A Letter from the Five Elders to Dragon

"Dragon, what exactly are you thinking? Why are you leaving the Navy?"

Fleet Admiral Kong's question silenced the office. The CP0 agent did not know what was going on either. He had clearly brought Dragon here, so his mission should have been over, yet he remained where he was without any intention of leaving.

However, at this moment, everyone's attention was on Dragon, so no one cared.

Just then, Dragon, who had been hanging his head in silence, slowly raised it. He looked directly at the aged Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters before him, his gaze exceptionally firm.

"I once believed the Navy was a force of justice that maintained order across the seas and protected the people. But over these years, everything I've seen and heard—aside from fighting pirates—has had nothing to do with the word justice. Because the greatest evil is the Celestial Dragons protected by the Navy, and the utterly corrupt World Government!"

Throughout his years in the Navy, Dragon had personally seen slave ships packed with civilians from all over the world sail openly past warships. Their cries for help and wails, carried to his ears by the sea breeze, had felt like boiling oil poured over his heart.

He had questioned the captain at the time, asking why they had let them go when the World Government had long since outlawed slave trafficking.

But the captain's answer had been that the ship flew no pirate flag, and there were no wanted criminals aboard. It was not their concern. The World Government had specialized forces to handle such matters, so he should not meddle in other people's business.

That attitude had been like a bucket of ice water poured over Dragon's burning blood.

Afterward, he saw many small countries whose people were rounded up en masse by Army forces because they could not pay the Heavenly Tribute in time. The Navy he served in was then responsible for escorting them to Tequila Wolf in the East Blue.

At the time, Dragon had wondered, what had they done wrong?

Wasn't the one at fault the World Government, which demanded excessive Heavenly Tribute from them? Even he knew that different countries had different levels of economic strength.

How could they demand exactly the same amount from every country? Did those people in the World Government truly not know that?

What would it hurt to demand less from those small countries?

Question after question directed at the World Government filled his heart, making his dissatisfaction grow ever deeper. Even the way he looked at his father had turned cold.

Hero of the Navy?

What kind of hero could someone be in a Navy that protected such a World Government?

The final straw that completely crushed Dragon's faith came two years ago, when he had been assigned with his unit to stand guard for a Celestial Dragon. He personally witnessed a child complain because his father had forcibly pressed him to the ground and made him kneel. A passing Celestial Dragon then shot the child dead for disrespect before heading to a slave auction house as though nothing had happened.

His fingers had turned white from clenching them too hard!

He had despaired—of the Navy, of the World Government, and even more so of the Celestial Dragons. This world should not have been like this.

Perhaps fate had favored him when he happened to obtain the Logia-type Hurricane Fruit. With it, he had a good chance of escaping the Navy and the World Government's pursuit.

But fate had played another cruel trick on him. The moment he stepped outside, CP0 had blocked his path!

Hearing Dragon's words filled with such hatred, Garp fell silent. He did not know what to say. Sengoku also frowned. Of course he knew these things were true, but as a soldier, obeying the government's orders was only natural. What else could they do?

"Dragon, have you considered what the world and the seas would become if the World Government no longer existed, and neither did the Navy? A world where everyone governed themselves and there was no order at all?"

Fleet Admiral Kong finally spoke. Without waiting for Dragon to answer, he continued.

"War! The entire world would become a battlefield, an expanded version of the Country of Endless War."

"Chaos! The seas would be filled with plunder and slaughter. Far more pirates and slave-catching gangs than there are now would rush toward every inhabited island."

"Dragon, why do your eyes see only the dark side? Do you not see the people of every nation living peacefully through the efforts of our Navy?"

Dragon met his gaze expressionlessly. "Where justice exists, preserve it. But where darkness exists, it cannot simply be ignored. If things can be better, why not make them better?"

"Corruption, rotten laws, slavery, the Heavenly Tribute, and the Celestial Dragons—all of them should be dealt with, one by one!"

Saying such things against the World Government and the Celestial Dragons in front of CP0 made it clear that he had already accepted death. He showed no fear whatsoever.

"Outrageous!"

Sengoku could no longer listen. Furious, he roared, "Deal with them? How would you deal with them?!"

"We are the Navy! What authority do we have to deal with such matters? The things you mentioned should be discussed and handled by the kings attending the Reverie!"

"The military meddling in politics without authorization—do you think that's right?"

"Order, order! What is order? Order is rules! If even the Navy refuses to follow the rules, wouldn't everything fall into chaos?"

Dragon opened his mouth but could not say anything.

Indeed, if even the Navy began acting recklessly and interfering in such matters at will, would they not become a lawless army, a rebel army? The world would truly descend into chaos then, and who knew how many innocent civilians would die because of it?

Even he had to admit that the Navy truly was the final line of defense for world order.

Even in the original timeline, Dragon had acknowledged that the Revolutionary Army's enemy was not the Navy, nor was it the World Government, but the Celestial Dragons.

That proved he knew right from wrong.

To put it bluntly, even if the Revolutionary Army really took down the Celestial Dragons, the World Government and the Navy would still have to exist. They were necessities for civilization on this planet.

As for the Heavenly Tribute, it was essentially membership dues—a source of funding that ensured the World Government and Navy could function normally. The problem was simply that the current amount being collected was excessive and deeply unreasonable.

"Are you finished?"

At last, the CP0 agent who had remained silent all this time spoke. When the eyes of the other four turned toward him, he said, "Then let me speak next. You listen."

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a white envelope from the pocket of his white suit and held it out to Dragon.

"Read this first. The Five Elders ordered me to deliver it to you. Once you finish reading, I'll repeat what their excellencies want to say to you."

Dragon accepted the envelope with a bewildered expression. The Five Elders had actually written him a letter? What was going on? He was merely a lowly rear admiral. Even if he was Garp's son, this seemed like far too much fuss.

Five minutes later, he finished reading the letter. The hatred on his face had long since turned into utter shock, and even the pupils in his wide eyes trembled.

Dragon simply could not believe what he had seen.

"Now I'll repeat their excellencies' words. Listen carefully. I'll only say this once."

The CP0 agent spoke coldly, completely ignoring the stares of the other three Navy higher-ups.

"Dragon, we are also aware that the World Government currently has many problems. Therefore, beginning with this year's Reverie, we will gradually improve and address these issues."

"During this process, you may observe or participate. If there is anything you must ask during that time, write a letter and have the CP0 agents by your side deliver it to us."

"But there is one thing you must understand: the Celestial Dragons cannot be touched. That is the World Government's bottom line."

"Whoever touches them dies!"

"At the same time, due to your improper actions, two CP0 agents will follow you at all times for the foreseeable future. If you attempt to escape again, they will shoot you on sight!"

After saying that, he took out a key and removed Dragon's Seastone Handcuffs.

Dragon stared at him in disbelief, frozen in place. It took him a long while to recover before he softly asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll run?"

"If you escape, we'll pay with our lives. Feel free to try," the CP0 agent replied casually.