The Den Den Mushi placed in every Marine base suddenly opened its eyes.
Admiral Sakazuki furious expression appeared on its face as his voice were raised high in every office, training ground, and warship under the control of Marine Headquarters.
"Any Marine who abandons their post will be declared a deserter!" shouted Sakazuki. "Anyone who cooperates with the Revolutionary Army will be treated as an enemy of the World Government and there will be no forgiveness!"
Although Sakazuki had been beaten and tortured black and blue by Jack, his hatred to pirates didn't diminish. It was true the World Government had treated marines like a lapdogs, but the danger pirates bringing are severe than opposing world government.
Several years earlier, such an order would have frightened most Marines into silence. The authority of the fleet admiral was absolute, and desertion was a crime punishable by death.
This time, however, the Marines didn't immediately agree, they looked at one another.
Dragon livestream had forced them to confront the things they had spent years trying to ignore. Some remembered protecting Celestial Dragons while innocent people were abused. Others remembered abandoning villages because a shipment of Heavenly Tribute had been considered more important.
Many of them had joined the Marines to protect people from pirates.
They had never joined to protect slave owners.
"Continue carrying out your duties!" Sakazuki ordered. "Do not allow the words of a criminal and pirate to corrupt your sense of justice!"
A Marine recruit slowly raised his hand looked at Den Den Mushi
"Admiral Sakazuki," he said nervously, even though Sakazuki couldn't hear him through the den den mushi, "what kind of justice protects slavery?"
Several Marines lowered their heads because they had asked themselves the same question.
The Den Den Mushi continued repeating Sakazuki orders, but the Marines had already stopped listening.
Captain Silane stood in front of more than four hundred Marines.
The commodore insignia he had recently received was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the closed box containing it rested on the ground beside him.
Behind Silane stood Commodore Vance, who had personally travelled to the base after destroying the order commanding him to arrest anyone who spread Dragon livestream.
Neither man wore his Marine coat. The Marines gathered before them appeared uneasy. Some still carried rifles, while others had already placed their weapons on the ground.
Silane stepped forward.
"I joined the Marines because pirates killed my mother," he said. "For three years, I hunted criminals and protected civilians. I believed every order I followed brought me closer to justice."
Everyone remained silent.
"Then I was ordered to capture a group of escaped slaves."
Several Marines stiffened.
"They weren't pirates, they hadn't attacked anyone or stolen anything and their only crime was escaping from a World Noble."
Silane hands tightened into fists.
"I wanted to protect them, but my superior ordered me to stand aside. I obeyed him because I was afraid of losing my position."
He looked at the box containing his new insignia.
"I watched children being dragged away in chains and I did nothing."
Silane kicked the box aside.
It struck the ground and opened, sending the commodore insignia rolling through the dust.
"I will not make the same mistake again."
The Marines stared at him.
"Admiral Sakazuki has ordered us to arrest innocent civilians for repeating Dragon livestream. I refuse," declared Silane. "Anyone who wishes to remain loyal to the World Government may leave, I won't stop you."
Silane reached for the Marine flag behind him and pulled it down.
The flag touched the ground, but he didn't destroy it.
"The Marines saved my life when I was a child. There are still good people wearing this uniform, and I won't pretend otherwise. But the World Government has turned our justice into a weapon."
Silane turned towards Commodore Vance.
Vance gave him a small nod before addressing the crowd.
"The Revolutionary Army has promised to accept any Marine willing to protect civilians and oppose the Celestial Dragons," said Vance. "We will not be ordered to burn towns, capture slaves, or silence innocent people again."
A lieutenant slowly stepped out of formation.
He removed his Marine coat and placed it beside Silane's.
"I'm coming with you."
Another Marine followed him.
"So am I."
Within seconds, dozens stepped forward.
Then hundreds.
Some removed their uniforms completely, while others kept the coats bearing the word Justice across their backs.
They no longer served the World Government, but they refused to abandon the justice they had once believed in.
Out of the four hundred Marines gathered in the courtyard, only thirty-seven chose to remain behind.
Silane didn't insult or threaten them.
"Take one of the smaller ships," he said. "Return to Marine Headquarters if that is what you truly believe is right."
One of the loyal Marines stared at him in confusion.
"You're letting us leave?"
"We are rebelling against the World Government because it punishes people for making their own choices," Silane answered. "I won't become a hypocrite on our first day of freedom."
Commodore Vance smiled faintly.
"That sounds like something a commodore would say."
"I rejected the promotion."
"That promotion came from the World Government," replied Vance. "Your men have chosen to follow you. That carries more weight than any piece of metal."
The Marines around them began striking the hilts of their swords and the butts of their rifles against the ground.
"Commodore Silane!" one of them shouted.
"Commodore Silane!"
The chant spread throughout the courtyard.
Silane wanted to protest, but Vance placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You can complain after we survive the rebellion."
The same thing was happening throughout the world.
Smoker stood before his subordinates while Tashigi waited beside him.
"I won't force any of you to follow me," said Smoker. "Those who wish to remain Marines may return to Headquarters."
One of the Marines laughed.
"Return to Headquarters? They'll arrest all of us before we reach the gate!"
"Then what is your decision?" asked Tashigi.
The Marine tore the World Government emblem from his uniform.
"I'm following Smoker san."
The rest roared in agreement.
Smoker looked towards the Revolutionary Army flag being raised beside their ships.
He didn't like pirates and he certainly didn't trust any pirates. However Dragon had exposed something Smoker had witnessed many times.
The World Government cared more about its authority than justice.
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