Dragon raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Cudius's response. Could this really be an inal work? The thought surprised him. The few lines he had overheard earlier carried ideas that seemed radical, even rebellious ideas that would be sidered dangerous by the Wover. The fact that this text wasn't widely avaible made it even more pelling.

  Dragon couldn't help but wonder how Cudius 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, Cudius wasn't just an ordinary CP-0 agent his position seemed somewhat unique, especially sidering Zephyr's respectful treatment of him.

  But still, could someoh such a e to the Wover be holding onto this type of literature?

  Dragon's mind raced with possibilities, but he didn't jump to clusions. After all, it wasn't every day you entered 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 ret in his voice, assuming that the book might be a rare or even one-of-a-kind piebsp;

  Cudius, notig Dragon's i, smiled and said, "The book isn't particurly rare for me. If you're ied, feel free to borrow it."

  With a simple gesture, Cudius o Nia, who promptly fetched the book and ha ton. 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," Cudius replied with a smile.

  "Interim member?" Dragoed, finding the title a bit curious. However, he didn't press the matter. It wasn't unusual for someoo be pced in a transitional role within CP-0, especially if they had other tasks ahead of them. Perhaps Cudius had some important assig ing 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 iurn. "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 bee an Admiral iure.

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

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

  Cudius preteo be surprised at Dragon's introdu. "Monkey? As in the son of Vice Admiral Garp?" he asked, though he already khe answer.

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

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

  It was clear ton that Cudius wasn't trying to curry favor or leverage his e to Garp, which was refreshing. Over the years, Dragon had entered 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 sutentions, and Dragon found that oddly f. It made him think that perhaps Cudius's own background carried enough weight that he didn't o rely oernal es.

  The versation shifted, and after exging a few more pleasantries, Dragon dove into the book. As he began reading, his eyes widened with each passiehe ideas within were revolutionary, unlike anything he had entered before. cepts like "the people being more valuable than the ruler" and "the gover serving the people, not trolling them" struck a deep chord within him.

  No wohis book isn't avaible anywhere, Dragon thought. This kind of ideology would be suppressed immediately.

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

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

  "This book is incredible," Dragon murmured to himself. "It tains thoughts I've never even sidered 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 sing through the pages, he found nothing—no name, no prefao indication of who had pehis 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 disappoi from Cudius ion. Gion, having little i iopic, remained silent, but Dragohusiasm was evident.

  Cudius, watg Dragon's rea, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfa. This is goier than expected, he thought.

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

  Cudius hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit awkward. After all, it wasly polite to openly praise your own work. "I think... it's det. Maybe not perfect, but det," he replied modestly.

  Dragon was caught off guard by the humility in Cudius's answer. "Det? Just det?" He shook his head in disbelief. "I think you might be uimating it. The ideas in this book are revolutionary! They challehe very foundations of society and gover's filled with wisdom and insight."

  He looked back at the book, his brows furrowing in thought. "But it feels inplete. 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 tinuation?"

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

  "Not yet?" Dragoed, his i clearly piqued. "So, there will be more?"

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

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

  Why does this guy sound like a poetic schor? Cudius thought to himself, trying not to ugh. Dragohusiasm and almost literary tone were starting to amuse him. It was hard to recile this refihoughtful man with the figure who would one day lead the most feared revolutionary army in the world.

  Still, Dragon's i in his ideas was undeniable. He seemed almost desperate for more, which was exactly what Cudius had hoped for. Now, it was time t him along just a little bit further.

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

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

  Cudius 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 stuhe man sitting across from him was the author of the very text that had just blown his mind. The fact that Cudius had written something so profound only added to the mystery surrounding him.

  "If this is just the beginning, then I 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."

  Cudius smiled inwardly. You haven't seen anythi.

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

  Dragon nodded eagerly. "I'd be hoo."

  *****

  Support me on patreon to read 30+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.