Pointing at the image of Roger on the screen, Luffy's voice echoed across the room with unwavering conviction.
"Some say this is all Roger's fault. If it weren't for his words at the moment of his death, the Great Pirate Era would never have begun. Countless people wouldn't have set sail, chasing the dream of the legendary One Piece, and the world wouldn't be in the chaos we see today."
He paused, scanning the faces of his audience before continuing.
"That might be true. Roger's final words undoubtedly ignited the flames, drawing people to the sea in droves, all seeking that elusive treasure. But let's be honest—can we really place all the blame on him? At most, Roger was just adding fuel to a fire that was already smoldering. The blaze would have erupted eventually, with or without him."
With a sharp tap of his pointer, the screen flickered, shifting to display images of Whitebeard and Kaido.
"Let's talk about Whitebeard, the so-called strongest man in the world, and our old acquaintance, Kaido."
The audience stirred at the mention of these infamous names, but Luffy's tone remained steady.
"Whitebeard. The Sea Emperor. One of the Four Emperors. His legend speaks of unrivaled strength and an indomitable will. But how many of you know where he came from? His origins weren't grand or noble. No, Whitebeard was born in a poor village on an island in the New World.
That island, unable to pay the Heavenly Tribute, was denied membership in the World Government. Without their protection, it descended into chaos—a lawless land ruled by pirates and human traffickers. Eventually, it was destroyed, leaving countless children as orphans. Whitebeard was one of them, and in a desperate bid for survival, he chose to become a pirate."
The room fell silent, the weight of Luffy's words settling in.
Turning his pointer toward Kaido's photo, Luffy's gaze softened as it fell on Yamato in the audience.
"Kaido's story is no less tragic. He was born in a small country called Vodka, a member of the World Government. But unlike the powerful member nations, Vodka was impoverished, barely scraping together enough to pay the Heavenly Tribute each year.
To make up for the shortfall, the kingdom waged wars against its neighbors, plundering what little they had. In this brutal environment, Kaido joined the army at a young age. By the time he was ten, he was the strongest warrior in the kingdom, leading his nation to victory time and again."
Luffy's voice grew heavy as he revealed the betrayal. "But at thirteen, despite his loyalty and achievements, the king of Vodka conspired to sell Kaido to the Marines in a bid to secure the kingdom's right to attend the Reverie. Betrayed by the very country he fought to protect, Kaido managed to escape, but not before being branded a criminal and given a 70-million Berries bounty."
His voice lowered, almost a whisper. "At fifteen, he joined the Rocks Pirates, beginning his journey as a pirate."
Yamato's eyes widened as she listened. The heroic figure Luffy described was unrecognizable to her—a stark contrast to the cruel and tyrannical father she had always known. Conflicted, she found herself leaning in, captivated by Luffy's words.
The pointer tapped softly against Luffy's palm as he paced across the stage, his voice thoughtful yet piercing.
"Do you think Whitebeard and Kaido were born evil? Were they destined to become pirates from the moment they took their first breaths? Did they come into this world with malice in their hearts, ready to commit atrocities?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and unanswerable.
Zoro lowered his head, gripping the hilts of his swords. Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke as he stared at the darkened ceiling. Usopp clenched his fists, tension visible in his posture. Among the Marines, Ain, Cook, and Darius exchanged hesitant glances, each wrestling with their own thoughts.
When no one spoke, Luffy answered for them.
"No. They weren't born pirates, nor were they born evil. They weren't destined to become the feared emperors of the seas. The truth is simpler and far more tragic—they were shaped by the injustices they endured."
Luffy's voice rose, filled with righteous anger. "And who is responsible for those injustices? Can we keep blaming Roger for all of this? No!"
He paused, drawing a deep breath before delivering his conclusion.
"It's the corrupt king and nobles. It's our fallen Marine comrades who turn a blind eye to suffering. It's the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, who sit high above us, treating ordinary people as expendable tools!"
He slammed the pointer against the podium, his gaze piercing through the room.
"And here we are, upholding justice. But is it truly justice if we only help those deemed worthy by the World Government? Are the citizens of non-member nations any less human than those under the Government's protection? Why do we allow these rules, written by fools, to dictate who deserves salvation?"
Though Luffy didn't name them, everyone knew who he was talking about. The Celestial Dragons, the so-called gods of the world, were the ones pulling the strings, enforcing these cruel and arbitrary rules.
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