One Piece: Marine's Justice

Seeing the target subdued, Cross sheathed his half-drawn blade, Kagehide, and strode forward swiftly. In one motion, he yanked down the black hood of the figure before him.

As expected, the face was identical to the one on the wanted poster; cold, emotionless, like it belonged to a man without a soul.

"Wanted for 375 million Berries. The 'Polluter', Bel von Gero. In the name of justice, you're under arrest." Cross's voice was low and unwavering.

Truth be told, Cross hadn't expected things to go this smoothly. A notorious criminal with a bounty exceeding 300 million, captured so easily? It felt almost too good to be true.

Gero slowly turned his head, his eyes drifting from Cross to the stone knights that had helped restrain him. He let out a faint chuckle. "You actually brought the statues to life. For a moment, I thought they were Homies made by Big Mom. Looks like the World Government really has picked up some impressive tricks."

At that moment, Feli rushed over with several CP agents, barely able to contain his excitement as he stood before Bel von Gero.

"You betrayed the World Government, bet you never thought this day would come!"

"World Government operation! Step aside for criminal apprehension!"

"World Government business, everyone clear out!"

"..."

Around them, more CP agents emerged from their hiding spots, waving the onlookers away and dispersing the crowd from the street.

Gero stared expressionlessly at Feli, his voice flat: "Aren't you celebrating a bit too early?"

"What do you mean?" Cross narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice.

"I betrayed the World Government, didn't I? You CP agents have hunted me down before. And yet, I still managed to evade capture and hide within the Impaler Pirates for years." Gero's lips curled into a sneer. "Did you really think I wouldn't notice when you set your sights on me?"

"What?!"

The CP agents and Cross alike froze, their expressions shifting to shock.

"What are you planning?!" Cross seized Gero by the collar, shouting angrily.

"I had five AH-40 Plague Bombs left. After arriving on Carocal Island yesterday, I made eight more." Gero's voice was eerily calm as he looked around. "Guess where I stashed them? In Skoggy's six busiest areas. Two per site. If my men don't hear that I'm safe within ten minutes—boom."

"Bastard!!"

Fury flared in Cross's eyes. He reached out and grabbed Gero by the throat, roaring, "Tell me the locations or I'll snap your damn neck!"

"Stop!"

"Let go of him!"

The CP agents surged forward in a panic, pulling Cross back, desperate to stop him from killing their captive.

Fortunately, Cross didn't truly intend to kill Bel von Gero, not yet. Amid the chaos, he finally relented and loosened his grip.

Feli stepped up, his eyes locked on Gero's, voice filled with quiet menace: "You'd better start talking. If you don't tell us where you hid those AH-40s, what you lose next might not be something I can help you get back."

"Cough... cough... You might want to try letting me go instead." Gero coughed a few times, rolling his neck, his tone composed as ever. "Let us leave Carocal Island, and I'll tell you everything."

"My orders are to bring you in alive. No matter what, I'm not letting you go. And if you keep clamming up, we'll just have to make use of CP's interrogation specialists." Feli spoke flatly, unshaken.

"Doesn't matter. As long as the people of Skoggy go down with me... that's enough of a payoff." Gero tilted his head slightly, speaking with chilling indifference.

"Fine. Be stubborn, then."

Feli turned to Cross, shrugging helplessly. "Cross-dono, CP has professional interrogators. Once we bring Bel von Gero back, we'll get the locations of the bombs."

"Are you f***ing kidding me?"

Cross's expression darkened. His glare bore into Feli like a blade.

You really think I'm a child?

You think I can't see what you're trying to pull?

The World Government went to all this trouble to capture Bel von Gero alive, because he knows a secret they want, or more likely, because they covet his research and plague-bomb tech.

Once you CP agents get him, why would you care about the people of Skoggy anymore?

Realizing Cross had seen right through him, Feli dropped the act. "My apologies," he said bluntly. "But we're taking Bel von Gero. The rest... isn't our concern."

Clang—

Cross's hand slowly gripped the hilt of Kagehide, drawing the blade with grim determination. "Chief Feli," he said solemnly, "if he doesn't give up the six locations, I'll cut off one of his limbs or organs every minute. And if one of those bombs goes off in Sculpture City, I'll behead him on the spot."

"No!" Feli barked. "The World Government absolutely forbids you from killing this man!"

"So you're not with them, huh?" Gero gave a low chuckle. "Let me make you a deal. Free me, and I'll tell you the six locations. Or, just get me out of the city yourself, just you, and I'll talk. What do you say?"

"Another minute's passed."

Cross ignored both of them. With an unflinching gaze, he raised Kagehide, ready to strike down on Gero's arm.

This man was far too dangerous. Even if it meant sacrificing innocent lives now, it was better than allowing Bel von Gero to kill hundreds, thousands, more in the future.

It wasn't fair to those who might die today. Cross knew that. He felt the weight of that decision like a vice on his chest.

But this world wasn't fair.

Choosing to sacrifice the few to save the many, Cross had made peace with that burden.

Letting Bel von Gero fall into CP's hands? Never an option.

He had committed unforgivable crimes. Sooner or later, he would have to pay the price.

In that moment, Cross thought bitterly to himself:

I never imagined I'd face the Trolley Problem in real life…

Now, he finally understood what it meant when they said:

"Justice was never meant to be easy."

"Stop!"

A figure stepped in front of him, Gadriel of CP9, raising a hammer from his shoulder and speaking with a stern expression.

"Rookie marine. Are you trying to challenge the authority of the World Government?"

"Hehehe… You've got guts, kid." Elmo sneered, slowly raising his right index finger.

Cross stared at the CP9 agents just feet away and said calmly:

"If you want to stop me... try it."

Whoosh—

Pop.

Before the standoff could escalate further, a piercing whistling sound shot into the sky. A crimson flare erupted high above them, exploding into a skeletal emblem pierced by a jagged spike—a signal flare.

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