Sailing: I was falsely accused of watching Nami bathe, but I'm blind.

A war of this scale is bound to be accompanied by immense chaos! And within that chaos, various opportunities often lie hidden.

Perhaps he can glean some invaluable intelligence from that meat grinder of the world's strongest warriors (such as secrets about the Navy's inner workings, the weaknesses of the Four Emperors, or even clues about the Ancient Weapons)? Perhaps he can take advantage of the chaos to obtain some rare Devil Fruit or powerful weapon? Or perhaps, by observing the battles of top-tier fighters, his own strength can be inspired and enhanced in some way? Great risks often come with great opportunities!

Secondly, it was influenced by Fujitora.

Fujitora-senpai is going to Marineford, and it seems he has his own plans.

Kai respects this mentor and friend, and is deeply influenced by his ideas.

He wanted to know what choices his senior would make on that stage, and how he would uphold his "benevolent justice." To some extent, he also hoped... to live up to his senior's expectations (even if his senior hadn't explicitly asked him to do anything), and to make a choice that... at least wouldn't disappoint his senior.

Finally, and perhaps most deeply hidden, is the reason—to "settle the cause and effect"?

Ace... is Luffy's older brother.

At the heart of this war, there is an inextricable and inseparable connection with the Straw Hat Pirates, who brought him endless pain and humiliation!

Although he had always tried to distance himself from them and draw a line.

But deep down, the resentment and unwillingness caused by the betrayal, and the obsession with proving himself and making them regret it, never truly disappeared.

Head to Marineford to "witness" this war that is so closely related to Luffy, to "see" the fate of Ace (one of Luffy's most important people), and even... intervene in it in some unexpected way at a crucial moment?

Could this be... hiding a subconscious impulse deep within him to completely sever ties with the past, or to "settle accounts" with that cause and effect in a distorted way?

Kai didn't dare to delve deeper into this thought.

But he knew that this reason might be one of the most fundamental driving forces that ultimately led him to make the decision.

Go to Marineford! This decision had already taken root in his heart.

But in what capacity? On which side? This is an even more difficult question.

Kai was once again caught in a fierce internal struggle.

Heading to Marineford would be the most dangerous place in the world! Marine Headquarters! The Whitebeard Pirates! The Seven Warlords of the Sea! Countless powerful figures would gather there! It would be a gigantic, life-devouring meat grinder! With his current strength, although he had made significant progress, on a battlefield of that scale, he would probably still be like an ant, and a slight misstep would result in his annihilation! The risk was simply too great!

And what about their stance?

Should he side with the Navy? Although he had a brief collaboration with Smoker and Fujitora was about to join the Navy, his overall impression of the organization remained negative.

He could not condone their hypocritical sense of justice and their ruthless methods, and he did not want to become a lackey of the world government.

Should he side with the Whitebeard Pirates? Although he held a degree of respect for the legendary pirate Whitebeard, he was inherently wary and distrustful of pirates as a whole.

Moreover, the Whitebeard Pirates represent the very "old era" that he wanted to break away from, an era that could bring about immense chaos.

To remain neutral? To be a mere bystander? That seems like the safest option.

But in a war that sweeps across everything, does the concept of "neutrality" truly exist? On such a battlefield, any lone wolf without a clear stance and whose strength is not top-tier would likely only become cannon fodder easily crushed by both sides!

Kai felt his brain was like a high-speed machine, constantly analyzing the pros and cons and weighing the risks.

He recalled Fujitora's teachings on "righteous justice," the turmoil he felt when he witnessed innocent civilians being killed by the Straw Hat Pirates in the port city, and the despair and anger he felt when he was abandoned by the Straw Hat crew...

All sorts of thoughts, emotions, and ideas clashed fiercely in his mind, like two armies locked in battle, unable to gain the upper hand.

However, amidst this constant reflection and struggle, a colder, more pragmatic, and even "darker" idea, like a quietly growing vine, gradually entangled and dominated his thinking.

He recalled his experiences in Water Seven and Enies Lobby.

Although the World Government is hypocritical and ruthless, the "order" it represents at least superficially maintains the operation of the world.

Pirates, especially those with immense power and influence like Whitebeard, are the greatest threat to this order! Every action and every battle they take causes immense chaos and affects countless innocent lives!

The Great Pirate Era... Did this era, which began with Roger's words, truly bring the world so-called "dreams" and "freedom"? Or... did it bring more endless war, plunder, and suffering?

Perhaps... in order to build a more stable and orderly (even if not perfect) world, and to allow most ordinary people to live peacefully, it is necessary to... end this chaotic Great Pirate Era?

To end this era, it is necessary to weaken or even destroy the most representative symbols—such as the Four Emperors!

From this perspective... the Navy Headquarters' public execution of "Fire Fist" Ace, a blow to the arrogant Whitebeard Pirates, doesn't seem like... entirely an evil act? Rather, it seems more like... a "necessary evil" that had to be taken to maintain world "order" and to stop the Great Pirate Era from spreading further?

Once this thought arose, it was like opening Pandora's box, quickly taking over Kai's mind!

He increasingly believed that the very existence of pirates was an act of "evil"! No matter how resounding their banners (such as "freedom," "dreams," or "family"), their essence was to disrupt the existing order and threaten the peace of ordinary people!

Chapter 84 The Navy's Tacit Approval! The True Judge of Justice—Kay!!!

To curb this "evil," we must use even stronger "force" to suppress it! Even if this "force" itself is not entirely pure, and even if this process requires a huge price!

Executing Ace and striking Whitebeard... In his view, this might be a crucial step towards establishing a "stronger order," in line with this "necessary evil."

