OPRT Chapter 29 : Rejecting World Government Affiliation
"So you're the legendary sword master Ryuma from ancient times?" Morgans asked, frantically snapping photos with his camera.
Ryuma shot him an irritated glare. "Is there something you need...?"
"Tell me, are you really the ancient dragon-slaying samurai?" Morgans stared at him with eager anticipation.
Ryuma sighed softly. "What's the point of faking something like this? I am who I am—do you really think I'd lie to you?"
Morgans tucked away his camera, whipped out a notepad and pen, and started scribbling furiously. "Fascinating... Tell me, how do you plan to handle two Marine Admirals visiting Wano Country?"
"You're too noisy. Toss this bird outside," Ryuma said flatly, his expression growing impatient.
Hearing the command, Jack immediately stepped in front of Morgans, glaring down at him. "Stop right there. Our boss isn't taking interviews today."
"What?!" Morgans shrieked in alarm. "I'm the president of the World Economy Newspaper! How can you treat me like this?"
"President of a newspaper? So what? Push me too far, and I'll pluck every feather off you!" Jack barked, towering over him menacingly.
Ryuma paused, waving a hand dismissively. "As annoying as this bird is... he's still a guest. Be polite; don't scare him."
With that, Ryuma walked away.
His reason for refusing the interview was simple: he didn't want outsiders meddling in Wano's affairs.
Right now, Wano was still recovering from the ruins left behind by Kaidou. While many across the seas still romanticized Wano as a flourishing land of samurai, Ryuma preferred letting them think he had simply returned from the dead without drawing unnecessary global attention.
If the harsh, impoverished reality of post-war Wano leaked out, it would instantly turn the country into a prime target for opportunistic pirates across the world!
Stepping outside, Ryuma finally came face-to-face with Kizaru and Akainu.
His brow twitched, a sudden knot tightening in his chest.
The pressure radiating from these two was far more intense than he had anticipated.
Kizaru was a light-man capable of transforming any part of his body into light, granting him light-speed movement and devastating kinetic attacks powerful enough to shatter large structures with a single kick.
As for Akainu, he was arguably the most formidable of the three current Admirals!
Known by his real name Sakazuki, the Fleet Admiral was a Logia-type Magma-Magma Fruit user who enforced "Absolute Justice." His unyielding, merciless demeanor allowed no room for compromise or leniency; believing that absolute eradication of evil justified any collateral damage, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate colleagues or civilians if it meant completing an objective.
He was a man who preferred over-killing to letting a single threat slip away—truly devoid of human warmth.
Fixing his gaze upon them, Ryuma paused for a moment before speaking. "It's a long journey from Headquarters. What brings two Marine Admirals to our shores today?"
Kizaru opened his mouth to reply, but Akainu shot him a sharp, warning glare. Kizaru simply pursed his lips, raised his hands defensively, and kept quiet.
Akainu offered a cold, mirthless smile. "Nothing much. We heard you defeated Kaidou, so we came representing the Marines to offer our congratulations."
Ryuma chuckled inwardly. Hah... I never expected Akainu to talk in circles like this. It doesn't suit his style at all.
Still, it was obvious this was Sengoku's direct order.
Rolling his eyes slightly, Ryuma gestured toward the hall. "Come inside. No need to stand out here."
Leading them into the Shogun's palace, Ryuma offered them seats.
"My, my... Wano Country looks quite lively and prosperous," Kizaru drawled, making himself right at home as he poured a cup of water and gulped it down.
"Naturally. Wano is the land of samurai; strength and prosperity run in our blood," Ryuma replied with a smooth smile.
Though, to be honest, Ryuma felt a slight pang of guilt saying that.
After all... where are all these supposed samurai right now?
Presently, Wano's national power was shattered, with only the Flower Capital managing to maintain any semblance of civilization.
Akainu gave a dry cough, looking directly at Ryuma with a serious expression. "Mr. Ryuma... since we're here, let's skip the pleasantries."
"Go ahead," Ryuma nodded calmly.
"We are here to formally invite you to have Wano Country join as an affiliated member of the World Government."
Ryuma blinked.
They... want Wano to join the World Government?
Are they joking?
Ever since the founding of the World Government, Wano had maintained strict isolationism, paying the global authority zero attention. With over 170 member nations—including underwater kingdoms like Fish-Man Island—the World Government certainly wasn't short on territories.
