One Piece: Impel Down's Guard - Chapter 55

Despite being a physical expert, even in severe illness, Doug managed to sit up with a swift movement, brushing away Figo’s helping hand.

Smiling, Doug said, “Don’t be so serious. Who doesn’t grow old and die? At 86, I’ve lived a long life. Seven years ago, I finally shed the label of coward. I have no regrets. Smile, Mia. Smile, Figo.”

Mia forced a smile, but Figo remained stoic. “A forced smile looks worse than crying and feels even more awkward. Let’s not do this, Doug-sensei. We’re all over forty now, not kids anymore. There’s no need to comfort us like this. We won’t cry for you.”

“Brat!” Doug laughed and cursed.

“What happened suddenly? We talked just last month. Who told you some story and got you all worked up?” Figo asked.

Doug’s gaze shifted slightly, glancing at the young man standing by the window. In addition to Mia and Figo, the room also contained Doug’s only relative, his 19-year-old grandson, who had just graduated from the elite training camp and been awarded the rank of colonel.

The last time Figo had seen him, he was a polite and adorable three-year-old. Now, at 19, Kong had already shown signs of becoming the future “Steel Bone Kong.” Standing tall at 2.6 meters, he was nearly as tall as Figo in his normal state and had the potential to grow even taller.

However, perhaps in his rebellious phase, he barely acknowledged Figo’s presence with a nod when Figo entered the room. Seeing Doug’s instinctive glance, it seemed his illness might be related to this grandson?

Noticing the trio’s gaze, Kong stiffened, stubbornly looking out the window again, as if something fascinating was out there.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…” Doug’s coughing fit worsened, making Figo frown while Mia hurriedly patted Doug’s back, changing the subject.

“Figo, did you have a smooth journey back? What about the World Government…”

“They didn’t give me leave, so I swam back from the sea,” Figo said. “And I don’t really plan on returning to Impel Down. It’s okay; the Five Elders can’t do anything to me, just sulk.”

Doug laughed heartily. “Haha, you’re still as free-spirited as ever. Those five old guys think they can restrain you like others? They’re asking for trouble!”

“The others?” Figo asked.

Doug snorted, somewhat proudly.

“My students aren’t just the ones in the hallway. There are many more scattered around the world. Hearing about my illness, quite a few wanted to take leave and come back, but the World Government refused. It’s as if they’re afraid I’ll teach them something significant before I die.”

Doug had been teaching the elite class, and about half of the Marines who had risen from the training camp were his students. While there were only two vice admirals from Marineford, Mia and the often-overlooked Kimchi, there were at least four or five vice admirals from the branches, and many more rear admirals and officers.

“None of them were allowed to return?”

That would be understandable if half of them were on missions and couldn’t be granted leave. But if the other half weren’t allowed to return either, it was indeed unreasonable. Figo had thought the Five Elders only wanted to keep him locked up in Impel Down, but it seemed more widespread.

“I only had Mia notify a few who were free, and the World Government didn’t let them return. So I figured there was no point in notifying others.”

The old man smiled. “It doesn’t matter. I never intended to make a big fuss at the end. It wouldn’t look good.

It’s just that I’m a bit disappointed some of my kids won’t see me one last time.”

At the end of his words, Doug couldn’t help but show a hint of disappointment. Which elder wouldn’t want their children around in their final moments?

“This won’t do. We may be able to do without, but they can’t refuse this.” Figo said, “I understand. I’ll try to communicate with the Fleet Admiral and the Five Elders. Who do you want to come back?”

“Communicate with the Five Elders?”

“Yes, negotiate. Ask them to give me a favor. It’s not the first time, no problem.” Figo smiled, then signaled Mia about Kong and asked her, “What’s wrong with this kid? Little Kong, don’t you recognize me?”

Kong turned around, reluctantly greeting him, “Warden Figo.”

That address was quite distant. Doug snorted in anger, “Call him uncle!”

Kong hesitated for a moment before reluctantly saying, “Uncle Figo.”

“This brat.” Doug was still dissatisfied. He sighed, “I’ve taught students my whole life, countless Marines have inherited my sense of justice. At the end, it’s my own grandson who has deviated from it…”

“Your sense of justice is flawed,” Kong said firmly. “The fact is, you were wrong. Those children raised by the Blind Witch you chose to spare seven years ago, several of them have become pirates!”

