"This is troublesome now."
Looking at the Celestial Dragon with a hole through his head, Dragon showed a thoughtful expression.
Having served in the Marines thirty years ago, he had personally witnessed the terrifying battle that erased an entire country.
"Oh ho, this guy carries Devil Fruits with him?"
A certain pirate, adhering to the principle of 'a thief never leaves empty-handed', checked the Celestial Dragon's corpse and unexpectedly discovered two Devil Fruits hidden on it.
"You, have some sense of urgency, will you?"
Dragon sighed helplessly, using one hand to maintain his ability and prevent the ship from falling.
The surrounding agents and World Government officials recovered from their shock and drew their weapons, preparing for a final stand.
Regardless of whether they could defeat the two before them, the fact that a Celestial Dragon had died under their protection was now established.
Upon returning to Mary Geoise, they would inevitably be held responsible for this incident. Death was unavoidable, so they might as well fight to take the heads of these two, perhaps increasing their slim chance of survival.
"Alright, then one each for us?"
The ever-generous Sakura extended a hand, the Devil Fruits she held thrust towards Dragon.
Dragon: "...."
Although now was definitely not the time to discuss this, what the girl offered was, after all, the secret treasure of the sea.
Even without knowing the abilities, Devil Fruits, no matter how abstract their power, when paired with the iron-willed Revolutionary Army, could create a notable expert.
For Dragon, who currently lacked everything, this was an offer he couldn't refuse.
-After all, revolutionaries need to eat too~
In silence, Dragon took the fruit Sakura offered with one hand and stuffed it into his bosom.
"I didn't plan to declare war on the World Government this early, but... regarding the Celestial Dragon matter, the Revolutionary Army will take responsibility!"
Dragon patted his chest grandly. The two reached an agreement with a tacit understanding.
Then...
The members of the World Government's inspection ship suffered.
Sakura's Conqueror's Haki cleared the field, while Dragon, acting as a sniper, precisely picked off the experts.
Their coordination was seamless, carrying out a precise and efficient sweep of the ship.
Several dozen minutes later, aside from the two of them, there were no living beings left on the entire inspection ship.
"Phew, it's about time to leave."
Dragon looked at the corpses littering the ground, his eyes still calm.
After all, most of the Revolutionary Army's objectives for coming to the Goa Kingdom had been achieved, and they had obtained personnel, weapons, and equipment.
Although the Celestial Dragon's death ruined their ransom plan, they had at least acquired a Devil Fruit.
Most importantly, they had established a deeper connection with someone like Sakura.
One must know, besides being a great pirate, that pink-haired girl was also a doctor renowned across the entire sea.
Whether it's pirates living on the edge or ambitious schemers... in this era filled with violence, probably no one would be unwilling to get closer to such a doctor.
"What about the Goa Kingdom?"
Sakura unceremoniously hauled out the remaining treasures from the ship's hold and whistled into the distance.
Leviathan descended, beating its black wings, and swallowed the items in one gulp.
"No matter. We will create disturbances elsewhere to attract the World Government's attention, then send people to help the residents here establish a new government."
Dragon watched as Sakura gestured for him to enter, then followed her into Leviathan's belly.
After the two left, the World Government inspection ship instantly lost the support of the ability and fell towards the sea like a black meteor.
Meanwhile, in Windmill Village.
A simple fishing boat entered the port, and two men dressed like ordinary people disembarked at Windmill Village.
The Village Chief, fishing by the pier, was about to speak when he saw the two strangers, but one of them greeted him familiarly.
"Hey, long time no see! How have you been lately?"
The patted Village Chief was taken aback, then showed a friendly smile.
"It's you, you..."
Seeing the Village Chief's puzzled expression, the man quickly grabbed his hand and shook it.
"It's me, I'm Unga. Don't you remember me?"
"Ahahaha, of course! Village Chief here wouldn't forget a rascal like you even if I forgot everyone else."
The Village Chief put down his fishing rod, patted his head, and put on an act of having poor memory due to old age.
