Chapter 76
Seeing signs that Kuzan's psychological defenses were starting to crumble, Victor continued. Of course, Victor's words were only the fuse—the main issue was Kuzan himself.
"No rush. Look at Ohara right in front of you. Just because they researched the Void Century, the World Government wants to erase them." "Do you think the World Government's orders are right? Are the people of Ohara innocent?" "Did they murder anyone? Set fires? Attack the World Government?"
Victor kept adding pressure to Kuzan's psyche—he didn't care if Kuzan could handle it.
At this moment, cold sweat covered Kuzan's forehead and face, flowing uncontrollably.
His furrowed brows never relaxed—in fact, they tightened even more.
"Kuzan, is your justice blindly carrying out orders from above?" "Though Sakazuki does that very well." "If the World Government tells you to kill, you kill? If they tell you to destroy an island, you destroy it?" "If one day the World Government ordered you to destroy a country—including its innocent civilians—would you still follow orders?"
Victor looked at Kuzan's face, which seemed on the verge of crumpling, and spoke mercilessly.
Nico Robin, listening nearby, understood. She looked at Victor's tall back with感动.
To Nico Robin, Victor seemed to be glowing—his imposing figure began to take root in her heart.
Hearing these words, Kuzan felt inner torment and pain.
"Stop talking—"
Kuzan seemed unable to bear Victor's words any longer and shouted explosively.
But after shouting, Kuzan began breathing heavily, as if he had just fought a battle.
"Fine, I'll stop. I didn't expect you, Kuzan, to be so fragile."
Victor couldn't resist teasing Kuzan.
"You."
Kuzan's face immediately turned red upon hearing this.
"Then let's change the topic." "Do you think there's justice in me?"
Victor asked again.
Kuzan immediately fell silent.
How was he supposed to answer that?
If he said yes—Victor was a pirate, unconstrained, known in people's mouths as vicious and evil.
If he said no—Victor had saved many people, saved Zephyr's family, and now was saving innocent people from Ohara.
Saving those who should be saved—wasn't that justice?
For a moment, Kuzan fell into deeper conflict.
"You're not speaking—that means you acknowledge it. It means you recognize the bit of justice in me."
Victor didn't wait for Kuzan's answer, but from his expression, he already knew it.
How could Kuzan say it out loud?
Kuzan's mouth moved several times, but he ultimately remained silent.
"Fine. Seeing you like this, I'll give you some space to think it over yourself." "When you slowly see the world clearly, you'll know what you should do."
Victor looked at Kuzan's expression and knew that deep down, Kuzan still held hope for his own justice.
Kuzan had only begun to doubt—for now. Eventually, those doubts would gather into a final answer and shatter the illusions in his heart.
Kuzan said nothing, just looked toward the battlefield.
Barrels and Sakazuki had been fighting for half the day without a clear winner.
But Barrels was having an absolute blast.
Victor took out food, handed a piece to Nico Robin who was following closely, and tossed a large meat-on-bone to Kuzan.
Kuzan instinctively caught the large meat stick, his expression immediately freezing.
Victor munched on meat in big bites while watching the battlefield, even pulling out fine wine to drink.
Kuzan also instinctively brought the meat stick to his mouth and started eating heartily.
When he came to his senses, he had already finished the meat on the bone, leaving only a large bone in his hand.
And right at that moment, they all heard a voice.
"What kind of nonsense is this? A Navy Vice Admiral listening to a pirate's lecture?" "What a joke. Might as well go home and read more books."
A Navy officer on the nearest warship spoke with great disdain.
"S-sorry for the disturbance." ×3
Victor, Kuzan, and Nico Robin all stood up and apologized.
The three immediately froze.
Victor and Kuzan felt incredibly awkward.
"Ahem, Kuzan, remember to read more books when you get back."
Victor said confidently.
"Hmph, I'm talking about you."
Kuzan wasn't about to back down.
After that, they fell silent again.
They both looked toward the battlefield.
"Ahem, Barrels still relies too much on his fruit ability. The most important things are physical strength and technique." "But when I have time, I'll build Barrels a super Gundam." "Then with his Combine-Combine Fruit, his strength will definitely skyrocket."
Victor watched Barrels, who had transformed into a combined giant on the battlefield, and still shook his head.
Using the fruit ability like this was a huge drain on stamina—no wonder he was eventually captured by the Navy.
At this moment, Barrels had turned into a combined giant, even swallowing part of Ohara's island.
But Sakazuki wasn't pushover either—using his Magma-Magma Fruit, he fought Barrels to a standstill.
As their battle expanded, Ohara was completely covered in Sakazuki's magma range.
Only the area where Victor and Kuzan stood remained untouched.
Oh, and one small person.
Nico Robin was screaming nonstop, crying without pause from fear.
The battle between Barrels and Sakazuki continued until evening before they disengaged.
"Barrels, had your fun? Then let's go."
Victor called out to Barrels on the field.
"Hahaha, that was satisfying."
Barrels heard Victor's call and without hesitation leaped back to Victor's side in a few bounds.
Sakazuki saw this and didn't pursue, instead quickly regrouping the Navy, ready to bombard Barrels at any moment.
"Kuzan, we'll meet again." "Barrels, and Nico Robin—let's go."
With that, Victor flashed with lightning, swept up Barrels and Nico Robin, and instantly vanished from the area.
After Victor and the others left, Kuzan returned to his warship with an expressionless face.
"Victor, Barrels. Damn pirates."
Sakazuki looked in the direction Victor and Barrels had left, seething with anger.
Then he ordered the warships to continue bombarding Ohara, intending to completely destroy it.
"Hmph, Aokiji."
Sakazuki was extremely dissatisfied with Kuzan, who had done nothing.
If Kuzan hadn't stood with Victor—effectively holding him back—Sakazuki would definitely have scolded him further.
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