Chapter 34 – The Fiery Evangelist!
"Join… the Navy?!"
Kyros stared at Yoriichi in astonishment.
The Navy—that was a path he had never once imagined for himself. Yet, he didn't doubt the sincerity of Yoriichi's words. After all, the arena's manager had already told him that an officer from Marine Headquarters had come looking for him. And after witnessing Yoriichi's display of power earlier, Kyros had no reason to think it was a joke.
Besides, the tall man standing beside Yoriichi—the one who hadn't made a move at all—was clearly no ordinary figure either.
Men like these two wouldn't come all this way just to toy with a mere gladiator.
"Someone like me… can really join the Navy?"
Kyros muttered under his breath, half asking Yoriichi, half questioning himself.
Aokiji, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow. From Kyros's expression, it was clear this man had a story behind him—one that immediately piqued Aokiji's interest.
"Mr. Kyros," Aokiji said lightly, "what kind of person are you, exactly? Why couldn't you join the Navy?"
"As long as you're not a pirate, or a serious criminal, there shouldn't be a problem."
Kyros gave a slow shake of his head and sighed quietly. That sigh alone told Aokiji he had guessed right—there was a story here.
"You're…?" Aokiji began.
But Kyros cut him off with a bitter smile.
"I'm a murderer."
"Yes," he said flatly, "the kind of serious criminal you just mentioned."
After that, he turned toward Yoriichi and said quietly, "I'm sorry. It seems… I can't join the Navy after all."
As he spoke, Kyros gripped his sword and turned away, shoulders slumped, heading back toward his room.
"Kyros."
"Wait a moment."
Aokiji called out to him, still smiling faintly. "I'm curious about what you said—about being a murderer. Could you… tell us what happened?"
He spoke gently, his tone inviting rather than probing. He wasn't trying to interrogate Kyros, only to understand him.
For all his strength, Aokiji wasn't much different from other young men his age—he liked lively company, had a strong sense of justice, and, perhaps most of all, loved hearing people's stories.
He and Kyros were close in age; in a sense, they could even be considered peers. That only made him more curious about the life that had shaped this man.
Kyros stopped walking. After a long silence, he turned back, then slowly walked to the nearest wall and sat down against it.
Yoriichi and Aokiji exchanged a glance, then joined him, sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Kyros's room was only a few steps away, but the three of them sat there on the open floor instead, the air quiet and heavy with anticipation.
"…Two years ago," Kyros began, "I killed a man."
"…"
He paused, then continued, telling them the story of his past.
His best friend had been murdered. Consumed by rage, Kyros had taken justice into his own hands and slain the killer himself.
But in Dressrosa, even though murderers were punished by death, vengeance outside the court's authority was strictly forbidden. By killing the man without a trial, Kyros had broken the law—and thus, became a criminal himself.
Later, King Riku had investigated the truth and, understanding both Kyros's motives and the character of the man he'd killed, chose to show leniency.
Admiring Kyros's strength, loyalty, and sense of justice, the king gave him a chance at redemption: if Kyros could win one hundred matches in the arena, his crime would be pardoned.
And now, though he was technically no longer a criminal, Kyros still lived within the coliseum—haunted by guilt, weighed down by the judgment of others who saw him only as a murderer.
"So… so many things happened!"
Aokiji sat quietly on the ground, listening to Kyros recount his past. When the story finally came to an end, he couldn't help but exhale softly.
He, too, felt a trace of admiration for Kyros's loyalty. And when he heard that King Riku had pardoned Kyros in such a way, even his usually placid eyes flickered with surprise.
At first, Aokiji hadn't cared much about recruiting Kyros into the Marines. If the man wanted to join, fine. If he didn't, also fine. It wasn't something he felt strongly about.
But now, Aokiji suddenly found himself on the same wavelength as Yoriichi — he genuinely wanted Kyros to join. Barring accidents, Aokiji was almost certain to be promoted to Rear Admiral this year. When that happened, he would have his own ship. His own subordinates.
But he was rising through the ranks as if being fired from a cannon — which meant he practically had no suitable adjutant of his own.
Yes, Headquarters could assign him someone… but a Rear Admiral without even one person he personally trusted standing beside him — it just felt wrong. In the Marines, most officers chose and raised their own adjutants.
What Yoriichi didn't know was that Aokiji had already set his sights on him. He had even privately talked to Garp about it, bringing up the idea. Naturally, Garp brushed him off.
Now, with no ideal candidate around, and suddenly encountering Kyros… Aokiji instantly turned his focus onto him instead.
Someone so loyal, and with no complicated ties to the Marines — he was perfect.
From Kyros's account, Aokiji immediately understood why the man still remained in the coliseum. Why he refused every invitation.
Kyros was weighed down by guilt — crippled by his own shame.
With that thought, Aokiji rose to his feet.
"Kyros, I understand everything now."
"I am a Colonel of Marine Headquarters — Kuzan."
"Your identity isn't a problem. The Marines are willing to accept you."
He spoke firmly, then paused for a moment before continuing:
"I know… perhaps you blame yourself for killing someone. But isn't that exactly why you should join the Marines?"
"This world is far too chaotic. Rampaging pirates start massacre after massacre, pillaging innocent people again and again."
"And that is why the Marines exist!"
"To hunt pirates. To give civilians a peaceful life. That is our duty."
"Kyros, numbing yourself through endless battles here accomplishes nothing."
"The dead will not return just because you keep fighting. And your guilt… won't fade simply because you swing a sword."
"But if you join the Marines — use your strength to help those who need it — isn't that far more meaningful than staying here?"
Aokiji's voice rose with emotion. At this time in his life, he truly believed in Marine justice — in his justice. A hot-blooded youth, earnest to the core.
Yoriichi cast him a sideways glance, wondering if this kid was trying to PUA Kyros. Honestly, he even had evidence. But Aokiji looked more like a passionate missionary spreading his beliefs — calling it PUA felt wrong.
After all, PUA types never believe their own nonsense. Aokiji clearly did.
"Help… more people…?"
"A murderer like me… can I really do something like that? Am I even worthy of doing something like that?"
Kyros stared blankly at Aokiji's fervent expression, his mind drifting.
"Of course!"
"Come with us, Kyros! The Marines need men like you!"
Aokiji stepped right up to him, extending his hand, eyes filled with hope — waiting for his answer.
Yoriichi watched Kyros's trembling shoulders, the faint quiver of his lips, and lowered his head with a soft chuckle.
"Never thought Kuzan used to be like this… What a waste he never became an HR manager."
Kyros looked at the hand reaching toward him. Slowly, he loosened his grip on his sword and grasped Kuzan's hands with both of his own, nodding heavily.
"Colonel Kuzan! Please allow me to join the Marines!"
(End of Chapter)
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