Dragon stood frozen after stepping off the ship.

Then, remembering the purpose of his visit, he began walking toward the town.

He looked toward a middle-aged man lying in a deck chair by the roadside:

“Hello, could you tell me where Norman Bryan’s house is?”

The man in the chair sat up.

Using his only remaining hand to fan himself, he scrutinized Dragon:

“And who might you be? What business do you have with him?”

Dragon opened his mouth and said:

“My name is Monkey D. Dragon. I’m a friend of Bryan’s.”

“He’s unable to return for now, and he asked me to deliver some items to his elder family members.”

The man nodded:

“Oh, I see.”

“Bryan’s place is in the northeastern corner of town.”

“There’s a huge ginkgo tree in the yard.”

“Very eye-catching — you’ll see it right away.”

“Is little Bryan doing alright? Been more than two years since he left.”

Dragon paused slightly:

“He’s doing well. But due to work, he can’t come back.”

“So he asked me to make the trip in his stead.”

The man in the deck chair laughed heartily:

“That so? Then off you go.”

“Make old Granny Candice smile a little.”

Dragon nodded:

“Alright. Thank you.”

Then, following the man’s direction, he set off.

Under his cloak, the hand carrying the package tightened slightly… it was Bryan’s belongings…

His thoughts seemed to drift back to that night, several months ago…

…

Several months earlier, on Jaya Island.

The second day of the manhunt.

“Move, move, move!”

“That criminal from earlier vanished around here.”

“Search the area!”

“One person per room, pick up the pace!”

“Don’t leave a single corner unchecked!”

Dragon watched the soldiers searching from a rooftop.

Then he vanished into the wind.

He reappeared inside a house.

Whoosh—

A sharp sound split the air.

Before his form had fully solidified, Dragon raised his right hand, coating it in Armament Haki.

He caught the blade directly:

“Don’t be nervous. I mean no harm.”

He slowly released his grip.

Looking at the man before him — missing an eye and an ear.

The man stared at him warily and backed away a few steps:

“Speak your purpose, Marine.”

Dragon opened his mouth:

“I just want to understand what you all are seeking — the truth you chase.”

“What made you risk everything like this?”

The man stared at Dragon for several seconds, then suddenly laughed:

“What we want is to expose the truth hidden by that corrupt government.”

“To bring to light all the evil that has been buried.”

“Everyone in the world has a right to know.”

“Not to be controlled by that wicked government and those filthy Celestial Dragons.”

“So? Still want to keep listening?”

He gave Dragon a disdainful look. Marine… hmph…

Dragon was unfazed by the sarcasm:

“The reason.”

The man froze:

“The reason?”

Dragon’s face was serious:

“I want to know the reason behind all this.”

The man looked at Dragon’s earnest expression and was silent for a moment:

“Since you want to know…”

“Let me tell you a story from our island.”

“Hmm… where to start.”

“Let’s begin with Bell-san from next door…”

“…”

“…and Torrel-san.”

“He had a lovely son and daughter.”

“But during one of the Celestial Dragons’ inspections of the North Blue islands…”

“His children unintentionally passed in front of them.”

“And the Celestial Dragons shot them dead on the spot!”

“When Torrel-san rushed forward…”

“He was immediately arrested by the national military and the Marines protecting the Celestial Dragons.”

“Utterly ridiculous.”

“Afterwards, they even planned to execute Torrel-san.”

“The reason? Because the blood of his dead child…”

“Splattered on the Celestial Dragon’s shoes!!!!”

“Hahahaha…”

“What an ugly world.”

“Even though Torrel-san later managed to escape with his life, he lost an arm in the process.”

“Revenge in this life was hopeless.”

“He could only live the rest of his days on the island, full of hatred, until death.”

“And on the island where I grew up, nearly 80% of people have experienced such tragedies.”

“They gather here, silently licking their wounds.” Fresh chapters posted on novel(ꜰ)ire.net

“Why?”

“Because they are powerless, because they cannot resist!”

“You ask why we pursue the truth?”

“Because we want to make public the evil that the government has buried.”

“Because we want the entire world to know the truth.”

“One day, we will overthrow that corrupt government and those filthy Celestial Dragons!!!!!!”

The man shouted, overcome with emotion.

Watching him, Dragon fell silent.

He couldn’t imagine what the people felt when these things happened.

Even though he’d already seen the Celestial Dragons’ tyranny in the Sabaody Archipelago many times—

Compared to this, that was nothing.

After a pause, Dragon spoke:

“I’m sorry.”

The man smiled:

“You don’t need to apologize. You didn’t cause any of this.”

“It was the wicked government and the Celestial Dragons.”

“I can see it… you’re a good man.”

“Can I ask you to do something?”

Dragon nodded slightly:

“Go ahead.”

The man pulled out a small box from his coat.

Inside, there wasn’t much.

Just a sachet, a cross, and a few Belly:

“Please deliver this to Pado Island.”

“To my grandmother, Mary Candice.”

“And tell her one thing.”

“That I… won’t be coming back.”

“If you can, please help those scholars.”

“They’re the guiding lights…”

“Oh, and my name is Norman Bryan.”

“Thank you for listening, Marine.”

He finished with a radiant smile.

The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.

He could no longer hide.

He had to draw the attention of the search team.

Every extra minute he could buy would mean another minute of life for those historians.

If even one more scholar survived…

It could change the world.

Boom—

Bryan kicked down the door, creating a massive commotion.

Drawing the attention of the soldiers.

The final image burned into memory — his shattered body, and his brilliant smile.

Dragon silently watched it all.

He wasn’t someone easily swayed.

He had his own judgment.

True, Bryan and the people of his island had endured pain and tragedy.

But that wasn’t a reason to lump everyone together.

There is no absolute right or wrong — the Marines were complicit, yes.

But the number of soldiers who die each year fighting pirates is beyond counting.

The monument in Marineford Plaza, engraved with over 20,000 names of fallen heroes, wasn’t built because they were accomplices.

Each of those lives was lost in the fight against pirates.

Nobles, government officials, bureaucrats, civilians, pirates, Marines—

All interconnected.

A general direction had already formed in his heart.

He would definitely find that path…

Whoosh—

A gust of wind blew through, and Dragon vanished from the spot.

Late at night.

The historians preparing to flee by boat, as if guided by fate—

Just as they all boarded…

A powerful wind arose.

Carrying them far away…

…

North Blue. The island where the Kingdom at the Edge of the World lies — Pado Island.

Before he realized it, Dragon had arrived at the courtyard with the giant tree.

He snapped back from the memories of months past.

Looking at the tightly shut gate…

He raised his hand…

—

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