"Ahahaha, Village Chief, you're something else. Well, my big brother and I will head into the village now."
Unga waved his hand, bidding farewell to the Village Chief.
The Village Chief on the pier noticed nothing unusual and even invited them to dinner at his place that evening as they walked away.
In the village, every villager who saw the two was initially startled, but after touching Unga, they all showed him friendly smiles.
"Ah, it's Unga!"
"Are you back to stay in the village for a long time this time?"
"Big Brother is the same as always, still so quiet!"
The villagers greeted Unga enthusiastically. Starting from the Village Chief, a name that never existed quietly entered everyone's memory.
His appearance, his personality, traces of his existence in this village, the bits and pieces of their interactions with him...
Everything was so smooth and natural. No one noticed that this cold and sinister outsider had infiltrated their midst, toying with their ordinary lives.
"That's enough, right? Stop playing the villager game and quickly find that woman's whereabouts!"
Sea Snake, crossing his arms, urged impatiently, his gaze cold.
"Yes, yes, boss is so impatient."
Unga raised his hand and reached into the side of his own skull.
He dissolved the friendly emotions on his body and entered work mode.
An invisible wave spread out, connecting the villagers he had touched earlier, forming a large net.
The net's tendrils spread along the invisible emotional resonance between people, quickly enveloping the entire Dawn Island, beginning to search the memories of the island's residents.
Soon, Unga found himself kicked out of the emotional link amidst the chaotic consciousness.
He was stunned.
Unga was truly stunned this time.
He felt these damned things really know how to stir up trouble. How does this tiny Dawn Island deserve to gather so many important figures? It's like a gathering of gods.
The hometown of the Marine Hero, the hometown of the Revolutionary Army's leader, the son of the Pirate King, the Goa Kingdom being captured by the Revolutionary Army, the plan to ambush the Celestial Dragons, the great pirate Haruno Sakura, the escaped scholar from Ohara...
If you know, you'd say this is a World Government affiliate nation. If you don't, you'd think it's the revival of that great kingdom whose name cannot be spoken.
"Boss, would you believe it? I sense the power of fate on this island!"
Unga, having re-equipped his friendly aura, looked up, grinning with a pleased smile.
"Get to the point!"
Slightly affected by the aura, Sea Snake unusually showed a bit more patience, sitting down cross-legged on a roadside rock.
"Just now, I..."
Just as he was about to speak, the bushes rustled and shook.
The two highly trained CP0 Agents stopped their conversation. Their muscles tensed, and they warily stared at the bushes.
Swish-!
A straw-hatted boy tumbled out of the bushes, bounced elastically on the ground a few times, finally hit a large tree, and slid to the ground.
"What, it's just a brat."
Unga curled his lip and casually patted the straw-hatted boy.
"Hey, brat! Don't get in the way here, go home!"
Hearing someone call him, Luffy looked up, glanced around dazedly, pursed his lower lip over his upper lip, and looked at Unga.
"Mister, who are you?"
Instantly, their heartbeats skipped a beat. Unga was so shocked his eyes bulged out of their sockets.
"How is this possible!"
He raised his hand and patted Luffy again, pushing his Paramecia-type, Kanjo Kanjo no Mi's ability to its limits. (T/N: Emotion-Emotion Fruit.)
The absolute, unresistable ability upon touch was injected into Luffy's body, attempting to control his mind.
However...
After the transparent flame dissipated, Luffy still looked at him puzzled. All three heads tilted to the side simultaneously.
"Why isn't it working?!"
Unga clutched his head with both hands, leaning his body back forcefully until his head hit the ground.
His rule-based Devil Fruit Ability had failed for the first time today, and on a brat, no less.
"Don't waste time, kill him!"
Sea Snake spoke, killing intent rising from him.
But Luffy, with his super high perception of danger, trembled all over. Like a monkey, he instantly ducked into the woods, crying and shouting as he fled towards the village deep within.
The two CP0 Agents, having been made fools of, exchanged a glance, their faces dark as they chased after him.