The Freest Man on the Seas

Only a hundred million for my first bounty? Looks like the Marines still looked down on me.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Adams's heart, but his expression remained unchanged as he answered Granny Nyon's question:

"Of course. The Five Great Families monopolize the sea routes, blocking my path to wealth and hindering my freedom;

"The Marines tried to forcibly take away my companion, which was likewise a restraint on my freedom. Whoever stands in the way of my pursuit of freedom, no matter who they are, I will crush them."

His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve and a hint of defiance against convention.

Adams had always believed that the freest person on the seas should be the king of the world. Even the Pirate King would face all sorts of restrictions, but no one hunted the Celestial Dragons, much less the king of the Celestial Dragons.

Being as unrestrained as Rocks was true freedom. That man simply had not been strong enough to fulfill his ambitions, which was why he had met his downfall at God Valley.

His words made a glimmer of something unusual flash through the eyes of the former and current empresses present.

In their understanding, the last man to possess similar beliefs and act upon them had been Gol D. Roger. The one before him had been Rocks.

The former crushed everything in his understanding that obstructed freedom, while the latter eliminated everything standing in his way. Yet in how they manifested those beliefs, they were remarkably alike.

At that moment, the current empress, Toritoma, who had been silently observing Adams, slowly spoke. Her voice carried a trace of authority, but also a hint of exhaustion that was difficult to detect.

"Young man, you wish to learn Haki, correct?"

Adams composed himself