Kon tilted his head, his eyes wide with confusion as he looked at Nami. The conversation had turned to the troubles that her village faced due to Arlong and his pirate crew.
He couldn't wrap his mind around it—why weren't the people who were supposed to help doing their job?
"Why were the Marines not saving her village and helping them?" Kon asked Nami directly, his voice earnest.
Nami paused, her expression darkening as she met his gaze. She had been through too much to sugarcoat it.
"Is not it their responsibility to help people?!" Kon pressed, his small fists clenching. "My grandpa told me that Marines hunted down pirates like crazy so be careful if you become one."
He remembered old man chief Iron's warnings back in the village, stories of the world below filled with dangers
'Grandpa said the Marines are like guardians of the sea, chasing bad guys to keep everyone safe,' Kon thought. 'So why aren't they doing that here? It doesn't make sense.'
"Is not Arlong a pirate, why is he and his crew not being hunted down by them?" Kon added, his brow furrowing deeper.
Nami shook her head sadly, her voice laced with bitterness. "That's not how the world works Kon. Not every marine is a good marine and fights for justice. Nezumi is craven, opportunistic, and utterly without integrity marine captain."
Kon blinked, trying to process her words.
"His greed is so strong that he will conspire long-term with criminals, suppress his personal revulsion of Fish-Men, and even directly attack civilians at the prospect of money."
Nami said with anger in her voice, her fists tightening as she spoke. She could feel the rage bubbling up again, memories of her village's suffering flashing in her mind. 'How many times did I try to fight back, only to be crushed by their corruption?' she thought bitterly. 'Kon's so innocent; he doesn't know how deep this rot goes.'
"If that was not enough, he is being back up by superior whom I tried contacting to report him. Rear Admiral "Iron Ledger" Barco Keade. The fourth highest rank in marine after fleet admiral, admiral and vice admiral," Nami continued, her tone growing sharper.
Kon listened intently, 'A Rear Admiral? That's really high up. If even someone like that is bad, who can people trust?'
"He is greed personified even more than Nezumi — Keade treats his rear Admiral rank like a personal business license," Nami explained, her eyes narrowing. "He believes "Justice" is just another commodity to sell. He'll protect anyone who pays enough, and crush anyone who interferes with his revenue streams. And Nezumi and my village is one of those revenue streams."
'Justice as something to sell?' Kon thought, shocked. 'That's wrong. Justice should be for everyone, not just those with money.' He felt a spark of anger ignite in his chest.
Zoro, who had been listening quietly, looked seriously at Kon. He crossed his arms, "You remember Captain Morgan? He was a similar person. He used his power to control his subordinates and spread his terror."
Kon nodded vigorously, his cheeks puffing out in anger. "The one that was about to throw those sweet rice balls on the ground? Yess....he was a very bad man! How dare he do that."
'Those rice balls were made with love and so much sweetness,' Kon recalled, his face flushing. 'Throwing them away like trash—that's just mean. People like him shouldn't have power.'
Zoro shook his head at that. "My point is just like not all pirates are bad just like us not all Marines are good and value justice."
Zoro's words hit Kon hard. He sat there, absorbing it all. 'Old Man Iron said Skyloft was full of smiles, but the world below's different. People suffer, and those meant to protect them turn away—or worse, cause it.'
'I didn't get it then, but now I do.' His eyes hardened. 'People don't have the freedom I have. I think I have a new goal. I will have to teach both these criminal pirates and corrupt marine officers a lesson.'
'Why the corrupt Marines especially?' Kon pondered logically. 'Because they're supposed to be the protectors, the ones upholding justice and balance in the world. If they betray that duty for greed, they're worse than pirates—they pretend to be good while causing harm. And mom said to help people whenever I can and punsish bad people.'
Luffy, who had been munching on something nearby, chose to speak up suddenly. "Not all Marines are like that. People back in my village call my grandpa a Marine hero ya know."
Everyone looked at Luffy, surprised by his input. He grinned casually, as if it was no big deal.
Jango, adjusting his glasses, chose to ask. "Your grandpa is a Marine? What is his name and rank?"
Luffy scratched his head, thinking. "He kept blabbering about being some high rank marine person. I don't remember his rank. But his name is Monkey D. Garp."
At that, Zoro's sword dropped from his hand with a clatter, his eyes widening in shock. Nami, Usopp, and Jango had their eyes bulging out, mouths agape.
"Your grandpa is the hero of the Marines?!?" They collectively shouted, their voices overlapping in disbelief.
Luffy just shrugged. "Yeah, that's probably him."
'Garp? The Marine Hero?' Nami thought, her mind reeling. 'Luffy's related to someone like that? No wonder he's so carefree—he grew up around power.'
Usopp waved his arms dramatically. "The guy who fought Roger and all those legends? That's your grandpa?"
Zoro picked up his sword, still stunned. 'Monkey D. Garp... the fist that shook the seas. And this idiot's his grandson? Makes sense in a weird way.'
Kon, unfazed, spoke up plainly. "Woah, Your grandpa is Garp san? My teacher said he once fought him and it ended up in a stalement."
Everyone's heads snapped toward Kon, the shock doubling.
"Your teacher fought the hero of navy but not only survived but was a draw?!! Who even is your teacher?" Usopp shouted, his voice cracking with incredulity.
Kon nodded casually, as if discussing the weather. "Yeah, he said that him and some Sengoku guy were someone he fight regularly."
Jango's jaw dropped further. "Did he just say his teacher fought Sengoku....the fleet admiral of navy?!!"
'Fleet Admiral Sengoku?' Jango thought, sweating. 'That's the top of the Marines. Who could fight him regularly and live?'
Kon realized he'd said too much. "Oopsie, It's supposed to be a secret."
Thinking that if he kept talking, he would reveal something else, Kon flew up and hid himself from the rest of the crew, darting behind some crates or rigging, peeking out occasionally.
'Better to stay quiet now,' Kon thought, hovering out of sight. 'Teacher said not to blab about his past. But Garp and Sengoku... yeah, he mentioned them. Fights that shook the islands, he said. I wonder if Luffy's grandpa is as strong as teacher described.'
Everyone's attention shifted back to Luffy, who just picked his nose nonchalantly. "What? Grandpa's strong, sure. He trained me by throwing me off cliffs and stuff."
Nami rubbed her temples. "Luffy, do you even realize how big this is? Your grandpa is a legend!"
Usopp leaned in. "Tell us more! Did he ever talk about his battles?"
Luffy laughed. "Nah, he just yells a lot about justice and makes me eat meat."
Zoro, however, wasn't fully focused on Luffy. He remembered Mihawk saying he fought a fire bender to Kon. 'Fighting a fire bender. Someone who can use Fire like Kon does. Now Kon says his teacher fought Marine hero Garp to a standstill and even marine fleet admiral Sengoku. Only one name comes to my mind.... I can't be sure yet. But these two are quite the big shots if what they say is true.'
Zoro's mind wandered back to the connections. 'Fire bender... Garp... Sengoku. If Kon's teacher is who I suspect, this journey just got a lot more interesting.'
'At this rate, I might become the world greatest detective before world greatest Swordsman.' Zoro thought with a wry smile.
-------Author Notes------
Y'all can read 15 extra chapters on my pat*reon for this fanfic!
https://pat reon.com/mrmime24
[No Space in pat*reon]