Talk-No-Jutsu

Ryan looked at Issho Fujitora, the only person present who had not made his stance clear.

"Mr. Issho, which side are you on?"

"I was merely drawn here by the fighting. I have no desire to involve myself in your affairs," Fujitora said with a smile.

"Then I hope you won't make a move. Otherwise, we'll fight to the death."

Beli and the others also stood ready. At a single command from Ryan, they would immediately...

"Kid, since you're Ace's brother, wouldn't it be better for you to join the Marines?" Seeing Ryan preparing to fight, Garp sighed.

Ryan looked at Garp speechlessly. "Vice Admiral Garp, why are you so determined to make me join the Marines?"

"Fili said you possess a heart of justice, and now I've seen your strength for myself. If you refuse to join the Marines, then I can only have you thrown into Impel Down." Garp spoke with a regretful expression.

"I don't have any heart of justice. You've got it wrong, Garp."

Aokiji, standing nearby, also nodded in agreement. That was right, Ryan did not.

"How could that be? Fili wouldn't lie to me. He told me everything you did in the Goth Kingdom. Freeing slaves—isn't that a heart of justice? Join the Marines! Only the Marines can fulfill your justice!" Garp shouted.

Seeing Garp act so chuunibyou at his age, Ryan could not help laughing. "There is no such thing as absolute justice in this world. Garp, you're too naive."

"We Marines are justice," Garp declared righteously.

Ryan laughed. "The Marines are justice? Then what about the Marines I killed? If the Marines are justice, then what were the innocent people of Ohara?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Garp and Aokiji fell silent. Robin burst into tears. After all these years, someone had finally spoken a word of fairness for the innocent scholars who had died back then.

Ryan continued, "That's why I say I'm not justice. I merely did what I believed I should do."

Fujitora, who had been listening nearby, felt as though he had been struck by lightning. Doing what one should do... isn't that the justice I've always upheld? He looked at Ryan with an indescribable light in his eyes. Ryan's words made Fujitora feel that he was not alone on his path.

"Then, Mr. Ryan, what do you believe should be done, and what should not?"

Seeing that Fujitora was the one asking, Ryan did not mind.

"I don't think it's useful, Mr. Issho. Everyone has their own moral values."

"Moral values?" Fujitora looked at Ryan in confusion.

"Moral values are a person's views toward people, objects, and events. Put simply, they are the unwritten rules of society."

As soon as he said that, everyone was dumbfounded. They understood the first part, but the latter half made no sense to them. Watching their reactions, Ryan felt as though his intelligence had captured the enemy's high ground.

Only Robin seemed to understand a little as she pondered something.

"Mr. Issho, I know what you want to change, but this world is already sick."

"Already sick? What do you mean?" This time, Aokiji was the one who spoke.

Meanwhile, Beli and the others were completely stunned. How had a perfectly good fight been turned into this by their captain?

Ryan did not answer. Instead, he asked Aokiji, "Why do you think the more your Marines suppress pirates, the more pirates there are?"

"Because of Pirate King Gol D. Roger?" Aokiji answered uncertainly.

"Haha, Roger merely accelerated the process. The main problem isn't there."

"Then where is the problem? I'm curious too." Garp joined Teacher Ryan's little class.

"Everything is wrong from top to bottom. Of course, the biggest problem lies at the top."

"You mean the World Government?" Fujitora asked.

"That's right, the World Government. Isn't Mr. Garp's son doing exactly that? Overthrowing the World Government."

Everyone turned to look at Garp.

"This old man is something else," Kid muttered quietly. But who were the people present? Every one of them heard Kid clearly.

Aokiji held back his laughter until his face turned red.

Ryan looked at them with disdain. They did not know that Garp also had a grandson who wanted to become Pirate King. Otherwise, they would have been even more shocked.

Garp's old face reddened as well.

"But without the World Government, wouldn't the world become even more chaotic?" Fujitora asked in confusion.

"The current World Government is like a tree that has already rotted from within. As time passes, it will eventually fall. Only by tearing it down and rebuilding can the world be reborn. Otherwise, why do you think there are more and more pirates? Do you really think it's all because of treasure? In truth, most people become pirates because they can no longer survive. And why can't they survive? Because of the World Government's corruption and the nobles' oppression. As long as there is oppression, the Great Age of Pirates will never end!"

