Robin covered her mouth, staring at Saul's frozen figure in disbelief.
His words echoed in her mind. She clenched her lips shut, holding back the sobs, then turned and ran away.
Neither of the two Marines made a move to stop her. They simply couldn't bring themselves to kill a little girl who hadn't even reached their knees.
Looking at Saul's ice sculpture, Enel slowly raised his hand.
Kuzan's voice turned cold. "Saul is already dead. What else do you want to do, Enel?"
Enel shot him a sideways look as electricity flared in his hand.
"50,000,000 Volt: Vari."
A bolt of lightning surged out from his arm, turning into a huge pillar several meters thick that blasted down on Saul's body.
Under the intense voltage, the frozen giant began to dissolve. His corpse slowly charred into a black, unrecognizable lump.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Suddenly, a massive bird made of ice swooped toward Enel and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
"Hino Bird Zap!"
In response to the attack, another phoenix-shaped bird made of pure lightning burst forth, tearing through the ice construct and charging straight at Kuzan.
But the vice admiral didn't flinch. He instantly condensed a frost blade in his hand, coated it with Haki, and sliced the electrical creature apart.
Meanwhile, the ice bird that had been passed through was beginning to melt from the lingering heat. With a casual swing, Enel's gold ornaments morphed into a long staff, which he slammed down to shatter what remained of the melting structure.
He twirled the golden weapon and looked across at Kuzan. "Vice Admiral, attacking a fellow officer? Planning to defect from the Marines too?"
Kuzan's face was icy. "Saul is dead. There's no need to humiliate him like that."
Enel replied indifferently, "Consider it a warning, Vice Admiral Kuzan. Some things are not for you to interfere with. You should know your place.
"When that traitor raised a warship and dropped it on another ship full of Marines, why was your first instinct to save him, instead of the soldiers?
"If you do that again, the one coming next time won't be me. It'll be Uncle Sakazuki. And you don't want to face him, do you?"
The vice admiral didn't speak, but from beneath his feet, a layer of frost started spreading outward, revealing his inner unrest.
Enel snorted at the sight, not caring about the man's emotions. As for why he could speak so arrogantly, because even two Kuzans together wouldn't be enough to stop him.
In terms of background, he had Sakazuki, Morris, and Vegapunk supporting him. At most, Kuzan could count on Garp.
When it came to ability, his Rumble-Rumble Fruit was a natural counter to the Ice-Ice Fruit. Add to that his rigorous childhood training, and the man didn't stand a chance.
The sole reason Enel was still just a Rear Admiral was his age and Morris's protection. Otherwise, he would've been promoted to Vice Admiral long ago.
So he didn't bother being polite to someone acting foolish.
"Think it over carefully, Vice Admiral Kuzan."
With that, he vanished in a flash of lightning, returning to Sakazuki's warship.
* * *
Aboard Sakazuki's ship.
Enel reformed beside Sakazuki.
The two stood side by side, silently watching the island in the distance as it burned under the endless barrage of cannon fire, turning the sky blood red.
A long while later, Enel muttered, "That evacuation ship..."
Sakazuki gave him a glance. "You couldn't hold it in anymore, huh? Why do you think it happened?"
Enel thought for a few seconds. "Because they broke the law?"
The vice admiral agreed. "It's part of it. In this sea, no one has the right to question the government's legitimacy.
"They knew it was forbidden and still went ahead with it. They defied the law, crossed the line, all in pursuit of some empty ideal. They lived in a fantasy, and in the end, dragged an entire island down with them.
"But that's not the main point. You know what a Buster Call is, right?"
Enel responded, "It's a government-authorized operation, formed by Marine Headquarters. It targets a designated area and launches an indiscriminate, destructive assault. Its purpose is to completely eliminate anything or anyone that poses a threat to the government's rule."
Sakazuki nodded. "Looks like you paid attention in the academy. Yes. An indiscriminate attack, wiping out all people and things that threaten the government. But now that you've seen today's Buster Call in action, what did you think of its power?"
Enel frowned slightly. "For a strong person, destroying a Buster Call fleet would take no more than a moment."
"Indeed," Sakazuki said. "To the powerful, it's nothing, but how many possess that kind of strength?
"This world is made up of ninety-nine percent ordinary people. Admirals, Emperors… those names may not mean much in the Four Blues.
"For the average man, the scariest person they might ever meet is the town butcher. They can't even begin to imagine the power of the strong. But if you park ten warships in front of their door, what do you think they'll feel? What about twenty? Forty?"
Gradually, Enel understood. "They'll be terrified. And with fear... comes control."
Sakazuki let out a grunt of approval. "Mhm, that's the real purpose. The Buster Call was never meant to exist purely for destruction. It has just one purpose. Deterrence.
"Because it's so brutal, so merciless, it becomes a tool of fear. And only by fear can it suppress that ninety-nine percent of the population.
"Even though the world has newspapers and communication channels, none of that helps people truly understand the terror of the powerful. But they do know what it feels like when cannon shells land around them. If we let them go, you see what would happen?"
Enel took a deep breath. "The weapon that keeps the sea in check would be ruined. No matter what explanation we offer, no one will trust it. People only believe what they want to believe."
Sakazuki affirmed, "That's right. If even one of them escapes, that same day, countless shameless newspapers will start publishing stories that the myth of the Buster Call has been broken. Don't count on any of them to have a conscience. In any era, that's impossible.
"And once a weapon meant to deter the world and uphold the government loses its effect, the consequences will be unimaginable. Besides, if we don't handle it, the government will send someone who will. When that happens, it becomes a failure of the Marines. Someone has to take the blame."
Just then, Kuzan stepped forward. He had arrived earlier, intending to quietly listen to what Sakazuki would say. But hearing everything, he found himself lost.
After a pause, he finally spoke, "Isn't there any other way?"
Sakazuki chuckled softly without turning around.
"Another way? This world doesn't work the way you want it to. For them, there are just two outcomes—life or death. And maybe... death is the kinder option. Because life would mean endless suffering.
"If they were to live, releasing them into the sea isn't possible. The government won't allow it. Sending them to Impel Down is out of the question. That leaves only one path: to be transferred to a labor camp."
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