"Want one?" Finn asked, raising the cigar in his hand.
Dragon shook his head. "You know I've never smoked."
After a brief pause, he smiled again. "At the same time, I also quit drinking."
"That's a shame," Finn said, his expression mildly surprised. "I didn't realize that drinking with you at the Marine Club that year would be the last time."
"It is a shame," Dragon said gently.
"So, can't we just find a tavern, sit down with non-alcoholic drinks, and chat? Let me hear the reason why you suddenly defected, you bastard?" Finn asked suddenly.
"Reason?" Dragon murmured. He turned his head, surveying the filth of the dark alley, then looked back at Finn. "It's just as well if I tell you here."
"Then tell me. As a former friend, I owe you that small courtesy before I take you back to Marineford." Finn smiled.
Dragon let out a low, quiet laugh. Once it faded, he looked at Finn with measured calm.
"Finn. It has been a few years, hasn't it? You have changed. There is confidence in you now."
His gaze sharpened, not unkind, but assessing.
"Tell me. Are you truly certain you can capture me… your senior?"
"We'll know once we try," Finn said with a grin.
Dragon didn't argue the point. He sat casually on the lid of a nearby trash container, seemingly unconcerned with the filth.
Finn leaned against the wall, smoking his cigar while waiting for the story.
"Where should I start?" Dragon touched his chin thoughtfully.
"1496. When you met Emporio Ivankov, captain of the guard of the Kamabakka Kingdom..." Finn said quietly.
Dragon's eyes widened slightly, genuine surprise flickering across his face. He looked at Finn with astonishment.
"What? You didn't think that just because you could hide it from Admiral Sengoku and old man Garp, you could definitely hide it from me?" Finn said, noting Dragon's surprised expression with some amusement.
"I genuinely thought so," Dragon admitted with a nod. "I thought no one in the Marines would pay attention to such a small matter."
After a brief pause, he laughed and offered praise. "You're worthy of being the one who deduced from scattered clues that Roger would become Pirate King and that his crew would inevitably disband. Your mind truly is remarkable."
"It seems you still know quite a bit about Marine affairs," Finn observed. "Do you have spies?"
"Who knows?" Dragon smiled but didn't answer.
Without continuing that topic, Dragon asked, "So, you all knew? You knew I wanted to leave the Marines from that point?"
"No, I'm the only one who knew," Finn shook his head.
Dragon paused, then said with a complicated expression, "That's really beyond my expectations..."
"I was just helping you one last time, for old times' sake," Finn said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Thank you," Dragon said sincerely.
He stroked his chin before speaking again. "But if we're being completely honest, I was actually already wavering before then. Growing up in the Marines, surrounded by glory, I intentionally or unintentionally ignored the problems I discovered. Ultimately, I kept reassuring myself. But as expected, I couldn't turn a blind eye to those problems forever. I shrugged off the coat inscribed with the word 'Justice' with a clear conscience."
"Should I take your words as mockery of our Marines?" Finn exhaled smoke.
"Yes, because it is mockery," Dragon said bluntly.
Finn glanced at him, shook his head, and said nothing.
"This world isn't fair, nor is it reasonable," Dragon continued. "But that's normal, because I understand the world will never be completely fair and reasonable in everything. However, everything should have limits. In my view, everything has exceeded those limits. The World Government has lost its way during 800 years of rule and supreme status. This enormous organization that should represent justice and order has rotted to its core. "
"This corruption will eventually plunge the world into deeper darkness. I believe the disaster the World Government will bring to the world exceeds even what pirates inflict. The embarrassing truth is that as a 'righteous' Marine, I can't change this status quo. I may even become an accomplice... This discovery, this understanding, made it impossible for me to remain in the Marines with any peace of mind. That's why I left."
Dragon looked at Finn steadily as he spoke.
Finn scratched his head. "Dragon, are you sure you're not joking?"
"I'm certain," Dragon said.
"So, you left the Marines because you want to change the world. Based on what you just said, I can judge that you'll engage in anti-World Government activities in the future, correct?" Finn asked.
"In fact, I've already begun preparing for such actions," Dragon said frankly.
"Then you're also aware of what kind of chaos and disaster the actions you're preparing will bring to this world, correct?" Finn pressed.
This time, Dragon paused. His expression grew serious. "I know that countless people will die because of me."
"So..." Finn murmured.
But before he could continue, Dragon said in a deep voice, "Change always requires bloodshed. Neither you nor I should be naive. Finn, you should have understood how broken this world is since your time in the North Blue. What you saw along the way just now, that wasn't just your past, was it?"
"That's precisely why I work so hard," Finn said heavily. "Wanting to live a better life. Have more power, status, and strength."
