Liam Ross hadn't expected Dragon to pull something like that.
Startled yet flattered, he quickly replied, "Major Dragon, there's no need for this. Really this matter has nothing to do with you."
Dragon shook his head with a faint smile. "As your superior, I can't turn a blind eye to your life or death. That would be wrong."
Liam blinked, a wry smile forming. Now that's the mindset of a man destined to lead a revolution. Compared to the stone-hearted Akainu standing nearby, Dragon was clearly cut from a different cloth.
Akainu, realizing what had just happened, stiffened with outrage. A superior apologizing to a subordinate? In all of Marine history, such a thing was unheard of.
To him, Dragon's humility was nothing less than an insult to the Navy's honor. "Hmph… Dragon," he snapped coldly, "your behavior today is a disgrace to the image of the Marines. I'll be reporting this to the Fleet Admiral."
With that, Akainu shot Liam a venomous glare, turned on his heel, and stormed out of the training hall.
Liam understood perfectly he'd just earned the hatred of a future Fleet Admiral.
For most people, that would've been terrifying. Being marked by someone of Akainu's power could turn your life into a nightmare. But Liam? He didn't lose a wink of sleep over it.
In this brutal world ruled by pirates, power was everything.
He hadn't been here long, yet his strength already rivaled that of a Vice Admiral. Give him twenty years, and who's to say the title of Fleet Admiral wouldn't be his instead?
Anything was possible.
"Akainu's always been like that," Dragon said, his tone reassuring. "Don't worry too much. You didn't do anything wrong. I'll try to talk some sense into him later."
But seeing Liam standing there quietly, Dragon mistook his silence for fear. "Still," he added, "I have to admit I didn't expect you to have the guts to talk back to a Vice Admiral."
Liam sighed lightly. "Major Dragon, every profession deserves respect. Just because you're my superiors doesn't mean I should bow and scrape. If you raise your hand to strike me, am I supposed to offer my face willingly?"
Dragon froze. Those words every profession deserves respect hit him harder than he expected.
After a moment of silence, he studied Liam carefully from head to toe. "You're not like the other soldiers, are you?"
Liam smiled faintly. "No, you're mistaken. It's not me who's different. It's the world that makes people different."
Dragon's pupils widened, then contracted sharply. "And what do you think of this world?"
Liam simply shook his head.
Dragon frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I'm just a lowly recruit, recently enlisted," Liam replied with a light smile. "Whether this world is good or bad doesn't really matter to someone like me."
Of course, he couldn't tell Dragon the truth that he knew Dragon would one day become the leader of the Revolutionary Army, a man who'd challenge the World Government itself. If he said that out loud, Dragon would probably throw him in a cell.
Sometimes, the truth had to be hinted at, not spoken.
Dragon looked puzzled, watching as Liam quietly resumed mopping the floor. For a moment, he wondered if he was overthinking things. How could someone so ordinary share his unspoken ideals?
After a brief silence, Dragon turned to leave but paused at the door. "If Akainu gives you trouble," he said, "come find me."
Liam nodded.
When the training hall was spotless, he finished his nightly sign-in and received a Basic Experience Card. Then, under the calm glow of moonlight, he returned to his small, worn-out dormitory.
The night passed uneventfully.
At dawn, the familiar voice of the system rang in his head.
Ding!
"Congratulations, Host! You have successfully signed in at Marine Headquarters for one full month! Monthly Blessing Pack unlocked. Open now?"
Liam, freshly washed and dressed, grinned. "Open it."
"Monthly Blessing Pack opened!"
Received: One Senzu Bean!
Received: Future Usopp's Marksmanship Insight!
Received: A pair of Seastone Handcuffs!
Received: Two Advanced Experience Cards!
Received: One Skill Enlightenment Card!
Liam froze at the first reward.
A Senzu Bean?
That was a relic straight out of the Dragon Ball universe a miraculous item that could instantly heal any injury, no matter how severe. In this deadly world, it was the equivalent of having an extra life.
"Didn't think the system could pull treasures from other worlds too!" he murmured, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
The Usopp Insight immediately elevated his gunmanship from proficient to masterful. His aim was now razor-sharp, his precision almost inhuman.
The Seastone handcuffs weren't much use for him yet he wasn't out there arresting pirates but they'd definitely come in handy later.
As for the two Advanced Experience Cards, they amounted to a solid 200 experience points. Without hesitation, Liam invested them into his Observation Haki.
A rush of power surged through him. His senses sharpened, his awareness expanded he could now feel the faint emotional currents of people nearby, even anticipate their movements a heartbeat before they acted.
It wasn't full-blown future sight yet, but he could sense he was getting close.
Next came the Skill Enlightenment Card a rare treasure that granted seven days of deep comprehension, fifty experience points per day.
Liam's eyes lit up. "Now this... this is gold."
He immediately used it on his Earth-Earth Fruit ability. After a month of steady training, he'd already developed two new techniques: Earth Dragon Bind, a crushing single-target attack, and Earth Escape, a defensive evasion skill.
As sunlight spilled into his room, Liam pulled on his sailor's uniform and reported to the logistics department for his morning sign-in. A small bonus of ten thousand Berries. Not bad.
Then, under the gruff yelling of his supervisor, Bark, another busy day began.
Five days slipped by in a blur.
That afternoon, while Liam was finishing paperwork in the main building, Dragon appeared sharp in his black suit, an unusual calm in his eyes.
"I'm leaving," he said.
Liam looked up. "You've made up your mind? You're quitting the Marines?"
Dragon shook his head with a faint smile. "No. I'm heading back to the West Blue… to marry a woman."
Liam nearly choked. So much for the grand revolutionary awakening!
He chuckled awkwardly. "Ah, so that's what this is about. Well congratulations!"
As Dragon walked away, Liam watched his retreating figure with a knowing smile. The day of revolution might not be here yet, but it was drawing closer.
Later that day, after lunch, Liam returned to the logistics office. Just as he was about to rest, his Den Den Mushi rang.
It was Bark.
"Liam! Get to Vice Admiral Akainu's office right now!"
Liam frowned. "That old dog again? What does he want this time?"
Confused but curious, he made his way to Akainu's office.
When he entered, the air was thick with smoke. Akainu sat behind his desk, a cigar clamped between his teeth, eyes sharp as a predator's.
Liam stood tall, meeting his gaze. "Vice Admiral, what can I do for you?"