Chat Group Escanor 27 (Patreon)

Escanor took in all the coldness and murderous intent in the room, his pupils calm.

A rather relaxed smile appeared on his face. "Everyone, don't be nervous. I'm here to help, one of your own. Friend, get it?"

Sengoku said, "Since you are here to help, then please explain why you would say such a thing?"

"Portgas D. Ace, as the son of a sinner, must die. This is the decision of Marineford, the judgment of the World Government. There is absolutely no room for negotiation."

The son of a sinner.

When those words came out of Sengoku's mouth, the silent figure by the window swayed almost imperceptibly.

Escanor looked down at his feet, which were still standing on the conference table, as if only now realizing that this was not very polite. He leaped down and looked around.

A few steps away, there was an empty chair. That was Garp's seat.

Escanor walked over and sat down.c

"Everyone. What is the purpose of the Marines' public execution of Ace?"

Onigumo spoke up, "Naturally, it is because Ace carries the most evil, the filthiest blood in this world. He is the sinful bloodline left behind by the Pirate King—Gol D. Roger."

Gol D. Roger.

The man who ushered in the Great Pirate Era.

Sengoku spoke, "It is to behead the bloodline of the Pirate King and strike a blow against the Great Pirate Era ushered in by Gol D. Roger."

"Roger's final words enticed millions of people who should have stayed law-abiding to rush out to sea one after another. They seek the so-called 'One Piece', plundering and killing along the trade routes. Countless islands have been engulfed in war, and countless civilians have been displaced."

For the World Government, the rampant piracy threatened the ruling order. But for the ordinary people living in the Four Seas and the Grand Line, it was a very real tragedy of shattered homes.

Escanor replied, "I understand what you mean. Have you ever heard of the term 'reform through labor'?"

"Reform through labor? Elaborate on that." Aokiji spoke.

Escanor said, "The country where I once lived underwent a massive upheaval. The old rulers were overthrown, the old privileged class was struck down and lost their privileges. The king who once ruled the entire country became a captive."

He stopped, his gaze sweeping across every focused face in the room.

Sengoku tapped his fingers on the tabletop, and seeing that he had no intention of continuing, his brow furrowed even tighter.

"And then?"

Escanor still didn't speak.

Kizaru finally couldn't help but speak, his voice drawn out long, "How terrifying… keeping people in suspense at a time like this…"

Escanor continued, "The new guys didn't kill that king."

Sakazuki's brow furrowed.

"The new made them labor. They made them farm. They made them go to the factory to produce alongside ordinary workers. They made them participate in building reservoirs, moving stones, and digging earth."

He looked around the circle. "What do you all think the effect of doing this would be?"

Akainu said, "Those fellows who originally ruled this country, as long as they still have a shred of ambition, a shred of unwillingness—wouldn't that mean a slight relaxation would allow them to make a comeback?"

Stainless immediately echoed, "Admiral Akainu is right. This is equivalent to breeding a tiger to cause trouble later."

Escanor waited until they finished speaking before shaking his head. "Wrong."

"What is one of the biggest symbols of the old dynasty's rule?"

"It is their king."

"That king sits upon the throne, receiving the worship of millions. Ordinary commoners never get to see him once in their lives. They only know that he is the ruler, the aristocrat among aristocrats, someone who was born to be high above others."

"Yet when this king is escorted to the fields to transplant rice seedlings alongside farmers, escorted to the factory to tighten screws alongside workers, escorted to the reservoir construction site to carry stones just like his former subjects…"

The corners of his lips curved into an arc. "Then we publicize it. We guide public opinion. We let everyone in the entire country know about this matter."

"The king is laboring. The king is sweating alongside us."

"Then what do you all think, from now on, who would still dare to say that they were born to be high above others? Who would still dare to say in the streets that not laboring is taken for granted? Who would still dare to harbor 'other thoughts'?"

"Even if there are still fellows who refuse to give up, they are just drizzle. They can't stir up any waves. At most, they'll just stab voodoo dolls in secret or draw circles to curse you."

"Translate this over."

Aokiji said after some thought, "Just make Ace stop being a pirate. Make him do something else. Make him... Make him unable to be a pirate, make him labor, or become a Marine. Yes, exactly this."

Akainu opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but found himself not knowing where to begin refuting.

Sengoku's brow furrowed even tighter, but that wasn't out of opposition, rather he was rapidly pondering this possibility.

Aokiji continued speaking, his train of thought becoming clearer and clearer, "The Pirate King's son is acting as a Marine. The blow this deals to all pirates is immense."

He stood up, pressing both hands against the tabletop. "If he can cooperate with the propaganda, telling the world that the One Piece is fake..."

"It doesn't require everyone to believe it. As long as a portion of people believe it, that is a huge success."

By the window, Garp's back seemed to suddenly relax.

Escanor waited for everyone's reactions to settle slightly before speaking again, "No."

Sengoku raised his head. "No? Is it wrong?"

Escanor shook his head. "No, Admiral Aokiji is right. Making Ace a Marine, letting him publicly deny Roger's One Piece—that truly is a genius conception. However, it's still not enough."

Aokiji's brow furrowed. "Not enough? What do you mean?"

Escanor stood up, pacing to the center of the conference table, beneath that huge nautical chart hanging on the wall. The chart marked the Four Seas, Grand Line, New World, and the four heavily circled spheres of influence in the second half of the New World.

He raised his hand, pointing at those four circles. Then he turned around, facing the silence-filled room of the Marines' highest combat powers.

"One Ace is not enough. We must also add the Four Emperors."