Atchison knew many secrets. Too many, in fact.
So he had to choose carefully. He needed something devastating enough to satisfy Redyat, but not so catastrophic that it completely shattered the Marines beyond repair.
Under the gaze of countless eyes across the world, Atchison slowly raised his head and looked toward the sky.
"The Mandela Island incident," he said, his voice steady. "Nine years ago, in order to eliminate the great pirate known as 'Grand General' Charles Bonaparte, the Marines made a decision."
"To prevent Bonaparte from escaping, the residents of Mandela Island were not evacuated in advance. Instead, the Marines directly bombarded the entire island."
His tone did not change.
"The operation ended with the complete destruction of Charles Bonaparte's pirate army. All residents on the island died in the bombardment."
The battlefield fell silent.
"So you were afraid it would be exposed," Redyat sneered. "That's why you silenced them afterward, isn't it?"
Atchison did not respond. He simply fell silent, having already prepared himself for this moment.
Many people who had never heard of Charles Bonaparte looked confused. That confusion did not last long.
This was Morgans' specialty.
Through rapid information gathering, Morgans quickly pieced together everything about the pirate known as "Grand General" and broadcast it to the world.
Charles Bonaparte was a notorious great pirate from nine years ago, once carrying a bounty of 500 million Berries.
More importantly, he posed a genuine threat to both the Marines and the World Government.
He was the user of the Army-Army Fruit.
While the fruit did not greatly enhance his personal combat power, it allowed him to command subordinates remotely, boost their combat effectiveness, and transmit orders across vast distances.
Combined with Bonaparte's talent as a military strategist and his massive following, he earned the title "Grand General."
At his peak, he commanded a pirate force of nearly sixty thousand. He had repeatedly seized Marine warships, assembling a terrifying fleet that rivaled national navies.
In the New World at the time, Charles Bonaparte was a legend. Hearing his name again stirred memories among veterans and civilians alike.
His ability created not just command authority, but psychological dominance. His subordinates followed him with genuine loyalty.
On the battlefield, this made him extraordinarily dangerous.
Intelligence at the time indicated that Bonaparte planned to plunder an allied nation. With his strength and army, he had more than enough power to do so.
In the end, his personal strength did not match his bounty.
The Marines used heavy bombardment to throw his army into chaos, then sent elite forces to infiltrate the island and carry out a beheading operation.
The operation succeeded.
But the Army-Army Fruit was not so simple, and Bonaparte was not weak.
The Marines suffered enormous losses. They destroyed his army, killed Bonaparte, and erased Mandela Island from the map.
Morgans' broadcast filled in the missing pieces, letting the world understand exactly what kind of pirate had been eliminated that day.
An army of sixty thousand stunned people everywhere.
Even if it was small compared to national militaries, these were pirates. Organized, disciplined, and united.
Some people focused on something else entirely.
The Army-Army Fruit.
As its name implied, it was a Devil Fruit designed specifically for warfare.
Groups like the newly formed Revolutionary Army could not help but take note. If such an ability fell into their hands, it would be a strategic asset of immeasurable value.
As for Redyat's words, they ignited fury across the world.
An entire island's population wiped out by bombardment.
How could that be possible?
When the Marines arrived, surely civilians could have begged for help. Even if they hid, there should have been survivors.
Yet for nine years, there had been no voices. No witnesses.
If that was true, then Redyat's accusation made horrifying sense.
Silenced.
Disbelief spread like poison.
Fear followed.
Is this really the Marine Corps that claims to uphold justice?
Hearing the question, Atchison finally spoke again, his voice hoarse.
"Now… can you let them go?"
Redyat's lips curled into a cold smile.
"It's not over."
He stepped forward, eyes fixed on Atchison.
"The Marines claim their justice exists to protect civilians, don't they? Then why do this?"
"Do you believe eliminating pirates is more important than protecting innocent lives? That as long as pirates die, civilian casualties can be written off as 'necessary sacrifices'?"
"Is that how Marine justice works?"
Atchison could not meet his gaze.
Redyat's words cut too deeply. He turned his head aside and remained silent.
Across the world, outrage exploded.
Fists clenched. Teeth ground.
People were selfish by nature. Who would willingly sacrifice their lives for someone else's justice without even knowing it?
The Mandela Island residents had never been permanent allies of the pirates. The pirate army only stayed temporarily before moving on.
Yet because of a Marine decision, their lives were erased for the sake of efficiency.
