"You—!" The judge was so infuriated by Xayuki's excuse that he nearly spat blood. Sitting beside him, Fleet Admiral Sengoku silently shook his head, his gaze complex as he looked at the defendant.
The officers who had been implicated in Xayuki's schemes breathed collective sighs of relief before lifting grateful eyes toward him.
Suppressing his rage, the judge spoke in a measured tone: "The amount you've embezzled is enough to send you through the Gates of Justice to Enies Lobby. Think carefully before answering. If you cooperate with our investigation and reveal all officers involved, we will consider reducing your sentence!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Xayuki replied firmly: "No one else was involved!"
"Good, good, good." The judge repeated three times, then picked up another document and said coldly: "Last year, you approved a requisition for 3,000 tons of steak from the quartermaster for your subordinates. Don't tell me you ate it all yourself!"
"Yes!" Xayuki nodded again. "I have a very large appetite."
Stunned that Xayuki would dare claim such an absurdity, the judge suddenly rose to his feet, eyes bulging with rage. "Xayuki, are you really determined to shoulder all blame yourself? If this is the outcome you desire, then I shall grant your wish!"
"Guards, take Xayuki into custody and prepare to transport him to Enies Lobby first thing tomorrow morning!"
"Judge!"
Hearing the order, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who had been sitting silently beside him, suddenly turned his head and spoke with commanding authority: "This matter requires further investigation. Do not be hasty in delivering a final verdict!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the facts of this case are crystal clear!"
The judge waved dismissively. "If you hadn't been dozing off just now, you would have heard everything. Xayuki has confessed to all charges. The evidence is irrefutable—no further investigation is needed!"
After a brief pause, the judge suddenly raised his gavel and brought it down with thunderous force. "Marine Vice Admiral Xayuki, for embezzling 200 billion Belly in public funds and bribing numerous Headquarters officers, I, representing the World Government's Ministry of Justice, hereby sentence you to death. You will be transported to Enies Lobby for execution tomorrow!"
The moment these words left his mouth, the courtroom erupted into chaos.
Marine officers on both sides of the hall rose almost simultaneously. In the jury section, beyond the two Admirals and two Admiral candidates in the front row, many Vice Admirals seated behind them also stood, looking at the judge in utter disbelief.
"Judge, you have no authority to sentence Vice Admiral Xayuki to death!"
"I confess! Since following Vice Admiral Xayuki, I have received 70 million Belly from him!"
"Anyone who dares take Lord Xayuki away will have to step over my dead body!"
"Lord Xayuki is a good man! If not for him doubling our wages every year, we wouldn't have survived until now. He embezzled for our sake!"
As one officer after another spoke out, the courtroom descended into complete disorder. Two officers even seized the opportunity to rush to the defendant's stand, attempting to free Xayuki!
"Good, good, good!"
Watching the sudden uproar, the judge narrowed all six eyes simultaneously and shouted with undisguised triumph: "Vice Admiral Xayuki, do you see now? These are all proofs of your crimes. Not only did you embezzle and accept bribes, but you also formed factions and cliques. Now, not even Commander-in-Chief Kong himself can save you!"
"My, my, how terrifying~"
At that moment, Admiral Borsalino, seated in the front row of the jury, slowly rose to his feet. An overwhelming pressure radiated from him, instantly silencing the chaotic courtroom.
Without raising his head, Borsalino waited for quiet to descend. Then, lazily glancing at his wristwatch, he drawled: "Time's up. I'm off duty."
With that, he turned and walked out without a second glance.
Seeing this, Admiral Sakazuki also stood. His piercing gaze swept across all officers present before he frowned slightly and declared in his deep, authoritative voice: "This is a courtroom. Silence! Xayuki's embezzlement is fact, and the evidence is conclusive. This matter ends here. Anyone who dares to disrupt proceedings will face my wrath!"
After delivering this warning, Sakazuki turned and quickly followed Borsalino out of the courtroom.
Simultaneously, Admiral candidate Tokikake rose from his seat. He cast a brief glance at Xayuki, who was now surrounded protectively by several officers, then silently turned and departed.
With two Admirals and one Admiral candidate having left in succession, the Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals in the jury also stood and exited in orderly fashion.
In moments, the jury seats were nearly empty, with only Admiral candidate Gion remaining.
