As the solemn military music began to play, the entire square instantly fell silent.
Under the gaze of tens of thousands, a tall, straight figure slowly appeared at the end of the red carpet.
Tatsuki.
He had changed into a brand-new white Rear Admiral uniform, draped with the coat of justice symbolic of flag officer status. On his collar, the golden star insignia reflected a dazzling light under the sun.
He wasn't wearing his military cap. His blond hair was slightly tousled by the sea breeze, and his face wore a gentle, humble smile. His pace was neither fast nor slow, each step steady and firm.
'Hurry up, hurry up...'
While wearing a perfect, professional smile on his face, Tatsuki was inwardly cursing up a storm.
'My over 300,000 Violation Points are still waiting for my attention. The lottery! That's much more interesting than sunbathing here.'
'Fleet Admiral Kong is really something, insisting on this whole live broadcast for the entire force. Damn, playing the hero is exhausting, my face is about to cramp from smiling.'
'What should I say when I get up there? How about "I have a dream"? No, too cliché. I'll just copy a couple of lines of righteous nonsense, these passionate fools are the easiest to fool anyway.'
Muttering to himself internally, he walked straight ahead without looking sideways, ascended the platform, stood before Kong, and saluted flawlessly.
"Tatsuki!"
Kong stood up, personally adjusted the star insignia on Tatsuki's collar, and his voice echoed throughout Marineford.
"Your merits need no further elaboration from me! The capture of Shiki was bought with your life and courage! It is the Marines' glory, and the world's victory!"
"Today, on behalf of the World Government and Marine Headquarters, I bestow this honor upon you!"
"From this moment, you are Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral—'Child of the Storm' Tatsuki!"
Below, an earth-shattering wave of applause and cheers instantly erupted.
"Rear Admiral Tatsuki!"
"Rear Admiral Tatsuki!"
Countless Marines raised their arms and shouted.
Tatsuki turned around, facing the sea of young, naive, energetic, and adoring faces below. In his eyes, they automatically transformed into walking "experience packs".
'Tch, so many people.'
Tatsuki's heart was utterly unmoved.
He raised his hand and gently pressed it downward. With this simple gesture, the cheers that could have lifted the roof miraculously subsided within a few seconds.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the newly-minted legendary hero to speak.
Tatsuki cleared his throat, his eyes becoming deep and sincere.
"Gentlemen."
Tatsuki's voice, amplified by the den den mushi speaker, spread throughout Marineford, and even through the visual den den mushi, to Marine branches all over the world.
"Some ask me, what is justice?"
He paused, reaching out to touch the brand-new Rear Admiral insignia on his chest.
"Is it this golden medal?"
"Is it this white uniform?"
"Or is it the achievement of defeating a legendary pirate like Shiki?"
Below the stage, it was completely silent. Everyone was listening with bated breath.
"No, none of these."
Tatsuki shook his head, his voice suddenly rising with a soul-piercing intensity.
"This sea is too dark. Pirates are like locusts, impossible to eradicate. Crime grows like weeds. Our efforts seem meaningless. Many are afraid, have grown cold, have retreated."
"Some even say there is corruption within the World Government itself, that our justice is not pure, that justice is merely a plaything in the hands of the strong."
Sengoku's expression changed slightly. He was about to say something, but Tsuru beside him pressed the back of his hand.
"Don't rush, let him finish." Tsuru said, a glint of insight in her eyes.
Tatsuki took a step forward, his hands gripping the edges of the podium tightly, as if suppressing a burning fire in his chest.
"Perhaps they are all right! But is this a reason for us to give up?"
"No!"
"I refuse to drift aimlessly in this indifferent world!"
"I hope..."
He took a deep breath and roared out the declaration that would be enough to be recorded in Marine history.
"To use my own two hands to create a true era of justice!"
"I hope our Marine youth can all shake off the cold air and just walk upward! There's no need to listen to the words of those who abandon themselves to despair!"
"Let those who can act, act! Let those who can speak out, speak out!"
"If you have a spark of heat, emit a ray of light!"
"Even like a firefly, you can emit a little light in the darkness, without waiting for a torch!"
"If after all, there is no torch, may we be that sole light!"
"For justice!!!"
After uttering these words, he suddenly struck his chest and saluted solemnly once more.
Silence.
The entire Marineford fell into a deathly stillness.
Whether it was the Admirals and Fleet Admiral on the stage or the tens of thousands of Marines below, everyone's minds were left blank by these words.
Shake off the cold air... become that sole light...
This... what a noble awakening! What a fervent soul!
"Sniff... Sniffle..."
Someone, somewhere, was the first to start crying.
Immediately, the suppressed emotions exploded.
Countless young Marines' eyes reddened, tears welling up. They felt the blood in their bodies ignite at this moment, wishing they could charge into the New World right now to fight pirates with their lives.
"Roar!"
"Rear Admiral Tatsuki!"
"Justice! Justice!"
In the ranks below, Borsalino's sunglasses slid to the tip of his nose. He tilted his head and muttered, "Is this the terror of the cultured? I have this strange urge to go work overtime."
"Pretty passionate stuff," Kuzan scratched his head.
The sleepiness that had nearly consumed him was replaced by a glimmer of light in his eyes. "Shake off the cold air... walk upward, huh."
Sakazuki adjusted his cap brim. No one saw the curve of his lips, but the muscles in his arms, crossed over his chest, were taut, clearly indicating his inner turmoil.
On the high platform.
Even Vice Admiral Tsuru, known for her calmness, couldn't help but show a gratified smile. "His ideological awareness is high, he's a promising seedling. With proper nurturing, he might truly change the Marines' ethos in the future."
Sengoku pushed up his glasses. Behind the lenses, his eyes were already red. He looked at Tatsuki's straight back, as if seeing the hope of the Marine's future.
'What a brilliant heart of justice!'
Zephyr was even more moved to tears. He clenched his fists tightly, looking at his most accomplished student, his heart filled with unparalleled pride.
Only Garp was out of the loop. Still picking his nose, he asked Sengoku beside him in confusion, "Hey, Sengoku, what did he say? Why are all these kids crying? Did Tatsuki say something so harsh it made them cry?"
"Get lost!" Sengoku punched Garp on the head, raising a big lump.