"I have this feeling…"
Wright frowned as he stepped into Rain Dinners.
Ordinarily, a place like a casino would never pique his interest. But from the moment he passed by, an unshakable sense told him he should take a closer look.
"Is it because of Crocodile?" Wright brushed off the hostess who had approached to greet him. After exchanging some money for chips under her guidance, he wandered around the bustling casino on his own.
"No... That guy alone wouldn't be enough to make me feel this way."
At this stage, Crocodile was likely lost in his obsession with Pluton, his strength steadily declining. Even at his peak, Wright doubted Crocodile could evoke such a peculiar sensation in him.
It was a complex feeling, like encountering someone strangely... similar to himself.
Observation Haki?
"I must be missing something..."
Surrounded by the raucous cries of gamblers shouting, "Big! Big! Big!" or "Small, small, small!" and the occasional triumphant roar of "Leopard!" or "Flush!", Wright gritted his teeth and activated his Observation Haki.
"..."
Instantly, his senses were flooded with a cacophony of thoughts—like a swarm of flies buzzing incessantly. The strongest emotions ranged from life-and-death stakes to the feverish desperation of gamblers chasing their losses.
Amid the chaotic influx, Wright steeled himself and focused, methodically searching for the source of the peculiar feeling.
"Hmph... As expected of a casino. Cheaters everywhere."
Wright clicked his tongue in annoyance. With his Observation Haki, no gambler, dealer, or planted accomplice could hide their unsavory intentions from him.
"Hah... These scumbags even target the disabled."
Among the crowd, his attention was drawn to a blind man—an older gambler who was clearly being taken advantage of. Despite his remarkable luck, the casino staff seemed intent on rigging the game against him.
Wright froze for a moment. A blind man? A gambler?
"No way..."
His body trembled slightly as he whipped his head toward the man's direction, the sudden movement causing an audible crack in his neck.
The blind man had short black hair, a circle of facial hair around his mouth, and a distinct "X"-shaped scar stretching from the left side of his forehead across his closed eyes.
As the rigged game claimed his hard-won chips, the blind man sighed with resignation. Straightening his pale lavender kimono, he picked up his cane-sword from the floor and shuffled away from the table in his wooden sandals.
"Ah… Lost it all again."
The blind man let out a rueful chuckle. "No matter how much I win, I end up losing just as much. Seems luck isn't on my side..."
"Oh? Don't you think the casino might be the problem instead?"
The blind man stopped abruptly. The voice that had cut through the din of the casino was clear, standing out starkly against the background noise.
"Heh..."
Turning slightly, the blind man faced Wright's direction, a faint smile gracing his lips. "I may be blind, young man..."
"But sometimes, being unable to see filth and deceit is a blessing in itself."
"Sir, may I have a word with you?" Wright chuckled as well. Unable to see yet choosing to ignore injustice? Truly a willful old man.
"Oh? It seems you're no ordinary fellow yourself."
Though the blind man couldn't see, he could sense the young man's unique aura—warm as sunlight, yet as clear and vast as the sky.
As he opened his mouth to respond, a low rumble emanated from his stomach, freezing him in place. A large sweat drop appeared on his face as an awkward silence fell between them.
"..."
Wright, wiping sweat off his brow, awkwardly cleared his throat. With his Observation Haki active, he had no trouble discerning the cause of the sound.
"Uh..." Wright scratched his head. "How about we talk over a meal?"
The blind man hesitated, his hand tightening on his cane-sword before his other hand lightly tugged at his sash. "Ahem... Very well."
"Next time, it'll be my treat!"
Wright: "..."
At the most famous noodle shop in Rainbase, Wright and the blind man—who introduced himself as Issho—each held a steaming bowl of soba.
After hearing Issho's story, Wright's expression turned into one of understanding, though he was glad Issho couldn't see his face.
"Ah... I've met your friend Garp a few times," Wright muttered after slurping down some noodles. "That old man seems like a kind-hearted fool..."
Swallowing another bite of desert-style soba, Wright grumbled, "But I can't believe someone like him would introduce such a strong person as yourself to casinos! I mean, come on!"
"Er..."
Now it was Issho's turn to look embarrassed. Having learned of Wright's identity as a Vice Admiral, he recalled the many stories Garp had shared about this rising star in the Marines.
"Thank you for the meal, Vice Admiral Wright..." Issho said after taking a sip of his soup, his tone finally easing. "As for Garp, he only indulged my... interest."
"Gambling is a personal hobby of mine. Garp, ever the worrier, tried introducing me to different casinos, hoping I'd eventually lose enough to quit altogether..."
"...Clearly, he underestimated me!"
Wright rolled his eyes. "He probably didn't expect you'd keep gambling even when you couldn't afford a meal."
"Ahahaha..." Issho scratched his head sheepishly. "An accident, an accident..."
"And you, Vice Admiral? What brings you here?"
"The Reverie is approaching, and certain anomalies have caught the Navy's attention."
Wright glanced toward Rain Dinners, letting out a faint chuckle. "That 'Sand Crocodile' may have kept his activities under wraps..."
"But a pirate like him? Playing the hero of a country? He's bound to slip eventually."
"The Sand Crocodile..." Issho frowned. "Crocodile's name is indeed revered in Alabasta. Are you saying there's more to this story?"
Issho's tone grew grave. "Shameful… that I've been gambling away without noticing anything amiss."
"Mr. Issho," Wright said, his voice serious. "From what I can sense, your strength far surpasses mine. In fact, even at Marine Headquarters, few can rival you."
"I can also tell you're a man with a strong sense of justice. Have you never considered joining the Marines?"
"Hoho... Garp asked me the same question." After a moment of silence, Issho sighed. "In my younger years, I chose to blind myself... so I wouldn't have to see the filth of this world."
"But now, under Fleet Admiral Sengoku's leadership, I see hope for true justice. Especially with young leaders like you in the ranks, Vice Admiral Wright. It fills an ordinary man like me with confidence."
"Still... The Seven Warlords system appears to be a double-edged sword, harming civilians as much as it helps."
"I wanted to see with my own senses the impact of these Warlords on the people."
"Mr. Issho..." Wright smiled warmly. "Experiencing the world alone is admirable, but wouldn't it be more impactful to stand at a position of authority, where you could truly see the big picture?"
"Would you be interested in experiencing the world... as a Marine Vice Admiral?"
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