#34 - Chapter 34: Saving a Divided Nation
As Jin'an's voice rang out, a woman in a pink dress walked out of the house holding a child.
The woman's face was filled with a bright smile, giving people a feeling of being bathed in the spring breeze, and she could bring a lot of goodwill with just one glance.
The child in her arms didn't cry or fuss, but looked at the world with a smile, as if he was very interested in everything.
The woman nodded lightly to Jin'an, her etiquette was impeccable: "Hello, I am Zephyr's wife. I have always heard Zephyr talk about you. I am finally fortunate enough to meet you today."
"Not at all, I have always admired Admiral Zephyr and you. When I go to Marineford in the future, I will definitely prepare a gift to visit you."
Zephyr and his wife have made great contributions to the Navy, and many people in the Navy respect them very much, and Jin'an is no exception.
However, Jin'an is not ready to go to Marineford yet, who knows what trouble he might encounter if he goes.
"Then it's settled, Zephyr and I are looking forward to you going to Marineford." She could see that Dragon had something to say to Jin'an, and she might make him feel embarrassed if she continued to stay here.
"Then I'll leave first, you and Dragon have a good chat."
She didn't stay any longer, and after saying hello to them, she chose to leave.
He looked back and gently looked at the child in his arms: "You must become a man like them in the future."
......
"So... next, what do you want to say to me?"
Jin'an took a sip of the tea in his cup and slowly asked Dragon, who had a cold face opposite him.
There were only two of them in the room, giving them a space to be alone. Dragon kept silent, so Jin'an had to speak first.
"My old man asked me to learn something from you, but I don't feel like there's anything to learn from you..." Dragon looked down on the person in front of him.
Everyone here respects him so much, but in Dragon's eyes, Jin'an is clearly the kind of parasite who doesn't do anything, doesn't go out, and only knows how to enjoy himself.
"......"
"In your eyes, who is qualified to teach you?" Jin'an was not angry and continued to rock the chair.
Dragon said in a muffled voice: "At least not someone like you..."
Originally, in his opinion, someone who could be praised by Sengoku, Zephyr, and his own father would be a heroic man, or at least someone who worked hard to make a career.
But after he actually met him, he found that this guy was just an ordinary colonel stationed in the South Sea who was slacking off, and even before that, this guy's rank was not as high as his.
Jin'an looked at Dragon, kid, you are a typical example of someone who has never been beaten. How can you directly say that we are not suitable when we meet? You should at least be a little more euphemistic.
"I didn't really want to agree to this matter either. If you don't want me to teach you, I'll be happy to be idle." Jin'an yawned. It doesn't matter if there is one more or one less tool person.
Dragon couldn't stand Jin'an's lazy appearance, "Can you do something beneficial to the civilians!"
Jin'an turned his head and said with a smile: "Then I have to listen to your brilliant ideas. You seem to have not been here for a long time. What makes you think you know me well enough?"
Dragon stuck his neck out. What he had seen and heard along the way showed that the people here were not living so well. His living environment since he was a child was much better than here.
"Everything my eyes see can prove it!"
"Then I hope your eyes won't deceive you, you can leave." Since they didn't agree, Jin'an waved his hand and told him to leave.
He had nothing to say to this kind of self-righteous kid. Since he believed in his own judgment so much, then it would be good to be self-taught.
Dragon slammed the door and left. He couldn't understand why the Navy Headquarters would let this kind of person manage a sea area. Were they afraid that the people here would live too well?
As the door closed, Dragon stood blankly at the door. He knew that his actions were a bit extreme, but when he thought of Jin'an's inaction, he couldn't keep calm.
Any decision made by those in power will lead to extreme changes in the lives of the people at the bottom.
"What a bastard!"
He gritted his teeth and punched the wall, wanting to leave directly and tell his father what he had seen and heard, but he still hesitated.
"Colonel Monkey D. Dragon, right?" Kuzan adjusted his glasses and asked Dragon, who looked unhappy.
Although Dragon was in a bad mood, he still patiently nodded: "That's right, I am."
"I'm Kuzan." Kuzan invited: "I see you seem a little depressed, do you want to go for a walk with me?"
Seeing the navy of this base, Dragon, who was upset, felt unspeakable uncomfortable, and had no mood to take a walk with a stranger.
Kuzan did not give up, rubbed his curly hair, and looked at the young man who was not much older than himself with flickering eyes.
"Don't refuse first, I'm also trying to save our colonel's reputation."
Dragon sneered, reputation? Does this guy have a reputation?
"Believe it or not, it's a good choice to relax anyway." Kuzan spread his hands.
......
Walking out of the naval base, the streets in front of him were still bustling with traffic.
The street vendors started shouting again, pedestrians were in a constant stream, and laughter continued.
Just as Dragon sighed at the ruthlessness of the world, Dragon felt his right shoulder being patted.
"It wasn't so lively here before. I've been following Colonel Jin'an and watching this street gradually become what it is today." Kuzan sighed, his eyes full of memories.
Dragon didn't believe it. Such a prosperous street was only built in the past few years? No one would believe it.
Seeing the distrust in Dragon's eyes, Kuzan didn't explain too much, "Let's go further."
"Big brother!"
A girl with a face full of surprise ran towards Dragon's place with a smile.
"Do you know each other?" Kuzan asked strangely.
"I met him once just now. The little girl answered a lot of my questions." Dragon said with some emotion, "It was also through her words that I understood the situation on this island."
"Jin'an is a hypocrite in my opinion." Dragon said firmly.
He looked at the naval base in the distance that was much taller than all the buildings. This was his first impression of Jin'an.
Just as Dragon wanted to list Jin'an's crimes one by one, an angry word exploded in Dragon's ears, making him a little at a loss.
"You are a bad person, how can you say bad things about Brother Jin'an!"
The girl said, tears streaming down her face: "Half of the people on our island were saved by Brother Jin'an. If you want to scold him, I will be the first to disagree."
Dragon was flustered by the sudden sobbing. He didn't know what he had done wrong? What did the girl think of Jin'an? What happened on this island before?
"We are abandoned people... people abandoned by the king..."
"The king was ready to let us fend for ourselves. He wanted to abandon us ordinary people and only protect those who had money. It was Brother Jin'an who negotiated with the king that we have our current life." The girl told everything she knew.
In order to pay the Celestial Tribute, the kings of this world raise funds through different methods.
King Peccoli of the Sorbet Kingdom wanted to divide the country in half to reduce the tribute of the Celestial Tribute. One half was protected by the country, and the other half was reduced to a lawless place.
At that time, Jin'an's strength and status were not enough, so he could only use various methods to reach a certain understanding with the king, forming the current situation.
"......"
"Otherwise we would either starve to death or be killed by pirates."
Dragon was dumbfounded after hearing this: "Then he......"
He didn't expect it to be like this. His pride made him take it for granted that Jin'an was letting the king bully the civilians.
As a result, the girl's words made him understand how foolish his preconceived notions were.
He was a little afraid to look at the faces of the people around him. He was afraid that he would be ridiculed and harshly criticized.
Looking at Dragon's constantly changing expression, Kuzan felt a little joy in his heart. He didn't want his idol to be misunderstood, and neither did the people from the headquarters.
"No! I have to go back again!" After struggling, Dragon still chose to follow his heart. He had to admit that he had done something wrong. This was the rule he had always followed.
......
