"Join... the navy?!"
Cyrus was filled with astonishment at Tsugakuni Yoshiichi's invitation.
The navy?! A path never imagined. Cyrus did not doubt the truthfulness of Tsugakuni Yoshiichi's words. After all, the person in charge of the arena had told him before that a colonel from the navy headquarters was looking for him. Now that he saw Tsugakuni Yoshiichi's fighting ability, Cyrus did not doubt him.
Although the tall man who came with the young man did not attack, it seems that he is also very strong.
There is no need to tease a swordsman like him with two such people.
"Can someone like me join the navy?"
Cyrus murmured. This question was not only asked to Tsugakuni Yoshiichi, but also to himself. Hearing this, Aokiji raised his eyebrows slightly. Looking at Cyrus's expression, it seemed that there was a story behind him?
This immediately piqued Aokiji's interest, and he interrupted, "Mr. Cyrus, what are you like? Why can't you join the Navy?"
"Anyone who's not a pirate or a felon can join the Navy,"
Cyrus replied, shaking his head and sighing softly. Seeing this, Aokiji was convinced he had a story, and immediately said, "You do."
Before Aokiji could finish, Cyrus replied dejectedly,
"I'm a murderer!"
"Yes, the one you're talking about!"
Then, Cyrus turned to Tsugikuni Yoriichi and said, "I'm sorry, I don't think I can join the Navy."
With that, Cyrus clutched his sword, turned, and, head bowed, walked towards his room.
"Cyrus."
"Don't leave just yet. I'm a little concerned about your murderer status. Could you briefly explain it to me?"
Aokiji stopped Cyrus and asked with a smile, trying to guide him, hoping he'd share his story. Aside from his superior strength, Aokiji was just like any other young man his age.
He enjoyed the hustle and bustle, was a man of justice, and loved hearing others share their experiences. Aokiji and Cyrus were not much different in age, barely a peer.
Aokiji was genuinely fascinated by his peer's life experiences.
Cyrus paused, slowly turned around, and after a long pause, he walked to the wall, leaned against it, and slowly sat down. Yoriichi and Aokiji exchanged a glance, then walked over to Cyrus and sat down cross-legged.
Cyrus's room was not far away, yet the three of them sat on the floor.
"Two years ago, I killed someone
."
Cyrus then recounted his past experiences to Yoriichi and Aokiji. It was simply that a good friend had been murdered, and he avenged his friend, becoming a murderer.
While Dressrosa's laws also stipulate a life for a life, they must precede a trial. Cyrus's private revenge was forbidden.
Thus, Cyrus became a murderer.
What followed, as Yoriichi knew, was that King Riku investigated the circumstances and, impressed by Cyrus's talent and friendship, and because the man he had killed was also a murderer, greatly admired him. Therefore, he granted him a leniency by offering him a "100 Arena Wins" reward.
Now, Cyrus was no longer technically a criminal. He remained there only out of guilt and the contempt he felt for murderers.
"So much!"
Aokiji sighed softly as he sat quietly on the ground, listening to Cyrus's story.
He also admired Cyrus's loyalty, and his eyes lit up slightly when he heard King Riku pardon him in this way.
Initially, Aokiji hadn't been particularly interested in recruiting Cyrus into the navy. He didn't care if he wanted to come or not.
But by this time, Aokiji had become like Yoriichi, desperately hoping Cyrus would join the navy. If nothing unexpected happened, Aokiji would be promoted to commodore this year, giving him his own ship and his own subordinates.
However, Aokiji's promotion was so rapid that he didn't have any suitable lieutenants.
While headquarters would assign them, it felt different for a commodore without his own men. In the navy, many adjutants to generals were trained by their own staff.
Unbeknownst to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Aokiji had already set his sights on Yoriichi and had previously privately approached Garp about Yoriichi, only to be brushed off.
Having previously lacked a suitable candidate, Aokiji, upon meeting Cyrus, immediately set his sights on him.
This loyal and righteous man, with no ties to the navy, seemed like a perfect fit!
After hearing Cyrus's story, Aokiji instantly understood why he was still in the arena and why he had refused the invitation.
Cyrus was feeling inferior and guilty.
Thinking of this, Aokiji stood up.
"Cyrus, I already know everything about you."
"I'm Kuzan, a colonel at the headquarters of the navy."
"There's no problem with your identity. The navy can accept you."
Aokiji first affirmed, then pondered for a moment and continued:
"I know that you may feel guilty about killing people, but precisely because of this, isn't it just right to join the navy?!"
"This world is really in chaos. The rampant pirates have set off one massacre after another, looting batches of people."
"That's why our navy exists!"
"Hunting down pirates and providing people with an environment where they can live in peace, this is the responsibility of our navy."
"Cyrus, there's no point in staying here and paralyzing yourself with fighting."
"The dead will not be resurrected because of your constant fighting. Similarly, your guilt will never be eliminated because of fighting."
"Becoming a navy and using your power to help those in need, isn't this more valuable than being here?!"
Aokiji said in a high-spirited tone. Now he really believes in the justice of the navy and his own justice. He is a real hot-blooded young man.
Yuan glanced at Aokiji and felt that this guy was PUAing Cyrus, and he even had evidence. But Aokiji now looked like a fanatical missionary, spreading his beliefs to others. It was not really true to say that he was PUAing.
After all, a boss who plays PUA would not believe his own lies.
"Help... more people?!"
"Can a murderer like me do that kind of thing? Am I worthy of doing that kind of thing?"
Cyrus stared blankly at Aokiji, who was full of fanaticism, and was a little dazed.
"Of course!"
"Come on, Cyrus! The navy needs people like you!"
Aokiji walked in front of Cyrus, stretched out his hand, looked at Cyrus expectantly, and waited for his answer.
Yunichi looked at Cyrus's slightly trembling body and gently trembling lips, smiled and lowered his head, thinking to himself: "I can't believe that Kuzan had such a personality when he was young."
"It's really a waste of talent not to work in HR."
Cyrus looked at Aokiji's outstretched hand, loosened his grip on the sword, held Aokiji tightly with both hands, and nodded heavily:
"Colonel Kuzan! Please let me join the navy!"
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(End of this chapter)