What defines a strong person?
Cass once asked Mr. Kuro about this.
At that time, it was still in the East China Sea. Mr. Kuro was a sergeant major, and he was a sergeant under Mr. Kuro.
At that moment, he simply thought that Mr. Kuro was a respectable and good navy man who cared about the safety of his subordinates and civilians, and whose apparent laziness was all to train their sense of responsibility as naval officers.
At that time, Cass was still confused, merely a navy officer with no clear sense of justice, simply following the crowd to eliminate pirates.
"A powerful person... how should I put it?"
At that time, Kuro was leaning back in his chair in the narrow office of the patrol ship, pointing to the sea outside the window, "Do you see that sea?"
“I saw it.” Cass said, puzzled.
"The ocean is terrifying, are you afraid?"
Cass shook his head. "No, as a navy officer, you must be prepared to die at sea at any time."
Kuro simply smiled and remained silent.
Cass never understood the meaning behind this, not even after he came to understand his own unwavering sense of justice. This was because the Navy's duty was to protect and uphold justice. Those of them who were not afraid of the sea protected those who were afraid of the sea; this was their sense of justice.
It wasn't until he saw the investigation report that Kuro had written that he understood a little bit, and he began to observe his surroundings more closely.
He saw a lot in Dressrosa and the surrounding islands.
Those who farmed were busy planting crops and dealing with the ever-present threat of storms and tsunamis. Cass had seen people weep bitterly after their crops were destroyed by torrential rain, then wipe away their tears, grit their teeth, and begin the rescue efforts.
The craftsmen who were building the structure continued to work on it without hesitation after a sudden earthquake caused the building to collapse.
The traveling merchant's ship was destroyed by a tsunami, and his supplies were stolen by pirates, but after surviving, he still went to sell the remaining supplies.
Are they afraid of the sea?
Of course I'm afraid!
But even with fear, I never gave up!
Those were people who, despite repeated failures, refused to give up. They feared the sea, the storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis that it brought, sea monsters, pirates, and even everything that could change their lives.
That will to fight for survival was truly awe-inspiring!
He's seen too much.
If it were a single person, he would help them out of duty; it is the Navy's obligation.
But what if a hundred people did that?
A thousand people, ten thousand people, even countless people as numerous as the ocean are doing this?!
That kind of willpower shocked Cass!
He finally understood!
Whether someone is strong or not is not something someone like you can decide!
The white aura emanating from the colossal white beast seemed to solidify further, unleashing a roar that shook the entire island:
"Look at them! Open your eyes and look at those people!!"
The sound startled Wang Long again. Even though Cass hadn't said where it was, he instinctively looked towards the distant farmland.
Behind the golden farmland, a group of civilians stood holding pitchforks and sticks, their expressions a mixture of fear and worry, yet none of them showed any sign of retreating.
"You and I are just ordinary people, only we have access to a few resources. If we lack these things, or if we experience failure, we may not be as strong as them!"
Cass shouted, "Strength isn't determined by resources! Strength is determined by the heart, and so is unwavering justice—driven by survival, duty, obligation, and courage! The anthem of humanity is an anthem of courage. How can you call those who still have the courage to face everything—being crushed by storms, overturned by waves, losing their homes to earthquakes, and being plundered by pirates—were weak?!"
The white mist suddenly exploded, and the beast-shaped white mist dispersed, rushing directly towards Wang Long's body. The impact, carrying a domineering aura, caused Wang Long's mind to tremble violently. He couldn't even hold onto the stone pillar and fell directly to the ground.
The white behemoth vanished, transforming into a misty white fog that enveloped the two thousand marines. The leader, a bearded man, gripped a saber and pointed it directly at Wang Long.
As Mr. Kuro said, "Many streams converge to form a river, and drops of water flow into the sea; a single spark can start a prairie fire!"
After observing the life trajectories of these people, seeing Mr. Kuro's investigation report, and Wilbur's recorded "Sayings of Justice," I finally understood what Mr. Kuro meant when he asked the question!
"We'll show evil that those people not only have protection, but we'll also show them the power they unleash—they're not to be trifled with!"
"We are the protectors and practitioners of this indomitable will!!!"
Wang Long stared blankly at the righteous-looking bearded man, and long-lost memories of his time as a wandering knight in the Flower Kingdom flooded his mind.
Back then, he was also a champion of justice and a seeker of righteousness for others, and people smiled at him from the bottom of their hearts.
When did this change begin...?
After setting sail, he encountered many powerful individuals, and while fighting against them, he gradually shifted his focus to the concept of 'momentum'.
He would increase his "momentum," frantically increasing his "momentum." If he couldn't defeat them, he would temporarily refrain from fighting until he could cultivate further and become stronger. As long as he worked hard to increase his "momentum," he could defeat those people.
As a long-time seafarer, he had seen the sights Cass described and witnessed the courageous lives of the people there, but he had forgotten them.
They forgot the part of themselves that drew their swords against the stronger because they couldn't stand things.
Now, all I can think about is when I can win, instead of the person I used to be who never thought about winning and just fought anyway.
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