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In the quiet lounge room aboard the ship, Toshi sat alone on the worn couch, a crumpled newspaper spread open in his hands. He leaned back into the couch, his eyes skimming over the printed words, absorbing every detail.
Toshi had made it a habit to read through the stack of old newspapers he'd found. He felt embarrassingly out of touch with the world around him. Growing up where survival was the priority, he hadn't had much time to focus on the broader picture of the world.
Now, though, he was painfully aware of just how dangerous ignorance could be. In a world where planet-breaking monsters and gods roamed freely, not knowing the lay of the world—or the history that shaped it—was akin to walking blindfolded into battle.
Most of the newspapers only went back a year or two, leaving him frustrated at the lack of older information. Much of it seemed like mundane updates, the kind of stuff that mattered to locals but wouldn't help someone trying to understand the bigger picture. Yet, here and there, something significant would catch his attention.
One article in particular stopped him cold.
Toshi squinted at the faded ink, rereading the passage to make sure he wasn't misunderstanding. It was an article detailing changes within the Marines, and there it was—a small section mentioning Dragon, his captain, as a former Marine officer.
Dragon? A Marine?
Toshi leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he read the paragraph again. The article didn't go into much detail, only briefly mentioning Dragon's defection and the rumors surrounding his growing influence in the seas.
Dragon wasn't just some revolutionary with a chip on his shoulder; he'd been on the other side, part of the very system he now sought to dismantle.
Toshi leaned back against the couch, the newspaper slipping slightly in his grip. He stared at the ceiling, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. What did he see that had pushed him to turn against the World Government?
He raised a brow, mulling over the thought. "A corrupted Marine?" Toshi mused aloud, the words tasting strange as they left his lips. From what little he knew about Dragon, the man didn't have an ounce of corruption in him.
Toshi sighed, leaning back into the couch, the newspaper still clutched in his hands. "Even the news is just propaganda by the World Government," he muttered, shaking his head. It was frustratingly clear that the government had an iron grip on nearly everything.
The World Government wasn't just an authority—it was the authority. They controlled information, dictated laws, and held the loyalty of countless nations under their banner. Their military power, embodied in the Marines, wasn't just an army; they were the government's personal enforcers, there to impose their will and crush dissent.
How could the Freedom Fighters even compare to that? At current rates the odds of them beating the world government on pure strength alone was close to zero percent, probably even lower.
As he flipped the page, something caught his eye. His brows shot up, and he leaned forward, reading the article.
A man named Shiki had single-handedly raided Marineford. Where Shiki had fought against the strongest defenders of Marineford—Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Though the man had ultimately been subdued and captured, the sheer balls needed for that was something for Toshi to admire.
"What a badass," Toshi muttered, his lips curling into a grin. The guy might have lost, but storming the Marine headquarters alone? Now that was cold.
Toshi tossed the newspapers over the back of the couch, frustration etched across his face. ' How are we supposed to defeat a nation like that when we barely have any forces? ' The thought lingered in his mind.
Stretching his arms above his head, Toshi rose slowly from the couch, his joints popping softly as he moved. He needed answers...real answers, not vague ideals or hollow speeches about justice. Sure, he wanted to help the oppressed and free the slaves. The thought of people suffering under the World Government's thumb made his blood boil.
But risking his life for a cause without a solid plan? Was stupid plain and simple. If he was going to fight, he needed to know how to get stronger. And strength required knowledge.
There was only one person on this ship who could give him the kind of information he needed. Someone who had been part of the system they were fighting against. Someone who understood its strengths, weaknesses, and the reality of what they were up against.
Dragon.
. . . .
Toshi knocked his knuckles against the tall double doors, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet hallway. He waited, shifting his weight as he listened for a response.
"Come in…" came a low, muffled voice from the other side.
Taking a deep breath, Toshi pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room had maps sprawled across the desk and walls, papers stacked high in haphazard piles, with red knots all over.
Dragon sat behind the desk, pen in hand, his sharp eyes flicking up from the paperwork as Toshi entered. "Toshi," he said evenly. "What can I help you with?"
Toshi scratched the back of his head, a nervous grin creeping onto his face. He hadn't exactly planned how to phrase this. Walking closer, he sank into the chair across from Dragon's desk.
"I'm just going to be straightforward," Toshi began. "If I'm going to be here—if I'm going to fight—I need to know what I'm up against." He gestured around the room, then fixed his gaze on Dragon. "I know we're fighting the World Government, but I don't know anything about them—at least, not enough. I need some kind of history, context, something that'll help me understand what we're really dealing with."
Dragon leaned back slightly in his chair, studying Toshi with an unreadable expression. Toshi didn't look away. "I'm not here to blindly follow orders. If I'm going to risk my life for this cause, I need to understand it first."
Dragon smirked briefly, a flicker of amusement crossing his face before it settled back into his usual deep scowl. "Hmm… I see. I have no issue with that," he replied. Pushing himself back from the desk, Dragon rose from his chair.
He moved to the tall bookshelves that lined one side of the room, his hand hovering over a variety of books. After a moment of scanning, he pulled out a thick, red-covered book. Turning back to Toshi, Dragon held it up.
