One Piece: Revenge of the Slaves

Silence fell upon the port, only Alistair's voice echoing. No one moved; they waited. More weapons emerged from the ship's hold, twenty at a time, five stacks in total. Then came crates of gunpowder and ammunition.

Everyone swallowed hard, momentarily stunned by the group's unusual abilities and their inaction against Arlong.

Enel sat on the railing, looking down at the "ants," amused. Their struggles were insignificant; he wouldn't bother watching. But Alistair's actions were interesting. Would these ants fight for themselves or continue to cower? Their choices determined their fate; Enel, like a god, saw their future, finding it satisfying. The Marines saw it too.

"Hey, stop! Sending them against the fish-men is suicide! They're civilians! Uncuff me; I swear I won't run; let me fight!" Smoker shouted, believing Alistair was toying with the villagers.

"Shut up and watch," Alistair said calmly. "Watch what true justice is."

Smoker's words solidified Genzo's resolve.

"I suspected it; the Navy is useless. As a man, I'm weak," his voice resonated. "Even once…I don't want to burden Nami anymore!"

He showed surprising resolve, loading his musket.

"Genzo!" Nojiko tried to stop him. "Nami wouldn't want this! It's suicide! Don't waste her efforts!"

As she shouted, others emerged, taking up muskets.

"Doctor!" she cried, seeing the old man. "Even you?!"

"Even an old man has pride," he said.

"Me too," a man echoed Genzo, loading his musket. "You helped us; we would have died years ago. This is repayment."

A family of four, including two underage boys, joined them.

"Even if I can't fight, I'll help," a girl, barely ten, said, struggling with a musket.

"Idiots, we're not doing this for Nami!" a rebellious boy said, playing with a fine musket. "We're fighting for ourselves!"

"That's right," Genzo said, shouldering his musket, looking at the growing number of people. "This isn't for Nami, it's our fight; we're risking our lives; we won't burden a child anymore!"

Nojiko knelt, covering her mouth, tears streaming; she felt the same; seeing her mother die had made her afraid to gamble. Neither she nor Nami dared gamble anymore. But now, they spoke their minds; they wouldn't be anyone's gamble; they were fighting for themselves, not Nami or money.

"I think I understand," Robin said, beside Alistair, watching the dwindling weapons.

"Right?" Alistair grinned, his joyful expression unwavering. "Tashigi, do you understand justice now?"

Tashigi stammered, "I think so, but…Mr. Alistair, why wouldn't the Navy help?"

"They lack a conscience," Alistair shrugged.

"Hey," Smoker and Hina shouted, confused why Alistair wouldn't let them fight Arlong. Anyone on the ship, including Robin, could easily defeat Arlong Park's fish-men. Yet, he chose the most difficult, improbable option—inspiring the villagers to fight. Why?

Smoker asked gravely.

"Because…there's no savior," Alistair replied softly, then loudly, "Hey, these muskets aren't enough to defeat Arlong! I have a plan; want to hear it?" He captured everyone's attention.

They looked at the man who gave them weapons and guidance; they had no other choice. They stopped working, listening.

Alistair: "You do this, then that, finally…then…it's done. What do you think?"

Everyone gasped. But after the initial surprise…

The plan…seemed feasible?!

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