Chapter 86: 86. Sister Tsuru, I Can't Go Back!

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- Just as Alex solidified his long-laid plans by recruiting Gion and Law, a Marine warship arrived at the burning port of Flevance, cutting through the special marine currents with practiced precision. Onboard the ship, Chief of Staff Tsuru stood near the bow, her face shadowed by a heavy expression. The Justice coat draped over her shoulders billowed slightly in the wind as she barked into a Den Den Mushi. "Sengoku! You knew how serious this situation was, and yet you still let Gion leave Marineford! I warned you before I departed on this mission. If I'd known this would happen, I would have taken her with me!" The other end of the line revealed none other than Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who was cringing slightly at Tsuru's harsh tone. Despite his stature as the leader of the Marines, Sengoku couldn't help but flinch as Tsuru's words struck him like cannonfire. "You're absolutely right, Tsuru," Sengoku replied, his voice tinged with regret. "I didn't think things through properly. Please, bring Gion back. Garp is already on his way, and I'll personally speak with her when she returns." Sengoku sighed heavily before continuing. "I even stationed five Marines to watch over her, but the moment they let their guard down, she slipped away. I should've been more prepared." Tsuru snorted in dissatisfaction, though her voice softened slightly. She understood Sengoku's responsibilities as Fleet Admiral and rarely blamed him outright. However, her anger over Gion's actions was difficult to suppress. "That child... I can't imagine how distraught she is right now. I've called her more than ten times, and she hasn't answered once. I can only hope she doesn't let despair lead her to a bad decision." Her voice briefly faltered. "We've seen this before." Tsuru's thoughts turned to Dragon, the son of Garp, whom she had helped raise. His decision to leave the Marines and defy the World Government was still fresh in her mind. His disillusionment began during a mission to escort the Celestial Dragons—an assignment that exposed him to the ugliest facets of the World Government. He had gradually come to reject their rule entirely, eventually becoming the Revolutionary Army's leader. The weight of the World Government's darker truths grew heavier the higher one climbed within the Marines. Both Tsuru and Sengoku had come to terms with those truths over time, reconciling them with their ideals of justice. But Gion? Gion was younger and still deeply idealistic. Although Tsuru didn't know what had sparked Gion's sudden fixation on Flevance, she knew the situation had spiraled out of control. Gion hadn't merely heard about the tragedy—she had witnessed it with her own eyes. Tsuru's gaze shifted to the scene before her. Flevance was a smoldering wasteland. The streets were littered with corpses, the town engulfed in flames. Even Tsuru, who had long been hardened to the darkness of the world, found herself frowning deeply. "The World Government went too far this time," she muttered under her breath. "Knowing the truth only makes their tyranny more appalling." But what could she do? The Marines operated under the World Government, an institution composed of nations from across the globe. Breaking away from its authority wasn't an option—not without jeopardizing the entire Marine structure. "I've visited this town before,nI never thought I'd see it reduced to this..." "Sister Tsuru!" The voices of two female Marines broke through her thoughts. Mary, a towering woman with brown pigtails and a Marine spear, and Kuya, a slender soldier with short blonde hair and a short sword at her hip, stepped forward. "There's a smaller warship docked nearby," Mary said, pointing toward the port. "It seems Vice Admiral Gion made it here after all!" As the warship pulled into the port, Tsuru disembarked with a heavy heart. A unit of female Marines followed closely behind her, many of them wearing the Justice coat at the entry level. "Why is there another group of Marines?!" The soldiers stationed at the port, ready to withdraw from Flevance after completing their grim mission, froze as they spotted the approaching figures. One of them muttered in confusion. Another soldier quickly spoke up, his voice tinged with concern. "This place is full of a highly infectious disease. You female Marines, without any protective clothing, shouldn't come in! You're risking your lives!" "That's right," added another. "Just earlier, there was a Marine who ignored our warnings and entered the blockade. It's only a matter of time before she succumbs to the sickness. Shame, too—she looked good." Vice Admiral Tsuru's sharp gaze fell on the soldiers as she stepped forward, water dripping from her hands. Her expression was unreadable, but her voice carried an edge that froze the group in place. "Compared to any so-called virus, the massacres you've committed here need far more cleaning." Without waiting for a reply, Tsuru raised her hand. In an instant, an invisible force swept over the soldiers, pulling them toward her like laundry being tossed into a machine. They flailed helplessly as they were "washed" in midair, the process cleansing not just their bodies but the metaphorical filth in their hearts. One by one, they fell to the ground, their protective masks askew. Their faces, now visibly pure and serene, shone with a strange cleanliness. Though Tsuru's ability lacked direct lethality, its power to wash away the evil in people's hearts had resolved countless challenges for the Marines. "Take these soldiers back to their ships," Tsuru commanded coolly. Then, turning to two of her subordinates, she said, "Mary, Kuya, come with me." The two Marines, both armed and ready, immediately raised their weapons. A powerful gust of wind surged forth, extinguishing the fires raging on either side of the street and clearing a path ahead. Tsuru's sharp Observation Haki picked up faint signs of life ahead. She sensed them clearly now—three presences. At the same moment, farther down the street, Alex and his group also caught sight of the Marine warship docked at the port and the trio approaching. "Sister Tsuru." "Gion?!" Tsuru's voice was filled with disbelief as her gaze locked onto the familiar figure. Both sides paused, their attention drawn toward one another. "You..." Tsuru began, but her voice faltered as her eyes flickered to the man standing near Gion. Recognition dawned, and her expression shifted to one of shock. "I've heard much about you," Alex said smoothly, his tone playful yet confident. "But this is the first time we've met, Marine Chief of Staff Tsuru." Tsuru didn't respond to him directly. Her attention remained fixed on Gion, her sharp mind piecing together the implications with decades of experience and instinct. Gion stood firm, showing neither fear nor regret. She didn't cry out for help nor offer an explanation. The truth hit Tsuru like a blow. Her heart sank. "Gion..." Tsuru's voice trembled, the weight of the situation bearing down on her. "Are you serious about this?" Tsuru's voice was laden with complexity as she stood frozen, the reality of the situation sinking in. With years of wisdom and intuition, she began to piece together the connections: Alex's sudden appearance here, Gion's growing focus on the Flevance tragedy, and her previous capture by Alex. This... this had been planned all along, hadn't it? The man standing before her had orchestrated everything, turning Gion's disillusionment and sense of justice into a weapon. "Yes, Sister Tsuru," Gion said, her tone filled with resolve. "I've made up my mind. I will not return to the Marines." Her words cut through the tense air like a blade. "I've decided to join Alex."