Please Go back and read chapter 72 before reading this because it seems I mistakely skipped it and directly posted chapter 73 after 71.
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"Get out of the way!" a man in a suit barked. "The government has decided to draft the non-allied people you're hiding!"
"About the non-allied refugees," Daz replied calmly, "Our leader, Captain Kuro, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku talked. They agreed to let the 'Black Cat' crew handle them. We signed papers on it. We can't accept such an unfair and one-sided demand. Please leave."
"Don't you dare act all important, you damn pirates! You're just a kid!"
Geez... Daz, the kid pirate, acts more like an official. And this guy named Spandine, the government official, acts more like a pirate... No, he's worse than a pirate. He just looks like a common thug. Is this... a small picture of how the world is now?
A gangster, an ally of the 'Black Cat' crew, watched the two sides glare at each other. He sighed, annoyed.
"Boss."
"Yeah."
"Wh-what should we do...?"
"If you think it's bad, then run," Bege said, smoking his cigar just like always. "I won't blame you."
He looked away from the rude official. He looked at the 'Black Cat' crew members facing him.
Unlike the government side, which was just rude, no one on the 'Black Cat' side was scared by the insults. Not even the regular soldiers. The Elite Guards led them, standing in front of the government men, blocking their way.
The swordsman, feared as the 'Marine Hunter', had a bold smile on his face. Nico Robin was holding the edge of his clothes, and he was waiting to see what would happen.
Even Perona, the youngest one, was not at all scared of the shouting official. She was laughing "Horohoro" next to the Elite Guard member protecting her.
No, she was clearly looking down on him.
I'm not surprised... These people are in a totally different league.
She's a girl... you could even call her a little girl. But she has fought many enemies in real battles. She has also seen many strong people fight during training.
She has a good eye for strong people.
And on top of that, she is learning that some paths can only be opened by fighting.
Do those officials think the 'Marine Hunter' is their only threat? Even the kid is an executive. Of course she's strong. Even their regular soldiers are too much for the men you brought.
It's pride. Their pride and carelessness have made them foolishly blind.
Bege believed that even Nico Robin, their main target, couldn't be stopped by these officials. And she doesn't even attack much.
This was even more true since the crew were here, especially the Elite Guard, who also act as commanders.
"I'll stay and take responsibility. You guys... well, do this. If you can, go stay with the non-allied refugees. That way, you can still keep your pride."
"B-Boss...! If we fight the government, the Marines here might become our enemies too. We can still escape!"
Hearing his man's words, the 'Big Father' touched the cigar in his mouth. He let out a puff of purple smoke and took it out.
"You idiot. If my men run away, it's my problem. But if the leader of an alliance runs away with his tail between his legs, it breaks our trust."
"Remember this for later, all of you. The words a man lives by..."
"...only shine when he sticks to them."
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I believe that one of a commander's most important jobs is to not run, unless it's a real battle.
Even if you have to hurry in an emergency, you shouldn't run unless it's the last second. If you run, your men will sense the emergency, and it will affect their spirit.
So... well, that's that.
"Hey, Kuro! We have to hurry, or the non-allied people will be in trouble, right!?"
Calm down, Miss Hina. You're a future Headquarters Captain.
Even if you've gone a little off track, you're an elite who is meant to lead people. You need to learn how to use people... or how to use your position.
Sometimes you need a few minutes with no one reasonable around. It helps you see what their role is, other than just wasting time.
Like, what are they trying to get? Are they in a hurry?
Besides, Hancock went to give the message. She has mastered not just 'Silent Step', but 'Creeping Cat' too.
Daz must have gotten the message by now. He's probably holding them off using our agreement as a weapon. And Hancock is probably getting ready for the worst. She's likely started moving people to the ship Mihawk and Rayleigh came on, using her First Fleet.
"But Kuro," Kuzan said, "if the government is pushing this hard, they must have brought men. You might end up fighting them."
You too, Kuzan!
I keep telling you, they're not after us! They're after the Marines!
"They won't make a move until they drag out the top man, the Admiral. It would be different if we gave in and handed over the refugees... but you know Daz isn't that kind of guy."
"...What if they use force?" Kuzan asked.
"I don't think an official would make such a bad move... but even if a fight starts, Daz and the Elite Guard are there. It won't be a problem."
And honestly, in terms of strength, we have no reason to back down.
I don't know about the '0' class, since I don't know how strong they are. But Daz won't lose, unless it's against the very best of '9' who have mastered the Six Powers. And Mihawk is with him.
Besides, Hancock's First Fleet is here. She's a new devil fruit user, but still... In fact, all of our forces, except for Mopuchi Country's defenses, are here.
Also, if they try to sink the ship, Rayleigh will definitely make a move.
It depends on the situation and when the fight starts. But if we play it smart, we should be able to fight, even against the two Admirals here.
"Anyway, they're just taking people, even if they're from non-allied nations!" Hina fumed. "What is the government thinking!?"
"One reason is to set a precedent," I said.
Also, Kizaru, please say something.
You're following behind us, but... I really feel like I'm being watched.
It's so strong it's making my stomach heavy.
"It's not wrong that they need a lot of cheap labor to deal with all the damage. We've already gotten reports that allied nations are cutting down on people."
"That doesn't make it right!" Hina snapped.
"Then, if you had to choose between letting allied citizens starve to death or taking people by force, could you answer right away?"
"...That's...!" she stammered.
Even Kuzan can't answer. That makes sense.
People who sail the seas know very well how scary hunger is.
Famine is a disaster. It makes people steal from each other, even from friends and family. And it's very likely to turn into killing.
We just barely managed to protect the main food-growing area, but the situation in the West Blue is still very bad.
And the World Government has a clear reason for its actions: it must protect the allied nations, no matter what.
Though honestly, seeing how they've been acting, I'm not sure how much they really care about protecting the allied nations...
"And if the Marines give in this time, it will help create an unwritten rule... that this kind of action is allowed in an emergency."
Well, they probably also read our plan. They want to take away the people who could become our soldiers or workers...
Seriously, depending on when and where the pirate alliance started, they might have sent the forces meant to crush it straight at us...
"Wh-what if they don't give in?" Hina asked. "There are people in the Marines who won't stand for this. What if they all rise up at once!"
"Can people who think about the weak... can they use force after hearing those reasons?"
That's Kuzan, or Hina's boss, Rear Admiral Munchkin.
...Well, there is a hero named Garp who might actually rise up... Ah, but no, his type is surprisingly smart, too.
"Even if they don't rise up, they might quit later! If that happens, the government's power will drop a lot!"
"That's exactly what the government wants."
"Why?" Hina demanded. "The number of pirates keeps growing! If that happens, the allied nations that pay the government will suffer!"
"No, that's... "
Look. If you've figured that much out, then just try to see it from the World Government's point of view—
No, what's with that face?
Don't look at me like that...
Hey, don't pull on my jacket.
"Oh my... Just as you said, the government people and your people seem to be in a stare-down," Kizaru drawled.
I heard shouting, and I see Daz arguing with some old guy in a suit with a really bad attitude.
...Hey, isn't that Spa... Spanda...
I forgot his name, but isn't that Spandine's dad? ...Wait? Is this the dad's name?
Whatever.
Wow, his hair is neater than his son's, but he's 100% pure thug.
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