【After Karp and Kuzan left, a similar discussion arose in the room.】
【"Why are they staying here?" Fujitora asked with confusion, "Monkey D. Karp, after all, is a Marine. Marines stand with the World Government."】
【Fujitora felt this way, and Nagri, even more so. As a pirate, he felt like a mouse seeing a cat when facing Karp.】
【"I told you before, Mr. Izo, we must know who are our enemies and who are our friends. The World Government is a vast entity. Currently, the enemies we can confirm are the Celestial Dragons and the forces who absolutely support them."】
【"Marines are the World Government's violent arm, but my investigation in the past six months has revealed that they aren't simply a violent force." Roia said.】
【"Especially in recent times, many Marines join because they've been harmed by pirates and want to uphold justice in their hearts. In other words, their initial motivation for joining the Marines is justice, to protect the people from pirate harm."】
【"Then comes the second point: they compromise with the World Government, which provides military funds, to achieve this goal."】
【"Of course, the Marines are a large organization, with various motivations for joining. Some seek status and wealth, others become extreme and link justice with the World Government."】
【"But Karp and Kuzan aren't like that, which is why I let them stay." Roia said.】
【"They harbor resentment towards the World Nobles and have witnessed the darkness of the world. Most importantly, they also have a vision of a more peaceful and prosperous world."】
【"In some ways, their goals align with ours. So if we can gain their approval and some support, it would be a huge help for us right now."】
【"Is that possible?" Nagri asked.】
【"It is. To others, we may lack persuasion, but for Karp, whose home is in Goa Kingdom, our current project, the Uncertain Object Terminal Station's transformation, is the best persuasion."】
【"Do we still need to continue daily activities? Do we still need the night class?" Fujitora asked.】
【The night class was the core of their camp, responsible for teaching the core ideology.】
【"There's no need to hide anything from them." Roia thought for a moment and said.】
【He could guess why Karp stayed. If so, then just show him.】
【Ideology, it had always been their most powerful weapon.】
【After that day, Karp didn't even return to Windmill Village. He stayed in the Revolutionary Army camp with Kuzan.】
【During the day, he occasionally trained the Revolutionary Army soldiers. His strength was far greater than Fujitora's, and his teaching techniques were more practical.】
【In the afternoon, Karp would farm. Though his technique was clumsy, his strength made up for it.】
【At night, he would attend the night class with Kuzan.】
【The night class in the past few days focused on political stance, with Roia as the main speaker.】
【"Everyone should have their own political stance."】
【"This political stance is derived from a thoughtful consideration of one's own class, the social system, and various other factors."】
【"I haven't investigated other places, so I'm not sure, but in Goa Kingdom, the people don't have their own distinct political stance."】
【"The nobles deliberately weaken the people's thinking about society, reinforcing the nobility and rationality of their own class."】
【"We, the Revolutionary Army, are the proletariat. Our political stance should always stand with the people."】
【"Some might think that politics are too distant from them."】
【"But in reality, when this political stance becomes mainstream, everything must be bound by it, and exploitation and oppression won't be as rampant as they were in the past."】
【"Eliminating exploitation and oppression is a long and winding process, but we must firmly hold onto our convictions throughout this process."】
【.......】
【Karp stayed in the camp for about a week. On this day, he finally came to bid farewell to Roia.】
【"Can we talk somewhere private?" Karp asked.】
【Roia nodded and didn't bring Fujitora and Nagri along. Karp didn't bring his little admirer, Kuzan, either. The two walked aimlessly, chatting as they walked.】
【"I've been pondering this for a long time. After hearing what you said about political stance, it seems I've gained some clarity, but there are still many things I don't understand."】
【"What do you think the Marines' political stance is? Is it to protect the interests of the general public?" Karp inquired.】
【The closer he got to the higher echelons of the Marines, the more places he traveled, and the more darkness he witnessed, Karp himself knew that his own burning justice upon joining the Marines was completely different now.】
【"Before you ask this question, I'd like to ask you, Mr. Karp, what do you think the Marines' duty is?"】
【"Of course, it's to fight pirates and maintain peace." Karp said without hesitation.】
【For the Marines, justice might become blurry, but their duty remains relatively clear.】
【"Fighting pirates and maintaining peace, what is it for? Is it to make the nobles and the Celestial Dragons, those ruling classes, live more comfortably?"】
【"Of course not." Karp retorted. Why would he be fighting pirates to make those idiotic nobles live better?】
【"Then what is it for?"】
【"To let the people live in peace without being harmed by pirates."】
【"Does that include the people of non-加盟 countries?" Roia continued to ask.】
【Karp fell silent for a moment.】
【"Even among the people of 加盟 countries, if the Five Elders say that they have all violated the law and need to be completely eliminated, would the Marines eliminate them, or would they consider whether the order is appropriate and the law is correct?"】
【Karp still didn't speak.】
【"Goa Kingdom, the royal family's own army, what is their political stance? Is it for justice? Or for the people? Essentially, it's probably for the interests of the royal family."】
【"So, in essence, the Marines are no different from the royal guard. Their initial intentions may be good, but when the rulers are corrupt nobles, they gradually compromise and become a tool for the nobles to oppress the people."】
【"The World Government, no, the Marines may not be as bad as you think, Roia." Karp wanted to say something, but it seemed pale when he said it.】
【"I am the only survivor of the Croia Shi Kingdom, Mr. Karp."】
【Roia turned his head, looking at Karp calmly. The latter's eyes instantly dimmed.】