"Now you have those things. No matter where you go, you'll live well. When you were powerless, you could choose to escape. Now that you're strong, shouldn't you take on more responsibility? Change this damned world?" Dragon's tone was intensely serious.
Finn had to admit, this man had powerful linguistic persuasion. If he hadn't been a transmigrator with knowledge of what was coming, he might have been swayed by this rhetoric.
Seeing Finn remain silent, Dragon assumed his words had struck a chord. He softened his tone and continued with a smile. "Although you always say you haven't found the justice in your heart, I know you're just avoiding reality. Finn, perhaps deep down, like me, you don't believe the Marines can truly represent justice. You're kind and talented. Now you're tremendously powerful. It's time to let the world see your heart. Finn, come help me. As long as the two of us work together as partners, we'll definitely change this world."
With that eloquence, you should run for president, Finn thought privately.
Before Dragon could continue, Finn raised his hand. "I'm not afraid to tell you that whether the Marines represent justice or how corrupt the World Government is actually doesn't matter to me. Don't think I'm so noble, and don't try to deceive me with such flowery rhetoric, Dragon... You may have lofty ideals, but we don't walk the same path. So, I'm sorry. I decline your invitation."
Dragon looked stunned for a moment, then shook his head with visible regret. "That's truly disappointing."
After that, both fell silent. Dragon continued sitting on the filthy trash container, watching Finn. Finn slowly finished his cigar and tossed it into the stinking gutter by the roadside.
When the ember extinguished, Finn slowly placed his hand on Sōzai at his waist.
Around Dragon, several small whirlwinds began to swirl.
Just when the silence became almost unbearable, both attacked simultaneously.
A flash of cold steel. Sōzai left its sheath in an instant, powerful gravity erupting from the blade.
"Gravity Blade: Tiger Bite!" Finn roared.
The moment gravity broke free from the blade, it evolved into a tiger descending the mountain, instantly demolishing the alley walls on both sides as it charged toward Dragon.
"Dragon Claw Fist!" Dragon growled.
One hand transformed into a 'dragon claw,' wrapped in Armament Haki. Facing Finn's Gravity Blade, he didn't retreat. Instead, he grabbed directly at it.
The claw was remarkably precise, as though literally seizing the descending tiger. With force in his grip, Dragon squeezed and crushed Finn's technique.
However, the next moment, Sōzai had already appeared before Dragon, Finn's eyes cold and focused.
"Gravity Domain: Suppression Zone!" Finn thought.
Invisible gravity instantly enveloped Dragon from the blade. The metal trash container was immediately compressed into a disc by the force.
The ground sank three to five centimeters, compacting into solid earth. Dragon's figure also lowered slightly.
But he didn't fall. Though his knees bent slightly, his spine remained perfectly straight.
"Your blade is getting heavier..." Dragon observed.
"After all, I need to subdue you, the Dragon..." Finn said with a smile.
"But unfortunately, your ability is ineffective against me," Dragon said softly.
The moment he finished speaking, his entire body dissipated like a breeze, vanishing before Finn's eyes.
"Logia?" Finn frowned.
Since Dragon had appeared, he'd been trying to determine what kind of ability this was. It certainly resembled a Logia ability, perhaps the Wind-Wind Fruit. But he'd always felt it wasn't that simple.
Now wasn't the time to ponder such questions. As Dragon dissipated, Finn spun and slashed behind him.
Clang. An arm wrapped in Armament Haki blocked Finn's strike.
"I told you, I've been maintaining my Observation Haki constantly..." Finn said.
"Honestly, the speed of your growth has exceeded my expectations," Dragon said with a smile. "Though I'd already overestimated you, it seems you've truly lived up to the title of 'Violent Tiger.'"
"Perhaps. But there still seems to be some gap between us, doesn't there? After all, you appear quite at ease," Finn said, eyes gleaming.
"Hehe, I am your senior, after all," Dragon didn't deny it.
The sword in Finn's hand suddenly swung sideways, embedding itself in the broken wall. He released the blade without hesitation and threw a backhand punch.
A fist wrapped in powerful Armament Haki struck Dragon's arm. The brutal force pushed him back two steps.
Just as Dragon prepared to counterattack, he noticed Finn's fist on his arm suddenly loosen its weight.
"Weightlessness?" Dragon's eyes widened.
It wasn't Dragon who'd become weightless, but Finn himself. In the weightless state, Finn's speed seemed to reach its absolute limit. In an instant, he'd completed his change of technique. The punch he'd just thrown retracted. Simultaneously, his body regained gravity, and even multiplied the gravitational pressure upon himself.
In that moment, Finn launched an elbow strike.
Everything happened so quickly that Dragon only had time to wrap his torso in Haki before the blow connected. Then, like a cannonball, he was launched backward, instantly crashing through a dozen buildings behind him.
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