novelonline Chapter 492 The Qualities of a Leader
Chapter 492 The Qualities of a Leader
Standing under the shade of trees outside the playground fence, Yamato listened silently to Kizaru's introduction to the First Military Academy and the education system of the Land of Light. Looking at the boys running freely and laughing and making a ruckus on the playground, a look of envy appeared in her eyes that she herself did not realize.
When Yamato was in Wano Country, she had never seen or even heard of such a school. In the world of pirates, education belongs to the nobility, while for pirates, there is no such thing as education. The only things they receive are the trials of life and death, and a few words of guidance from the stronger members of their crew, which are considered rare blessings.
Whether it's cultural knowledge or combat training knowledge, it's a legacy passed down to only a very few people in the world of One Piece. In the entire ocean, perhaps only the Navy and the intelligence agencies under the World Government have a complete training system, which ensures the Navy and the World Government's strength on the seas.
Yamato, who grew up under the influence of Kaido's distorted education and Oden's idiotic thinking, instinctively felt a sense of agreement after hearing Kizaru's story.
That is, children should grow up in this kind of world and with this kind of education; that is the right thing to do!
After Kizaru finished speaking, Yamato, although still disliking Kizaru's "slander" of Oden, was much less resistant to receiving an education in the Land of Light.
Of course, this is also partly due to Yamato gradually accepting reality after realizing that it would be difficult for him to escape from Kizaru.
After introducing the school, Kizaru looked at Yamato and said, "From now on, you'll be studying at this school. How about that?"
Yamato had already anticipated this. She didn't answer directly, but after a moment of silence, she said in a somewhat strange tone, "My age is not appropriate."
"No!" Kizaru denied.
Yamato glared at Kizaru. Standing over two meters tall with a well-proportioned figure, she possessed an upright posture and a natural, untamed aura, or perhaps a wild beast-like presence. Her glare only accentuated her charisma.
"That bastard Kaido, didn't I tell you how old I was?"
Kizaru smiled at Yamato, "Of course I know your age, but what I meant by no is that while your body may have already given in, your mind..."
At this point, Kizaru paused, pointed to his head, and continued under Yamato's angry glare, "But your mind is still stuck in adolescence."
After saying that, Kizaru raised his hand and opened his palm towards Yamato, stopping her from showing her anger, and continued, "To be honest, this is not your fault, it's all Kaido's fault. The kind of guy who was used as a weapon from a young age and put to fight on the battlefield doesn't understand what education is at all. Speaking of education, if you ask me, among the Four Emperors, only Big Mom is half a qualified parent. At least she was willing to take care of and educate her children as a real mother when they were young."
When Yamato heard Kizaru's complaints about Kaido and his evaluation of the Four Emperors, he couldn't help but recall his childhood. The first time he jokingly told his father that he wanted to be Oden, he was brutally thrown into the cave where the three daimyo were imprisoned.
That man was irritable, savage, cruel, and unreasonable. I couldn't see any trace of a father in him.
Thinking of this, thinking of her experiences in Wano Country, and thinking that Wano Country is still under Kaido's tyrannical rule, Yamato's heart, which had just calmed down a little, became restless again.
With a hint of urgency, Yamato turned and looked at Kizaru seriously, saying, "I'm willing to study here! But I absolutely cannot waste six years of my life. I demand that I be allowed to graduate as long as I pass the school's graduation exam."
Faced with this request, Kizaru maintained a smile and stared at Yamato for a while. Only when Yamato became increasingly impatient did he nod and say, "Okay."
"Great!" Yamato exclaimed excitedly, rubbing his hands together as if he was ready to pass the test.
But at that moment, Kizaru added, "Kaido sent you here, and the tuition he paid wasn't just for combat-related training. So, if you want to graduate completely, in addition to passing the graduation exam of the First Military Academy, you also need to pass the graduation exam of the Higher Political Academy."
"What?" Yamato's excitement was suddenly dampened, and she said indignantly, "You didn't say that!"
"I wasn't finished speaking," Kizaru said with a smile, looking at Yamato like a wise elder. "Besides, is it wrong for me to tell you to learn more?"
"You!" Yamato glared at Kizaru, his chest heaving more violently. "You liar!"
Faced with the accusations, Kizaru smiled calmly and said with a touch of roguishness, "If you're not convinced, beat me!"
Yamato was even angrier. He picked up his spiked club, Ken, and was ready to fight Kizaru.
But just then, as Yamato raised his spiked club high and was about to bring it down, a large hand radiating coldness grabbed the club from behind him.
"Ara ara! I just saved your life, Kizaru!" Aokiji, dressed in a gray kimono with his chest exposed and his body in a rebellious manner, appeared behind Yamato, holding a gradually freezing spiked club in one hand while looking at Kizaru.
Behind Aokiji was Crocodile, the Sand Crocodile, who was slowly walking forward with a cigar in his mouth.
Initially, Crocodile was only somewhat interested in this woman who had her back to him, dared to attack Kizaru, and seemed to come from the pirate world. However, as he approached and saw Yamato's appearance clearly, his eyes narrowed and his expression changed.
