The dawn arrived in a hazy mist as the sun began to peek over the horizon of Dressrosa. On the shore, the Straw Hat Pirates were already moving about, preparing their ship to set sail once again. The island was breathing a sigh of relief. Although the kingdom had just endured a terrible catastrophe under the reign of Doflamingo, the people were already looking toward the future. Under the steady leadership of King Riku, the citizens had begun the long process of rebuilding their homes. The families that had been torn apart by the tragic toy incident were reunited, sitting together to calmly resolve the chaos that had defined their lives for ten years.
These matters of governance and recovery were no longer the concern of the Straw Hat Pirates. Their role as liberators was finished. Sanji led a small group into the town to purchase final supplies for their journey. To his surprise, he did not have to spend a single Berry. The grateful merchants refused his money and piled his arms high with food and goods. It was a gesture that left the cook and his companions feeling both honored and slightly overwhelmed.
While the crew worked, Carl walked alone toward the Marine warships docked in the port. He spotted the tall, purple-clad figure of Vice-Admiral Yixiao standing on the deck. With a casual air, Carl waved his hand to catch the blind man's attention. Despite his lack of sight, Yixiao seemed to sense the swordsman's presence immediately. He didn't mind the approach and walked toward the edge of the vessel to meet him.
"Lightning Great Swordsman," Yixiao said, his voice deep and steady. "What brings you here this morning?"
Carl looked at the older man with genuine respect. Even though Yixiao was blind, he seemed to perceive the world more clearly than most people with perfect vision. He was a truly remarkable man. Nearby, Admiral Kizaru was lounging in a chair, basking in the morning sun. He appeared to be fast asleep, but his ears pricked up the moment Carl arrived. He was clearly curious about why a member of the Straw Hat crew would seek out a Marine officer for a private talk.
Carl turned his gaze back toward the bustling island. "Uncle Yixiao, do you hear that?" he asked softly. "Can you hear the sound of that heartfelt laughter coming from the city?"
Yixiao paused for a moment, tilting his head as if catching the music of the wind. He nodded solemnly. "I hear it," he replied.
"What do you think of it, Uncle?"
Yixiao let out a small, tired sigh. "Is your Excellency here to boast about the achievements of the Straw Hat Pirates?"
"No, no, Uncle. You've misunderstood me," Carl said with a light laugh. He found a crate on the pier and sat down, looking relaxed. "I just came to chat with you. After all, once we leave this port, we are officially enemies again. It's unlikely we will ever have the chance to sit down and talk openly like this in the future."
Yixiao remained silent for a few seconds before finding a place to sit on the deck of the warship, facing Carl.
"I'm serious," Carl continued, his expression turning thoughtful. "I really just wanted to talk. Even though I'm a pirate, I couldn't help but feel moved by the laughter I heard all the way from the palace to the docks. I wanted to find someone to share this feeling with. I thought to myself, if I were just a normal citizen, I would probably spend my whole life looking forward to a world where I could smile like that every day."
Yixiao gripped his gravity blade slightly tighter. "However, you are still a pirate. The common people often lose the ability to laugh because of pirates. Just yesterday, the people of this country were living in absolute misery. They suffered because of the crimes of a pirate who took everything from them."
On the deck behind them, Kizaru gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. Even though he was known for being lazy and "fishing" during his shifts, he still held his own brand of Marine justice. In his mind, Yixiao was right. Pirates were the source of the world's chaos.
Carl spread his hands wide, not looking offended at all. "Uncle, you are right. Being a pirate is considered a crime on these seas. I have no intention of trying to make pirates look like saints. But, even if some pirates are unforgivable, we shouldn't blame every crime on them. Think about the Seven Warlords of the Sea system. If the World Government and the Marines hadn't created it, how could it exist? How could pirates be given a legal right to plunder? How could a pirate be allowed to legally take over an entire country?"
