N-A-A Chapter 349 349: This World Has Never Had Just One Voice
Chapter 349 349: This World Has Never Had Just One Voice
Ritter shook his head helplessly. "Idiot. How can there be three Pirate Kings? Who would even accept that?"
Joy Boy grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. "But if we believe we are, then we are."
Ritter froze for a moment.
Had he… started turning into one of those stiff, old-minded types?
Well, at least he realized it early.
The three fools immediately lit up with renewed energy, shouting as they threw themselves back into hauling materials. They worked even harder than before, as if they weren't carrying logs and stones, but the very foundation of their dreams.
Ritter clicked his tongue and muttered to the girl beside him, "See? Told you they're idiots."
The girl watched the three of them, busy and laughing, her ice-blue eyes flickering with something faint. Curiosity.
She nodded… then shook her head.
Ritter raised an eyebrow. "Nod and shake at the same time? What does that even mean? Forget it. Watching idiots like that is weirdly entertaining. Let's go see what's for dinner."
He tugged her along toward the makeshift cooking area. Behind them, Joy Boy and his two new crewmates shouted in rhythm as they worked, while the once-dead town slowly stirred back to life.
"Let's rebuild our home! Come on!"
A few days later, reconstruction had finally found its footing. People had shelter, food and water were no longer immediate concerns, and the streets were beginning to show signs of life again.
Ritter stood off to the side, a blade of grass between his teeth, watching the town recover. Then a thought crossed his mind.
He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Hey. Anyone here know how to repair a ship? Mine took a beating in a fight."
The crowd exchanged glances, then shook their heads.
They were ordinary townsfolk. Fixing houses was one thing. Repairing a large seafaring vessel was another entirely.
Ritter scratched his head. "Tch. Figures."
Small fishing boats, maybe. But something like his ship? Completely out of their league.
Letting it sit damaged wasn't an option either. Not being able to use it and choosing not to use it were two very different things.
Just then, a News Coo flew overhead, cawing loudly.
Without even looking up, Ritter flicked a chunk of meat straight into the coin box hanging from its chest. The bird dropped a newspaper and flapped away.
He picked it up and unfolded it casually. Joy Boy leaned over, curious.
The front page had nothing about this country's liberation. Not surprising. The current World Government, more of a loose alliance than the later centralized regime, clearly wasn't going to promote something like that.
But buried in a less prominent section were two eye-catching headlines:
"Shocking! Royal Upheaval in a West Blue Kingdom! The brutal pirate 'Blood Slaughter' suspected of regicide. Royal bloodline wiped out. Government condemns and launches investigation!"
"Also reported: A non-affiliated Grand Line nation allegedly overthrown by a mysterious rubber-type Devil Fruit user. King and nobles killed. Motive unknown. Authorities warn surrounding regions to remain vigilant against dangerous extremists!"
And another line:
"Foreign invaders have seized yet another land. Their flag now flies over our soil. They are approaching the BluBlu Sea. Citizens are urged to avoid them at all costs."
No names were mentioned.
But "Blood Slaughter." A rubber user.
The implication couldn't have been more obvious.
Ritter snorted. "Might as well print our names while you're at it."
"Destroyers of nations." "King-slayers." "Extremely dangerous individuals."
One label after another was slapped onto them without hesitation.
Clearly, the World Government and surviving nobles were steering public opinion, trying to paint them as monsters.
Joy Boy stared at the paper, mouth hanging open. "Whoa… we're the bad guys now?"
Ritter crumpled the newspaper and tossed it to the ground, grinding it under his heel. "Cheap tricks. That's all those nobles are good for. We killed them, sure. So what? Want us to write them a thank-you letter too?"
He didn't care in the slightest.
Reputation? Could it be eaten? Could it make his vice captain smile again?
But then his gaze paused.
At the bottom corner of the last page was a small, almost overlooked article, paired with a blurry image.
It was this town.
The picture was rough, almost like a sketch. If Ritter hadn't memorized the place so well, he might not have recognized it. There were still ruins, but more people were working, rebuilding. Their faces were tired, but there was light in their eyes. Something that hadn't existed before.
The headline read:
"A New Beginning After Disaster? An Unknown Town's Self-Redemption"
The article was brief and vague. It mentioned an "unknown catastrophe" and how the residents had united to rebuild. There was no mention of pirates, kings, or liberation.
But the closing line lingered:
"Perhaps only after destruction can true rebirth begin. At the very least, this place is beginning to thrive again. Forgive me for withholding its name and location, but I believe blindly accepting oppression will never lead to the life we want. Sometimes, we need disruption. Right and wrong, good and evil, are not things that can be decided so easily. At least, that is what I believe."
There was no author's name.
Ritter stared at it for a few seconds.
"Heh… not a bad perspective."
He absently patted the girl's head, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
Then he looked up.
At the people rebuilding their homes.
At Joy Boy laughing with A-Yang and A-Xing.
The nobles called them devils who destroyed nations.
But somewhere, in a forgotten corner of the page, a different truth had been recorded.
This world had never had just one voice.
"Hey, rubber idiot!" Ritter called out. "Quit staring into space! The ship's not getting fixed anytime soon. You keep working. I'll go find an island that actually has shipwrights."
Joy Boy waved enthusiastically. "Got it! Leave it to us! Everyone, once we're done, we're having a feast and dancing!"
"Yeah!!!"
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