One Piece: Mandala Swordsman

Chapter 74 Be a Lackey First

"Oh my, you just said something quite remarkable, Roman."

"Vice Admiral Kuzan, before joining the Navy, I also had a regular job." Roman's answer was ambiguous and left people puzzled.

Smoker could only lower his head awkwardly, unable to utter a single word, completely losing his earlier imposing manner.

"What a well-traveled young lady! But I can't pretend I didn't hear what you two were saying earlier." Kuzan crossed his arms, looking somewhat angry.

But Roman dared to bet 10,000 peles, and his eyes behind his sunglasses were probably full of mockery.

Smoker clearly didn't think so. Speaking ill of a high-ranking officer would be punished severely, ranging from a reprimand to demotion. He was a cadet now, with no room for demotion. If he were a hot-tempered guy, he would probably have lashed out on the spot.

This is different from the training camp; he's not a teacher here.

It's really unlucky. Anyone would make fun of those big shots, but it just so happened that it was overheard.

“We were just having a normal conversation,” Roman said casually.

Kuzan wouldn't be provoked by such words, and besides, what the two of them said was the truth. Even if Kuzan wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn't have the confidence to do so.

Faced with Roman's fearless expression, Kuzan was the first to give in, saying helplessly, "As expected, I've always been helpless with children. But I'm a little interested in what you just said. Would you like to come to my office? I'll give you some milk."

Lieutenant General Kuzan, the future Admiral Aokiji, likes sherry and coffee, but there is one drink he particularly loves: milk.

His office style, once again, is speechless.

The room was covered in dust and various documents. The adjutant beside him was practically out of his body, and Roman thought he was so exhausted that he had fainted, but he still maintained the posture he had before he woke up. Only the sofa was spotless, and even the sleeping bag on it was a high-end product.

The plaque's inscription, "Lazy Justice," left Smoker speechless, his lips twitching. If he hadn't been told it was a Navy office, he would have thought it was a storage room. Just how much dust was in there?

This guy is a complete lazy bum.

"Have some, it's not hot, but it's still very fresh." After handing the two little ones two bottles of fresh milk, Kuzan casually lay down on the sofa, completely disregarding his image.

Smoker was completely speechless. Although he wasn't exactly someone who cared about his image, he should at least tone it down a bit.

Roman, however, very naturally picked up the milk and drank it, hoping that the milk in this world would have a miraculous effect on making one grow taller.

Before Kuzan could speak, Roman, who had just finished drinking his milk, spoke first: "Vice Admiral Kuzan, this child is Smoker, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user. I think it would be very beneficial to win him over."

"Child?" Smoker found it strange to be addressed like that by Roman. Then again, these words should at least be said after he left.

"Oh my, you're really full of enthusiasm." Kuzan yawned lazily again.

"He is also passionate about justice, and he's not someone who can be easily defeated." Roman spoke with the eloquence of a salesman.

"Overly passionate justice often suffers ruthless blows. He's too young; it might cause him physical and mental harm." This wasn't just something Kuzan said offhand; it was based on his experience. He had already experienced the immense mental strain that comes with the shift from passion to indolence.

Smoker was instantly enraged: "You bastard, what are you talking about? I have my own inner convictions that prevent me from being defeated by reality. I don't care what setbacks you've suffered that have made you so dejected. Don't compare me to you. No matter what lies ahead, I will overcome it and show you."

Because he shouted so loudly, even the disoriented lieutenant came to his senses. Smoker, too, started panting heavily from his anger, but he still couldn't suppress the rage in his heart.

Seemingly somewhat moved, Kuzan was about to speak...

Roman quickly seized the opportunity: "As you can see, given his temperament, if you don't accept it, the crisis of being expelled from the Navy might come sooner than the physical and mental blows he might suffer in the future. You should save him from the fate of being dismissed in the future?"

Smoker: "..." He wanted to argue, but he couldn't.

Kuzan: "..." It seems to make a lot of sense.

"Well, I've felt your enthusiasm. If you change your mind, I'd be happy to oblige." To Smoker's surprise, even after being ridiculed by him when he was still a student, there was no sign of anger. Was he truly magnanimous, or had he become so lazy that he didn't even want to bother with it? Smoker was a little confused.

"Then I'll take my leave." Smoker, who didn't want to stay any longer, left without even drinking his milk.

Roman, on the other hand, casually opened the bottle and drank it all in one go, since it tasted good and shouldn't be wasted.

"You really did pick a hot-tempered guy, huh?" Kuzan maintained his lazy tone.

"But I don't think you hate him." After all, Kuzan himself is already quite outrageous compared to the audacity of his actions; Smoker might even be more outrageous than Kuzan.

“That’s true, but I’m more concerned about what you said earlier.” After saying this, Kuzan sat up straight.

Do you think I said something wrong?

"No, although I don't want to admit it, you've hit the nail on the head. I've heard before that even the staff praises you, but it seems like you really know everything." Kuzan was a little dejected after a child exposed his inner conflict.

"Because I understand..."

Kuzan was about to smile, but the next moment, his smile froze.

"The Navy is an organization with darkness, isn't it, Vice Admiral Kuzan?" Roman uttered these startling words with a calm expression.

"You...you're really bold." Kuzan considered himself a traitor within the Navy, but he hadn't expected her to be even bolder. This was a fact, but not one that could be easily stated.

She had originally intended to say that there was darkness within the world government, but that would be too radical.

"So I understand your confusion, but being confused is useless. If you don't change, you won't get anything."

"Oh my, I only found out today that you're such a rebellious guy. You don't have any ulterior motives, do you?" Kuzan touched his face and said with a bit of helplessness.

"Of course I have a purpose, otherwise I wouldn't be so frank."

"Ok?"

Kuzan was somewhat surprised. Roman's remarks were quite dangerous, with a highly critical style, but surprisingly frank, directly stating that he had ulterior motives.

"So what is your purpose?" Kuzan had no choice but to take it seriously.

"Well, my current goal is to become your number one lackey. What do you think?" Roman said seriously.