章 22: Chapter 22: Artistic

Dragon raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Claudius's response. Could this really be an original work? The thought surprised him. The few lines he had overheard earlier carried ideas that seemed radical, even rebellious ideas that would be considered dangerous by the World Government. The fact that this text wasn't widely available made it even more compelling.

Dragon couldn't help but wonder how Claudius had gotten his hands on such a book. It was certainly the kind of work that might be banned, given its subversive nature. And judging by what he'd overheard earlier, Claudius wasn't just an ordinary CP-0 agent his position seemed somewhat unique, especially considering Zephyr's respectful treatment of him.

But still, could someone with such a connection to the World Government be holding onto this type of literature?

Dragon's mind raced with possibilities, but he didn't jump to conclusions. After all, it wasn't every day you encountered a member of CP-0 in a hospital ward with a book like this. Though curious, he kept his questions light for now.

"Really?" Dragon asked, a hint of regret in his voice, assuming that the book might be a rare or even one-of-a-kind piece.

Claudius, noticing Dragon's interest, smiled and said, "The book isn't particularly rare for me. If you're interested, feel free to borrow it."

With a simple gesture, Claudius nodded to Nia, who promptly fetched the book and handed it to Dragon. Without hesitation, Dragon accepted it. "Thank you, my friend," he said sincerely. "By the way, I didn't catch your name."

"Crowe, interim member of CP-0," Claudius replied with a smile.

"Interim member?" Dragon repeated, finding the title a bit curious. However, he didn't press the matter. It wasn't unusual for someone to be placed in a transitional role within CP-0, especially if they had other tasks ahead of them. Perhaps Claudius had some important assignment coming up, or maybe he was still in training. Whatever the case, Dragon decided not to pry too deeply into it just yet.

"Monkey D. Dragon," Dragon introduced himself in return. "Vice Admiral of Naval Headquarters."

Dragon, though young, had already risen to the position of Vice Admiral. He was just a few years older than Kuzan and had been brought into the Marines by his father, Garp, from an early age. At only twenty-something, he was already a highly respected figure within the Marines, and many believed he was on track to become an Admiral in the future.

However, despite his impressive career, Dragon had been feeling more and more disillusioned with the way the Marines and by extension, the World Government were functioning. Though he hadn't yet fully defined his own revolutionary ideology, he was in the midst of a personal crisis, seeking answers to the questions that troubled him.

That's why the moment he overheard Claudius reciting lines from that book, his curiosity had been piqued. He was searching for something—something that could guide him or clarify his thoughts, and this book seemed like it might hold the answers he was looking for.

Claudius pretended to be surprised at Dragon's introduction. "Monkey? As in the son of Vice Admiral Garp?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Dragon waved his hand, looking a little embarrassed. "Yeah, that's right. But I'd prefer not to rely on my father's name too much."

Claudius chuckled. "The son of Garp, huh? I didn't mean any disrespect."

It was clear to Dragon that Claudius wasn't trying to curry favor or leverage his connection to Garp, which was refreshing. Over the years, Dragon had encountered many people who tried to get close to him simply because of his father's reputation. But this Crowe didn't seem to have any such intentions, and Dragon found that oddly comforting. It made him think that perhaps Claudius's own background carried enough weight that he didn't need to rely on external connections.

The conversation shifted, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, Dragon dove into the book. As he began reading, his eyes widened with each passing sentence. The ideas within were revolutionary, unlike anything he had encountered before. Concepts like "the people being more valuable than the ruler" and "the government serving the people, not controlling them" struck a deep chord within him.

No wonder this book isn't available anywhere, Dragon thought. This kind of ideology would be suppressed immediately.

He quickly found himself engrossed in the text, marveling at the boldness of its ideas. "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. How can a ruler call themselves a leader without the people's support? True governance is shared by the people," Dragon muttered, echoing lines from the book.

It was clear that whoever had written this had a profound understanding of governance and the delicate balance between power and the people. The more Dragon read, the more it resonated with him, as if this text was helping to resolve the confusion that had been weighing on his mind.

"This book is incredible," Dragon murmured to himself. "It contains thoughts I've never even considered before."

Curious to know more about the author, Dragon flipped to the front of the book, hoping to find some kind of signature or note from the writer. But after scanning through the pages, he found nothing—no name, no preface, no indication of who had penned this work.

"How unfortunate..." Dragon sighed. "I would've loved to read more from this great thinker."

As he said this aloud, he didn't bother hiding his disappointment from Claudius or Gion. Gion, having little interest in the topic, remained silent, but Dragon's enthusiasm was evident.

Claudius, watching Dragon's reaction, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. This is going better than expected, he thought.

When Dragon finally pulled his eyes away from the book, he turned to Claudius and asked, "What do you think of this work? It's truly remarkable, isn't it?"

Claudius hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. After all, it wasn't exactly polite to openly praise your own work. "I think... it's decent. Maybe not perfect, but decent," he replied modestly.

Dragon was caught off guard by the humility in Claudius's answer. "Decent? Just decent?" He shook his head in disbelief. "I think you might be underestimating it. The ideas in this book are revolutionary! They challenge the very foundations of society and governance. It's filled with wisdom and insight."

He looked back at the book, his brows furrowing in thought. "But it feels incomplete. There's so much more to explore, and the text only scratches the surface of what could be a deeper philosophy."

Dragon's mind raced with the possibilities. There had to be more to this philosophy. "Do you happen to have more of this work? A follow-up or continuation?"

Claudius shook his head, smiling slightly. "Not yet."

"Not yet?" Dragon repeated, his interest clearly piqued. "So, there will be more?"

Claudius kept his tone casual, though inwardly he was amused at how quickly Dragon had latched onto his words.

Dragon nodded, though the excitement in his eyes was unmistakable. "If you ever manage to gather the rest, I would be more than willing to help, in any way I can."

Why does this guy sound like a poetic scholar? Claudius thought to himself, trying not to laugh. Dragon's enthusiasm and almost literary tone were starting to amuse him. It was hard to reconcile this refined, thoughtful man with the figure who would one day lead the most feared revolutionary army in the world.

Still, Dragon's interest in his ideas was undeniable. He seemed almost desperate for more, which was exactly what Claudius had hoped for. Now, it was time to string him along just a little bit further.

"It's not that difficult to write," Claudius said with a shrug. "The ideas are there, but I haven't had time to properly organize everything."

Dragon looked genuinely impressed. "You wrote this?!" he exclaimed, staring at Claudius with renewed respect.

Claudius nodded. "It's just the beginning," he said humbly. "There's much more to be written, but you know how it is life gets in the way."

For a moment, Dragon seemed stunned. The man sitting across from him was the author of the very text that had just blown his mind. The fact that Claudius had written something so profound only added to the mystery surrounding him.

"If this is just the beginning, then I can only imagine how impactful the rest will be," Dragon said, his tone full of admiration. "You've already given me so much to think about."

Claudius smiled inwardly. You haven't seen anything yet.

Out loud, he replied modestly, "I'm just exploring some ideas. If you'd like, we can discuss them further sometime."

Dragon nodded eagerly. "I'd be honored to."