Find an opportunity… and release Fire Fist Ace."
Then he hung up.
Jinbe was completely dumbfounded.
"Lord Luo Xing… you have agents inside Marineford as well?"
Luo Xing said nothing.
Floating in midair, Perona stuck out her tongue and laughed.
"Horohorohoro! Of course it's Lord Moria! You big blue dummy, you didn't even know that? How clueless!"
Only then did Jinbe realize—
Perona was one of Gecko Moria's subordinates.
Which meant—
Moria had already submitted to the Beasts Pirates!
No…
That wasn't right.
Moria had a deep grudge against Kaido.
With his arrogant personality, he should have resisted to the death.
Jinbe looked at Luo Xing's calm and composed back—
And suddenly understood.
Moria hadn't submitted to Kaido.
He had submitted to the man standing before him.
To Luo Xing.
At the same time—
Gecko Moria quietly put away the small Den Den Mushi hidden in his sleeve.
He didn't fully understand Luo Xing's order—
But he would carry it out regardless.
Luo Xing didn't want Ace freed to save him.
Whether Ace lived or died meant nothing to him.
His goal—
Was to intensify the war between the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Marines could never allow Ace to be rescued.
If they failed at Marineford, combined with the destruction of Impel Down—
Their authority would collapse entirely.
From then on, would they still hold any power over the seas?
They would definitely pursue the Whitebeard Pirates with everything they had.
The casualties on both sides would skyrocket.
And that—
Would benefit Luo Xing the most.
After all, he now controlled the Sabaody Archipelago.
The Marines would come for him sooner or later.
Moria still stood on the steps of the Seven Warlords.
At this moment, only he and the Pirate Empress remained there.
Mihawk had been the first to act and was currently fighting Flower Sword Vista.
The second was Bartholomew Kuma, who had killed Little Oars Jr.
The third was Edward Weevil.
Weevil, foolish as he was, had listened to his mother Miss Bakkin.
He believed that if he killed enough people and displayed enough strength—
He would surpass Ace in Whitebeard's eyes.
The commanders under Whitebeard would also respect him.
And then—
He could rightfully inherit Whitebeard's legacy and become a new Emperor.
Driven by that belief, Weevil attacked relentlessly, every move deadly.
In a short time, he had already killed several pirate captains under Whitebeard.
Even Kizaru, who stood casually with his hands in his pockets, couldn't help but glance over.
"Oh my… this guy has Whitebeard's strength from his younger days. Maybe he really is his son."
As for the remaining Warlords—
Jinbe was at Sabaody.
Blackbeard was still in hiding.
The Pirate Empress observed coldly.
And Moria—
Had received Luo Xing's command.
Moria's eerie gaze shifted toward the execution platform.
On that platform stood only four people.
Ace, kneeling.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
And the two executioners beside Ace.
To free Ace—
The key obstacle was Sengoku.
In the past—
Moria would never have been able to bypass Sengoku.
He would have been defeated in a single blow.
But now—
Things were different.
Moria had trained relentlessly, regaining the ambition he once had when he rivaled Kaido.
He had also consumed the Demon-Level Monster Cell granted by Luo Xing.
His strength had surged dramatically.
Even his Shadow-Shadow Fruit had evolved, allowing him to use abilities he had never dared imagine before.
A sinister smile spread across Moria's face.
He quietly moved to the rear of the execution platform.
Across the battlefield—
Only the Pirate Empress noticed his actions.
Because Luo Xing had already informed her of Moria's identity.
Since they were effectively on the same side—
She didn't expose him.
Instead—
She was already prepared to act.
If Moria failed, she would step in and complete the task for the man she loved.
When Moria approached within ten meters of the platform—
Sengoku, who had been closely monitoring the battlefield, finally noticed him.
Sengoku turned sharply, his expression filled with fury.
"Gecko Moria! What are you trying to do?!"
Since he'd been discovered, Moria dropped all pretense and grinned wickedly.
"What do you think I'm here for, Sengoku?"
Sengoku was both shocked and enraged.
"Are you trying to save Fire Fist Ace as well?! When did you collude with Whitebeard?!"
Moria scoffed.
"Whitebeard? Who does he think he is? You think I'd work for him?"
Sengoku's pupils shrank, but he quickly regained his composure.
"No matter who you're working for, Moria…"
"You should understand that with your strength, trying to bypass me and rescue Ace is nothing but wishful thinking!"
Moria chuckled.
"That might have been true before…"
"But times have changed."
He suddenly clasped his hands together.
"Shadow Binding Technique!"
His shadow stretched rapidly—
Connecting instantly with Sengoku's shadow.
Sengoku was startled.
What kind of ability was this?
He had never heard of Moria's fruit having such a power.
Then—
Something even more shocking happened.
He realized—
He couldn't move.
No matter how hard he tried—
His body refused to respond.
A wave of disbelief surged through Sengoku.
"What is this?! Moria, what did you do?!"
Moria burst into laughter, his face filled with pride.
"This is the Shadow Binding Technique!"
"As long as your shadow is connected to mine, your every movement is under my control!"
"Stay put, Sengoku!"
Moria then split off two additional shadows—
Connecting them to the executioners.
Under his control, the executioners moved—
Reaching for the keys to unlock Ace's Seastone handcuffs.
Sengoku's eyes were about to split apart from rage.
"Stop! Moria, you bastard!!"
A terrifying surge of Haki and power traveled through the shadow connection.
Moria's expression changed.
Sengoku was too strong.
He wouldn't be able to control him for long.
Fortunately—
That short window of time was enough.
Enough to unlock Fire Fist Ace's restraints.
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