The result was expected.
Kuzan lost miserably. It didn't mean that he had lowered his guard or made himself weaker, but Shinra was just too strong, after all.
Shinra was just too strong, so all of Kuzan's struggle was meaningless.
Or rather, Shinra was different from those people in this world who loved to fight for three days and three nights.
Instead, if he could end this battle swiftly, then why should he waste his time, right?
Moreover, he was a ninja, so why did he care about fairness or anything?
Lastly, while the Hie Hie no Mi was powerful, Kuzan's physical ability was also quite good, as he was also a disciple of Monkey D. Garp, the Marine Hero, who did warship punchbag, training his fists to the limit.
Yet, even so, Shinra felt that as long as he didn't face Kizaru, who ate the Pika Pika no Mi, whether it was Akainu or Kuzan, all of them would be easily defeated by him since even if they were strong due to their Logia type of Devil Fruit, and their physical ability was quite good, their physical ability wasn't their forte.
As long as Shinra went all out and attacked their blind spot, it would be easy for him to do so due to his martial arts and mastery over his Observation Haki and the Supreme King Haki; they would be as good as dead.
After all, even if one ate a Logia, they would be vulnerable in front of Haki, and they couldn't use their ability to turn into the element of their Devil Fruit.
Lastly, he also didn't have a hobby to waste his time fighting for three days and three nights.
In some sense, he was also quite similar to Shanks, who often went all out directly instead of playing around with opponents, as if showing them a mercy or respect.
Shinra knew that his play might be dirty, but if one couldn't be the victor, then they would be the loser, and he didn't want to become a loser who would lose everything like Kuzan.
Regardless, after their duel ended, all the Marines quickly took Kuzan to the hospital and led Shinra to their room as they went to the Marine Headquarters with the warship.
Naturally, their duel was known by Sengoku and all the high-ranking members of the Marines, and also the Five Elders.
"To think the admiral would lose so easily..."
"Did he use a dirty method?"
"No matter what, he is the winner!"
Yes, Shinra won, and Kuzan lost.
It was just as simple as that.
"As expected of him."
"We can expect a change in the Marines.
"Our World Government is the strongest!"
While the Marines had complex emotions as Kuzan lost miserably, the Five Elders were happy with Shinra's victory, so this way, he quickly gained everyone's respect.
After all, in this world, only the strong could gain respect.
As for the weak, they only hoped for the strong to show them mercy.
This was also the reason why the Revolutionary Army, which told everyone to fight on their own for their own fates, had never grown despite having existed for so many years. After all, if an individual could destroy an island or two, what was the point of the power of quantity?
Still, when Shinra was on the warship, he quickly slipped into the room where Kuzan was being taken care of.
"Have you woken up?"
"...if you don't come, then I can continue to rest."
"Do you want me to leave you then?"
Kuzan looked at Shinra, who stood by his side, and he knew well that if Shinra wished to, Shinra could kill him right away due to how powerless he was at this moment.
As he looked at the deep gash on his chest, Kuzan sighed helplessly, wondering whether he had grown weaker or if Shinra was too strong.
Still, even if Shinra was stronger, Kuzan wouldn't waver, as there was one question that he wanted to ask.
"Uchiha Shinra."
With a blazing gaze, Kuzan asked, "Why did you bring Nico Robin with you? Don't you know that bringing her with you will only ruin your life?"
As long as Robin wasn't by Shinra's side, his life was as good as dazzling.
Everything, whether it was careers, money, reputation, or anything else, could be gained easily, and the World Government would give all of them to Shinra happily, as it would benefit their organization more to have such a powerful individual.
However, once Robin's existence was known, Shinra's existence was as good as over, and he would be targeted by the World Government, since no matter what, he would be suspected of trying to search for the lost history.
Still, even facing this gaze, Shinra didn't flinch and just said simply, "Because I love her."
"..."
"...that's it?"
"Is there anything else?"
Why did he bring Robin with him?
Wasn't it because he loved her?
It was because he loved her that he wanted to make the world more comfortable for her.
Being a pirate, or the party of the opposite of the World Government, might be better than joining the one that had destroyed Robin's life, but then again, Shinra had never liked to be on the side of the criminal, and it was far easier to rob away everything from the leaders of the World Government than making the opposite group since the World Government had made the system, and everyone would follow this order carefully, without breaking it.
On the other hand, if Shinra became a pirate, would those pirates even listen to him when he conquered the world?
The nature of a pirate was destruction, and they would rob others to live, which was simply nonconductive for their rulers.
On the other hand, the Marines existed to protect, and this was nice, as what he wished was just a stability of order, so that way, he could colonize this planet.
As for the Big Kingdom, the Twenty Kingdoms, the true ruler, or many of the World Nobles, Shinra didn't care much, and more importantly, as those individuals could rise to prominence, why couldn't he?
Why was it that only those with destiny could become the supreme ruler?
A man should control their own destiny!
"Then, why did you bring her to the Mary Geoise?! Why did you become a Marine?! What was your ambition?!"
Yet, even so, Kuzan didn't stop his questions since he felt that Shinra was dangerous, someone who planned something behind the scenes.
What was Shinra's plan to bring Robin to all of those dangerous places and even become a Marine?
As long as Shinra couldn't satisfy him, then Kuzan wouldn't let him go, but—
"What does it have to do with you? You, the loser, should be glad that I don't kill you."
"...." Kuzan.
Frankly, Shinra wasn't good with someone like Kuzan, who had his ideal, following his justice, before becoming lazy, and degraded by making a strange belief in justice, and even went on to join the pirate group in the future.
Probably, there were some reasons why Kuzan wanted to join the pirate group in the original story, but Shinra felt that, as Kuzan had joined that pirate group, Kuzan's justice was as good as gone.
Moreover, among all the admirals, Shinra didn't feel like he could befriend Kuzan since this guy cared more about his feelings and ideals. If something didn't fit him, then Kuzan would fight it to the end, which was troublesome, especially for him, who would do anything for his ambition; he could imagine that Kuzan would stand in his way to colonize this planet.
As for Akainu and Kizaru, well, those were easy to deal with, Shinra thought.
"Then, you should kill me." Kuzan stared at Shinra without fear. "Since whatever your plan is, I will stop you."
Shinra only chuckled and said, "Don't worry. I won't kill you since you are useful."
As he said so, his eyes suddenly became strange, and Kuzan was startled, feeling tense and afraid, but it was too late.
"Kotoamatsukami."
At that moment, Kuzan was as good as his slaves.