One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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Strong!

Dragon is as powerful as those monsters!

That was Akira's first impression of him.

You don't even need to take action—just sensing the opponent's breath, aura, and spirit tells you if they're on another level.

This is one of the perks of the world of strength and superhuman abilities in the Pirate World.

Dragon, in Akira's perception, felt like a beast from ancient times.

Though it was still and silent at the moment, there was a terrifying force stored within it.

Of all the people Akira knew, only Sakazuki could match this presence when sensed with pure Observation Haki.

"It's no surprise that someone who can give the Five Elders a headache must have the power of a top Admiral," Akira thought.

At the same time, Dragon on the opposite side was also observing Akira, silently feeling his aura.

"This Fleet Admiral is nothing like the world portrays."

"Why is he so strong!?"

Dragon secretly wondered.

From Akira's presence, he felt a sense of threat.

This feeling was rare.

Dragon had sailed the seas for a long time and encountered countless powerful foes. Not to boast, but there were very few who could make him feel threatened without even making a move.

Yet unexpectedly, this Marine Fleet Admiral, known more for strategy than strength, made him feel the same way as facing those super monsters like Whitebeard.

It's good to be resourceful, but it's terrifying without a single flaw.

Dragon was shocked.

Of course, this was mainly because Akira wasn't holding back or suppressing his aura.

He even deliberately revealed his Inhuman Emperor physique.

After all, when he met Dragon tonight, his original plan was to subdue him.

With that in mind, it was essential for Dragon to take him seriously in terms of attitude, strength, and perception.

In the One Piece world, strength is everything!

Without true power, no matter how eloquent or logical your words are, the level of belief would be absolutely nonexistent.

Whoosh.

Just then, a cigar was tossed over.

Dragon instinctively raised his hand and caught it smoothly.

"How's your Revolutionary Army doing?"

Akira lit his own cigar and asked first.

Even though this was their first time meeting face to face, there was no need for an awkward introduction like they were strangers.

Dragon wasn't some rookie. As the leader of a self-made force, he must have done his research on Akira, both openly and in secret, before coming here.

In this context, if Akira introduced himself like, "Hello, I'm Akira. I'll be turning 30 after the New Year," it would not only be out of character but also make him look ridiculous.

So, it was best to jump straight into the conversation with a direct, adult approach.

At least it worked well—Dragon's usually fierce expression relaxed a bit.

It was clear he preferred this straightforward way of talking.

"Thanks for the cigar. The army is good now and has saved a lot of lives."

"Also, thanks to the substantial materials you provided and the various conveniences, the Revolutionary Army has gained some reputation in a number of unaffiliated nations."

Dragon lit his own cigar, taking a long drag before continuing.

"That's good! At the time, the Marines were struggling, and I couldn't cover too many areas."

"I understand. The Great Pirate Era caught a lot of people off guard. Plus, you even sent your officers to explain the situation, so many have come to understand Marine's position back then."

"Right! By the way, I won't be able to support you with large amounts of leaves in the future."

The atmosphere around them grew still.

Dragon furrowed his brow slightly. He fully understood the power and significance of the leaf. 

In fact, a large part of the Revolutionary Army's reputation had been built because of it.

"Is it because you're worried that our growing influence will challenge Marine's authority? There's really no need for concern. Our only goal is to protect civilians from pirates..." 

Dragon assumed that Marine had become wary of his increasing strength and influence, which was why the support was being cut off.

But Akira waved his hand, cutting him off. "That's not the reason. Rehabilitation centers worldwide are going to be shut down."

"Shutting down the centers?" Dragon was taken aback. "Why?"

Akira glanced at him, his eyes flickering with a hint of something deeper.

He pulled out a transforming leaf from his pocket—the one from Rosinante—and transformed it into a clone of him.

"My lord!" the Rosinante clone greeted respectfully.

"I don't want the next part of this conversation to leave this circle," Akira commanded.

"Understood!" 

With a nod, the Rosinante clone activated the Calm-Calm Fruit, creating a barrier of soundproof light that enveloped the three of them.

Only then did Akira speak, explaining the situation:

"The era of great pirates is coming to an end, and the Five Elders no longer trust the Marines."

"Not only will the rehabilitation centers be shut down, but everything the Marines have accomplished over the past year is being reversed."

"We're being forced back to the days when Kong was in charge, or worse, back to where the Marines have been for the last 800 years—a pure enforcement arm, surviving only through the World Government's control."

Akira didn't hide the truth from Dragon, as there was no point in doing so. 

If he wanted to bring Dragon to his side and have him align with Marine, he needed to be transparent. The current struggles Marines faced, as well as the selfishness of the Five Elders, needed to be laid bare.

Dragon's expression grew serious.

He wasn't a fool.

As someone who also led a powerful organization, he could empathize with the Five Elders' actions, even if he didn't agree with them.

Once the Marines are no longer restricted, they could not only generate their own funds but also mass-produce powerful individuals. How could those at the top tolerate such independence?

However!

From the world government's perspective, it's difficult to understand or accept.

Even though the era of great pirates is over, that doesn't mean piracy has completely disappeared.

By shutting down rehabilitation centers and returning to the days of Kong, it's obvious that without the protection of powerful replicas, people will once again face pirates running rampant, terrorizing and killing.

If the world had never known the power of something like the deformed leaf, it might not seem like a big deal.

But now, with the clear ability to have an unlimited supply of these resources, the Five Elders' selfishness—putting their own desires above the lives and safety of the people—becomes infuriating.

"Why didn't the Marines refuse?" Dragon asked.

Akira tapped the ash from his cigar, his eyes lowering slightly.

"You think the Marines had a choice?"

"If we were to reject or oppose the Five Elders' orders, what do you think would happen to the order within the camp?"

"You know how the World Government operates. The Five Elders don't care about the people's lives."

"If they find that the ever-growing Marines are disobedient, they'd replace me immediately and purge Marine leadership from top to bottom."

"Even if they had to use force, they wouldn't hesitate to push the Marines into rebellion."