Saul was initially stunned, then his expression changed as he remembered someone.
"I never thought the one to block the Buster Call would be a former Vice Admiral. This is truly disgraceful."
Saul and Olvia simultaneously looked in the direction of the voice. Emerging from the coastal forest was a tall figure in a black coat, wearing a headscarf with the Marine emblem, with his hands in his pockets. The man exuded a sharp and cold aura.
Saul's face turned grim at the sight of this figure.
"Why are you here, Kuzan?"
Saul loudly questioned Kuzan, clearly not expecting him to be one of the vice admirals leading the Buster Call.
"Saul, how can you ask such a question? You should know how dangerous the research on the Poneglyphs is to the world! For the future safety of the world, we must ensure that the scholars' research and everything in Ohara are completely eradicated!" Aokiji's voice was deep and icy.
"Kuzan, is it also part of your justice to attack the innocent civilians of Ohara? Is slaughtering unarmed scholars part of your justice!?" Saul shouted.
"Saul!"
Kuzan looked at Saul, his gaze sweeping over Robin and Olvia before returning to the wounded Saul.
"I once thought our sense of justice was the same. Though I don't know what happened to you, everyone has their own definition of justice, so I won't criticize yours!
But I can't ignore Ohara's attempt to unleash a demon and disrupt the world!
Moreover, before the operation, Admiral Sengoku had already negotiated with the World Government to allow the civilians of Ohara to leave on evacuation ships. This Buster Call is only aimed at the scholars conducting forbidden research and Ohara itself!"
"Kuzan! Do you really think the World Government will allow those civilians to leave on evacuation ships?"
Saul looked at Kuzan with a complicated expression. During the process of protecting Olvia and Robin, he had learned many things.
"What do you mean?"
Kuzan frowned, not understanding Saul's words.
To him, everyone in the Navy upheld a different sense of justice. Initially, after joining the Navy, he thought his justice was closest to Akainu's, both aiming to eliminate 'evil' from the sea.
But over time, he realized his justice was entirely different from Akainu's 'absolute justice', which meant exterminating all defined 'evils' at any cost.
Even though Kuzan then followed 'burning justice', he began to reject Sakazuki's justice.
Kizaru's justice was 'ambiguous justice', which Kuzan, full of zeal, found the most elusive. Aokiji saw a lifetime of justice as 'indecisive justice'.
At this time, Kuzan was not yet the lazy figure he would become. His gaze was piercing, and if Saul couldn't provide a reasonable explanation, he was prepared to personally eliminate his friend who had strayed from their shared sense of justice.
"Kuzan, according to my information, the evacuation ships from Ohara have all been ordered sunk by the World Government. No civilians survived! The World Government is too extreme; the civilians of Ohara did nothing wrong!"
"And those scholars of Ohara, they were just pursuing their dreams! Is this what justice looks like!?"
Saul shouted at Kuzan.
"Such foolish actions are futile, but your open betrayal of the Navy is equally foolish, Saul."
Kuzan's forehead veins bulged as he spoke coldly. He was shocked that the World Government had ordered the sinking of the evacuation ships carrying civilians. But he was equally furious at Saul's betrayal. To Kuzan, the Navy represented justice on the sea, and Saul's actions were an open betrayal.
"Kuzan, I can die, but spare them. They don't deserve to die!" Saul continued to plead loudly.
"It seems you are still stubborn, Saul. When a person tries to fully adhere to their sense of justice, especially when that justice is shaken, they can become very agitated."
Kuzan's eyes grew colder.
Around him, a chilling white aura spread, lowering the temperature even further.
"I will report the World Government's attack on the evacuation ships to Admiral Sengoku."
"Ohara has its pursuits, but the Navy also has its justice."
"Obeying orders, maintaining the stability of the sea, and protecting the people so they can live without fear—this is the Navy's stance!"
Kuzan stepped forward, speaking slowly.
"But Kuzan, will you still uphold this flawed justice!?"
Saul shouted at Kuzan, but seeing that Kuzan remained unmoved, he clenched his fist, looking serious as he faced Kuzan.
"Come on, Kuzan! Let me see whose justice is correct—yours, known as a monster, or mine, seen as a monster by ordinary people!"
They moved almost simultaneously. Saul roared and swung a punch at Kuzan, but Kuzan easily leapt aside, dodging the punch that could shatter a giant rock.
In a flash, Kuzan was behind Saul, his right hand reaching out.
Crack! Crack crack!
The cold air spread rapidly from Kuzan's right hand, freezing Saul's body. A layer of frost quickly appeared on Saul's back and spread to other parts of his body.
In an instant, the frost covered most of his body. The cold air made Olvia and Robin shiver, their breaths visible in the frigid air.
"Kuzan!
"Let them go! Please, they are just ordinary people!"
Feeling himself being frozen, Saul shouted, hoping Kuzan would spare Robin and Olvia.
Kuzan remained silent, only glancing at his old friend. He continued to pour out the cold air, freezing Saul's body.
In moments, Saul was encased in ice, resembling a small ice mountain. Without interference, Saul's life force would soon drain away within the ice.
"You show no mercy to an old friend? That's hard to believe."
Suddenly, a flash of lightning appeared beside them.
Seeing the newcomer, Kuzan's expression changed, and he quickly leapt back.
When he saw who it was, Kuzan was even more shocked.
"Nicholas!?"
Kuzan's voice was filled with disbelief.
Nicholas didn't respond. He simply extended his right hand and placed it on the small ice mountain.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
With the sound of breaking ice, the frost covering Saul rapidly shattered and fell to the ground.