At that moment, even a fool could sense the fury in Shiki's words.
But make no mistake. Shiki was not this angry because he had been betrayed, nor because his subordinates had been wiped out. He was angry because this move by the Marines and the World Government made him look like an idiot, as if he had been played in the palms of their hands.
If word of this spread, Shiki the Golden Lion would become a laughingstock across the sea.
Faced with Shiki's questioning, Sengoku's eyes sharpened. His expression firm, he roared, "Barobar was an outstanding soldier trained by the Marines and the World Government. Eliminating pirates was his mission, and he carried it out perfectly. He is the pride of the Marines and the World Government's soldiers!"
That righteous, fair-minded stance instantly made the veins on Shiki's forehead throb.
Trying to beat Sengoku in a war of words was not something a simple-minded man like Shiki could do.
But Yemu was still here.
"So, you admit that having him disguise himself as a pirate and attack Fish-Man Island, one of the World Government's Member Nations, was also done under orders from the Marines and the World Government?"
"!!!"
Sengoku froze, his expression turning ugly.
Nearby, Magellan looked as if he could not believe what he had heard, while Shiryu gave a wicked smile.
As for Borsalino, he still looked as indifferent as ever.
Shiki, on the other hand, saw Sengoku's dark expression and burst into wild laughter.
"That's right, that's exactly it! This is Sengoku's hypocrisy. Everything is done in the name of justice, but when it comes to the evil he's committed, he's no better than a pirate like me. Isn't that right, Sengoku?"
Sengoku's face instantly darkened. He stared at Yemu and roared with righteous fury, "The source of that disaster was you, Pirate Yemu. You were the one who brought catastrophe to Fish-Man Island. That was the price that had to be paid to eliminate an evil criminal like you!"
"The price? How ridiculous."
At that moment, mockery appeared on Yemu's face.
"So, Admiral Sengoku, were the nearly ten thousand innocent women and children on Baterilla Island also part of your so-called price? To eliminate the bloodline of the Pirate King Roger, you were willing to sacrifice that many innocents?"
Sengoku froze again.
But Yemu did not let him off.
"Tell me, Sengoku. After we left, what did the Marines continue doing on Baterilla Island? Was it, as you claimed, protecting civilians for the sake of your justice? Or was it a purge to cover up the World Government's scandal?"
There was no need for him to answer. Just from Sengoku's dreadful expression, everyone could guess the truth.
Even Borsalino's expression grew solemn at that moment.
As for the incident on Baterilla Island, although the World Government had done everything it could to conceal it, there was no way it could hide the truth from a high-ranking Marine like Borsalino. On top of that, Navy Hero Garp had clashed fiercely with Sengoku because of it, and at such a critical time, with the situation on the sea growing increasingly severe, he had gone to the East Blue for a vacation.
"Do you want me to keep going, Admiral Sengoku?"
"Tell me, what evil has the 'evil' me you speak of actually done?"
"On the other hand, as an Admiral of the Marines, has everything you've done truly been just?"
"If you can't give me an answer, why not hand over the word 'justice' you carry to me? Compared to you, I think I'm far more qualified to bear the word 'justice'!"
The moment Yemu finished speaking, Sengoku's eyes flew wide open. His furious expression was filled with the feeling of being humiliated.
The happiest person at that moment was Shiki.
After all, the two of them were old rivals. In their past clashes, while Shiki had never cared much about justice or evil, he had certainly never enjoyed being lectured by Sengoku from the moral high ground. But now, the resourceful general Sengoku was being mocked to his face by this brat and could not say a single word in response. It was incredibly satisfying.
"Shihahaha! That's right, that's right! I can take it over for you too, Sengoku!"
"Shut up, Shiki!"
Sengoku roared in fury, glaring at Yemu and Shiki.
"You are the one person here with the least right to say that! Your ambition to rule the world has brought countless disasters upon it! As for you…"
His Buddha body shone with golden light as he stared at Yemu. Sengoku's expression was ugly, and he roared angrily, "Yemu of the Sky Pirates. You're right. Compared to other pirates, you truly haven't done anything to harm civilians. But your very existence is the greatest threat to this world!"
"Killing Celestial Dragons, causing chaos at Roger's execution ground, kidnapping World Nobles, destroying the Drum Kingdom, building an army on Fish-Man Island, killing tens of thousands of World Government CP personnel, hiding the bloodline of the Pirate King Roger. Every single one of these acts undermines the stability of this world!"
Shiki, who had not cared much about Yemu before, listened as Sengoku listed everything Yemu had done, and his eyes nearly popped out.
"Hey, hey, so this brat is actually that bold?"
Sengoku kept speaking.
"You may not have harmed civilians yourself, but do you know that because of your influence, the pirates on the sea have become more and more brutal? Do you know how many families and nations have been destroyed because of you? How many people have lost their loved ones and children?"
Faced with Sengoku's accusations, Yemu only asked softly, "Do you really believe that, Admiral Sengoku?"
That question made Sengoku pause. Just as he was about to speak and continue denouncing Yemu, he heard Yemu ask again.
"Tell me, Admiral Sengoku. Why do you think so many pirates appear on this sea?"
Looking at Sengoku's dark expression, Yemu continued.
"Or let me put it another way. If most people had enough food and clothing, and didn't have to worry about their next meal, would they still risk their lives to become pirates? Tell me, Admiral Sengoku. What's the answer to my question? Why?"
Sengoku's gaze began to waver.
"You don't want to say it? Then why don't I give you an answer, Admiral Sengoku? How about the Celestial Dragons?"
Sengoku's pupils shrank sharply.
"Every year, the Member Nations of the World Government have to pay a portion of their tribute to the Celestial Dragons. To do that, they don't hesitate to oppress their own civilians, leaving the people of their countries without even enough food to eat. Nations even go so far as to wage wars against one another. You refuse to punish evil like that, yet you come here to punish me instead, Admiral Sengoku. Is that your justice?"
"I heard you call your justice the Justice of Dominating the World."
"But I don't think that name fits. From now on, why don't you rename it 'hypocritical' justice, or perhaps 'ignorant' justice!"
At that moment, Yemu's words were like blades, stabbing deep into Sengoku's heart.