Gion's decision to rescue the slaves and follow Wood in this reckless venture stemmed from her desire to uphold her own sense of justice.
These people had been transported from the Sabaody Archipelago to Mariejois by her. In other words, she had delivered them into the flames.
Gion's sense of justice could not allow her to live with such an act, which is why she was willing to take the risk to rescue Hancock and the others from Mariejois.
Naturally, Gion believed that Wood's thoughts were likely the same as hers.
However, Wood's current decision left Gion puzzled.
They had already rescued the slaves who were originally destined for Mariejois, and they had managed to successfully distance themselves from the whole affair. The operation had gone almost flawlessly.
But now, at this critical moment, Wood was saying he wanted to go back and assist that Fish-Man named Fisher Tiger!
"Gion, while I've never considered myself a good person, much like how you uphold your own justice, I too have my own conscience and bottom line," Wood explained. "Fisher Tiger is undoubtedly a hero, and since we did exploit his actions without his knowledge, it's only right that we repay him now."
In the world of pirates, there were not many people Wood admired, but Fisher Tiger was certainly one of them.
In this vast ocean, many acted solely out of self-interest—Roger, Whitebeard, Shiki, even Sengoku and Garp. Though they could be considered heroes, they were not true heroes.
Many have despised the atrocities of the Celestial Dragons, but how many have dared to strike them down?
Roger and Whitebeard were far more powerful than Tiger, but did they ever attempt to liberate slaves in Mariejois?
Some might argue that Tiger only acted to save his fellow Fish-Men.
But it's undeniable that Tiger also saved many humans during the slave liberation. He even died at sea because of a betrayal by humans.
Considering how hostile the relationship between Fish-Men and humans was, Tiger's decision to overcome his bias and return those humans to their home islands already qualified him as a true hero.
Wood wanted to try changing this true hero's fate, which is why he decided to stay behind.
"If that's the case, then I'm also in his debt, and I should stay too," Gion said.
Gion didn't particularly care about Fisher Tiger, but to her, Wood's decision was practically suicidal. As a companion, she couldn't just leave him behind.
"If you stay too, this ship of people will never make it out of Mariejois. Even if they don't encounter resistance, can anyone else on board navigate?
Trust me, I'll help Tiger, but only as long as it doesn't jeopardize my own safety.
You've known me for a while now, so you should know that I'm someone who values my life above all else. I would never do something that wasn't a sure bet."
With Wood's persuasion, Gion eventually left with the ship full of people.
Hancock also suggested staying behind, pointing out that she was now a Devil Fruit user and didn't know how to sail, so she could stay to help Wood.
However, Wood decisively refused her. He bluntly stated that Hancock was too weak. If he were alone, he was confident he could survive, but if Hancock stayed, things would become much more uncertain.
His rather cold and unfeeling words immediately caused the favorability he had managed to build up with Hancock to plummet again.
But at that moment, Wood, being as straightforward as he was, couldn't think of a better way to phrase it.
As he watched the ship gradually sail away, Wood used Geppo to dash back to the heart of Mariejois.
Unlike his previous stealthy approach, this time Wood deliberately charged toward the most intense fighting.
In the central area of Mariejois, Fisher Tiger was already covered in injuries, with Jinbei and Arlong flanking him, followed by a large group of Fish-Men and slaves of various races.
Some people say that Fish-Men are all muscle but lack brains. Although this might be a cliché, there's some truth to it.
Tiger and his group initially gained a significant advantage in their resistance due to the element of surprise and their superior numbers.
However, compared to the well-prepared and meticulously planned operations of Wood and Gion, Tiger and his group didn't seem very smart.
They had entered Mariejois without any systematic plan, not even managing to acquire a proper map, relying solely on brute force the entire time.
How big is Mariejois exactly? It's certainly larger than many islands.
Tiger and his group, unfamiliar with the area, had been rampaging back and forth, freeing more slaves but at the cost of exhausting themselves.
It's important to remember that before arriving at Mariejois, they had already endured a long swim through the deep sea and then climbed the Red Line by hand, only to immediately engage in fierce battles at Mariejois.
The massive physical toll had already worn down most of the ordinary Fish-Men, even if the stronger ones like Tiger and Jinbei were still holding up.
It wasn't that the Fish-Men were weak, but this was an extreme test of endurance that even the robust Fish-Men could barely withstand.
Moreover, even if Tiger's group found the correct route to escape, what then? How would they leave Mariejois?
Were they planning to just jump off the top of the Red Line?
Even if most Fish-Men were excellent swimmers, a fall from that height would turn their bodies into pulp upon hitting the sea.
As time passed, more forces surrounded and pursued Tiger's group, making it increasingly difficult for them to hold out.
Because of his sense of responsibility towards his people, Tiger even proposed staying behind to buy time, allowing Jinbei and Arlong to lead the others down the Red Line.
Compared to the original story, the addition of Jinbei and Arlong strengthened the Sun Pirates, but it also meant they expended far more energy than before.
Mariejois had never experienced such chaos in hundreds of years.
Undoubtedly, even if the situation was eventually resolved, the Celestial Dragons would be furious.
If they managed to capture Tiger and the others, it would be one thing. But if the Fish-Men escaped, everyone else would become the Celestial Dragons' targets for vengeance.
Thus, the forces in Mariejois were relentlessly pressing Tiger and his group.
"Two-Sword Style Iai: Rashomon!"
Two slashes formed an "X" shape, shooting out from a distance. As a figure landed, it appeared as if a giant gate had opened behind them.
Several CP agents who had been leading the charge suddenly collapsed, their bodies marked by numerous gashes, blood spraying like fountains.