If that was justice, then the Marines were more terrifying than pirates.
Most pirates wanted treasure. Crews that slaughtered indiscriminately were rare. Otherwise, places like the New World would have been completely empty long ago.
"Stop talking."
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku slammed his fist down, veins bulging. The other Admirals were no better.
This had spiraled completely out of control.
Redyat's words were not just accusations. They were tearing apart the Marines' reputation at its foundation.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Kuzan said suddenly, his voice calm but firm. "I want the full details of this incident. And I want to know who made that decision."
"I have the right to know."
Kuzan believed justice could take many forms, shaped by position and circumstance. He rarely questioned others' sense of justice.
But this crossed a line.
"This wasn't justice. It was selfishness."
"Kuzan, calm down," Tsuru said quietly.
"I can't," Kuzan replied. "If this is true, then whoever did this is no different from a pirate. I will deal with them personally."
Cold air spilled from him, frosting the floor.
The conference room temperature dropped sharply.
Several Marine officers trembled.
One Vice Admiral's body stiffened, his legs shaking. Those with sharp Observation Haki noticed it instantly.
So did Kuzan.
Ice surged across the ground and froze around that Vice Admiral's lower body, locking him in place.
The room fell into suffocating silence.
Many Marines clenched their teeth.
They wanted to deny it. To say this was not the Marines they believed in.
But how could they?
Vice Admiral Atchison himself had admitted it.
No one would believe he was lying to smear the organization.
And Redyat's logic was impossible to refute.
Why?
That single question echoed in every Marine's heart.
Redyat continued.
"Or maybe it's simpler than that. Maybe some Marines don't care about civilian lives at all."
"For military merit. For promotion. For power."
"As long as pirates die, a few civilians don't matter. Once the report is written and the medal awarded, no one remembers the dead."
"This isn't the first time, is it? Just one of many incidents. Large ones. Small ones. All across the world."
He smiled faintly.
"So tell us. Who was the Marine official in charge of Mandela Island? I think their crimes deserve public execution."
That smile sent chills through Marine Headquarters.
The frozen Vice Admiral's face went pale.
He could feel it. The stares. Kuzan's gaze alone felt like a death sentence.
If his name was spoken, civilians across the world would want him dead.
And he would have no protection.
Now, the only thing he could do was pray that Atchison stayed silent.
Redyat's speculation terrified people even more.
If such people truly existed within the Marines, then who was the real enemy?
Atchison remained silent, his heart sinking.
He had not expected that revealing a single incident would allow Redyat to inflict such devastating damage. Worse, Redyat's reasoning was frighteningly sound.
"You won't say it?" Redyat said calmly. "That's fine."
"I forgot to tell you something. One revealed incident saves one thousand Marines."
"I'm giving you two chances."
"That means at most, two thousand lives."
Atchison's expression changed instantly.
"And if you say the name," Redyat added with a smile, "you save another five hundred."
"You're trapped already."
"Speak. That man is finished anyway. Once this is exposed, Marine justice will deal with him. By saying his name, at least he can save five hundred lives before he dies."
Atchison's lips trembled.
"It's… Nickt," he said quietly.
At Marine Headquarters, the frozen Vice Admiral let out a breath of relief.
"Oh?" Redyat tilted his head. "Is that so?"
"One of the Vice Admirals fighting Teach, then. Dead anyway."
"In that case, our Nightfall Pirates even helped you clean out a tumor."
He laughed.
"So shouldn't you thank us? Maybe send us a banner that says 'Partners of Justice'?"
Some people burst out laughing despite themselves.
The image of the Marines honoring the Nightfall Pirates was absurd beyond words.
Then Redyat's smile vanished.
"You lied."
The Vice Admiral's relief froze on his face.
"Don't think you can fool me," Redyat said coldly. "Speak. Who is it really?"
Shock rippled through the world.
Atchison had lied.
It was understandable. Sacrificing a doomed Vice Admiral to save five hundred lives was a perfect trade.
But Redyat had seen through it.
In truth, Redyat already knew the answer. He simply could not reveal how.
His Observation Haki was too special.
Yet there was one person who understood immediately.
Deep within Impel Down, at its lowest level, Patrick Redfield sensed it clearly.
Even through an image alone, he felt the presence of a kindred soul.
An innate Observation Haki capable of reading minds.
As expected of his bloodline.
Redyat gave Atchison no room to breathe.
"You won't say it?" he said lightly. "Then I'll guess."