Doug was so angry that he started coughing again.

Figo narrowed his eyes, and Mia quietly explained the background.

Apparently, Kong had learned about the events from seven years ago, how Doug had prevented the Buster Call from firing and saved those children. Some of the older children had become pirates, leading to a dispute with Doug, which had worsened his condition.

What a good grandson.

Figo thought for a moment, then smiled and said, “It’s quite a thorough plan. Appointing me to guard Impel Down indefinitely, not allowing Doug-sensei’s students to return and see him off, diminishing his influence from all angles, and then guiding his impressionable grandson. Twenty years later, who will remember Vice Admiral Doug? Who will remember someone dared to defy the World Government’s orders? Who will remember what justice Marines should uphold?

In fact, haven’t more of your students been reassigned to different parts of the world recently?”

Doug was stunned, then burst into hearty laughter again. “Is that so? You’re right, kid. I didn’t realize the World Government feared an old man like me this much.”

“Absolutely, don’t underestimate your influence, and mine too,” Figo nodded, then looked at Kong. “Do you understand your mistake?”

Kong stood stubbornly. “I did nothing wrong! In the face of evil, even if they’re children, it must be eradicated at the root. There should be no leniency!”

Mia frowned slightly, while Doug shook his head in helplessness. Figo, however, looked directly into Kong’s eyes.

Kong’s gaze wavered slightly as he faced this legendary Marine hero, but his adolescent pride made him stare back resolutely!

Figo laughed and said to Doug, “This isn’t so bad. Your grandson will surely surpass you, this stubborn old man. Admiral, Fleet Admiral, maybe even Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies, gaining the appreciation of the Five Elders and the favor of the Celestial Dragons, living comfortably in the Holy Land, right next to the Celestial Dragons, far better than you.”

Doug glared at him. “Brat, I’m on my deathbed, and you’re still teasing me?!”

Figo chuckled and then said to Kong, “Do you think I’m praising you, kid?”

Kong remained silent, still stubborn.

“There are many arguments I could make, but when stubbornness takes over, you might not listen.” Figo said, “Among those children saved by Doug-sensei, there must be some who became Marines, or pursued other professions. The few who became pirates don’t represent all of them, and the other children shouldn’t have to die because of them.”

Kong opened his mouth.

“You might argue that it’s better to kill wrongly than to let one go?” Figo preempted him.

“I can give you another example. If Doug-sensei, because of your parents’ sacrifice, refused to let you become a Marine, blocking all your training and cultivation, what would you be like now? Children have little choice. They were the same.”

Kong opened his mouth again.

“You might argue that the situation is different. At least Sensei is a Marine; teaching you wouldn’t make you a criminal, whereas the Blind Witch, who taught those children, is a criminal.”

Kong was once again silenced, feeling completely seen through by Figo, making him nervous.

Suddenly, an unprecedented aura of strength pressed down on him, making him involuntarily step back and lean against the window sill!

Only then did he realize Figo had moved in front of him, looking at him with an unprecedentedly oppressive gaze, much stronger than anyone he had ever encountered!

“Today, I’ll teach you one lesson! Whether criminals deserve sympathy can be debated, but whether family deserves compromise should never be in question.”

Figo looked down at Kong.

“No matter your thoughts, your beliefs, making your grandfather, who raised you, sick in bed, is your mistake. At this moment, even if it’s insincere, you should apologize and admit your mistake. Not stubbornly argue with your elder for a bit of pride.”

“A person who won’t soften for their ailing grandfather doesn’t even deserve to mention justice!”

Kong was stunned.

Figo gestured to the bed. “Alright, Sensei, I’ll go find the Fleet Admiral to contact the Five Elders.”

Doug leaned back, a genuinely happy smile on his frail face. “Figo, having a student like you is my fortune. You may not become a great Marine, but you will definitely be a great person, engraved in human history. I… ugh, ugh…”

Figo didn’t look back, smiling as he responded, “Sensei, you can absolutely believe in that!”

Doug laughed heartily.

Mia’s eyes reddened.

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