The One-Slash Superman of the One Piece World

"Join… the Navy?!"

Kyros stared at Yorichi in utter shock at the invitation.

The Navy?! That was a path he'd never even imagined for himself. Still, Kyros didn't doubt the sincerity of Yorichi's words. After all, the coliseum's staff had already told him that a Navy Headquarters colonel had come looking for him, and after witnessing Yorichi's strength firsthand, Kyros was convinced he wasn't being toyed with.

And that tall man who had accompanied Yorichi, though he hadn't fought yet, surely possessed tremendous power as well.

Two men like them had no reason to amuse themselves at the expense of a mere gladiator.

"Someone like me… could really join the Navy?"

Kyros muttered, half asking Yorichi, half asking himself.

At that, Kuzan raised an eyebrow. Judging by Kyros's expression, it seemed he had a story hidden beneath the surface. Kuzan's curiosity was instantly piqued, and he interjected,

"Mr. Kyros, what do you mean, someone like you? Why couldn't you join the Navy?"

"As long as you're not a pirate or a serious criminal, anyone can join the Navy."

Kyros shook his head at those words, letting out a faint sigh. Kuzan, seeing this reaction, was even more certain that Kyros carried a complicated past, and quickly pressed further.

"So you're saying you—"

Before Kuzan could finish, Kyros answered in a low, dejected voice.

"I'm a murderer."

"Yes, exactly what you'd call a serious criminal."

After speaking, Kyros turned toward Yorichi and said,

"I'm sorry. I don't think I can join the Navy."

With that, Kyros grasped his sword and turned away, head lowered, starting to walk back toward his room.

"Kyros."

"Wait a moment. I'm curious about why you say you're a murderer. Could you… tell me a little about it?"

Kuzan called out to him, smiling gently, trying to guide Kyros into opening up.

Besides his formidable strength, Kuzan was, in many ways, just like other young men his age: he loved lively company, carried a strong sense of justice, and… he enjoyed listening to people talk about their lives.

He and Kyros were roughly the same age and could be considered peers of a sort.

And for someone of his own generation, Kuzan couldn't help but feel intrigued by Kyros's life story.

Kyros paused in his steps, then slowly turned around. After a long silence, he walked over to the wall, leaned against it, and gradually sank down to sit on the ground.

Yorichi and Kuzan exchanged a glance, then joined him, sitting cross-legged in front of him.

Though Kyros's room was just a few steps away, the three of them chose to simply sit there on the cold floor.

"Two years ago, I killed someone."

"…"

What followed was Kyros quietly recounting his past to Yorichi and Kuzan.

It was a simple tale: his best friend had been murdered, and Kyros had avenged him, becoming a killer in the process.

Although Dressrosa's laws demanded a life for a life, any killing had to go through a formal trial. Kyros had acted outside the law, taking revenge into his own hands. That made him a murderer in the eyes of the kingdom.

From that moment on, he was labeled a criminal.

The rest of the story was what Yorichi already knew. King Riku, upon investigating the truth, discovered Kyros's extraordinary talent and his deep loyalty to his friends. Moreover, the man Kyros had killed was himself a murderer. Admiring Kyros, King Riku offered him a chance at redemption through an alternative punishment: win one hundred matches in the coliseum.

Strictly speaking, Kyros was no longer a criminal. He remained in the coliseum purely out of guilt and the scorn he felt from those around him who still saw him as a murderer.

"So there was… so much behind it all."

Kuzan, who'd been sitting quietly, let out a soft sigh after hearing Kyros's story.

He couldn't help but feel respect for Kyros's sense of loyalty. And when he heard how King Riku had chosen to pardon Kyros in such an unusual way, Kuzan's eyes lit up faintly.

Initially, Kuzan hadn't been particularly invested in recruiting Kyros for the Navy. If the man wanted to come, great. If he didn't, that was fine too. It hadn't mattered much to him.

But now, hearing Kyros's story, Kuzan felt exactly as Yorichi did: he wanted Kyros in the Navy.

If all went as expected, Kuzan would be promoted to Rear Admiral within the year. He would have his own ship and his own crew.

But Kuzan's rapid rise through the ranks had left him with no suitable executive officer of his own.

Yes, Headquarters would assign someone if needed, but for a Rear Admiral, having an officer you'd personally recruited and trained was an entirely different matter.

Many senior Navy officers groomed their own aides and lieutenants.

What Yorichi didn't know was that Kuzan had already set his sights on him, hoping Yorichi would join the Navy. He'd even approached Garp privately about it, though Garp had brushed him off.

Now, faced with Kyros, Kuzan instantly began entertaining the same idea.

A man like Kyros loyal, honorable, and unconnected to any pirates was a perfect candidate.

Having listened to Kyros's entire story, Kuzan suddenly understood why the man remained tied to the coliseum and why he'd refused the Navy's offer.

Kyros was burdened by guilt and low self-worth.

Realizing this, Kuzan stood up.

"Kyros, I understand your story now."

"I'm Colonel Kuzan from Navy Headquarters."

"Your background is not a problem. The Navy would accept you."

He spoke firmly, then paused for a moment before continuing.

"I know you feel remorse for having taken a life. But precisely because of that, wouldn't joining the Navy be the right thing for you?"

"This world is in chaos. Ruthless pirates bring massacre after massacre, plundering innocent people time and time again."

"That's why the Navy exists."

"To pursue pirates and create a safe, peaceful life for civilians. That's our mission."

"Kyros, hiding away here and numbing yourself with endless battles serves no purpose."

"The dead will not come back to life because you keep fighting. And your guilt won't disappear just because you swing your sword day after day."

"Become a Marine. Use your strength to help those who truly need help. Isn't that far more meaningful than staying here?"

Kuzan's voice rang out, filled with fervor. In that moment, he truly believed in the justice of the Navy and in his own brand of justice. He was, without question, a young man burning with passion.

Yorichi shot Kuzan a sidelong glance, thinking this guy was practically trying to "recruit" Kyros with psychological tactics. He even felt like he had evidence for it.

Still, right now Kuzan looked less like a manipulator and more like a zealous missionary, spreading his own faith with almost religious fervor.

Calling it manipulation seemed unfair after all, real manipulators never believed their own nonsense.

"Help… more people?"

"Someone like me a murderer could do something like that? Am I even worthy of such a thing?"

Kyros stared blankly at Kuzan, who was practically glowing with conviction.

"Of course!"

"Come on, Kyros! The Navy needs people like you!"

Kuzan strode over to Kyros, extending his hand, his eyes full of earnest hope as he waited for Kyros's answer.

Yorichi looked at Kyros's trembling shoulders and the way his lips quivered slightly. He lowered his head, smiling to himself.

"Never thought Kuzan was this kind of guy when he was young."

"He'd have made one hell of an HR manager."

Kyros stared at Kuzan's outstretched hand for several seconds, then slowly released his grip on his sword. He grasped Kuzan's hand firmly, nodding with determination.

"Colonel Kuzan! Please… let me join the Navy!"