Gion did not leave. Instead, as all eyes turned to her, she slowly rose and spoke with measured calm: "Judge, Xayuki's embezzlement and collaboration with bounty hunters are established facts. We have no objections to you handling these matters according to law. However, baseless accusations cannot be made lightly! If Vice Admiral Xayuki is guilty of forming factions, then I must be counted among his accomplices. After all, every time I went on a mission over these years, it was Xayuki who cared for my family!"
She glanced briefly at Xayuki before sweeping her gaze over the officers who had rushed to his defense. "Please, everyone, remain calm. Unless an order comes directly from Mariejois, no one can sentence Vice Admiral Xayuki to death without the Fleet Admiral's approval. I stake my entire future on this promise!"
"If anyone dares abuse their authority to falsely accuse Vice Admiral Xayuki of forming factions, not only will I oppose it—the sword at my waist will have something to say as well!"
The tumult subsided thanks to Gion's powerful words and the departure of the two Admirals.
Faced with Gion's status and Sengoku's telling silence, the judge dared not make further outrageous claims. He ordered Xayuki to be detained pending further proceedings, and the trial quietly concluded.
By evening.
In the solitary confinement cell of Marine Headquarters' prison, Xayuki sat cross-legged on the floor. He surveyed his surroundings before shaking his head with a bitter smile.
When the Internal Affairs Division first began investigating him, he had already anticipated what would follow.
At that time, colleagues at Headquarters had contacted him, urging him to flee Marineford before the investigation concluded. But he had refused.
He knew that escaping would brand him a deserter, making him a fugitive with a World Government bounty on his head.
More importantly, after years building his network within Headquarters, he believed that even if found guilty of embezzlement, his connections would ensure he merely lost his rank and served a brief imprisonment.
What he hadn't expected was that Fleet Admiral Sengoku would not oversee the trial. Instead, the World Government had brought in a judge from Enies Lobby.
The moment he saw the three-headed judge—actually three people in disguise—he realized someone was targeting him. While spreading goodwill over the years, he had also disrupted the corrupt schemes of many high-ranking officers.
This meant his situation was no longer about losing rank or serving a brief sentence. Someone wanted him dead.
Clang—
Suddenly, the iron door of the prison corridor swung open.
A group of seven or eight Marine officers—Captains and Commodores—filed in.
"Lord Xayuki!"
"Vice Admiral Xayuki!"
Upon reaching his cell, the officers stood at attention and saluted with perfect form.
The leading officer, visibly emotional, stepped forward and gripped the iron bars. "Lord Xayuki, I've just received word. The Holy Land sent the judge from Enies Lobby because Spandam, the head of CP9, colluded with him. Their goal is to see you dead."
"Spandam?" Xayuki raised an eyebrow.
He had suspected Vice Admiral Onigumo or other officers who had clashed with him over the years. Spandam's involvement caught him completely off guard.
Now that this name had surfaced, everything clicked into place.
Though CP9 had few members, it operated as a direct subordinate of the World Government, equal in rank to the Marines.
What mattered was that CP9 and the Marines maintained close collaboration, with CP9 often relying on Marine assistance to complete missions. Over time, a complex web of shared interests had formed—particularly in the trading of ranks and positions.
Spandam was a man who would stop at nothing for advancement. Over the years, his collaboration with the Marines had brought him immense profits. But as Xayuki rose through the ranks and gained influence, many Marine officers abandoned Spandam and aligned themselves with Xayuki instead.
Faced with this threat to his power, Spandam would naturally seek to eliminate him by any means necessary.
Of course, Spandam wasn't acting alone. Many Marine officers were undoubtedly complicit in this plot.
"Lord Xayuki!"
As Xayuki fell silent, the officer gripping the bars suddenly raised his head, his expression burning with fervor. "They will stop at nothing to frame you and send you to Enies Lobby for execution. Rather than waiting for death, we should strike first!"
"Yes! Just give the order, and we will follow you through fire and water!"
Hearing this, Xayuki slowly raised his head, his gaze sharp as a blade as he studied the officers standing outside his cell.
At that precise moment—
Ding-dong—
A crisp sound echoed in his mind, followed by a series of notifications:
"Good deeds bring good fortune, love given returns as love received!"
"Congratulations, Host! Your years of effort have finally paid off. The Choice System has been successfully activated!"
"Detection: All Marines who have benefited from your kindness are sharpening their blades, preparing to break you out of prison."
"You now have two choices!"
"Option 1: Wait for your subordinates to break you out. Reward: One escape warship!"
"Option 2: Launch a mutiny and seize the position of Fleet Admiral. Reward: All abilities you currently possess will be elevated to their maximum potential!"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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