The Five Elders didn't move, and neither did Sengoku or the three admirals.
They had just witnessed Caelan slice through five terrifying mythical beasts in one stroke.
Even if no one understood how the Five Elders had survived, that didn't mean the power behind that slash was fake.
Unlike the Five Elders, they had no resurrection ability. If they were struck by that blade, they would truly die.
Looking at Caelan standing among the ruins of the execution platform, even Akainu, known for his explosive temper, didn't act rashly.
The pride he had felt after killing Whitebeard and threatening Shanks had been completely shattered by Caelan's sudden arrival.
The Five Elders exchanged glances, and each reverted to their human form, dressed once more in suits and ties.
They were about to speak for "justice," so maintaining their monstrous appearances was no longer appropriate.
"Caelan, you broke into Marineford at the very moment the Navy was executing the Pirate King's bloodline. Are you showing sympathy for pirates?"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn looked at Caelan and spoke in a cold, sinister tone.
A battle between them and Caelan was inevitable, but they would use every trick they could to tarnish his image.
"How laughable. If I really wanted to save the Pirate King's bloodline, do you think you'd have even laid a finger on him?" Caelan sneered.
Back when Akainu had been fighting Whitebeard, he had already arrived, floating in the sky. But he had no intention of interfering with the execution.
He came here to declare war on the Navy, not to rescue Whitebeard or Ace.
"You do have the strength for it," Saint Saturn admitted, his expression grim.
Then he continued, "But you still attacked the Navy while we were executing wicked pirates. How are we to know you're not here to avenge them?"
"Oh? Are you saying I'm with the Whitebeard Pirates now?"
Caelan sneered.
With a casual swing of his sword, several slashes flew outward in different directions.
The Five Elders tensed, only to realize the attacks weren't aimed at them.
Swish!
The captured captains—Marco, Jozu, Vista—were all struck down in an instant.
The last remaining commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates followed their captain in death.
Caelan pointed his blade at the Five Elders and said flatly, "I'm not here to rescue pirates. I came to declare war on the World Government."
"Declaring war on the World Government… You really are a wicked brat."
Saint Saturn said in a deep voice.
"Is declaring war on the World Government evil?"
Caelan scoffed, waiting to see what kind of farce they would stage next.
Saint Warcury tepped forward and raised his voice so that it echoed across all of Marineford.
"We eliminated the Yonko and saved countless lives. We've ended the Pirate King's bloodline. The sinful Great Pirate Era ends today!"
"The World Government protects 338 member nations from pirates. The Navy hunts down evildoers across the seas. The world as it is today exists because of the World Government."
"Anyone who opposes the World Government is trying to plunge the world into chaos. They are enemies of justice!"
At those words, many sailors at Marineford stood tall, puffing out their chests and glaring at Caelan.
To them, the Five Elders were right. They represented justice.
And Caelan, who appeared to cause destruction, was the world's greatest evil.
"Hah, and you call yourselves righteous?" Caelan sneered. "The Celestial Dragons' killing ritual still exists, doesn't it? They choose a country, and the more people they kill, the greater the reward. A bloodstained ritual to prove their might?"
"A ritual where civilians are murdered as sacrifices. What righteous 'World Nobles' you are."
"Nonsense! The Celestial Dragons have never done such bloody things!" Saint Saturn's face changed and he immediately denied it.
He couldn't understand how Caelan knew. Logically, everyone aware of such things outside the Celestial Dragons should have died long ago.
Except for the incident in God Valley... Some had escaped, but Caelan was far too young to be among them.
"He's just making things up! He'll say anything!"
Some younger sailors shouted in outrage, refusing to believe Caelan's words.
Slaughtering an entire nation? If something so massive had happened, surely the world would've known.
But they had heard nothing of the sort. It had to be a lie.
"Enough!"
Several older vice admirals cut in, silencing the young sailors.
They had fought at God Valley over forty years ago, and they knew Caelan was telling the truth.
If the Rocks Pirates hadn't found out about God Valley and launched their attack, the World Government wouldn't have sent the Navy to intervene. Those bloody rituals would still be happening today, hidden beneath the so-called light of justice.
"..."
The younger sailors stared at the older officers in silence. Their words were caught in their throats.
A deep unease rose in their hearts.
Caelan might be telling the truth.
But they didn't want to believe it. Accepting it would mean denying everything they had believed about justice.
Caelan remained composed under their doubt.
The killing rituals of the Celestial Dragons were indeed deeply buried secrets, far beyond the understanding of ordinary people.
However, the World Government's darkness wasn't limited to just that. There were plenty of other, more public crimes.
"Whether you know the truth about the rituals or not, I'll tell you something undeniable."
Caelan cleared his throat and spoke in a deep, steady tone.
"That cross-sea bridge took 800 years to build. There were so many slaves on it, they could have built a kingdom."
"The Celestial Dragons impose heavy taxes on the people and rob them openly. The Navy escorts them and aids in their crimes."
"During the Reverie, that escalator the Celestial Dragons ride—pulled by hundreds of slaves. And where do those slaves come from?"
"Every year, World Government member nations must offer Heavenly Tribute so costly it ruins them. Some even sell their land to pirates just to afford it."
"These are objective facts. The whole world knows. What are you trying to cover up?"
"As for the privileges of the Celestial Dragons, they are the legacy of our ancestors," Saint Saturn declared solemnly. "As descendants of the twenty kings, they are fully entitled to enjoy the world's riches."
"If the World Government hadn't eradicated the pirates, the world would have already fallen into chaos!"
"Compared to the achievements of the World Government, the minor faults of the Celestial Dragons are insignificant."
"The World Government has eliminated countless pirates and preserved global safety. That is the greatest justice!"
Saint Saturn spoke with conviction, as if he truly believed it.
To him, it was an honor for "ants" to offer Heavenly Tribute to the Celestial Dragons.
The Marines, upon hearing this, looked slightly reassured.
They may have made mistakes in small matters, but there hadn't been any major harm, right?
From a global perspective, they were still just.
"More self-deceiving nonsense," Caelan said with a disdainful sneer. "If killing a few pirates makes one righteous, then the Yonko are just as 'just' as the Navy. The number of pirates killed by them is likely several times higher than those killed by admirals."
The title of Yonko wasn't granted through votes. It was earned through bloodshed.
When Gecko Moria was young, he fought Kaido, and his entire crew was wiped out.
Whitebeard had many affiliated pirate crews. He conquered them one by one and accepted them like a father. Those who didn't surrender? They died.
It wouldn't be surprising if those Yonko had killed more pirates than the Navy.
After all, admirals still had to obey the World Government's orders, while pirates only fought for dominance.
"You..."
Saint Saturn, whose brain was no bigger than a walnut, was completely speechless.
He couldn't admit that the Yonko were more righteous than the Navy, yet he had no rebuttal.
(To be continued.)