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Chapter 13: You'll Go Through Even More
"I'm sorry, Master… I just… I…"
Sakazuki stammered as he slowly came back to his senses. He didn't know why, but just imagining that scene playing out on ordinary civilians made something twist painfully inside him.
From the hollow look in that giant man's eyes, he had sensed something—something terrible. But he didn't dare dwell on it, afraid of what he might do if he let himself think too much.
He didn't want to disappoint Master Ross, who had saved him, believed in him… or the family who sacrificed everything so he could live.
He didn't know exactly what the Celestial Dragons were, but even a fool could tell—behavior this grotesque and unchecked had to be backed by terrifying power and status.
And then there was what Ross had said earlier: CP. Cipher Pol. An organization under the World Government.
A chilling, bold thought formed in Sakazuki's mind.
"I understand. I wasn't much better when I first saw all this," Ross said, gently patting Sakazuki's back to calm him down. "But this isn't the worst of it."
His tone was calm but grave.
"Watch it all, Sakazuki. Remember it. If you ever join the Navy, you'll inevitably come face to face with these people. When that time comes, if you feel anything—anger, doubt, even rebellion—tell me. I'll always be there for you. I promise."
Ross had no intention of showing Sakazuki the deepest horrors—not yet. Not the mechanical walkways of Mary Geoise, or the living hells where slaves were broken like livestock.
This—what he'd seen today—was only a sliver of it. A taste. Ross didn't want to shatter him completely. Just enough to crack the surface.
So Sakazuki sat cross-legged on the floating cloud, staring down at the scene below. Watching the Celestial Dragon and the twisted spectacle she brought with her.
One by one, the slave traders stepped out of their shops, bowing and scraping like insects. They lined up along the street, ready to welcome the noble parasite. Slaves were displayed—tall, short, rare, exotic.
Humans. Mink. Fishmen. Even human children.
With sharp eyes, Sakazuki spotted Zoe. She looked anxious, maybe scared.
His chest tightened. He wanted—desperately—to beg Ross to help those kids.
But then reason took hold.
Just like Ross had said—this wasn't the time. Not yet. All he could do now was watch.
The purchasing dragged on for half an hour. The Celestial Dragon picked thirty-something slaves, then left with them in tow, flanked by CP agents.
The people kneeling on the street didn't dare move an inch. They had stayed that way—frozen in fear—for nearly an hour.
No one even looked up. Everyone was waiting for the "all-clear" to be announced.
It wasn't until over thirty minutes after the Celestial Dragon had left that someone finally dared to stand.
His legs wobbled like he'd downed several gallons of fake wine, knees buckling with every step.
It had been a massacre in everything but name—a trauma inflicted on the entire street. Regardless of status or crime, they had all been forced to kneel before power they couldn't even comprehend.
And once it passed, they were just grateful to be alive.
Sakazuki saw it all. Took it all in.
He didn't know how to put his emotions into words. He simply stared in the direction the Celestial Dragon had gone, dazed.
"Come on, let's head back," Ross said calmly, steering the cloud toward the inn. "You'll stay inside for the next few days. Safer that way."
Sakazuki nodded, his voice low. "I understand, Master…"
He should've been happy—he'd finally bought the gift he'd been searching for.
But he couldn't feel anything close to joy. His mind was still full of the ugliness he'd witnessed. The way that Celestial Dragon had acted. The way people let her act.
He glanced at Ross. Maybe that's why Ross had come alone with him—so he wouldn't have to deal with the others.
So he could see this without being stopped.
"Don't look so down. Here, look what I've got for you!" Ross said suddenly, ruffling Sakazuki's hair with a grin.
He reached into the cloud and pulled out a weapon—one Sakazuki recognized instantly.
The Fast Blade: Fiesta.
"Here. A gift. Later, you can train with your big brother Moxxi—learn some swordsmanship. The more skills you have, the better chance you've got to survive at sea."
Ross handed him the weapon like a father giving candy to a child.
And for a moment, Sakazuki was stunned.
Then the emotion hit him all at once.
He stared at the sword in his arms. A hot wave of feeling rushed through him, overflowing in his chest. His eyes burned.
He looked up at Ross—eyes teary, voice shaking.
He didn't know why, but holding that sword made it impossible to keep his emotions down anymore.
All the pain, all the frustration, all the confusion—gone. All that remained was the warmth of being seen.
This was the first gift he'd received since his family died.
And it was the only thing on this trip he had ever truly wished for.
Ross had been watching. Ross had cared.
"Th-th… thank… you…" he choked out.
The words caught in his throat, trembling on the edge of tears.
Even just saying "thank you" took everything he had.
"Now now, what's with the crying? That's not very manly, is it?" Ross teased, still gently patting his back.
"I-I'm not crying!" Sakazuki tried to protest, but his voice cracked again. The lump in his throat wouldn't go away.
And then—he broke.
Everything he had bottled up—the grief, the fear, the helplessness, the fury—it all surged out. The tears poured freely now.
Like a storm draining all the darkness from his heart.
He was strong. Stronger than most kids his age.
But even the strongest thirteen-year-old is still a child.
He'd seen his friend Zoro die. He'd nearly died himself. And then he'd witnessed evil in its rawest form, wearing a noble's clothes.
Any one of those things could break a child.
Sakazuki had faced them all at once.
And so, for a long time, Ross said nothing. He just stayed there with him, patting his back, letting the boy cry until there were no more tears left.
They floated in silence after that. The cloud drifted gently through the sky.
It didn't descend until Sakazuki's eyes had dried.
Back at the inn, he picked up the two books he hadn't yet finished and began to read. Quietly. Slowly.
As if searching for answers in their pages.
But there were none.
Ross didn't interrupt.
He knew the boy just needed space now.
Too many words would only make things worse.
Right now, Sakazuki didn't need advice.
He needed time.