The man's words were like a boulder dropped into still waters, instantly stirring up towering waves.
The voices of the people completely drowned out the attempts of the surrounding Marines to maintain order at the venue.
"Hey! What's going on here?! Aren't the Marines going to give a reasonable explanation?! We pay so much in taxes every year—is this what we're paying for?!"
"Give me back my child! Where is my child?!"
"I don't believe a mere branch base commander could pull this off alone—there must be other corruption within the Marines! That bastard just raised his head like he wanted to say something—are you using him as a scapegoat?!"
"I don't care about any of that! I just want my wife back! Give me back everything I had! I'll kill you!"
The roars of the crowd grew louder and louder, the combined voices nearly submerging the entire courtroom.
Seeing this, Morgans lit a cigarette.
Holding his camera, his smile was faint, lacking the usual enthusiasm he showed for explosive news.
The Underground Black Market tycoon beside him glanced at Morgans, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"What's wrong, Mr. Eagle? Feeling pity for this kind of thing? If you want to laugh, go ahead—there's nothing to say. But the Marines are really going all out, even bringing Sengoku out personally to preside over this trial."
"Tell me the truth—did you investigate this case first and force the Marines to go public? Because if left to the Marines, not only would this never have gone to public trial, they wouldn't have let even a whisper of it escape."
Morgans exhaled a puff of smoke before replying slowly:
"I didn't get any advance information about this. Sengoku notified me to come, saying there'd be big news here today. As for what it was, how it would be handled, or who was involved—I knew nothing. That's the truth."
"Hah?! Are you joking? Would the Marines voluntarily expose this? Are they all idiots? Don't they realize how devastating this will be to their reputation?"
Morgans lit another cigarette, gripping his camera, his voice tinged with an indescribable excitement.
"Just keep watching. And shut your mouth—unless you want your Black Market Industry exposed by me. I need to focus on recording this major event. I have a feeling this could be the start of a massive upheaval for the entire Marines!"
The underworld boss bit down harder on his cigar and chuckled.
"Well, I'll be watching with great interest! But in this situation, Sengoku alone probably can't handle—"
Before the underworld boss could finish his sentence, towering figures began filing into the courtroom through every entrance.
The previously tumultuous scene instantly fell into silence.
Morgans' voice, trembling with excitement, called out the names of those figures one by one.
"Marine Hero Garp! Black Arm Zephyr! Kizaru! Akainu! Aokiji! And... Sengoku the Buddha?! Have they brought the entire Marine Headquarters elites here?! Why are so many gathered here today?! What exactly is Sengoku thinking?! No, no! That guy—yes, it must be Jake! Hahaha! This is going to be world-shaking news! Hahaha!"
Watching Morgans suddenly lose his composure, the underworld boss beside him asked in confusion.
"Jake? That brat touted as the future of the Marines, right? Though he's made it into your papers before, compared to the figures present here, that kid clearly isn't qualified to be the center of attention. Why do you think he'll be the focus of this news?"
At this question, Morgans' lips curled into an excited grin as he replied.
"A journalist's intuition. Care to make a bet? 10 million Berries!"
"Keh keh keh, 20 million Berries says that brat won't be the main character today!"
"Deal!"
Down below, as those figures emerged through the gates, the previously roaring crowd froze in place.
Anger and sorrow were instantly suppressed by the overwhelming fear of death.
Had one or two figures of this caliber appeared, they might have continued their furious protests—after all, the Marines were still an official organization unlikely to slaughter people just for voicing dissent.
But when the entire top-tier combat force of the Marine Headquarters appeared simultaneously, doubt began creeping into everyone's hearts.
Surely... they wouldn't actually silence everyone?!
The courtroom fell into complete silence.
This open-air venue capable of holding thousands now stood so quiet that only the footsteps of those few figures could be heard.
The Cloaks of Justice fluttered behind them, casting imposing silhouettes in everyone's vision.
Then, just as the crowd was beginning to waver, Sengoku's voice rang out, filled with deep remorse and guilt:
"This incident represents a failure of our entire Marine force—a failure of all of us who bear the name of Justice, a failure in upholding the trust you've placed in us! We have betrayed your faith and failed to keep our promise of upholding Justice. Therefore, as the Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral, I stand before you today to lead all Marines in offering our sincerest apologies!"
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Sengoku slowly bowed at the waist, offering a formal apology to everyone present.
Following his lead, Garp, Zephyr, Aokiji and even akainu all turned toward the crowd and bowed deeply, expressing their heartfelt remorse.
Witnessing this scene, the civilians' emotions shifted—from initial anger to fear and worry, then to complex feelings of being moved.
Some women even began crying openly, their quiet sobs gradually spreading until the entire venue was filled with the sound of weeping.
Aokiji listened to the cries, his expression unbearably complex.
These wails were similar to those of people of Ohara's, yet carried too many differences.
Kizaru's sunglasses reflected light, obscuring his face from view.
Akainu remained outwardly composed as the weeping echoed around him, but his clenched fists betrayed the turmoil beneath his calm facade.
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