After receiving extra servings of various juices from the cafeteria for several days, Yaen could not help quietly hinting to the cafeteria Marine that he was already an adult, that he temporarily had no duties to attend to in his daily life, and that drinking too much juice was not good for him.
What Yaen originally meant was that he was already an adult and did not need to be given juice every day like a child.
Besides, he did not hold any position aboard the warship in his daily life, so he felt embarrassed enjoying such special treatment. Drinking too much juice was bad for his health, and so on.
After thinking for only a moment, the cafeteria Marine wore a look of sudden understanding. He seemed to have completely grasped Yaen's meaning and said, "I understand."
Then, the Marine snatched the water jug from Yaen's hands and furtively headed toward the kitchen.
The sight left Yaen with a head full of question marks.
Could it be... the Marine thinks I meant he should be more discreet and not so open about it?
However, Yaen did not know that the Marine carrying the water jug had slipped into the kitchen storeroom and secretly taken out some sealed liquor, which he poured into Yaen's jug.
Afterward, the Marine handed the full jug to Yaen. He even winked and raised his eyebrows as he said,
"Young Yaen, this is the good stuff. Don't let the other comrades see it."
Yaen could only thank him helplessly before continuing to sway like someone seasick as he returned to his room.
Since transmigrating, Yaen had barely touched alcohol. So he instinctively took a huge gulp as though it were juice.
"This taste... why does it feel a little... intoxicating? And somewhat familiar..."
Deeply puzzled, Yaen took another gulp to investigate. As he swallowed and smacked his lips, he increasingly felt that the taste seemed familiar.
It was only when Yaen inexplicably felt as though he were floating toward bliss that his somewhat muddled mind suddenly came to its senses for a moment. He muttered,
"Oh, crap. It's alcohol..."
By then, however, Yaen was already completely drunk. Unable to suppress his urge to keep drinking, he even began singing loudly under the influence of the alcohol.
"Life... life..."
"Life is only a few short autumns. I won't stop until I'm drunk..."
The singing also drew Kuzan over from nearby. Seeing Yaen's rather uninhibited appearance, Kuzan could not help questioning him.
"Yaen, you're drinking in broad daylight? Where did you get that alcohol?"
In his drunken state, Yaen casually waved his hand, tilted his head, and said with a grin,
"Big Brother Kuzan, these... these details aren't worth worrying about. As they say, getting drunk dispels a thousand sorrows. I'm troubled too. This feeling of total relaxation is truly wonderful."
"Is that so?" Kuzan said with a slight frown.
"Want some?" Yaen invited him.
Just as Kuzan was somewhat tempted but hesitated silently because of the military discipline he had always followed, Yaen suddenly pulled Kuzan, who was standing at the door, inside and slammed the door shut.
"Drink!"
Yaen casually found a cup in the room and filled it to the brim for Kuzan.
"Forget it. Military discipline clearly states that we can't drink outside of rest hours. This isn't appropriate." Kuzan hesitated before shaking his head in refusal.
"What does that matter?"
Yaen opened his drunken eyes and urged him to drink.
"Doesn't Old Man Garp sleep every day? He still became a Hero of the Marines. So, Big Brother Kuzan, having a few flaws will only make it easier for those above to accept us."
Kuzan, who also rarely drank, thought for a moment. Yaen's words moved him, and he frowned before downing the entire cup of liquor in one go.
In an instant, the atmosphere became much more harmonious and relaxed. Kuzan casually asked,
"Yaen, I can understand you, but what could you possibly be troubled about?"
"Hah, my troubles? Naturally, they stem from the Marines, from this sea, and even from this era."
Fortunately, Yaen still retained some semblance of reason. Knowing to conceal certain crucial keywords, he spoke vaguely.
"Don't you think the Marines lack purity, Big Brother Kuzan? Don't you think this sea is far too chaotic? Don't you think this era is simply rotten to the core?"
Upon hearing this, Kuzan looked at Yaen with some surprise.
In Kuzan's impression, Yaen had always resisted making achievements. He had thought Yaen was merely a rather kindhearted military heir who was extremely lacking in ambition.
"Looks like you're indeed not as simple as you appear, Yaen," Kuzan said.
"Of course. Who among normal people doesn't secretly keep six, seven, eight, nine, or ten trump cards up their sleeves?" Yaen replied with an expression of complete reasonableness.
Kuzan.
Upon hearing this, Kuzan inexplicably felt that he was not a normal person.
Then, while instinctively taking another large gulp of liquor, Kuzan asked in confusion, "Why are you hiding so many trump cards?"
"Of course, it's for... revolution..."
Yaen tilted his head, then changed his wording.
"For justice, of course. After all, everyone's justice is different. Perhaps because of various restrictions and the justice of others, I can't uphold mine openly, but keeping trump cards hidden allows me to accomplish my justice in secret."
These words plunged Kuzan, who had been lost and doubting himself lately, into deep thought.
Is that so?
Indeed, because everyone had different thoughts and stood in different positions, their justice would naturally differ as well.
For example, his ideals clashed tremendously with Sakazuki's. If he clashed with Sakazuki every time, that would clearly be inappropriate.
Especially in the future, if a civil war broke out between Marine Admirals, the Marine's Top Combat Power, it would greatly damage the Marines' prestige and cause the pirates on this sea to grow even more violent and rampant.
But if he allowed things that his own justice could not tolerate to happen, then what meaning was there in everything he upheld as a Marine?
Yaen was indeed right. Rather than continue like this, he might as well...
"Hey..."
Just then, Yaen shook the empty jug and said, "Big Brother Kuzan, go get some alcohol."
Kuzan thought for a moment. His perpetually tense expression seemed to relax considerably, and he agreed without hesitation before walking straight out the door.
"Oh, right. Don't forget to get some peanuts, kelp, and things like that..." Yaen called out from behind him.
"Got it!" Kuzan replied.
Before long, Kuzan returned. Several Marines followed behind him, carrying a large jar of liquor and a great deal of various side dishes.
"I..."
Seeing this while drunk, Yaen tilted his head and mumbled indistinctly, "Did I... lead Kuzan astray?"
Before you continue