Chapter Thirty-Five: The Cheers of Justice

At the center of the town square, atop a high platform, Roland stood quietly. To his left was Monka, now a fallen prisoner. Gone was Monka’s previous arrogance; his jaw had been bandaged, and his face was filled with despair. The overwhelming disparity in strength had snapped him out of Zango’s hypnosis in an instant, and he finally recalled what truly happened all those years ago.

On Roland’s right stood the highest-ranking officer currently at the Naval Base, that unshaven Sergeant Major. After the crowd’s ecstatic cheers, the sergeant major spread the news throughout the town, summoning every resident to witness Monka’s downfall together.

“Citizens of the town, from today onward, Monka’s iron-fisted rule has come to an end!” The sergeant’s voice rang out, his excitement evident in the flush of his cheeks as he gazed at the sea of people below.

With this formal announcement, the townspeople finally accepted the reality of Monka’s defeat and erupted into jubilant celebration.

“It’s finally over—we don’t have to live in fear anymore!”

“This is wonderful! From now on, all the money we earn will be ours. No more tributes to Monka!”

“No more Monka, no more Berumebo the spoiled brat. Shells Town will only grow better and better from here!”

The cheers swept across the entire island, reaching even the pirate ship anchored at the harbor.

Listening to the jubilant cries from the island, Koby felt dazed, murmuring to himself, “So this is Mr. Roland’s true strength?”

He had only just set foot on the island, and already Roland had liberated Shells Town from Monka’s grasp. When Roland spoke of defeating Krieg, Koby had been amazed, but hearing such tales was never the same as witnessing the aftermath firsthand.

This time was different. Roland had toppled Monka immediately upon arrival—even if Koby hadn’t seen the actual fight, the result spoke volumes about Roland’s power.

Unbeknownst to Roland, his actions only deepened Koby’s admiration and strengthened his resolve to follow this man. People are all the same—if they cannot be strong themselves, they seek to follow those who are.

Those who yearn to be pirates follow the mightiest pirates; those who wish to serve in the navy naturally seek a powerful leader.

As the thunderous cheers of the islanders filled the sky, Koby’s heart surged with emotion, his determination to become a righteous marine growing ever firmer.

These cheers belonged to justice.

Back on the island, many townsfolk were moved to tears—tears born of overwhelming emotion. Among them were Old Smith Nus, and the tailor’s assistant whose jaw had nearly dropped to the floor upon seeing Roland.

Years ago, their small town had welcomed a new naval hero, Lieutenant Monka. In their innocence, they believed their home would become one of the safest islands in the East Blue.

But as time passed and Monka’s rank rose, the title of hero became ever more distant from him. No one knew exactly when Shells Town slipped into a state of dictatorship.

Back then, the townspeople never dared to imagine Monka’s downfall. To them, a branch colonel was as mighty as the heavens themselves.

Until today, when the arrival of a single young man changed everything.

With Monka’s fall, peace and prosperity would return to Shells Town.

“Do you hear it? This is the cheer of justice!” Roland glanced at the sergeant beside him, and at Monka, who stood hollow-eyed, and smiled.

“The word ‘justice’ has nothing to do with strength or weakness—it lives in your heart. If you spend your days cowering in fear, you dishonor the very word, and the cloak you wear.”

Roland believed the sergeant was still salvageable, given that he had ultimately chosen to stand with him against Monka. At least, in the face of hope, he had not turned away.

That was why Roland spoke those words—to encourage him to maintain his sense of justice.

“I understand,” the sergeant replied, bowing his head in shame.

There was no justifying the things that had happened—after all, they themselves had betrayed the ideals of justice.

“The cheer of justice…” Monka raised his head, gazing in a daze at the townspeople below the platform.

He still remembered, when he first joined the navy, he too had been a youth with a heart full of justice. But somewhere along the way, his heart had changed.

Supreme power, great fame—he had been intoxicated by them, lost in flattery, and gradually strayed from his path.

Even though he had been hypnotized, Monka could not forget all he had done over the years.

Now, facing death, he felt a strange sense of relief.

After all the wrongs he had committed, death was only fitting.

“May I ask—what will become of Berumebo, my son?” Monka inquired, forcing the words through the pain in his jaw. Not seeing his foolish son on the platform filled him with guilt.

Lost in power, he had neglected his son’s upbringing, allowing Berumebo to grow into an arrogant and domineering man. But now, with his own end near and Berumebo bereft of his protector, Monka could not help but worry about his son’s fate.

“He will not die. And you will not die here either. I am not yet a navy officer and lack the authority to judge you. Only after I deliver you both to the Navy Base in Loguetown will your sentences be decided,” Roland replied after a brief glance at Monka.

Monka nodded, satisfied with the answer, and fell silent.

This platform was merely meant to show that Monka had been defeated. The true trial would be, as Roland had said, in Loguetown.

A Naval Headquarters colonel trying a branch colonel was well within his rights.

Of course, Roland’s motives were partly personal—he intended to use Monka, Krieg, and Iron Blade to quickly advance his own rank.

Perhaps dealing with Monka alone might seem questionable, but if he had a petition signed by the townspeople, things would be different.

This was pleading on behalf of the people.

It was also the second reason Roland had brought Monka here.

With the petition bearing every townsman’s signature, how could Naval Headquarters possibly cast him to the pirates’ side? That would be opposing the common people.

Even for the sake of appearances, the Navy would never make such a foolish decision.

Watching the sailors busy below, Roland felt content.

With this petition, and the letter he had left himself as a navy undercover agent, joining the navy and receiving a post was well within his reach.

Gin and Jason had already set out to build his intelligence network; it was time for Roland to join the navy as soon as possible.

There was little left to settle in East Blue—join the navy, kill Arlong, then take care of the Black Cat Pirates Monka had reported, and finally set sail for the Grand Line.