On the deck, the salty sea breeze carrying a faint chill brushed against everyone's faces. Kaidou's deep, resonant voice echoed through the wind, vibrating in everyone's eardrums like distant thunder: "It is the World Government that creates pirates."
Kuzan stood by the ship's railing, the hem of his clothes flapping loudly in the wind. He heard Kaidou continue: "The exorbitant Celestial Tribute has plunged countless member nations into endless wars. To pay this tribute, these countries are forced to wage war after war, and all this blood money ultimately flows into Mary Geoise, funding the extravagant lifestyles of those Celestial Dragons."
"If pirates bring fear," Kaidou's voice suddenly rose several degrees, "then the World Government and the Marines bring deathly silence."
Kuzan's brow unconsciously furrowed: "What do you mean?"
Kaidou's gaze sharpened like a blade as he slowly spoke: "Do you know about the Celestial Dragons' Hunting Game?"
Kuzan shook his head, but an ominous feeling had already risen in his heart. He noticed the expressions of others on the deck had also turned grave.
"Every three years," Kaidou's voice was heavy with suppressed anger, "the World Government randomly selects a country.
The Marines are responsible for blockading the sea routes, and then those lofty Celestial Dragons treat the island's civilians and slaves as prey." He paused, "They score points based on human lives, continuing until everyone on the island is killed. The entire process is broadcast live through Den Den Mushi as entertainment for the Celestial Dragons."
"Impossible!" Kuzan's head snapped up, his eyes filled with disbelief. His voice sounded particularly abrupt on the deck.
Kaidou let out a cold laugh: "Heh, I didn't believe it either at first." He patted his chest, "If I hadn't participated in it myself, I wouldn't have believed it either." He pointed at himself, "See this fruit? The Zoan-type Mythical Creature Fish-Fish Fruit Azure Dragon Form - it was a trophy I seized during that Hunting Game."
The deck fell into complete silence. Only the sound of waves hitting the ship's hull reminded them of the passage of time.
Kaidou suddenly pointed toward the cabin: "If you don't believe me, I happen to have several former Celestial Dragons on my ship. You can ask them yourself."
All eyes turned to Homing and Yulia. Sebastian, Enel and the others stared at the couple in shock, while even Doflamingo and Rosinante showed complex expressions.
Homing took a deep breath and slowly nodded under everyone's gaze: "What he said... is all true." His voice trembled slightly, "It was precisely because I couldn't condone such behavior that I gave up my status as a Celestial Dragon and took my family away. I originally thought... we could live as ordinary people..."
Yulia tightly grasped her husband's hand, offering silent support. Her eyes held both guilt for the past and firm support for her husband's decision.
The sea breeze continued to blow, but on the deck at this moment, tumultuous waves surged in everyone's hearts. Kuzan stood in place, feeling his worldview undergoing an unprecedented shock.
Kaidou sneered and added, "What do you think the Navy's so-called justice is? Nothing more than a tool used by the Celestial Dragons to maintain their rule." His gaze swept over everyone present. "The pirates you call villains, at the very least, don't commit such deeds under the banner of justice."
Kuzan's fists unconsciously clenched, his knuckles turning white. He recalled the beliefs of justice he had steadfastly upheld, now appearing so pale and laughable. The sea breeze carried a salty, fishy scent, as if mocking this cruel truth.
"Kuzan," Kaidou's voice suddenly turned playful, "now that you've heard the truth about the world, do you still want to join the Navy? With your strength, you'd probably rise through the ranks quickly. When the Celestial Dragons massacre the indigenous people of a small island, you might become a 'just' Navy officer blocking their final escape route."
Upon hearing this, a terrifying scene immediately flashed through Kuzan's mind: Celestial Dragons slaughtering the indigenous people of an island, while he blocked their last path to survival. At this thought, Kuzan staggered backward and collapsed onto the deck, his eyes losing focus.
"Wororororo." Kaidou let out his signature laugh. "Don't worry, Kuzan. I guarantee that scene won't happen."
Hearing this, a glimmer of hope sparked in Kuzan's eyes. He looked up at Kaidou.
Kaidou threw a piece of paper in front of him. When Kuzan focused his gaze, he saw it was a bounty poster.
[Beasts Pirates Executive, Frozen Devil Kuzan - Bounty: 130,000,000 Belly - Dead or Alive]
Seeing his own bounty poster, Kuzan immediately glared at Kaidou. There was no need to ask - this bounty was undoubtedly Kaidou's doing. His eyes held both anger and a complex, indescribable emotion.
The atmosphere on the deck froze once again. The cries of seagulls came from the distance, sounding particularly piercing. Kuzan slowly stood up, the bounty poster in his hand crumpled from his tight grip. He looked toward the distant horizon, in the direction of Navy Headquarters - the place he had once aspired to reach.
"Alright, I told you all this to make you understand that in this world, only strength allows you to control your own destiny," Kaidou said to the pirates who had stopped training. "Now get back to training, all of you!"
Hearing this, the crew members who had paused their training silently resumed, though this time they trained with even greater intensity. Just as Kaidou had said, only strength could determine one's fate.
The sea breeze continued to blow, but on the deck at this moment, tumultuous waves surged in everyone's hearts. Kuzan stood in place, feeling his worldview undergoing an unprecedented shock. He recalled the bold declarations he'd made when preparing to join the Navy, remembered the naval officers he had looked up to as role models - now everything seemed so ironic.
"Kuzan," Kaidou's voice suddenly turned serious, "I know this truth is difficult for you to accept right now. But this is the reality of the world, a truth carefully concealed by the World Government."
Kuzan looked up, complex emotions flashing in his eyes. "Why... why tell me all this?"
Kaidou grinned: "Because I can tell you're a kid with a sense of justice. Rather than letting you get brainwashed in the Marines, it's better for you to know the truth and choose your own path."
Kuzan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly: "I need time... I need to think this through properly..."
"Of course," Kaidou readily agreed, "but before that, you'll need to get used to your new identity." He pointed at the bounty poster, "After all, you're now a Great Pirate worth 130 million Belly."
Kuzan shook his head with a bitter smile, folded the bounty poster, and tucked it into his pocket. He gazed into the distance where the sea met the sky, the horizon beginning to glow with the first light of dawn. A new day was about to begin, and it seemed his life was about to embark on a completely new chapter.
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