One Piece: The True Codex

As time passed, the World Government's inspection delegation had arrived in the East Blue and was conducting inspections across its various member nations. The Navia Kingdom was scheduled toward the latter part of the list, and William had been preoccupied with preparations for this event.

The slums of Kalmar City were clearly not suitable for hosting such a delegation. Although the area had become less congested and crime-ridden thanks to immigration policies and rural resettlement efforts, the urban transformation was still incomplete. The slums remained a filthy, foul-smelling place.

Thus, the reception could only take place at the docks near the commoners' district. Moreover, William had heard that the Celestial Dragons visiting the East Blue this time had brought along several slaves. He planned to arrange for the youth army and students from the New Eastern School to observe the scene from a distance, using it as a live educational opportunity.

…

That night, Gesseta was jolted awake by a series of ringing tones from a Den Den Mushi.

Half-asleep, Gesseta picked up the call, but the news on the other end quickly snapped him into full alertness.

"Chief Editor, big news! There's a massive fire in the capital of the Goa Kingdom—the sky is lit up!"

"Where? High Town?" Gesseta jumped out of bed, startled. If so, this would indeed be major news.

"No, it's at the Gray Terminal, that garbage mountain outside the city. Passing ships can see the blaze from far away. It looks like the entire pile is on fire!"

As the staff on the other end of the line provided further details, Gesseta's mind began racing.

William had previously sent people to investigate the Goa Kingdom and the conditions at the Gray Terminal, compiling a detailed report. As one of William's key figures in the news industry, Gesseta was always on the lookout for information and had naturally reviewed the report.

Recalling the details about the Gray Terminal, Gesseta asked, "The Gray Terminal contains all kinds of trash, and it's usually very damp. Plus, the weather hasn't been particularly dry. How could such a massive fire suddenly break out? And why is it spreading so quickly?"

"It's definitely strange. The residents of the Gray Terminal didn't even have a chance to escape—they're completely surrounded by the fire. It doesn't look like a slow-burning fire; it erupted all at once. It's likely arson," the staff member replied, the Den Den Mushi mimicking their thoughtful tone and puzzled expression.

"Something's off…" Gesseta said sharply, his instincts kicking in.

"What should we do now, Chief Editor?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Do we have anyone on-site?" Gesseta inquired.

"Anna is there. She was sent to cover the delegation's arrival in the Goa Kingdom."

"Have her keep a close eye on this lead. I've got a feeling this could be a big story. And there's no way this is just a coincidence—right before the Celestial Dragons and the inspection delegation arrive, someone sets fire to one of the Goa Kingdom's most infamous blemishes?" Gesseta instructed decisively.

"Understood!"

…

In the Goa Kingdom, the Gray Terminal was engulfed in flames. The scorching heat was suffocating, even from a considerable distance.

Strangely, amidst the raging fire that consumed the entire garbage mountain, a safe passage had formed, seemingly created by some unknown force. This path stretched from the heart of the inferno all the way to a large ship docked at the shore.

A man stood at the bow of the ship, cloaked in a long coat with his hood drawn up. His face, partially visible beneath the hood, bore a stern and somewhat menacing expression, with a peculiar tattoo covering the left side of his face. Despite his intimidating appearance, his gaze toward the blazing fire and the Goa Kingdom carried a sense of profound sorrow.

This was Monkey D. Dragon, a man whose temperament was the polar opposite of his father, the famed Marine Hero Garp.

Standing resolutely at the bow, Dragon watched as terrified people fled through the sole safe passage amidst the fire, making their way toward his ship. He murmured to himself, "The Goa Kingdom… they've finally done it, haven't they?"

As someone born in the Goa Kingdom, Dragon understood the rulers of this nation better than anyone. He knew that in preparation for the Celestial Dragons' visit, the kingdom's leaders would undoubtedly seek to erase the negative image of the Gray Terminal. And they would not hesitate to use extreme measures, given their limited time.

This was why Dragon had specifically returned to this border nation of the East Blue, much to the confusion of his comrades. But the scene before him now confirmed his foresight.

Even so, Dragon had not anticipated the rulers' actions to be so utterly ruthless. Nearly everyone in High Town seemed aware of the truth behind the fire at the Gray Terminal, yet they remained indifferent, treating such behavior as perfectly justified.

Having traveled the world, Dragon increasingly saw the Goa Kingdom as a microcosm of the world at large. The relationship between the nobles of High Town and the rest of the kingdom's citizens mirrored the dynamic between the Celestial Dragons and the people of the world.

The harsh living conditions and the government's neglect had turned places like the Gray Terminal into breeding grounds for crime. The Great Pirate Era may have been ignited by the Pirate King Roger's final words, but the true culprits behind the world's current state were the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

If the rulers of the Goa Kingdom and the World Government had genuinely sought to improve societal conditions—combining crime suppression with administrative measures to address the struggles of the lower class—Dragon believed he wouldn't be standing here today.

Unfortunately, whether it was the Goa Kingdom or the World Government, their approach was always the same: turn a blind eye until the situation became unbearable, then resort to brute force to erase the problem.

For the World Government, their response to the surge of criminals in the Great Pirate Era was simple—violence met with violence, relying on military force to eliminate them. They never considered addressing the root causes of the world's societal issues.

To Dragon, everything happening in the Goa Kingdom was a chilling preview of the world's future. And through his experiences, he had come to understand a harsh truth: in this cruel world, happiness would never fall from the sky, and change would not come out of nowhere.

If the people at the bottom did not rise up and fight back, waiting for charity from rulers like the Celestial Dragons or the nobles of the Goa Kingdom was a dream far more unattainable than reaching the heavens.

Dragon looked down at the residents of the Gray Terminal. Though they had escaped the fire, they now hesitated before the unfamiliar ship, fear evident in their eyes.

Among them were not only vicious criminals but also pitiful souls crushed by the weight of life, struggling to survive day by day. And now, even the faint hope they had clung to amidst the garbage heaps had been stripped away.

Dragon's chest heaved as he took two deep breaths. Suddenly, he raised his right hand and called out loudly to the bewildered crowd below:

"To those who are willing to fight for freedom—step aboard this ship!"

…

A large, hooded figure with a massive face approached Dragon's side.

The man, known as Emporio Ivankov, nicknamed the "Miracle Worker" or "Okama King," glanced at the steady stream of people boarding the ship and remarked, "So many people… I'm afraid our supplies won't last."

"How long can we hold out?" Dragon asked.

"Not even a day, I'd wager," Ivankov replied.

Dragon fell silent for a moment before saying, "In that case, we'll have to impose on others again. Head for Shimotsuki Village. We can't let these people escape one death only to starve to death."

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

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