Chapter 9: It's Not the Gift, But the Thought That Matters
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, several days had gone by.
During this time, aside from his regular training, Sakazuki spent his hours reading the books Ross had given him—General Heraro and The Last Station.
The first book was written from the perspective of a general and recounted a war between two nations in the New World. The author was the commanding officer of one of the sides.
The second was told from the point of view of a soldier—"Soldier 68"—as he journeyed from the frontlines back to his homeland, passing through islands like checkpoints.
Although neither book was particularly well-written, their vivid storytelling drew readers into the lives of their protagonists.
Sakazuki wasn't sure why Ross had asked him to read these specific books, but he trusted there was a reason. Just like all the other times before, Ross never did anything without purpose.
"Reading is good," Ross said as he pushed open the door, his voice gentle like a kindly teacher. "But sometimes, seeing the world with your own eyes is better than reading about it.
Go out and explore Sabaody on your own today. I'll be waiting for you back at the inn."
He handed Sakazuki a thick wad of cash.
"Here's 100,000 Beli—not a fortune, but enough to enjoy yourself. And while you're out, do me a favor and pick up a gift for little Mona from the specialty market."
Sakazuki closed his book, neatly placing it on the bedside table, then nodded.
"Getting some fresh air sounds good… but I think you should pick the gift yourself. I don't really know what Mona would like."
Ross chuckled and shook his head.
"That's where you're wrong, Sakazuki. You need to understand—when it comes to gifts, it's not about what's best or most suitable. What matters is the thought.
Do you know why Mona asked me to bring something back this time, and not you?
Every time Moxxi leaves, she asks him to bring back something too. But the first time Moxxi gave her a gift, it was because I told him to."
Ross spoke softly as he gently took Sakazuki's hand and placed the thick stack of bills in his palm. After a light pat on the head, he turned and left.
Sakazuki stood frozen in place, staring at the hundred 1,000-Beli notes in his hand.
"It's the thought that counts…?"
He muttered to himself, trying to grasp the meaning behind those words.
Suddenly, a scene from General Heraro came to mind:
---
"Hey, soldier, go get a shipment of cola. Then tell the officers to hand them out to the men."
General Heraro stepped out of his tent and handed his personal guard a bag heavy with gold coins.
The guard hesitated. Funding for the next month hadn't come in yet, and the current days were the toughest of the campaign. The money bag was marked with the Benson family crest—it was the general's personal wealth.
As a guard trained by the Benson family to protect Heraro, he had to ask:
"But General, this is your money! We've got tens of thousands of troops. If each one gets a bottle of cola—"
"Soldier!"
"Y-Yes, General!"
The general's sharp tone cut him off mid-sentence. The guard reflexively snapped to attention.
But Heraro's expression quickly softened, and in a quiet voice, he said:
"We've been at war for nearly a month, and these are the hardest days yet. The troops are uneasy. Just yesterday, I overheard talk that we, the nobles, might flee and leave them behind."
"That's… not their fault. Just like I won't truly blame you for questioning my decisions.
This gold may be a lot to me, sure. But it's not even enough to feed the officers a proper dinner.
The nobles will be fine after the war—but the soldiers? They're the ones who'll suffer."
Heraro looked off toward the distant encampments. Compared to his warm tent, the troops had nothing but flimsy shelters.
"This isn't like fighting pirates. The kings and nobles don't actually care about the outcome of this war.
If we lose, they'll tighten their belts for a while until taxes come in.
If we win, they'll enjoy a few extra months of profit.
It's just a game to them.
"But not for me. As a general—and a defender of our homeland—I don't have the luxury of thinking like that.
"I need to send a signal to the troops. I need them to know that I, Benson Heraro, still care about them—and about winning this war."
"A bottle of cola might seem cheap, but in times like these… it's worth more than gold."
---
Back when Sakazuki first read that scene, he didn't quite understand it.
But now, it began to make sense.
That last line still felt a little off to him—after all, he knew well the saying, "Heavy rewards breed brave men."
But in that moment, he also realized something important:
Gold may buy loyalty once. But if gold is scarce and used only as reward, it fuels desperation and greed.
In contrast, something as small as a shared drink—so long as everyone gets one—can restore morale, trust, and unity.
That's what builds a soldier's will to fight. Not riches, but belief.
"It's not the gift. It's the thought that counts."
Sakazuki looked up, gazing down the empty hallway of the inn. He whispered to himself:
"No matter the situation, thoughtfulness is what truly matters—whether in the Navy or in a family.
It's only when we let our hearts show, even just a little, that real bonds are formed."
He picked up the two books again and slid the cash between their pages. Holding them close to his chest, he stood and stepped forward.
"Thank you, Master. You always manage to teach me something important—without ever saying it directly.
Without you, how long would it have taken me to learn this?
How many people… how many chances would I have missed?"
As the thoughts swirled in his mind, he glanced back at the inn's entrance—then headed toward the amusement park.
"For a child, that's probably where I'll find something she'll like…"
He paused.
Then turned on his heel, heading instead for the auction house.
"Wait a second… Mona's no kid. That place has more shops too. Maybe I can find something explosive-related.
That sounds more her style."