Chapter 32: Dragon's First Experience in Sorbert Kingdom

When Monkey D. Dragon stepped out of the ship's cabin, he was greeted by the bustling cityscape of Sorbert Kingdom. He rubbed his head, tired from the long journey, and glanced back into the cabin.

"Sorry, Dragon, for making you accompany us all this way," a gentle voice called out from inside the cabin.

Soon after, a woman with chestnut hair, holding a child, emerged from the cabin with a warm smile.

Dragon replied stoically, "Our destinations are the same. It's no trouble at all."

Dragon and the woman disembarked from the warship and, following the directions they had, made their way through the lively streets toward the naval base.

On either side of the streets were numerous shops, many of which sold items they had never seen before. However, they didn't stop to explore, as these things didn't hold much appeal for them.

After passing through several streets, a noticeably more luxurious naval base came into view. The number of marines on the streets also increased significantly, though most of them were in a hurry.

Occasionally, Dragon noticed gazes lingering on him, mostly from young girls, accompanied by occasional giggles, full of youth and vitality.

It seemed that even in the prosperous Sorbert Kingdom, a man as handsome as Dragon was a rare sight.

Dragon paid little attention to the stares directed at him. His expression remained cold throughout, his black eyes like deep abysses. Despite his young age, he carried an air of maturity beyond his years.

"Dragon, quite a few young girls seem very interested in you," Zephyr's wife said, covering her mouth with a light chuckle.

Hearing this, Dragon's composure faltered slightly, his lips twitching. "I'm still young..."

"Hahaha, I'm just teasing you. Look at your reaction," the woman laughed, not caring about her image.

Dragon sometimes felt like crying. His elders were all so unpredictable, completely lacking the demeanor one would expect at their age...

Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the street ahead. People scattered in all directions as a group of armored soldiers marched in formation toward the port.

"This country's military seems quite impressive, but why are the people so afraid of them?" Dragon sensed something was off.

"You're from out of town, aren't you?" A sweet-looking girl nearby noticed Dragon's confusion and lowered her voice. "This is actually a traditional performance by the current king. Don't worry about it."

"Could you explain what's going on?" Zephyr's wife asked, her curiosity piqued.

The girl glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then explained to Dragon and the others, "Over the past two years, under Captain Renji's governance, the seas have become much calmer, and people have grown to admire and respect him greatly."

"Hmm, I've always heard that Renji is well-loved, but I didn't realize he's done such a great job. This must be a blessing for your country," Dragon nodded, deeply impressed by Renji's achievements.

"You're mistaken. The king probably feels his authority is being threatened, so he's been holding a lot of unnecessary military drills," the girl sighed.

This was a case of the common people suffering because of the conflicts between the powerful. The king wanted to show his people that his army could also protect the country, but the people resented his methods.

It had a significant impact on their lives, but they dared not speak out...

"This king is going too far!" Dragon said angrily. "Isn't there anyone who can stop him?"

"..."

The girl looked at Dragon as if he were an idiot.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Dragon was confused.

Zephyr's wife looked at the young man who had always been focused on catching pirates. "Dragon... who do you think holds the most power in a country?"

"Of course, it's the... king?!" Dragon blurted out.

The girl spread her hands. "See? You already know the answer..."

"I... you... he!" Dragon felt stupid. "This king is so unreasonable. He's not doing his job."

"Captain Renji even went to speak with the king in person, but unfortunately, nothing changed," the girl said, her mood lifting slightly at the mention of Renji.

The king managed all the affairs of the country, and no one could oppose him. The navy was only responsible for maintaining security and had no authority to hold the king accountable.

In fact, the king could even order the navy of his own country to carry out his commands.

"But it's not too bad. These things don't happen often. I wonder what's gotten into the old king this time. It hasn't been long since the last incident," the girl said optimistically, only slightly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.

Dragon's lips tightened slightly. Anyone familiar with him would know that this meant he was angry.

"I have things to do, so I'll be going now. Be careful to avoid the king's soldiers," the girl said, noticing that the soldiers had disappeared. She then bid farewell to Dragon and the others.

Zephyr's wife looked at Dragon calmly. "Doesn't it feel absurd? Just because of the king's decision, people have to silently endure things that could have been avoided."

"..."

"Things like this happen all the time in this world. While you're focused on catching pirates, you should also take a look at what the world is really like."

Garp had always protected his son well, which was why Dragon's experiences were still limited.

Perhaps Garp had realized this, which was why Dragon was now here.

"Let's go. Let's see what this Renji, whom Garp always praises, looks like," the woman said, carrying her child as she walked forward.

For the first time, Dragon felt the helplessness of being a marine. He began to doubt the justice he had always believed in.

"Marines... marines..."

Dragon's mind wandered as he followed the woman with light steps.

In the lobby of the naval base, the receptionist looked exasperated. Every time someone came looking for Captain Renji, he was never around.

"We've already called Captain Renji to inform him," the receptionist estimated the time. "You'll have to wait a bit. He's handling some matters and will need some time to return."

"Take your time. We'll wait here."

Zephyr's wife didn't mind. She knew that the closer one was to the front lines, the busier they would be. It was only natural.

She didn't need to wait here with Dragon, but after what had just happened, she was curious about what kind of person Renji really was.

"..."

"Kid, you better behave! Do you think you're still that high-and-mighty World Noble?"

"Under my watch, even a dragon has to coil, and a tiger has to crouch. If you keep giving me that look, I'll spank you!"

Under the gaze of everyone, Doflamingo was dragged into the naval base by Renji, who held him by the collar.

...