Never before had laughter and sobs echoed together across the skies of the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
As if wringing out every last bit of strength they had, everyone ran step by step along the staircase connecting sky and earth, toward the pirate ship in the sky that represented freedom.
Even those covered in wounds, even those with maimed bodies, ran with tears streaming down their faces, giving everything they had.
Even if they died, they wanted to die as free people, not as slaves.
Across the entire Holy Land of Mary Geoise, countless slaves were released from the residences of the Celestial Dragons. After their initial shock, light called hope filled their eyes, leaving room for nothing else as they kept running.
They were afraid that if they were even a second too late, all of this would vanish like a fleeting dream, and they would be thrown back into that pitch-black place where not a single ray of light could be seen.
At that moment, even among the royal families of the fifty nations, people who had always known only luxury and indulgence, some were moved by the humble joy of these slaves. As for the Marines, there was no need to mention it. Their expressions shifted as they watched everything unfold.
This was clearly something the Marines, who were supposed to stand for justice, should have done.
Yet now, it had been done by pirates...
Only behind the Celestial Dragon Gate, inside the residences of the Celestial Dragons, did each family watch their slaves being freed while gritting their teeth in fury.
Standing behind Sengoku, Borsalino seemed to think of something and asked tentatively in his usual unserious tone,
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, should we...?"
Before Borsalino could finish, Sengoku shook his head.
"No. This is also a form of redemption for us Marines."
As soon as he said this, even Garp, who was usually carefree, and Sakazuki, who hated evil with a passion, wore extremely solemn expressions. As for Admiral Zephyr, for the first time, he felt no hatred toward a pirate.
Borsalino simply replied obediently,
"I understand."
Kuzan, meanwhile, looked at the scene before him, then turned to glance at Yemu, who was watching it all with a calm expression. For some reason, he thought back to their meeting in Loguetown a year ago.
Even back then, Kuzan had felt that Yemu was completely different from ordinary pirates. It was not because he had killed a Celestial Dragon, nor because of his overwhelming strength, but because of the composure and presence he displayed, as if everything in the world was within his grasp.
At that time, Kuzan had already felt that Yemu might one day do something that would change the world. But he had not expected it to happen so quickly, and in such an outrageous way.
"A declaration of war, huh? Looks like things are going to be a headache from now on."
As Kuzan thought this, he felt a headache coming on.
Among the kings of the fifty nations nearby, King Neptune, who had originally been dissatisfied with Yemu because the Sky Pirates had taken it upon themselves to establish the Sun Army on Fish-Man Island, now looked at the many fish-men among the rescued slaves. At that moment, what little dissatisfaction he had left vanished completely, replaced entirely by admiration.
Here in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the most dangerous place in the world for pirates, surrounded by the Marines and the World Government on all sides, they had still managed to rescue every slave. They had accomplished something no one had been able to do, or even dared to do, in hundreds of years. With courage like that, what was there to complain about?
Instead, he, the king of Fish-Man Island, could do nothing at this moment but watch.
Beside him, Queen Otohime was already weeping uncontrollably, because she could clearly hear the pain and darkness in the hearts of those slaves, as well as the joy of seeing the light again. It was the feeling of joy so overwhelming that it turned into tears.
Jinbe, who had become a member of the Neptune Army after the Sun Army disbanded, had only excitement and admiration in his eyes. If not for the fear of implicating King Neptune and Queen Otohime, he would have rushed out long ago.
Among the human kingdoms, Cobra, king of the Kingdom of Alabasta, stared fixedly at Yemu, as if trying to carve that figure into his memory forever. The kings of the other kingdoms looked around nervously. While they silently resolved never to provoke Yemu or the Sky Pirates again, they also wondered when they would finally be able to leave this place.
A small number of kings seemed to have other thoughts. They glanced toward the direction of the Celestial Dragons, then back at Yemu, as if they wanted to say something, but in the end, they held back.
No matter what thoughts the others present had, at that moment, Yemu and Tiger cared only about the slaves who had been freed.
Standing in the middle of the plaza, Yemu gently closed his eyes and spread out his Observation Haki to sense everything. After a while, he opened his eyes and said,
"The Celestial Dragons are actually being this obedient?"
Sengoku understood what Yemu was asking. Given his position, there were many things he should not say, but in that moment, he still spoke.
"It is the order of those gentlemen. Even the Celestial Dragons would not dare defy it..."
Sengoku seemed to have more to say, but in the end, he stopped himself.
Yemu, however, added without letting the matter go,
"After all, if their toys are gone, they can just buy more. That's what the Celestial Dragons are thinking, isn't it?"
Sengoku's expression instantly turned ugly. He did not refute it. This was simply how the world worked. The existence of the Celestial Dragons allowed them to do whatever they pleased.
Seeing this, Yemu turned back to Tiger and sighed.
"Looks like we still have a long road ahead of us, Tiger."
Tiger's previously happy mood sank slightly, but he soon recovered.
"I understand. But now that hope has appeared, Captain, I believe we can definitely change this world."
"Mm."
Everyone present was affected by the confidence in Tiger's words.
Yemu did not bother hiding anything as he said,
"Once we leave here, settle them properly. Most of the people we rescued are no ordinary people. They all have their own backgrounds and talents, and there are quite a few Devil Fruit users among them. If they can join your pirate crew, Enel's crew, or Erik's crew, it will greatly increase your strength. As for the rest, send those who want to go home back home, and leave those who want to stay to Fes and the others."
"I know. I've already discussed it with Enel and Erik. By the time we return, things on their side should be finished too."
"Mm."
Hearing this, Sengoku and the others nearby suddenly went pale.
"Damn it!"
This was something he had not thought of at all.
They had only considered these people as slaves, but had forgotten that anyone chosen by the Celestial Dragons to become a slave could not possibly be ordinary. Although not all of them could be called powerful fighters, every one of them had their own strengths. There were all sorts of races among them, and even the figures of giants could be seen.
On top of that, the Celestial Dragons enjoyed feeding Devil Fruits to their slaves as a form of entertainment. Combined with the inhuman abuse these slaves had suffered, these people had become individuals who absolutely hated the Celestial Dragons and the World Government.
At that moment, Sengoku felt a headache unlike any he had ever felt before, and cold sweat ran uncontrollably down his forehead.
In that instant, he felt that he should stop this act of strengthening the enemy. Yet as he felt the slaves weeping with joy after regaining their freedom, the justice he held in his heart made it impossible for him to raise a hand to stop them.
Contradiction was the truest reflection of Sengoku's heart at that moment...
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