Reno's disdain for thoughtless individuals was palpable. To him, these so-called scholars were driven purely by passion, with no consideration for the consequences of their actions. What use was blind enthusiasm? In the end, all they achieved was harm, not progress.
If someone like Dragon took up the mantle of exposing the truth, Reno would wholeheartedly support it, as Dragon had the strength and capability to challenge the World Government. But these scholars? They had no power to confront the repercussions of the truths they sought.
These academics never considered the consequences of revealing history, and that was what Reno found so frustrating. If they had intended to pass their discoveries to capable individuals like Dragon to make effective use of them, Reno wouldn't have held them in such disdain.
Instead, they naively believed they could expose the truth to the world, claiming that everyone deserved to know. But the truth is often cruel, and without the strength to change things, revealing it would only cause harm. Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.
Saul listened to Reno's questions, each more pointed than the last, and was utterly stunned. The little boy before him, barely five or six years old, left him speechless. His mind reeled from shock, and his face turned pale.
They had never considered the implications Reno described. To them, history shouldn't be hidden. They hadn't realized the cruel realities behind those truths.
If what Reno said was true if exposing history without the strength to protect it made them villains rather than heroes how could Saul accept that?
After a long silence, Saul finally asked in a trembling voice, "Little one, does this mean we ordinary people are doomed to live under the lies of the World Government forever?"
Saul had learned bits and pieces about the Void Century from Nico Olvia. Though he didn't know the full story, he was sure it was a dark chapter for the World Government. That, combined with the Marines' arbitrary justice, was why he defected.
Saul had betrayed the Marines, sacrificed his position, and risked his life to give Olvia a chance to continue her research. But now Reno was telling him that even if the truth was uncovered, it couldn't be shared. How could Saul possibly accept that?
Reno rolled his eyes at Saul's naivety, clearly uninterested in continuing the discussion. Instead, he turned toward a large tree nearby and shouted, "You're awfully fond of eavesdropping, aren't you? Get out here and explain to this fool. I hate dealing with people who don't think things through. Talking to him this long is already pushing my limits!"
The moment Reno finished speaking, a figure stepped out from behind the tree. Walking toward them, the man spoke with admiration: "Sir, your understanding of the world truly humbles me."
It was Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army. Though he was here to monitor the situation in Ohara, listening to Reno's insights left him feeling inadequate. He knew far less than Reno, and his praise was genuine.
Reno ignored Dragon entirely, turning instead to chat with Robin. Dragon awkwardly rubbed his nose, silently thinking: This man is incredible. There's no keeping secrets from him. He even knows what I'm thinking.
If Reno could hear Dragon's thoughts, he'd probably sneer: Your intentions are written all over your face. You try to recruit me every time we meet. Even a fool could guess your motives.
Realizing he wouldn't get anywhere with Reno, Dragon turned his attention to Saul and said, "The gentleman isn't against uncovering the truth. He's saying that it must be shared selectively, with those actively opposing the World Government."
"Ordinary citizens can't handle the truth. But those fighting against oppression if they learn the truth, they'll find purpose. They'll understand why they're fighting."
Dragon paused, glancing at Reno. Seeing no objection, he continued: "Pirate King Gol D. Roger learned the secrets of the world but chose not to reveal them. Instead, he fought the World Government in his own way. The Great Pirate Era wasn't a coincidence it was Roger's way of giving the oppressed a direction, a path to uncover the truth and achieve success."
These insights, which Reno had shared with him earlier, had profoundly shaken Dragon. For the first time, he questioned his assumptions about pirates. He realized that good and evil weren't defined by one's title whether Marine or pirate, actions spoke louder than labels.
The current conversation wasn't merely about enlightening Saul. Both Reno and Dragon had their own goals. Reno wanted to keep the Ohara scholars alive for as long as possible, while Dragon saw them as valuable allies for the Revolutionary Army. Their interests aligned, and together, they staged this elaborate performance.