"How did this woman end up here? Has Kaido and Kizaru's cooperation deepened this much?" Crocodile pondered, looking at Kizaru, and asked knowingly, "Who is she?"
Kizaru didn't seem to care that the two men seemed to recognize Yamato's identity and said directly, "Yamato, Kaido's daughter."
"I am not that bastard's daughter, my name is Oden! I am here to carry on the legacy of Tsukiseki Oden!" Yamato said angrily.
At that moment, Aokiji released his right hand, looked down at Yamato, and said with a cold expression that made it impossible to read his thoughts, "Gekko Oden, the crew member of that Pirate King?"
"You know Oden?" Yamato looked up at Aokiji with some excitement. She was very interested in any information about Oden.
"I've heard some things. It's said that he was originally a crew member under Whitebeard, but later, for some reason, he left Whitebeard and joined Roger's pirate crew," Aokiji said in a somewhat lazy tone.
Yamato, who had read Oden's travelogue since childhood, knew more about what Aokiji had said. She wanted to share what she knew, but seeing Kizaru beside her and recognizing Aokiji's identity, she held back.
A villain who cooperates with Kaido and a Marine Admiral—they actually know each other and seem to be in cahoots. This not only raises questions but also adds to my curiosity about Kizaru.
What exactly is the purpose of this guy who knows Kaido and is on good terms with a Marine Admiral?
Just as Yamato was wondering, Kizaru spoke up with a hint of sarcasm: "So, that's why I said Oden was stupid. At that time, he clearly had many ways to protect Wano Country from Kaido and Orochi's forces. Both his own strength and the help he could have sought could have easily helped him do it, but he chose the most disastrous path!"
“He is a true samurai! You don’t understand the spirit of a samurai at all!” Yamato retorted excitedly.
"Samurai spirit?" Kizaru laughed, and smiles appeared on the faces of Aokiji and Crocodile beside him. This made Yamato very, very angry, but here, outside the school fence, she restrained her temper.
After laughing, Kizaru looked at Yamato, who had fallen silent due to anger and distress, and said with a hint of instruction, "Do you think I'm belittling the samurai spirit, slandering Oden, and defaming the hero in your heart?"
Yamato didn't answer, but just stared at Kizaru, showing his attitude through his actions.
Kizaru shook his head, then his face became more serious as he asked, "What do you think is the most important quality a leader needs?"
Yamato remained silent, while Aokiji and Crocodile looked at Kizaru with interest.
"It's not about samurai spirit, benevolence and morality, or justice and fearlessness; these are merely superfluous embellishments, pointless ornaments. The key to the success of true leaders and true heroes, besides their own strength, lies most importantly in rallying the masses!"
"Gather the masses?" Yamato, who had been silent just moments before, uttered the word in a low voice.
The blue pheasant and the sand crocodile, standing nearby, were also pondering the word, each seemingly interpreting it in a different way.
"The meaning of 'gathering the masses' is that you must learn to unite your team and use the team's strength to overcome difficulties. That's what a leader should do! Do you think Oden did that when he was in Wano Country?" Kizaru asked Yamato.
Yamato recalled Oden's bet with Kaido and the absurd things he did to fulfill it. She had to bear the thought that Oden hadn't done it, but at the same time, Yamato also found reasons for Oden's failure.
"That's because he trusted Kaido. It's Kaido's fault for not keeping his promise!"
"Oden, as the son of the Shogun of Wano Country, bears the future of the entire nation. How can he entrust the hopes of the whole country to a pirate who upholds integrity? Do you find that laughable? Kuzan, Crocodile, do you find that laughable?" Kizaru looked at Aokiji and Crocodile beside him.
Faced with Kizaru's question, the two could understand Oden's thoughts from an emotional perspective, but from a realistic perspective, having both held high positions, they knew the darkness and horror of reality. Pirates like Kaido were the majority on the sea, the kind of pirates with the potential to succeed.
"Gekko Oden is only suited to be a samurai," Aokiji concluded tactfully.
“What an idiot!” Crocodile was even more direct.
Yamato was still angry this time, but compared to before, perhaps because of Kizaru's continued provocation, or perhaps because of the ideas Kizaru kept telling her and the questions he asked her, she had to start thinking about whether Oden was wrong or not.
Seeing that Yamato no longer directly refuted him this time, Kizaru knew that his continuous provocation since yesterday had finally taken effect. He smiled slightly and continued, "A leader who entrusts the interests and future of the country, the life and safety of the people, to the integrity of a pirate is bound to be a foolish and unsuccessful fellow!"
Oden Tsukiseki possessed strength comparable to Kaido. Within Wano Country, he enjoyed popular support and the military backing of various daimyo. Outside of Wano, he could gain the assistance of the Whitebeard Pirates and seek help from former members of Roger's crew. From both internal and external perspectives, I can't think of any reason why he should have lost. Yet, he lost, and in the most idiotic way, he lost his life. If that's not a fool, what is? (End of Chapter)