"You should have understood that this would happen. If you had prevented them from becoming pirates in the first place, none of this would have occurred. This is not Akainu's fault, the blame lies with you, and you failed as their grandfather!" shouted Sengoku in anger.
Sengoku's words left Garp stunned in his tracks. After a few seconds, Garp loosened his clenched fists, and he seemed to lose all his strength.
As Sengoku pointed out, if Garp had guided them to become Marines, none of this tragedy would have unfolded. It was all his own fault.
Pirates and Marines are eternal enemies. Either pirates die at the hands of the Marines or the Marines die at the hands of pirates. Sooner or later, Luffy, Ace, and the others would have faced this fate.
Sengoku continued, "This was their own choice, their decision to become pirates. They should be accountable for their actions. If they lacked the strength and were killed, it's their own doing. Even if Ace was executed during the Summit War, I orchestrated it. If you have any grievances, Garp, come at me."
"I'm warning you, Garp, that if Ace were in my custody, I would still carry out his public execution," Sengoku declared firmly.
After finishing his words, Sengoku released his grip on Garp, giving the impression that he was challenging Garp to confront him.
Throughout all of this, Sengoku remained the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, willing to pay any price to ensure that justice prevailed.
However, Garp couldn't accept this reality. And if he couldn't accept it, he could no longer continue serving as a Vice Admiral in the Marines.
The Marines didn't need a Vice Admiral who couldn't uphold the ideals of justice and the responsibilities that came with it.
Everyone watched this scene with nervousness, fearing that Garp would attack Sengoku.
But the anticipated confrontation did not occur. After hearing Sengoku's words, Garp calmed down. The news of Ace's death and the possibility of Luffy's death had clouded his judgment earlier.
However, as he regained his composure, Garp understood that neither Sengoku nor Akainu were at fault. If anyone had to be blamed, it was himself. He blamed himself for not preventing Ace and Luffy from setting sail as pirates, and for not making them stronger.
He realized that no one else could be held accountable for their deaths. Only themselves, only him.
However, he couldn't bring himself to forgive Akainu.
Garp lowered his gaze, refusing to look at Sengoku or Akainu. He stood silently in his place, not doing or saying anything, like an ordinary old man.
Sengoku felt a slight sense of relief seeing Garp's calmer state. If Garp had remained unable to regain his composure, Sengoku would have had to suspend or even dismiss him from duty, which would have been a great loss for the Marines.
The Marines still needed Garp's strength, they needed this Marine hero.
Things returned to a state of calm, which relieved the entire Marine force. However, their emotions did not settle completely because everything they witnessed in the footage was still in the future. Garp's grandson was already out at sea, and perhaps this entire scenario would play out for real.
Upon seeing that Garp had given up on the conflict, Akainu didn't provoke him any further. He simply snorted coldly, clutched his fists, and looked up at the frozen frame of himself striking Garp's grandson.
A trace of killing intent flashed in Akainu's eyes.
The tainted bloodline must be completely eradicated!
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick, the Whitebeard Pirates were in tears. They found it difficult to accept the final moments and words of Ace before his death.
They never expected that Ace would actually die in the Summit War, and especially not at the hands of Akainu.
"Darn it!"
"That despicable Akainu! He killed Ace using such means, I will never forgive him!"
"We must show this guy what we're capable of. Not only did he injure our old man, but he also killed Ace! This grudge must be avenged!"
"This matter cannot be left unresolved. The Marines actually schemed against us. Do they think the Whitebeard Pirates are easy to mess with?"
"You're right, we can't let this slide. We can't let them strike first. We must take the initiative, or else the situation in this footage will become a reality!"
"Old man, what should we do? We'll follow your lead!"
...
The Whitebeard Pirates were filled with righteous indignation, their emotions boiling like a pot about to explode.
When they learned of the Marine's sinister plot against them, they had already been suppressing their anger.
Now, witnessing everything that transpired in the footage, their anger erupted completely after Ace's death.
........................
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