The words hit like a physical blow. Kizaru couldn't stay still anymore. He sat up straight, staring at Carl with his usual nonchalant expression, though a cold, dangerous gleam flickered in his eyes.
Carl noticed the movement and waved cheerfully. "Hey, good morning, Mr. Kizaru! Did you sleep well?"
Kizaru remained silent, his lips pursed in a thin line.
"Admiral Kizaru doesn't need to be nervous," Carl said, turning back to Yixiao. "The sense of justice in Uncle Yixiao's heart is very firm. He won't be brainwashed by a few words from me. And besides, even if my words are considered taboo, I'm a pirate. It doesn't matter if I say things that the World Government hates to hear."
"You should be careful with your words," Kizaru finally spoke, his voice trailing off in its usual slow drawl. "Otherwise, this old man might have to arrest you right here and now."
Carl didn't let the threat bother him. He kept his focus on Yixiao. Everything Carl said came from his heart. Both Alabasta and Dressrosa had been ruined by the Seven Warlords of the Sea system. While Crocodile and Doflamingo were the ones who pulled the strings, the World Government and the Marines had provided the stage for them to act.
It was a bitter irony. There were even places like Amazon Lily where Boa Hancock had become a Warlord just to protect her people from the Marines and the World Government themselves. The system was a mess of contradictions that never truly benefited the ordinary citizens. Carl knew that Yixiao, a man who cared deeply for the common people, must hate the system as much as he did.
"The Seven Warlords of the Sea system must be destroyed," Yixiao said firmly. His voice carried a weight of absolute conviction. "That is what I intend to do now that I am an Admiral. If I cannot achieve that, then being a Marine Admiral has no meaning to me."
Kizaru rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses, clearly annoyed that Carl had baited Yixiao into such a heavy conversation.
Carl stood up and laughed. "Uncle Yixiao, please hold onto that justice. Even though I'm a pirate, the Straw Hats cannot stand pirates who hurt innocent people. We certainly don't like seeing those kinds of pirates being protected by the name of 'justice.'"
With those final words, Carl turned and walked away. He felt a sense of satisfaction, mostly because he knew he had gotten under Kizaru's skin. He only wished Sengoku had been there so he could have teased him as well, as a small bit of revenge for the trouble at the Sabaody Archipelago.
Yixiao and Kizaru watched him go, both feeling a bit confused. A pirate crew that hated pirates who hurt civilians? It seemed like a joke, yet Carl spoke with such sincerity that it was hard to dismiss.
Carl soon reached the palace, where the rest of the Straw Hats were waiting. The group began their trek toward a different part of the coast. Since the main port was crowded with Marine warships, Franky had arranged for Moo Moo to tow the Thousand Sunny to a more secluded shore to avoid any unnecessary fights with the Marines.
As the crew boarded the ship, their new allies—Eddie, Leo, and Hajrudin—stood on the beach to wave goodbye. Although they had pledged their loyalty to the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, they had their own paths to follow for now. Eddie needed to find more crew members, Hajrudin had his own ambitions, and Leo needed to help rebuild near Greenbit. It was a temporary farewell, but they all knew their paths would cross again.
King Riku, Kyros, Violet, and Rebecca were also there for the send-off. Rebecca looked at Luffy with a sad smile, reluctant to see her friend go, but she cheered for him nonetheless. King Riku and Kyros bowed deeply, thanking the crew once more. They made it clear that the Straw Hats would always be honored guests in Dressrosa.
On the cliffs above, thousands of citizens gathered, waving their arms and shouting farewells to their heroes. Luffy looked up at them and scowled slightly, looking distressed.
"What's wrong, Luffy?" someone asked.
"I want to be the King of the Pirates, not a hero!" Luffy complained. "A hero has to share all the meat and wine with everyone. The King of the Pirates gets to keep the whole banquet for himself!"
Despite his grumbling, the ship caught the wind and began to pull away from the shore, leaving the cheering kingdom behind as they set their sights on the next adventure.
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