Chapter 34: Saving a Divided Nation

As Renji's voice rang out, a woman in a pink dress, holding a child, emerged from the room.

The woman's face was radiant with a bright smile, exuding a warmth that made her instantly likable. The child in her arms was calm and cheerful, curiously observing the world as if everything fascinated him.

The woman nodded gently at Renji, her manners impeccable. "Hello, I'm Zephyr's wife. I've heard so much about you from Zephyr, and today I finally have the pleasure of meeting you."

"Not at all. I've always admired Admiral Zephyr and you. When I visit Marineford, I'll definitely bring gifts to pay my respects."

Zephyr and his wife had made significant contributions to the Marines, earning the respect of many within the organization, including Renji.

However, Renji wasn't planning to visit Marineford anytime soon. Going there might only invite trouble.

"Then it's settled. Zephyr and I are looking forward to your visit to Marineford." She could tell that Dragon had something to say to Renji, and if she stayed any longer, Dragon might feel too awkward to speak.

"I'll take my leave now. You and Dragon can talk."

She didn't linger any longer, bidding them farewell before leaving.

She glanced back, her gaze tender as she looked at the child in her arms. "You'll grow up to be a fine man like them, won't you?"

...

"So... what did you want to talk to me about?"

Renji took a sip of tea from his cup, addressing Dragon, who sat across from him with a cold expression.

The room was quiet, giving them a private space to talk. Dragon had been silent, so Renji decided to break the ice.

"My old man sent me here to learn from you, but I don't think there's much I can learn from you..." Dragon spoke dismissively, clearly unimpressed by Renji.

Everyone here seemed to respect Renji, but in Dragon's eyes, Renji was nothing more than a lazy, do-nothing parasite who stayed holed up in his base, enjoying the perks of his position.

"..."

"In your eyes, who is qualified to teach you?" Renji asked, unbothered, as he rocked gently in his chair.

Dragon grumbled, "At least not someone like you..."

In his mind, someone praised by Sengoku, Zephyr, and his own father should have been a towering figure of justice, or at the very least, someone striving to make a difference.

But what he saw was a captain stationed in the South Blue, doing nothing but lazing around. Before this, Renji hadn't even held a higher rank than Dragon.

Renji looked at Dragon. Kid, you're clearly someone who's never been put in their place. Who starts a conversation by saying we're not a good fit? At least be a little tactful.

"To be honest, I wasn't too keen on this arrangement either. If you don't want me to teach you, I'm more than happy to leave you to your own devices." Renji yawned, clearly indifferent. One more or one less tool in his arsenal made no difference to him.

Dragon couldn't stand Renji's lazy demeanor. "Can't you do something to help the common people?"

Renji turned to him, a faint smirk on his face. "I'd love to hear your brilliant ideas. You've only been here for a short time, right? What makes you think you know enough about me to judge?"

Dragon stiffened. Everything he had seen and heard on his way here showed that the people's lives were far from ideal. His own upbringing had been far more privileged than what he saw here.

"Everything I've seen with my own eyes proves it!"

"Well, I hope your eyes aren't deceiving you. You can leave now." Renji waved his hand dismissively. There was no point in arguing with someone so self-righteous. If Dragon was so confident in his judgment, he could figure things out on his own.

Dragon stormed out, slamming the door behind him. He couldn't understand why Marine Headquarters would put someone like Renji in charge of an entire sea. Were they trying to make sure the people here suffered?

As the door closed, Dragon stood frozen in place. He knew he had overreacted, but the thought of Renji's inaction made it impossible for him to stay calm.

Every decision made by those in power could drastically change the lives of the common people.

"What a jerk!"

He clenched his teeth, punching the wall in frustration. He wanted to leave immediately and tell his father everything he had seen, but a part of him hesitated.

"Monkey D. Dragon, right?" Kuzan adjusted his glasses, looking at the visibly upset Dragon.

Dragon, though in a bad mood, nodded politely. "Yes, that's me."

"I'm Kuzan." Kuzan offered a friendly smile. "You seem troubled. How about we go for a walk and clear your mind?"

Dragon, already annoyed by the Marines in the base, had no interest in taking a stroll with a stranger.

Kuzan didn't give up, running a hand through his curly hair as he studied the young man before him.

"Don't reject me just yet. I'm doing this to clear our captain's reputation."

Dragon scoffed. Reputation? What reputation?

"Believe it or not, a walk might do you some good." Kuzan shrugged.

...

As they stepped out of the Marine base, the streets were as bustling as ever.

Vendors called out to customers, pedestrians filled the streets, and laughter echoed all around.

Just as Dragon was lamenting the cruelty of the world, he felt a tap on his right shoulder.

"This place wasn't always so lively. I've been by Captain Renji's side, watching this street transform into what it is today." Kuzan's voice was filled with nostalgia.

Dragon found it hard to believe. This vibrant street had only been built in the last few years? It seemed impossible.

Seeing the doubt in Dragon's eyes, Kuzan didn't bother explaining further. "Let's keep walking."

"Big brother!"

A girl's cheerful voice called out as she ran toward Dragon.

"You know her?" Kuzan asked, surprised.

"We met earlier. She explained a lot about this island to me," Dragon said, a hint of gratitude in his voice. "It was through her that I learned about the situation here."

"Renji, in my eyes, is nothing but a hypocrite," Dragon declared firmly.

He looked at the towering Marine base in the distance, which had become his first impression of Renji.

Just as Dragon was about to list all the reasons he disliked Renji, an angry voice exploded in his ears, leaving him stunned.

"You're a bad person! How dare you speak badly about Renji!"

Tears streamed down the girl's face. "Half the people on this island were saved by Renji. If you're going to insult him, I won't stand for it!"

Dragon was flustered by the sudden outburst. What had he done wrong? What did this girl think of Renji? What had happened on this island in the past?

"We were the abandoned ones... the people the king cast aside..."

"The king was ready to let us fend for ourselves, protecting only the wealthy. It was Renji who negotiated with the king to give us the life we have now." The girl poured out everything she knew.

To pay the Celestial Tribute, the kings of this world used various methods to raise funds.

The king of Sorbert Kingdom, Bekori, had planned to divide the country in half to reduce the tribute. One half would receive the kingdom's protection, while the other would be left to the lawless.

At that time, Renji lacked the power and status to challenge the king directly. Instead, he used various means to reach an understanding with the king, creating the current situation.

"..."

"Otherwise, we would have either starved or been killed by pirates."

Dragon was speechless. "Then he..."

He hadn't expected this. His pride had led him to assume that Renji was complicit in the king's oppression of the people.

The girl's words made him realize how foolish his assumptions had been.

He couldn't bring himself to look at the faces around him, afraid of the mockery and criticism he might see.

Watching Dragon's shifting expressions, Kuzan felt a sense of relief. He didn't want his idol to be misunderstood, not even by someone from Marine Headquarters.

"I need to go back!" After a moment of internal struggle, Dragon decided to follow his conscience. If he had made a mistake, he would own up to it. That was a rule he had always lived by.

...