Noticing Ryuma's skeptical silence, Akainu added with a subtle smirk, "Rest assured, Mr. Ryuma. The World Government is willing to grant you exceptional terms: if Wano joins the alliance, you will be permanently exempt from paying the Heavenly Tribute."
Ryuma let out a dry laugh.
To maintain affiliation with the World Government, member states were required to pay the exorbitant "Heavenly Tribute"—it was never free!
Impoverished nations struggled immensely to meet the quota, often forcing their citizens into starvation. The tribute was astronomical and fiercely burdensome.
Thus, in Ryuma's eyes, the World Government was inherently tied to systemic oppression.
Where did all that tribute money end up flowing?
Without a doubt—straight into the pockets of the Celestial Dragons!
And once the Celestial Dragons took their share, common citizens in member nations were frequently left struggling just to survive.
Of course, the primary perk of alliance was protection: member states could request military intervention from the Marines whenever danger threatened.
Ryuma never expected them to waive the Heavenly Tribute just to rope Wano into the fold.
Unfortunately, he wasn't interested.
Ryuma wasn't a fool; he knew this was merely an olive branch extended by the World Government to co-opt a powerful independent entity. If he had been a pirate, they probably would have offered him a position as a Warlord of the Sea instead.
Shaking his head with a smile, Ryuma replied, "I appreciate Fleet Admiral Sengoku's and the World Government's generosity... but Wano Country has no intention of joining the alliance."
Akainu's smile stiffened instantly. "Mr. Ryuma, rejecting us like this is rather disappointing. As you can see, before Kaidou turned Wano into a lawless wasteland, it remained peaceful. The reason it fell into ruin in the first place was precisely because Wano was not an affiliated nation, leaving it unprotected by the Marines under the World Government's banner."
Ryuma offered a cold, sarcastic snort.
"Isn't protecting the world supposed to be the World Government's duty? Aren't the Marines supposed to uphold justice and vanquish evil? Since when did upholding justice require paying an admission fee?"
Kizaru frowned, looking thoroughly annoyed. "My, my... why must you be so uncooperative, Mr. Ryuma? We just told you—Wano wouldn't have to pay a single berry in fees."
"Even if it's free, the answer is still no. Wano doesn't need the World Government's protection... Furthermore, I don't trust the World Government at all. You two may take your leave."
Akainu and Kizaru exchanged glances, a heavy, awkward silence settling between them.
Neither of them had expected Ryuma to reject the World Government's protection so bluntly!
Unconditional affiliation was a dream offer countless nations prayed for, yet Ryuma turned it down without a second thought, effectively slamming the door in the faces of two Marine Admirals.
"Tsk, tsk... Mr. Ryuma, are you truly not going to reconsider?" Kizaru pressed, his brow furrowing.
"No reconsideration needed, and no protection required. Please see yourselves out."
Hearing that, the expressions of both Admirals turned dark.
Ryuma saw right through their intentions. He genuinely had no use for the World Government's protection. Besides... he was planning to raid execution sites in the near future; getting too cozy with the World Government was the last thing he wanted.
"Since Mr. Ryuma insists, forgive us if we resort to harsher methods!" Akainu roared.
"Hmph... I knew you weren't here just to chat. Since affiliation isn't mandatory, does refusal mean you're going to resort to silencing me?" Ryuma teased with a cool smirk.
Though he sounded confident, anxiety prickled at his nerves.
Fighting a single Admiral while ensuring his own survival was manageable, but taking on two Admirals simultaneously was pushing his limits far too thin!
"I'll take him first..." Kizaru muttered, stepping forward. "Let me see just how powerful this ancient dragon-slaying samurai really is."
Instead of letting Kizaru move alone, Akainu stepped in front of him, magma already bubbling fiercely over his hardened arms.
"Kizaru... don't underestimate him. This man killed Kaidou. We strike together to ensure absolute success!"
Fixing his gaze on Akainu, Ryuma drew the black blade Shusui from its scabbard, settling into a low combat stance.
Against opponents of this caliber, carelessness meant instant death.
Facing two Admirals at once was a pressure that even surpassed his duel with Kaidou.
Suddenly, a system chime rang out in his mind:
"Ding! New Quest Triggered! Force both Admirals to retreat from Wano Country! Reward: 1 Gacha Chance!"
Ryuma let out a dry, exasperated laugh internally.
Are you kidding me?
Risking my life to drive off two Admirals, and the reward is just one lousy gacha roll?!
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