Chapter 22: The Letter from the Five Elders to Dragon!

“Dragon, what on earth were you thinking? Why leave the Navy?”

Kong's interrogation caused the office to fall into a heavy silence. For some reason, even the CP0 agent remained standing in place; logically, his mission should have ended once he brought Dragon in, yet he showed no intention of leaving.

However, at this moment, all attention was focused on Dragon, so no one cared.

Just then, Dragon, who had been sitting with his head bowed in silence, slowly raised it. He looked directly at the old Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, his gaze incredibly firm.

“I originally believed the Navy was a force of justice, meant to maintain the order of the seas and protect the lives of the people. But in recent years, everything I have seen and heard—aside from the suppression of pirates—has nothing to do with the word 'justice.' Because the greatest evil is precisely what the Navy protects: the Celestial Dragons and the utterly corrupt World Government!”

Through his years of service in the Navy, Dragon had personally witnessed slave ships laden with civilians from all over the world sailing brazenly past warships. The cries for help and wails carried by the sea breeze felt like hot oil being poured over his heart.

He had once questioned his captain at the time, asking why they allowed them to pass, given that the World Government had long ago issued regulations prohibiting the slave trade!

But the captain's response was that since the ship wasn't flying a pirate flag and no wanted criminals were visible, it wasn't their business; the World Government had its own specialized units for that, and they shouldn't meddle!

That attitude felt like a bucket of ice water being thrown over Dragon's burning passion.

Later, he saw many small nations being raided by massive armies because they could not pay the Heavenly Tribute on time, with the Navy being responsible for escorting them to the 'Nation of Bridges' in the East Blue.

At the time, Dragon wondered: what did they do wrong?

Was it not the World Government, which levied excessive tributes upon them, that was in the wrong? Even he knew that different nations possessed different economic strengths.

How could they demand the exact same amount? Did the people in the World Government not know that?

What harm would it do to collect a little less from these small nations?

These internal questions and grievances against the World Government grew more intense, and even his gaze toward his father became cold and indifferent.

A Navy Hero?

What kind of hero could a Navy man be if he served a World Government like this!

The final straw that broke Dragon's resolve occurred two years ago, when he was part of a unit assigned to guard a Celestial Dragon. He witnessed a child being forcibly knelt to the ground by his father; because the child couldn't help but mutter a complaint, the passing Celestial Dragon shot him dead for "insolence," before proceeding to the slave auction house as if nothing had happened.

At that moment, Dragon's knuckles had turned white from clenching his fists so hard!

He felt despair—despair toward the Navy, despair toward the World Government, and most of all, despair toward the Celestial Dragons. The world should not be like this.

Perhaps favored by fate, he had accidentally obtained the Logia-type Wind-Wind Fruit. With it, he had a high probability of escaping the pursuit of both the Navy and the World Government.

But fate played another trick on him: the moment he stepped out the door, he was intercepted by CP0!

Hearing Dragon's resentful words, Garp fell silent, unsure of what to say. Sengoku also frowned; he knew these were facts, but as a soldier, following the government's orders was a matter of duty. What else could they do?

“Dragon, have you considered what the world and the seas would look like if the World Government ceased to exist and the Navy was gone, leaving everyone to fend for themselves without any order?”

Fleet Admiral Kong finally spoke. Without waiting for Dragon's answer, he continued.

“War! The entire world would turn into a battlefield, becoming an expanded version of a 'land of endless war.'”

“Chaos! The entire ocean would be filled with plunder and slaughter. Far more pirates and slave traders would swarm every inhabited island.”

“Dragon, why do you only see the darkness? Do the people of various nations living in peace through the efforts of our Navy not matter to you?”

Dragon met his gaze expressionlessly and said, “Maintain the justice where it exists, but do not allow the darkness to run rampant. If it can be made better, why not do it?”

“Corruption, broken laws, slavery, the Heavenly Tribute, and the Celestial Dragons—they should be dealt with, one by one!”

By hurling such criticisms against the World Government and the Celestial Dragons in front of the CP0 agent, it was clear he had accepted his death and felt no fear.

“Presumptuous!”

Sengoku could no longer listen. He roared in anger, “Deal with them? How?!”

“We are the Navy! We have no authority to 'deal' with these things. The matters you speak of should be discussed and handled by the kings participating in the Reverie!”

“An army interfering in politics without authorization—do you think that is right?”

“Order! Order! What is order? Order is the rule of law. If even the Navy refuses to follow the rules, then everything will descend into total chaos!”

Dragon opened his mouth but found himself speechless.

It was true. If the Navy began to act recklessly and meddle in such affairs, they would become a rogue army or rebels. At that point, the world would truly fall into chaos, and countless innocent civilians would likely lose their lives.

Even he had to admit that the Navy was indeed the final line of defense for world order.

Even in the original timeline, Dragon acknowledged that the enemy of the Revolutionary Army was not the Navy or the World Government, but the Celestial Dragons.

This showed he could distinguish right from wrong.

To put it plainly, even if the Revolutionary Army successfully eliminated the Celestial Dragons, the World Government and the Navy would still need to exist; they were a necessity for the civilization of this planet.

As for the Heavenly Tribute, it was essentially a membership fee—the source of funding that ensured the World Government and the Navy could function. It was simply that the current amount being collected was excessive and unreasonable.

“Are you finished?”

The CP0 agent, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke. Seeing the four men turn their gazes toward him, he said, “Then it is my turn to speak. Listen closely.”

As he spoke, he pulled a white envelope from his white suit pocket and handed it to Dragon.

“Look at this first. This is a message the Five Elders ordered me to deliver to you. Once you have finished reading, I will repeat what the Elders wish to say to you.”

Dragon took the envelope with a look of suspicion. The Five Elders had actually written him a letter? What was happening? He was merely a minor Rear Admiral; even as Garp's son, it shouldn't have caused such a stir.

Five minutes later, having finished the letter, the resentment on his face had transformed into extreme shock. His eyes were wide, and his pupils were trembling.

Dragon could hardly believe what he was reading.

“Now, I will recite the words of the Elders. Listen well; I will only say this once.”

The CP0 agent spoke coldly, completely ignoring the stares of the three Navy legends.

“Dragon, we are aware that the World Government currently faces many problems. Therefore, starting from this year's Reverie, these issues will be gradually improved and governed.”

“During this process, you may choose to observe or participate. If there are matters you feel must be asked, write them in a letter and pass them to the CP0 agent beside you to communicate with us.”

“However, there is one thing you must understand: the Celestial Dragons are off-limits. This is the bottom line of the World Government.”

“Whoever touches them, dies!”

“Furthermore, due to your transgressions, two CP0 agents will follow you at all times for the foreseeable future. If you attempt to flee again, they are authorized to shoot you dead on sight!”

Having finished, he produced a key and removed the Seastone handcuffs from Dragon.

Dragon looked at him in disbelief, frozen in place. It took a long time for him to recover before he asked in a low voice, “Aren't you afraid I'll run?”

“If we let you run, we will atone with our lives. Feel free to try,” the CP0 agent replied nonchalantly.