Fujitora!

"Yes, it's loathing," Nicholas affirmed.

With that, Nicholas turned to leave, and Issho, using a cane, followed Nicholas's footsteps.

"Didn't I make it clear enough? And with your strong Observation Haki, is it necessary to pretend to be blind? Don't you know how disrespectful it is to those who are truly blind?" Nicholas asked, slightly irritated.

However, Issho shook his head lightly and earnestly replied to Nicholas, "I have never pretended to be blind, and as for Observation Haki, I have not used it."

Inner demons? Nicholas thought but didn't comment, understanding that Issho's blindness might be a result of inner turmoil, especially given Issho's current state, before becoming the Admiral Fujitora.

"Anyway, if you want to follow, then follow," Nicholas continued, moving forward.

Soon, Nicholas and his group arrived at a luxurious tavern in the Flower Capital.

Nicholas even generously treated Issho to a meal. However, to his surprise, Issho's expression turned hesitant after tasting a piece of sashimi. Issho looked around the table with his blind eyes, showing signs of indecision.

"What's wrong, brother?" Katie, who was eating lobster nearby, asked in confusion. "Is there something wrong with the food?"

"It's the food, but it's not just the food," Issho replied with a troubled expression. After pondering for a while, he turned to Nicholas and earnestly said, "I apologize for the intrusion, but I feel compelled to speak my mind."

"Go ahead, your words are yours, but whether I listen or not is up to me," Nicholas replied nonchalantly.

"Though I lead a humble life, if I'm not mistaken, these dishes are made from top-grade ingredients. The cost of this one dish could cover a family of four for a month, right?" Issho sighed and continued, "Do you know how many poor people in Wano go hungry and lack proper clothing?"

Nicholas listened quietly, understanding Issho's point.

"Fine, I know. But what does that have to do with me?" Nicholas replied indifferently.

Issho was momentarily taken aback by Nicholas's response. "But..."

Before Issho could continue, Nicholas interrupted, "I'm not the ruler of this country. Why should I care about the lives of ordinary people? Moreover, if those people can't feed themselves, why don't they reclaim what's rightfully theirs from those who exploit them? I'm not a saint; I'm not that compassionate."

"I was wrong," Issho murmured, realizing that changing Nicholas's perspective wouldn't be easy.

Issho sighed and continued, "It's ironic. I blinded myself to escape the ugliness of the world, thinking that blindness would give me clarity. But now, I see that I was naive. Although blind, I was only deceiving myself."

Issho then shared his encounters with the ruling elite of Wano, who cared little for the common people's suffering, which only deepened his disappointment.

Nicholas remained silent, prompting Issho to conclude that his methods might have been flawed.

"I've also calmed down and pondered whether I've been too hasty. In the following years, I traversed the entire Wano and actively observed the nobility. However, almost without exception, these nobles are all indulgent and arrogant. They disregard the lives of commoners, caring only for their own interests. In their eyes, the lives of ordinary people are worth less than that of a hunting dog! In some places, samurais even take pleasure in using commoners for sword practice."

"It's incredibly disappointing!"

After finishing speaking, Issho intended to leave, considering the starving children he had witnessed and feeling guilty for indulging in such extravagant food.

"Wait."

After some thought, Nicholas felt he couldn't let Issho leave so easily and quickly called out to him.

As Issho turned around, Nicholas said, "Since you've said so much, have you ever thought about what methods to use to change the situation of ordinary people in this world?"

"Of course, I have," Issho replied, somewhat surprised by Nicholas's question. "As I mentioned before, I've tried to approach the Wano general to offer suggestions, but unfortunately, he ignored me."

"If those methods didn't work, have you considered that your approach might be flawed?" Nicholas asked.

"Approach?" Issho's brow furrowed.

"Yes, approach. If the gentle approach doesn't work, why not try the forceful one? Simply use your strength to tell Oden Kozuki that if he doesn't listen to your advice, you'll find someone else to be the general."

"But since ancient times, the general of Wano has been from the Kozuki family. If I were to do that, I'd be opposing the entire country," Issho said, feeling conflicted.

"You want to empower those downtrodden, so why fear such a confrontation? It seems you've been brainwashed by the Kozuki family," Nicholas observed.

Feeling lost, Issho recounted his futile attempts to reason with Oden Kozuki, who dismissed his proposals based on tradition.

Nicholas suggested that Issho join the Marines, believing that serving there would broaden Issho's perspective and possibly change his outlook. He even offered his connections to help Issho join the Marines.

After considering Nicholas's proposal, Issho reluctantly agreed.