Dragon's words left Saul deep in thought. Meanwhile, Reno leaned back lazily, seemingly uninterested in the outcome. However, his sharp eyes occasionally flickered toward the horizon, where the shadow of the approaching Buster Call loomed ever closer.
After hearing about Pirate King Roger, Saul's face reflected complete existential doubt. The idea that the Marines a force supposedly upholding justice was outdone in morality by a pirate shook him to the core.
But the Marines, after all, was merely the World Government's armed force. Though it represented justice in name, it could never achieve true justice, as it was shackled by the whims of its masters. This was why many righteous individuals within the Marines continually compromised their ideals.
Over time, the Marines, through repeated concessions, gradually lost its sense of justice, courage, and responsibility. Even when orders from above were clearly wrong, all they could do was turn a blind eye. Apart from impotent anger, they lacked the courage to rebel.
Reno's real disdain for the Marines stemmed from this very impotence. They enabled oppression while preaching virtue a collection of spineless hypocrites.
Dragon stopped speaking at this point, understanding that Saul would need time to digest these truths. He waited in silence, observing Saul as he wrestled with his thoughts. After all, they had made their intentions clear: they wanted to recruit Saul into the Revolutionary Army.
Reno, seeing the lull in conversation, shot Saul a glance before turning to Dragon. "The World Government will act within the next day or two. Are your people ready?"
Dragon replied without hesitation, "My men are on their way. I came ahead of them, but they're not far. They should arrive in about two hours."
"As for preparations, we've arranged several large ships. Moving the scholars and their books won't be an issue hell, we could evacuate the entire island if we needed to."
Hearing this, Saul snapped back to attention, staring at them in disbelief. "Are you planning to save this island before the Buster Call arrives?"
Reno gave him a sideways glance and retorted, "What do you think? If it weren't for you self-righteous fools stirring up trouble, I wouldn't have wasted a month traveling here from another sea!"
As Reno grumbled in frustration, his expression suddenly changed, his eyes flashing red. His face darkened as he sensed something.
Dragon, sitting beside him, noticed immediately. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Reno didn't hide the truth. "About a few kilometers away, ten warships are heading this way. The Buster Call has arrived earlier than expected."
"What?!"
"The Buster Call is already here?!"
Both Saul and Dragon shot to their feet, their exclamations echoing in the forest. As their shock subsided, they turned to Reno, astonishment written on their faces.
This guy's Observation Haki... how terrifying must it be to sense something several kilometers away?
Robin, who was sitting nearby, overheard their conversation. Though she grasped the danger, her mind was preoccupied with Reno's earlier words about saving his "wife."
She sneaked a glance at Reno, then quickly lowered her head, her thoughts spinning: He said he's here to save his wife, and now there's real danger. If the danger is real, doesn't that mean the wife part is true too?
Her young mind was overwhelmed, and she barely registered the ongoing conversation. One moment she smiled dreamily; the next, her face turned red with embarrassment. Then, confusion clouded her expression. Her face became a canvas of emotions.
Unfortunately, Reno was too busy discussing strategies with Dragon to notice Robin's inner turmoil.
Seeing the astonishment on Saul and Dragon's faces, Reno smirked and casually explained, "My Observation Haki has always been this way. From the beginning, it covered a vast area, and it's grown stronger as I've gotten older. Honestly, I don't even know its limits."
His message was clear: This ability is innate. Be jealous if you want, but there's nothing you can do about it.
Dragon and Saul, still reeling from Reno's revelation, couldn't help but marvel. Most people's Observation Haki couldn't even cover a small island, yet Reno's range was measured in kilometers. The gap was staggering.
Despite their awe, neither pressed further. Dragon, realizing there were more pressing matters, shifted the discussion. "Ten warships clearly mean the Buster Call. We need to focus on intercepting them and buying time for my men to evacuate the scholars."
Both Dragon and Saul turned to Reno, their gazes expectant. It was obvious what they were thinking: You'll come up with a solution, right?
Reno, seeing their hopeful expressions, immediately scowled. "Don't even think about it! I'm not helping you stop the Buster Call. If you want to fight the Marines, do it yourselves. Count me out!"
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