After hearing Ryan's words, Aokiji's ideals of justice faced an unprecedented test. He knew Ryan was right, but no one had ever considered these things, much less laid them out so nakedly.

Looking at Robin among the crowd, Aokiji recalled the scene at Ohara all those years ago. He was lost.

"Kuzan, wake up! Don't let that kid influence you!" Garp shouted at Aokiji.

"It's no use, Garp. You should know that everything I said is the bloody truth."

Fujitora looked at Ryan seriously. "Mr. Ryan, are you planning to overthrow the World Government?"

"I don't have such lofty ambitions. I was only stating my views. Someone will overthrow the World Government eventually, so don't think too highly of me."

That was right. Ryan was selfish and afraid of trouble. When he had first come to this world, his first goal had been to survive. After gaining strength, he had wanted to see the world and take revenge. Now, Ryan had another goal: pursuing the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

Ryan's answer sent Fujitora into deep thought.

Aokiji looked at Ryan in confusion. "Then what do you think justice is?"

"Kuzan!" Garp shouted.

Aokiji ignored Garp completely and simply stared straight at Ryan.

"The justice as I understand it? As long as everyone does what they are supposed to do, that is justice."

Aokiji was stunned. "That simple?"

Even Garp and Fujitora were greatly surprised by Ryan's answer.

"It really is that simple. Your duty as Marines is to fight criminal pirates and protect ordinary people's lives and property. The World Government's duty is to govern the world well and let the people under its rule live better lives. Workers should work properly. If every class performs its duties, what do you think this world would become?"

Aokiji muttered to himself, "What would a world where everyone fulfills their duties be like? I can't imagine such a world, but it should be beautiful, right?"

Aokiji's words made Ryan think of Earth in his previous life.

Ryan also wore a nostalgic expression. "Yes, it would be beautiful. People would live and work in peace, the elderly would be cared for, and children would be raised. It would be a relatively free and equal world."

Fujitora asked, "Why relatively free and equal?"

"Because this world has never had absolute freedom or equality. Absolute freedom and equality are both wrong," Ryan replied.

Was absolute freedom right? If everyone could do whatever they wanted, the world would have long since fallen into chaos. Equality went without saying. Wherever there were people, there would be disputes. Everything could only be relative, never absolute.

"People living and working in peace, the elderly cared for, children raised, freedom and equality..." Aokiji kept repeating those words.

Seeing Aokiji become so obsessed, Garp knew that if he let Aokiji remain here any longer, Aokiji might go back and overthrow the World Government.

No, I have to leave quickly and get Kuzan away from this kid! Garp thought.

Garp directly grabbed the still-muttering Aokiji and began running. Everyone watched as Aokiji was dragged along, his feet carving a striking trail across the ground.

Everyone looked at Ryan with both fear and admiration.

"So Captain's greatest weapon isn't his sword, but that mouth of his!" Robin exclaimed.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Watching them nod like chickens pecking at rice, Ryan thought that it was not because he was so impressive, but because the One Piece world's systems and ideas were too backward. Still, he brushed back the hair at his temples, allowing everyone to better admire his heroic appearance.

Seeing Fujitora still standing nearby, Ryan smiled. "Mr. Issho, aren't you leaving?"

"I wish to follow you."

Ryan nearly cursed aloud.

"You want to join my pirate crew?"

"No. I believe that by your side, I can see this world more clearly."

"No." Ryan had no desire to bring Fujitora along on his adventures. Fujitora's sense of justice was far too likely to cause trouble.

Fujitora said helplessly, "Then I shall join your pirate crew."

Fujitora admitted that the world Ryan had described had moved him. Moreover, Ryan's words about doing what one should do made Fujitora feel that they were kindred spirits.

But Ryan was far too lazy, so Fujitora planned to stay by Ryan's side. That way, he could gradually change Ryan.

After thinking it over, Ryan said to Fujitora, "All right. From today onward, you are our companion."