One Piece: I am the Fleet Admiral?

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Akira's last words immediately silenced Dragon.

He wasn't someone unaware of the Celestial Dragons.

Because of his lineage, Dragon was taken by Vice Admiral Garp for training at an early age, with the intent of shaping him into the strongest Marine.

His strength grew immensely, and his experience rapidly expanded.

His understanding of the world far surpassed that of most people.

Of course, he knew how revolting the group above the Marines truly was.

This was also the main reason why, as he grew older, he refused to join the Marines as Garp had hoped, instead choosing to go his own way.

Dragon knew Akira was right.

Once the Five Elders realize the Marines are no longer obedient and are growing beyond their control, there's no need to say much about the methods they would use.

It's clear—they could sit on the sidelines, or even directly replace the current Fleet Admiral.

Secret assassinations would also be a common approach.

The Celestial Dragons wouldn't care if their desperate plans forced the Fleet Admiral to lead the Marines into rebellion, even if it plunged the world into chaos. "We would face an era even more terrifying than the Great Pirate Era."

With their mindset of treating civilians like animals, as long as they can maintain their power, they wouldn't care at all.

'Those bastards never think about the world.'

Dragon's fists clenched, turning white with anger.

At that moment, he felt his hatred for the Celestial Dragons had never been so intense.

This was the clear difference between classes and ideologies.

To Dragon, the freedom and safety of the people were the highest priority.

"As long as the people are safe and have enough to eat, the rule of those in power above might seem legitimate.

But now, it's obvious the Five Elders don't care about the people's safety as long as their rule remains secure."

"Actually, even if those centers is kept, it won't matter," Akira's quiet voice broke the silence.

Dragon looked at him, confused. "Why do you say that?"

"That's something you should already know," Akira replied, stepping to the side and gazing into the distance, his expression full of mixed emotions.

"Not all pirates are ruthless criminals, born to burn, kill, and steal without a conscience," he explained. "Many of them are driven by the harsh realities of this world. They have no other choice but to go to sea to find a way to survive."

"Of course, during that journey, they eventually turn into the very evil they sought to escape," he continued. "But in such a system, does it even matter if Rehabilitation exists?"

"Sure, today the people might cheer for the powerful clones repelling the pirates, but tomorrow those same people might become pirates themselves—forced to by the crushing taxes imposed by the kings and nobles."

Since arriving in this world of pirates, Akira had been conducting missions at sea, witnessing the brutal truths that were often glossed over.

Before the Great Pirate Era, many set sail not out of greed, but because they could no longer survive on land.

As long as people aren't well-fed or properly clothed, rebellion will spread like wildfire, adding fuel to the rule of the Celestial Dragons and the kings and nobles who support them.

"Do you know about Teacher Zephyr?" Akira asked suddenly.

"Yes," Dragon nodded. As Garp's son, he'd naturally had contact with the Marine Instructor.

"Then, do you know why he follows the justice of 'not killing'?" Akira asked.

Dragon furrowed his brow slightly, unsure. He wasn't very familiar with that particular kind of justice.

All he remembered was that Admiral Zephyr had a unique stance—he refused to kill all pirates, a concept that even among the Marines was considered strange.

But no one, not even Zephyr himself, has ever truly explained the origins of his "no killing" justice.

After all, not everyone has the time or privilege to question Admiral Zephyr personally.

"Fleet Admiral Akira, did you ask about this directly?" Dragon inquired.

"I did, back when I was in school."

Akira sighed. During his school years, he struggled with the physical limitations of his body and couldn't improve his strength through regular training.

So, aside from focusing on his Devil Fruit abilities, he dedicated much of his energy to studying the lives of renowned figures, like Zephyr.

Zephyr's justice, especially his stance on not killing, intrigued him deeply.

You see, it's rare for someone to have their wife and child killed by pirates and still remain committed to a no-kill philosophy, choosing instead to retire and teach at the academy.

When the right moment presented itself, Akira learned the origins of Zephyr's unique sense of justice.

"Teacher Zephyr admired heroes as a child. When he saw someone being bullied, he'd charge in, even if the bully was far stronger than him," Akira explained.

"This fearless sense of justice and his bold personality earned him many friends. Everyone rallied around him, following him as they took on small-time thugs and promoted good in their towns."

"But as people grow up, the harsh realities of the world don't just go away because someone has justice in their heart," Akira continued.

"As Zephyr grew older, his friends—those who once shared his dream of becoming heroes—left town, one by one."

"They didn't become pirates because they craved the thrill of looting, burning, or killing," Akira said, pausing.

"It's because..." Akira turned to Dragon.

Meeting Dragon's intense gaze, he finished, "They couldn't survive any other way."

Dragon's heart sank.

"Zephyr and his friends were all from ordinary families. The money they made barely covered their basic needs," Akira said.

"But the local kings and nobles... their oppression of civilians knew no bounds."

"They faced unbearable taxes and relentless persecution every day."

"What left the deepest impression on Zephyr was one particular friend, who was just as determined as he was to join the Marines and become a hero."

"His friend's sister was abused by a nobleman, and in a fit of rage, he killed the noble."

"So, he was hunted and forced to flee to the sea, with a bounty on his head."

"Do you really think his friend wanted to become a pirate?"

Dragon silently shook his head.

It was obvious from the story—the friend had been forced into piracy by the cruel circumstances of their world.

Worst of all, under the laws of that world, if Zephyr's friend hadn't escaped to the sea, the king would have publicly executed him for his crime.

After all, when a commoner dares to defy and kill a noble, even if they're in the right, it doesn't matter.

The nobles don't care about justice. All they know is that if they don't address such a rebellion, their authority will be questioned.

If they don't respond harshly, other civilians might follow suit. To maintain their dominance, they need to set an example.

So, not for justice, but to preserve their own future, that friend of Zephyr had to die.

And it had to be a public execution, to ensure no other civilian dared to challenge their rule.

"Zephyr was luckier than most—he managed to join the Marines and pursue his dream," Akira continued.

"But just days after he joined, his friend was executed by a Marine officer's gunfire."

"And that... is the origin of Zephyr's 'no killing' justice."

"He doesn't deny that many pirates are evil and cruel, but he also believes that some are simply victims—people wronged and forced to the sea for survival."

"He chose not to kill, in order to avoid condemning a single innocent person while still capturing the guilty."

"Throughout his entire career of hunting pirates, he never killed anyone. Instead, after defeating them, he sent them to Enies Lobby, where professionals could judge them."

The more Dragon listened, the heavier his heart felt.

Akira's words stirred something deep within him, awakening memories of what he had witnessed across kingdoms and towns.

The vile faces of kings and nobles.

The eyes of people who had lost hope, forced to suffer.

The despair of those who could only take up arms, knowing they were destined to die.

Everything flashed through his mind like a whirlwind.

The weight of it all made Dragon feel suffocated. He clutched his chest, took a few steps back, and bent over, gasping for breath.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally lifted his head and looked at Akira.

"There's something deeply wrong with this world," Dragon said, his voice resolute.