One Piece Navy Is Wrong - Chapter 57
“Why didn’t I escape?”
Hill shook his head with a bitter smile and took a swig of beer. His expression looked a bit sad.
“Meaningless, just meaningless!”
He sighed deeply, looking like a man who had suddenly seen through the futility of life.
“You guys are really annoying. Can’t we just talk openly? What’s the point of acting mysterious with me? I’m not one of your fangirls.
Besides, do you really think acting all gloomy will make girls like you? Those older men who women love usually have some fundamental skills.”
“You remind me of an old joke: the goal in life was to have a house, a boat, and savings by the age of thirty. And you? You achieved half of it. You’re thirty.”
Amused by Hailan’s words, Hill put his beer bottle down on the table: “Didn’t see that coming. The serious Major Hailan has a slick side.”
Hailan didn’t like the bitter taste of beer, so he only ordered a glass of red wine for himself.
After taking a sip, Hailan looked at Hill with a smile: “I once met a master photographer on the Grand Line who left behind a famous saying:
‘There is only one success in life: to be able to spend your life in your own way.’
Wearing the Navy uniform, I am the ideal soldier in my heart. Without the uniform, I am myself, and I have no inhibitions.”
Although Hailan was 29 years old in his two lifetimes combined (16+16-3), the oldest he had been in either life was 16.
What shapes a person’s character is not time but experiences.
Hailan still had the vigor of youth. He enjoyed the unique drive of being young and didn’t want to become “mature” just to hear others say, “This kid has finally grown up.”
Hill’s eyes showed a hint of surprise: “Impressive, as expected from the best young cadet of the headquarters. I hope you can maintain your true self when facing those legendary pirates in the future.”
Hailan seemed a bit displeased: “Hey, stop with the flattery. You haven’t answered my question.”
“Why didn’t I escape?”
Hill leaned back, looking relaxed: “I was tired.”
“Tired?”
“I’ve been a good guy—I led Navy soldiers against pirates.
I’ve also been a bad guy—I leaked the departure times and routes of merchant ships to pirates.
I used to live in constant fear.
As a good guy, I feared being killed by bad guys; as a bad guy, I feared being investigated by the headquarters.”
Hailan showed open disgust: “So now you plan to be an ordinary person?”
Hailan had seen too many people like this.
After a life of wrongdoing, they claim they’re “tired” and retire to live a peaceful life or, worse, murderous villains who join a monastery to seek redemption.
It’s basically washing away their sins.
Why do the bad guys always get the good end of the stick?
Why do the good guys have to give their all until they die?
But Hill’s answer surprised Hailan: “I can’t be an ordinary person anymore.”
“Oh?”
“Whenever I close my eyes, I see the innocent people I harmed.
Sometimes, while patrolling in Loguetown, hearing the helpless cries of children who lost their parents makes me feel uneasy.”
“No, you…”
Hailan changed to a more comfortable position and couldn’t help but laugh: “In short, your conscience isn’t strong enough to overcome your guilt.
I told a Sergeant Werner recently: people whose hearts aren’t strong can’t be bad guys.”
Hill’s look at Hailan turned nuanced: “Didn’t expect you to have such crooked logic?”
“It is crooked logic, so now I want to rephrase it—only people with a sufficiently unscrupulous heart can be bad guys.”
“What does unscrupulous mean?”
“For example, Bellemere saved two kids, and when they grew up, they stole her fortune and ran away. That’s unscrupulous.”
“Ingrates are not just ordinary bad guys. They’re despised even among pirates, right?”
Hailan didn’t answer Hill’s question: “So your plan is to use my authority to bring you to justice, and then you’ll find peace?”
“That’s my plan.”
Hill’s expression was resigned, mixed with a bit of confusion: “Does Major Hailan plan to give me a dignified death?”
“Yeah, right!”
Hailan’s expression suddenly became serious: “You think dying is easy?
Dying is more accessible than living.
Private Hill, stand up!”
“What?”
“I, as a major of the Navy headquarters, order Private Hill of the Loguetown Navy base to stand up!”
Though Hill really didn’t want to obey Hailan, he stood up because of Hailan’s strength.
“I hereby promote Private Hill to the rank of ensign at the Loguetown Navy base!”
As he spoke, Hailan handed Hill an ensign’s insignia.
Hill was baffled.
Then Hailan sat back down: “What? Too small a rank?”
“No…”
Hill, bewildered, held the symbol, feeling anxious: “Aren’t you going to arrest me?”
“I told you from the start your ability to keep Loguetown stable with your skills shows you’re intelligent and capable.
It’s a waste to kill such talent, so I plan to have you assist Colonel Bellemere.
Still, dying is more accessible than living. If your conscience bothers you, work hard and treat it as atonement!”
Hailan had always planned to recruit Hill.
But after hearing Hill’s words, he had a moment of hesitation.
If Hill had said he wanted to be an ordinary person, Hailan might have sent him to meet his maker.
“But… doesn’t this go against justice?”
“Justice?”
Hailan scoffed and poured them both a glass of beer.
“Have you heard of the Celestial Dragons?”
Hill nodded.
“As long as the Celestial Dragons exist, there’s no such thing as justice!”
Just like during the wartime period, special times call for particular policies. Back then, even bandits could be incorporated into the regular army.
Hailan didn’t have the luxury to scrutinize these people’s pasts while waving the flag of justice. He cared about the future.
As long as they could be valuable in the future and not violate Navy rules, they were the talent Hailan needed.
Hailan never considered himself a gentleman; kindness doesn’t command troops, and a true gentleman can’t be a soldier.
Hailan handed Hill his beer glass and gently clinked it.
“Cheers!”
Ensign Hill didn’t know how he finished his beer.
His mind kept replaying Hailan’s words: “As long as the Celestial Dragons exist, there’s no such thing as justice.”
Hill’s perception of Hailan changed once more.
“This Major Hailan really dares to say anything…”
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