"This," he said, gesturing to the book, "is the 'history' of the world." He said as he made air quotes around the word. "It's all I have, but you should know—it's a false history, propaganda crafted by the World Government to keep certain truths buried."
Dragon walked back to the desk, laying the book down with a solid thud. "You'll find facts mixed with lies, carefully curated to paint a picture the Government wants people to believe."
Toshi nodded, his curiosity piqued as he grabbed the book and flipped open the cover. Dragon sank back into his chair, his gaze fixed on Toshi as he leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the desk. "Is that all?" he asked, one brow lifting subtly as he studied the younger man.
Toshi's gaze shifted up from the book, locking back onto Dragon. "No… not exactly. I still have some questions I want to ask," he said, closing the book and placing it on the table.
Dragon's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Oh? Fire away," he replied bluntly, leaning back into his chair. "If it gets me to stop working for a moment, I don't mind."
Toshi nodded, gathering his thoughts. "Alright." He paused, taking a steadying breath before speaking again. "What were you doing on that island where you rescued me?"
The room fell silent for a moment, the question hanging in the air between them. Dragon's expression shifted slightly, the smirk fading as his gaze became more serious. It was clear the question hadn't caught him off guard, but it was one he didn't expect.
"*Cough*" Dragon coughed as he began. "We intercepted a ship carrying slaves bound for that island. At first, we infiltrated the island, going undercover to scout the situation. It was well-hidden, with huge connections to the Marines and the underworld, so they operated in secrecy."
His gaze darkened. "But when we saw what was happening in the auction house, every single one of us wanted to burn the place to the ground…" Dragon's voice trailed off for a moment, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "But we didn't have the manpower to take on the entire island. So we focused on what we could do—liberating the underground slave ring. And that's when I found you."
' So that explained it, why Dragon was there in the first place, ' Toshi thought, scratching his cheek. "Hmm… one more question," he said after a moment. "What're we doing here in the Grand Line? What's the big plan?"
Dragon smirked, leaning back in his chair. "I already told you, you'll find out in time," he said with a shake of his head. "But I guess you're just impatient." His smirk widened slightly as he continued. "We're heading to an island—a hidden one we've secured to act as our base of operations. Most of our forces are already there, and it's where we'll train new recruits and trainees, building a stronger force. It's not going to happen overnight, but we'll make it happen."
Toshi nodded, grinning. "Alrigghhtt," he replied, dragging out the word. "Now we look like we have a fighting chance against those dicks..."
Dragon let out a faint chuckle, as he turned back to his desk. "Anything else, or are you good for now?"
Toshi leaned back, feeling a little more at ease. "I think I'm good… for now," he said with a playful smirk.
Dragon gave a slight nod, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Alright," he said, his tone gruff as he turned back to the chaos of papers and maps scattered across his desk. "I've got work to do."
Toshi stood, grabbing the red-covered book from the table. " I leave you to it then, " he then turned and headed for the door, walking through it and closing it behind him.
Toshi glanced down at the book in his hands, his sigh escaping as he muttered to himself, "Now I got some reading to do."
It wasn't a problem, though. He was confident enough that he could finish the entire thing in one day. Today was one of his rare freebies—a day off from the endless grind of training. He had time, and he was going to make the most of it.
With a half-hearted grin, he tucked the book under his arm and made his way back to the lounge.
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A few hours later, in the late afternoon, Toshi finally closed the book with a quiet snap. His eyes lingered on the cover for a moment, as if expecting some hidden truth to reveal itself. The book, for the most part, had been nothing more than propaganda—painting the World Government in a shining, unblemished light. But despite all the glorified lies, it still gave him valuable insight into what he was up against.
The sheer scale of the World Government's influence, the military might of the Marines, and their grip on the world... it was all laid out, even if it was wrapped in a carefully crafted lie.
They had an endless fleet of soldiers and ships, spread across every ocean, every sea, every corner of the world. Bases planted on every island, from the farthest reaches of the Grand Line to the most remote corners of the Blues.
They controlled the entire seas, their reach stretching farther than any of them could imagine. And the scariest part? With a single bounty, the full weight of the World Government could be unleashed. One bounty, and the entire seas would turn against you. Pirates, bounty hunters, and even innocent civilians would come after you...
' That's what we're up against, ' Toshi thought grimly, they were so screwed.
The sheer scale of the opposition was mind-boggling. They were going up against an entire system. A system that could obliterate them.
Toshi felt a pang of frustration in his chest. ' How do you fight something like that? ' He wasn't sure. He was completely stumped, leaning back, his mind racing. ' It's going to take more than just hope to take these fuckers down. ' He sighed, setting the book aside.
There was still a lot he needed to do to get stronger and he knew that this was just the beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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[ A/N: Finally, this is where the story starts to pick up pace and showcases genuine growth for Toshi. Keep in mind that this is a training arc, so there will be some slooowww buildup. After that, it's all action and heat just bear with me. I promise it'll all be worth it in the end. ]
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