"Heard the echoes of justice?" Hothard blinked in confusion.

Dragon nodded, recalling the shout he had captured earlier through Observation Haki.

It was that shout that had prompted him to send Kizaru—who had been persistently urging him to meet with Fleet Admiral Orion at Marine Headquarters—to the rescue.

Without explaining further, Dragon asked curiously, "Captain, could you tell me what conviction drove you to face death for justice and shout those historic words, 'Fire at me!'? Was it solely for justice?"

Hothard paused briefly at the question.

Then, standing even straighter, he answered firmly, "Of course not just for justice! The Fleet Admiral once risked his life to protect us. It's only right we repay him with ours."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Hothard suddenly turned to face Kizaru, who had been sitting quietly to the side, and asked in a questioning tone.

"Admiral Kizaru... why are you with the leader of the Revolutionary Army?"

Without waiting for Kizaru to respond, Hothard abruptly shifted his tone, his aura intensifying as he continued.

"Though you just saved me and Shiro, if you've betrayed Fleet Admiral Orion and defected to the Revolutionary Army, even if I can't take you down, I'll still give everything I have to make you pay!"

Caught off guard by Hothard suddenly directing his hostility toward him, Kizaru—who had been lounging limply in his chair like a fish—tilted his head in surprise.

After locking eyes with Hothard for two seconds, he unexpectedly showed no anger at the subordinate's insubordination.

Instead, he calmly averted his gaze to Dragon and lazily remarked.

"See? This is the Marine today. I bet even that rookie over there would draw his sword against me without hesitation if he confirmed I'd betrayed the Marines—knowing full well he stands no chance."

"So, Admiral Kizaru... have you truly defected?"

Before Dragon could speak, Hothard's aura surged again.

Though Shiro remained silent beside him, he immediately stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hothard, both of them staring intently at Kizaru.

"How terrifying," Kizaru sighed weakly, adjusting his glasses as if recovering from an illness.

"Relax. Even if I had betrayed the Marines, it wouldn't be your place to interrogate me. I'm here under Fleet Admiral Orion's orders to meet with Revolutionary Army leader Dragon. Now, you have two choices. One: come with us to headquarters, where I'll truthfully recount your heroic deeds before the Fleet Admiral. Two: return to the island and continue rescue operations."

"Huh?"

Hothard's pupils contracted slightly in surprise.

"You... really are going to headquarters?"

Dragon nodded with a faint smile. "Before meeting you, I hadn't fully decided. But after witnessing your selfless bravery in saving the town's civilians, I believe the Marines under Fleet Admiral Orion's command has finally embraced true justice."

"So, will you join us on our way to headquarters, or—"

Before Dragon could finish, Hothard suddenly snapped to attention and saluted Kizaru.

"Admiral Kizaru, forgive my earlier disrespect! Once I've fully resolved the East Blue crisis, I will personally report to headquarters to atone for my actions!"

"Until then, I ask that you assist us in returning—there are still many civilians awaiting rescue at the harbor."

"Truly not coming with us?" Dragon interjected, testing the waters. "With Admiral Kizaru vouching for you, the two of you would undoubtedly be credited as the primary heroes of this rescue operation. Under the Marine's current merit system, you'd both be promoted at least two ranks."

Hothard turned his head sharply toward Dragon, his voice low and firm.

"Dragon, are you testing us? The Marines has its own merit system—we don't need your reminders!"

"As for your so-called 'heroes'—"

"Every Marine today is one!"

*****

Due to Dragon's special status and the presence of Garp at the port on the other side of the island, the large ship did not sail toward the harbor.

Instead, after dropping off Hothard and Shiro on the shore, it decisively accelerated away from the island.

On the deck of the ship, Kizaru uncharacteristically amused as he looked at Dragon, whose expression was slightly awkward.

"Never thought I'd see the day, Dragon. Though Hothard was quite polite to you just now. Back when Orion staged the coup at Headquarters, a few soldiers dared to barge into my office and even splashed water all over me!"

"Speaking of which, I still haven't settled the score with those officers and soldiers who overstepped their bounds."

Dragon clearly didn't dwell on Hothard's attitude towards him.

Standing up and walking to the bow of the ship, he gazed at the gradually fading island in the distance and solemnly said.

"The reason I haven't agreed to go to Headquarters with you to meet Fleet Admiral Orion is because I wanted to travel around and see what changes the Marines has undergone under his leadership!"

"We both know the Marines used to be a disorganized mess, and its internal corruption was severe."

"But none of that matters now!"

"What's important is that from the Fleet Admiral, the Admirals, Vice Admirals, and Rear Admirals, down to the Captains of various branches, everyone has their own sense of justice."

"Because of these differing senses of justice, conflicting ideologies and perspectives emerge. You have your beliefs, I have mine—it's a complete mess!"

Hearing this, Borsalino's lips twitched slightly.

Buru buru—

Suddenly, the sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out from the cabin.

A girl of about sixteen years old quickly emerged, holding the ringing Den Den Mushi.

Approaching Dragon, the girl glanced at Borsalino and whispered.

"Dragon-san, it's from the intelligence department's!"

Dragon's eyes lit up.

He immediately took the Den Den Mushi, not bothering to hide the conversation from Kizaru and asked, "Have you found any leads?"

"Yes, Leader!"

A respectful voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

"According to intelligence from the Eastern Army, the rampaging animals destroying towns in the East Blue originated from an island called 'Merveille.' However, this island vanished sixteen years ago."

"That same year, the infamous pirate Shiki, who was on par with Whitebeard and Roger, was captured and imprisoned but escaped by cutting off his own legs. He hasn't been seen since, and the island 'Merveille' disappeared around the same time."

"Golden Lion Shiki?"

Dragon's pupils constricted slightly.

"Is he planning a comeback? A true pirate through and through—no sooner does he return than he unleashes such brutality on innocent civilians."

After a brief pause, a cold glint flashed in Dragon's eyes as he issued a command.

"Order all Revolutionary Army operatives to search for Shiki's whereabouts and report back to me immediately."

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