This idea made Kai feel a little uneasy.

He knew that this had deviated from the "righteous justice" that Fujitora had pursued, and was even closer to the "dark justice" of CP9 that he had previously despised!

But... this seems to be the only logical loop he can currently find that can convince him to go to Marineford and provide a "reasonable" standpoint for his possible actions in that war?

Perhaps... this is the "path" that Kai ultimately chose after experiencing betrayal, struggle, and reflection? A cold and pragmatic path that, in the name of maintaining a rigid order, is willing to commit "necessary evils"?

Kai didn't know where this path would ultimately lead—to light, or deeper darkness?

But he knew that the scales in his heart had already... made their choice.

He's going to Marineford!

He was going to witness this war that would determine the course of an era!

He was going to... in his own way, to put a... what he considered a "necessary" end to this chaotic Great Pirate Era! Even if... it required him to pay an unimaginable price, even... to become an enemy of the entire world!

His eyes (and his heart) became colder and more resolute than ever before!

Just as Kai's inner scales, weighed by "necessary evil," began to tip, and his resolve to go to Marineford grew stronger, an unexpected "signal" from the Navy, like the last feather, gently landed on the side of the scales that were tilting, completely shattering the balance.

This is not a formal conscription order bearing the seal of the Navy Headquarters, nor is it a mandatory requirement like that for the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

It's more like a... vague, unofficial, or even tacit "invitation" or "acquiescence".

The one who might have sent this signal was the naval officer who had a brief encounter with Kai before the Sabaody Archipelago and was aware of his strength (such as Smoker, or other naval commanders who admired Kai's strength but had doubts about his stance).

This officer may have mentioned "Blind Hunter Jingxin," a powerful and enigmatic figure who seems to be hostile to pirates, when reporting recent developments to his superiors.

From the perspective of the Navy's high command (especially the pragmatists or hawks), in the face of the upcoming Marineford War with the Whitebeard Pirates, any force that could increase their chances of winning was worth fighting for.

Especially someone like Kai, who isn't a pirate but is strong enough to hunt down powerful individuals with bounties exceeding 100 million, could undoubtedly play an unexpected role in the great war if he could be "guided" to stand on the Navy's side (even if only nominally or temporarily).

Thus, through a clandestine, unofficial channel (perhaps relayed by an underground intelligence broker with ties to the Navy, or perhaps a hint issued by the officer in his personal capacity), a message with extremely vague wording but a relatively clear intent was conveyed to Kai.

The message roughly stated: "The Marine Headquarters welcomes any strong individuals who are committed to maintaining world order and willing to contribute to ending the Great Pirate Era to come to Marineford to 'observe' the battle or to provide 'assistance' 'if necessary'."

The Navy will maintain the utmost tolerance and understanding towards such 'righteous individuals'...

These words were spoken in an extremely tactful and ambiguous manner.

There was neither a clear solicitation nor any substantial promise.

However, the implied meaning of "tacit consent" is self-evident.

It's practically telling Kai: as long as you come, as long as you don't cause trouble, and as long as you can "help" us out at crucial moments, our navy can temporarily turn a blind eye to your identity and past.

This "invitation" was like a pillow delivered to a sleepy person, for Kai, who was struggling to find a suitable position and reason to intervene!

It perfectly resolved his previous concerns!

He didn't need to formally join the Navy, take an oath of allegiance, or abide by the rules he loathed.

He could appear on the battlefield of Marineford as a "tacitly approved assistant" or simply as a "strong passerby"!

This gave him a great deal of freedom and room to maneuver! He could decide his actions based on the actual situation on the battlefield and his own judgment!

More importantly, this "invitation" itself seems to confirm some of his previous ideas about "necessary evil".

Even the Navy Headquarters, in order to win this war, did not hesitate to lower itself and send hints to him, an "unidentified figure" who might even have a grudge against them (indirectly speaking, the Straw Hat Pirates are the Navy's enemies).

Doesn't this just show how pale and powerless so-called "pure justice" is in the face of absolute power and cruel reality? To achieve our goals, sometimes we must... stop at nothing!

Kai's last shred of hesitation vanished completely!

He's made up his mind! He's going to Marineford!

Not as a member of the Navy, not as a pirate, and not as a pawn of any faction!

Rather, it is an independent executor who pursues and carries out what it considers "order" and "necessary evil"!

He was going to that battlefield that was about to turn into a sea of ​​blood, to witness with his own eyes (with his own eyes) the end of an era (or... a turning point?), to find his own opportunity, and to... complete the thing he believed he "had to" do!

After making up her mind, Kai immediately began the final preparations.

With the day of Ace's public execution drawing ever closer, he had no time to waste.

He first adjusted himself to his best condition.

He no longer engages in high-intensity training, but instead spends more time meditating and regulating his breathing, allowing his mental and physical strength to return to their peak and fullest state.

He meticulously reviewed the various domineering techniques, physical skills, and swordsmanship he had mastered, ensuring that he could use them freely in battle.

He meticulously maintained and polished the "Tranquility" cane sword once again, even attempting to apply his still-imperfect Armament Haki to it in a more stable and lasting way, feeling the cold and hard power transmitted from the blade.

He also used his remaining time to frantically collect and study information about Marineford.

He needed to understand the terrain and defensive layout of the Marine Headquarters, the possible troop distribution, the gathering of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and... the possible attack routes and methods that the Whitebeard Pirates might take.

Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you maximize your survival and find opportunities to achieve your goals on that ever-changing battlefield.

He even began to mentally rehearse various possible battle scenarios and the corresponding strategies he should adopt in different situations.

His brain, like the most sophisticated computer, was working at lightning speed, taking every detail into consideration.