One Piece: Marine's Justice

The Kingdom of Flevance was just one of over a hundred nations affiliated with the World Government. Even its own royal family had chosen to abandon it, so why would the World Government expend any effort to save hundreds of thousands of so-called expendable lives?

"Huff... Huff…"

Zephyr leaned against the wooden bulkhead of the ship's cabin, breathing heavily. The mere thought that the fall of Flevance was imminent, that hundreds of thousands of lives were about to vanish, left him feeling suffocated, as though the air itself had thickened, threatening to strangle him.

"Cross... can't we do something?" Zephyr asked in a low murmur, his voice tinged with a faint, almost pleading undertone. Whether he was pleading with Cross, or the heavens themselves, was unclear.

As a Marine devoted to justice, Zephyr simply couldn't stand idly by and watch an entire nation die... nine hundred thousand lives lost in silence.

"Sensei, you overestimate me," Cross replied with a bitter laugh, helplessly shaking his head. "What could I possibly do? I won't even set foot on Flevance's soil, for fear I might not be able to stop myself from killing their royal family..."

Suddenly, Cross froze mid-sentence, his expression shifting as a strange thought took hold. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, "Maybe we can't save the country... but we can make sure the ones responsible pay for what they've done."

Zephyr's eyes narrowed. He stared sharply at Cross. "What do you mean?"

"I've got a plan," Cross said, locking eyes with Zephyr without hesitation. "The only question is, will you join me, Sensei?"

"Let's hear it."

"Come closer, please."

Cross beckoned Zephyr toward him. Once the older man leaned in, Cross whispered quietly into his ear:

"Here's the idea. As a high-ranking Marine, you're here to escort the Flevance royal family to the Holy Land, Mariejois, for a summit. Sooner or later, a palace envoy will come to invite you to a banquet. When that happens, we'll..."

...

By early evening, a beige four-horse carriage, drawn by six white stallions and flanked by dozens of armed soldiers, rolled onto the harbor and approached the deck of the warship.

Cross and Zephyr exchanged a glance at the sight of the ornate, almost house-sized vehicle, both wearing expressions of thinly veiled disgust.

"Admiral Zephyr, by order of His Majesty the King, you are cordially invited to attend this evening's banquet."

A palace envoy in a crisp white suit stepped aboard the ship and respectfully presented a beautifully embossed white invitation card from within his breast pocket.

Expressionless, Zephyr reached out and took the invitation, running his fingers over the elegant pattern etched onto its surface. With a heavy sigh, he muttered, "This... is coated with amber lead paint, isn't it? It's beautiful."

With a proud tilt of his chin, the envoy smiled haughtily. "You have a sharp eye, Admiral. Amber lead is the greatest gift the heavens ever bestowed upon our kingdom."

"Heh... How lucky you are," Cross said with a faint smile, his voice laced with something far colder beneath its surface. "To live in such... a beautiful country."

Bestowed from the heavens?

No... Cross thought to himself. More like a Pandora's Box sent by the gods to destroy this land.

"Well then," Zephyr said grimly, gripping the invitation tightly, "since it's His Majesty's invitation, it would be rude to decline."

He turned to Cross. "You're coming with me."

"An honor, Sensei," Cross replied, nodding.

The palace envoy bowed deeply and extended his arm in a gesture of welcome.

Without further ceremony, Zephyr and Cross disembarked and stepped into the grand carriage waiting at the pier.

The carriage's interior was surprisingly spacious. Even a man of Zephyr's towering three-meter height fit comfortably. A small, fixed round table occupied the center, completing the setting with a touch of opulence.

"Hyah!"

The coachman cracked his whip, urging the six mighty stallions forward.

As the carriage moved through the pristine, snow-white streets of Flevance, Cross pulled back the curtain and peered outside.

The kingdom was stunning in the golden light of dusk. Sharp spires dotted the skyline, and the buildings gleamed, coated in that same luminous, crystal-clear amber lead-based paint that shimmered with beauty… and death.

Suddenly, something caught Cross's eye.

A young boy darted down the street, wearing a fuzzy winter hat spotted like a leopard's fur. He had on a pale yellow blazer over a white shirt and red bow tie, with navy shorts and black shoes. In his arms, he clutched a stack of thick books as he sprinted into a large hospital.

"That kid... is that Trafalgar Law?" Cross squinted, narrowing his eyes.

If he wasn't mistaken, the boy was indeed that Trafalgar D. Water Law, one of the future "Worst Generation" and, more tragically, one of the sole survivors of Flevance after its fall.

Cross suddenly thought of his plan. If it works... could it change the fate of the White City?

Could it change Law's fate too?

He remembered the horrors Law had faced in his childhood, watching both his parents shot dead before his eyes, the hospital where his sister lay being set ablaze, the nun who had promised him salvation gunned down alongside all her companions, and the entire kingdom consumed in flames.

Law had only survived by hiding in a mountain of corpses, narrowly escaping past the border.

"Cross? What's wrong?"

Zephyr, who had just closed his eyes to rest, sensed a change in Cross's breathing and opened his eyes in concern.

"It's nothing," Cross replied, shaking his head as he withdrew from the window. "Just thinking about what's coming."

Zephyr fixed Cross with a serious expression. "You don't have to go through with this. You can back out at any time. I'll handle it alone if I have to."

"Don't underestimate me, Sensei," Cross huffed, clearly annoyed. "This plan was my idea."

Time passed. The carriage came to a halt.

A moment later, the palace envoy's voice came from outside.

"Admiral Zephyr, we've arrived at the palace."

Zephyr opened his eyes, and in that instant, a flash of cold, murderous intent flickered across them.

Cross immediately pressed a hand down on his Sensei's arm. "Stay calm."

"Hooo—"

Zephyr let out a deep breath, then rose and stepped out of the carriage.

Cross followed, stepping onto the ground just behind him.

Before them stood a grand beige castle. Its spires soared overhead in a Romanesque style, dignified and majestic, opulent without being ostentatious. Neatly dressed guards stood at attention, radiating noble discipline.

"Please, this way, Admiral."

The palace envoy bowed once more, gesturing for them to follow.

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