1 a.m. – the time when exhaustion weighs heaviest on men and horses alike.
In the shadows of the Marine Headquarters logistics area, two figures moved swiftly along the wall like geckos.
"K-Kane... isn't that the special supply ship for the Celestial Dragons?" Kuzan whispered, his tall frame curled tightly within the shadow of a cargo container, a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.
Though he possessed formidable strength, this was after all his first time violating military discipline.
And they were boarding a Celestial Dragon supply ship! If discovered, they'd be court-martialed for sure!
Meanwhile, Kane walking ahead moved with light steps and relaxed posture, even casually adjusting the collar of his flamboyant casual wear as if strolling through a garden.
"Broaden your perspective, Kuzan." Kane spoke without turning his head, using a breathy voice only audible to both of them. "We're seeking the true meaning of Justice. Borrowing the vessels of the privileged is called taking from the people to use for the people."
"Is... is that so?" Kuzan felt something was off, yet found Kane's reasoning strangely compelling.
"Shh, quiet. The patrol's passing. Jump!"
At Kane's command, both men used the night's cover to land silently on the deck of the departing supply ship, rolling smoothly into the cargo hold filled with luxury goods.
[Ding! Host's disciplinary violation detected!]
[Action: Leaving the island without authorization, boarding a Celestial Dragon exclusive vessel.]
[Witnesses: None (because your infiltration was flawless).]
[Violation Value +200!]
Hiding among piles of expensive silk, Kane listened to the pleasant system notification, a satisfied curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
Just stepping out already earned him 200 points. Tonight's "field trip" was destined to be highly profitable!
...
Two hours later.
Sabaody Archipelago, the endpoint of the first half of the Grand Line and the mandatory passage to the New World.
Unlike the solemn and oppressive Marine Headquarters, the night in Sabaody Archipelago, particularly in the lawless zone, was just awakening.
The massive roots of Yarukiman Mangroves twisted together while countless brilliant soap bubbles rose slowly under neon lights, refracting mesmerizing and decadent colors.
Kuzan, now changed into an inconspicuous gray hoodie, stared at the scene before him like a country bumpkin visiting a metropolitan spectacle.
On both sides of the street, casinos, black markets, and taverns stood in tight rows.
The air hung thick with the cloying mixture of alcohol, perfume, roasted meat, and some unknown type of tobacco.
There were no orderly formations here, no resounding slogans.
Only drunken pirates, heavily made-up streetwalkers, human traffickers with vicious eyes, and the screams and pleas for mercy echoing from dark alleyways.
"This... this is..." Kuzan's pupils contracted slightly. Having never witnessed such chaos, he felt his concept of Justice being challenged.
"This is the true face of the sea, Kuzan."
Kane stood with hands in his pockets, his floral shirt helping him blend perfectly into the environment. Beneath a giant neon sign, half his face hidden in shadow, his voice was low and magnetic.
"At headquarters, what we see is order. But here, chaos is the only order."
Kane pointed at a down-and-out middle-aged man being beaten not far away, then at the crowd nearby who watched coldly or even cheered.
"See? This is numbness. When survival becomes the sole purpose, morality turns into a luxury."
Kuzan clenched his fist, a flash of anger in his eyes. "In that case, we should..."
"Should what? Rush over and arrest the attackers?"
Kane interrupted him, shaking his head, his eyes carrying a hint of pity that seemed to say, "You're still too young."
"Arrest one, and ten more will appear. Can you arrest all the evil on this island?"
"You need to learn to see the essence through the phenomenon. Why is there chaos? Because of pain. Why is there pain? Because of desire."
Kane turned and pointed toward the area ahead with the brightest lights and the loudest music—Sabaody Archipelago's Area 20, also known as the famous "Sleepless City."
"To truly understand this pain, we must venture into the tiger's den."
Kane threw an arm around Kuzan's stiff shoulders, pointing at the massive entertainment club named "Sea Sweetheart."
Two rows of young women dressed in revealing bunny girl outfits stood at the entrance, enthusiastically soliciting customers, their pale thighs dazzling under the lights.
"Let's go, Kuzan. Face the most primal vortex of desire in this world."
"Huh? Wha—?!"
"We're... going there?"
Kuzan's mind went blank, his tongue tied, his cheeks uncontrollably heating up.
"Of course!"
Kane's expression was serious.
"This is where human nature is most genuine! The sweat, tears, desires, and emptiness of sailors all intertwine here!"
"Without experiencing it firsthand, how can you understand why they'd rather spend their hard-earned money here than send it back home?"
"This... this..."
Seeing Kuzan's conflicted and bewildered expression.
Kane tightened his arm around Kuzan's shoulders, his voice solemn and tragic.
"Go! Kuzan! Don't let worldly prejudices bind your steps in the pursuit of truth!"
"Today, let us together, for the sake of true Justice, dive into this sea of suffering!"
With that, he half-pushed, half-dragged the tall Kuzan toward the door leading to the "New World."
Kuzan stumbled along, his mind a tangled mess.
Meanwhile, Kane was inwardly overjoyed.
[Ding! Detected that the host has led a future admiral into a 'pleasure district' establishment!]
[Behavior nature: Extremely egregious! Severely corrupting the pure heart of a naval pillar!]
[Subversion level determined: High!]
[Calculating rewards based on Kuzan's psychological shadow area...]
Kane fought back a rising smirk, his expression growing increasingly pained and compassionate.
As he pushed Kuzan along, he continued his final ideological work.
"Kuzan, remember, our identities tonight are not marines, but two lost lambs!"
"We must listen to the world's groans with the humblest posture!"
Kuzan, dizzy from the words, could only nod mechanically.
The moment they stepped through the door, a wave of heat hit them.
Heavy metal music made their hearts pound wildly. In the center of the dance floor, countless men and women twisted their bodies in frenzy.
Kuzan stared at the wildly gyrating crowd on the dance floor, at the scantily clad dancers, at the red-faced sailors loudly playing drinking games, and found himself frozen in place.
Is this... what Kane called... the suffering of humanity?
Why do they look...
as if...
they're having fun?