One o'clock in the morning, the hour when most men and beasts are long exhausted.
In the dark shadows of the Marineford logistics zone, two figures moved quickly along the base of the walls like geckos.
Kane... that is the special supply ship carrying goods for the Celestial Dragons, right?
Kuzan whispered, his tall frame trying to disappear into the shadow of a large container. His voice carried a slight, nervous tremor.
Despite his natural power, this was the first time in his life he had ever broken military law.
Worse, he was boarding a ship belonging to the Celestial Dragons. If they were caught, he would be sent straight to a military court.
In contrast, Kane walked with light steps and a relaxed posture. He even took a moment to calmly adjust the collar of his loud, casual shirt.
Think bigger, Kuzan.
Without turning around, Kane spoke in a low whisper meant only for the two of them.
We are searching for the true meaning of Justice. Borrowing a ship from the powerful is simply taking from the elite to serve the common good.
Is... is that how it works? Kuzan felt that something was wrong with that logic, yet Kane sounded incredibly convincing.
Be quiet. The patrol just passed. Jump!
At Kane's command, the two used the cover of night to leap onto the deck of the departing ship. They rolled into the cargo hold, hiding among crates of luxury goods.
[Ding! Host's disciplinary violation detected!]
[Action: Unauthorized departure from base and boarding a Celestial Dragon special supply ship.]
[Witnesses: None (Your infiltration was perfect).]
[Violation Value +200!]
Kane hid among piles of expensive silk, listening to the pleasant sound of the system notification. A satisfied smile played on his lips.
Making 200 points just for leaving the island meant this field trip was going to be very profitable.
Two hours later.
The Sabaody Archipelago, the final stop of the first half of the Grand Line and the gateway to the New World.
Unlike the quiet and strict atmosphere of Marineford, Sabaody was just waking up, especially in the lawless zones.
The massive roots of the Yarukiman Mangroves were tangled together, and countless bubbles floated upward under the glow of neon signs, reflecting a world of decadence and light.
Kuzan had changed into a plain gray hoodie. He kept the hood up as he stared at the scene in shock, feeling like a country boy entering a massive city for the first time.
Casinos, black markets, and bars lined the streets.
The air smelled like a thick, sickly sweet mixture of alcohol, perfume, grilled meat, and strange tobacco.
There were no neat rows of soldiers or shouting of slogans here.
There were only drunk pirates, women in heavy makeup, dangerous human traffickers, and the sounds of people pleading for mercy in the dark alleys.
This... this is... Kuzan's pupils shrank. He had never seen such chaos before, and his sense of Justice felt under attack.
This is the real sea, Kuzan.
Kane stood with his hands in his pockets. His floral shirt allowed him to blend into the crowd perfectly. He stood under a massive neon sign with half of his face in shadow, his voice sounding deep and mysterious.
At Marineford, we see order. But here, chaos is the only rule people follow.
Kane pointed to an old man being beaten nearby, then pointed to the crowd watching with cold indifference or even cheering.
Do you see that? It is called numbness. When staying alive is your only goal, being a good person becomes a luxury you cannot afford.
Kuzan gripped his fist, anger flashing in his eyes. If that is true, we should—
Should what? Run over and arrest them?
Kane cut him off, shaking his head with a look of pity that suggested Kuzan was still too naive.
Arrest one man, and ten more will take his place. Can you arrest every evil person on this island?
You have to look past what you see. Why is there chaos? Because there is suffering. Why is there suffering? Because of human desire.
Kane turned around and pointed toward an area where the lights were the brightest and the music was the loudest—Sabaody Area 20, the famous Sleepless City.
To truly understand this pain, we have to go into the heart of it.
Kane grabbed Kuzan's stiff shoulder and pointed toward a huge club called Sea Sweetheart.
At the entrance, two rows of young women in revealing bunny girl outfits were calling out to customers. Their legs looked dazzling under the bright lights.
Let's go, Kuzan. Let's face the most basic desires of the mortal world.
Wait? What?!
We are going in there?
Kuzan's mind went blank. He stumbled over his words and felt his face start to turn red.
Of course!
Kane's face was completely serious.
This is where humanity is most real. The sweat, tears, and emptiness of every sailor in the world come together here.
If you do not experience it yourself, how can you understand why they would rather spend their money here than send it home to their families?
But... this...
Kane looked at Kuzan's confused and conflicted face.
He put his arm around Kuzan's shoulder and spoke with a heroic, tragic tone.
Go, Kuzan! Do not let the rules of the world stop you from finding the truth!
Tonight, for the sake of true Justice, let us enter this ocean of suffering together!
Without giving him a chance to argue, Kane pushed the tall recruit toward the door.
Kuzan stumbled along, his mind a complete mess.
Meanwhile, Kane was celebrating internally.
[Ding! Host detected leading future Admiral into a Pleasure District establishment!]
[Nature of action: Extremely heinous! Corrupting the heart of a future Marine leader!]
[Subversion level: High!]
[Calculating rewards based on Kuzan's psychological trauma...]
Kane forced himself not to laugh. He made his face look even more sad and compassionate.
As he pushed Kuzan through the entrance, he gave one last piece of advice.
Kuzan, remember that tonight we are not Marine officers. We are just two lost lambs.
We must be humble as we listen to the cries of this world.
Kuzan was too dizzy to think and could only nod.
As they stepped inside, a wave of heat hit them.
Loud music made their hearts beat faster, and on the dance floor, many people were dancing wildly.
Kuzan stared at the crowd, the dancers in tiny outfits, and the red-faced sailors playing games and drinking. He froze in place.
Is this what Kane called the suffering of the mortal world?
Why do they look like they are having so much fun?