Holy Land Mariejois, Hall of Power.
Five elders who held the world's highest authority sat on either side of a long table.
Scattered across the tabletop was a stack of brand-new Wanted Posters.
The one on top featured a photo of Monkey D. Dragon.
The man in the photo wore a dark green trench coat, with a red square tattoo on his face.
The bald swordsman, Saint Nusjuro, was polishing the First Generation Ghost Cutter in his hand.
His movements were slow, the sound of metal friction echoing in the room.
"The Revolutionary Army's expansion speed has exceeded expectations." Saint Nusjuro sheathed his sword. "Uprisings have broken out one after another in the Affiliated Countries across the Four Seas. The lower-class civilians, bewitched by Dragon, have taken up arms against the royal families."
Saint Peter picked up a bone china teacup and took a sip of black tea.
"Bounties were originally meant to deter, but now they've become a living advertisement for their recruitment."
"Outlaws from all over the world see this nine billion as proof of strength."
"The Revolutionary Army's size has tripled in just these past two weeks."
Saint Mars stroked his long beard and snorted coldly.
"That fool Rosward—if he hadn't insisted on taking that route, how could the Revolutionary Army have seized the opportunity?"
"Now the whole world is spreading the news that the Revolutionary Army severely damaged the World Government's fleet in the New World."
Saint Warcury, with a birthmark on his forehead, interlocked his fingers and rested his chin on them, cutting off the argument.
"What's done is done; complaining is useless."
"We must extinguish this spark with swift and decisive action."
"Order Kane to accelerate the capture of Revolutionary Army members."
"Kane alone isn't enough," Saint Peter suggested. "Send the new chief of Cipher Pol Aigis Zero to supervise the operation."
"On one hand, to assist in the purge. On the other, to investigate the source of the last intelligence leak. The mole within the Cipher Pol organization must be rooted out."
The group reached a consensus.
A highest-level purge order flew straight to the New World.
G-5 Branch, Base Commander's Office.
In the spacious room, only the sound of rustling paper and the crisp clatter of abacus beads could be heard.
Kane leaned back in his leather office chair, legs crossed on the desk.
Beside him, the ten-year-old Boa Hancock wore a custom-made small-sized Navy Uniform.
She stood on a small wooden stool, leaning over the desk to check the accounts.
The little girl held a quill pen, swiftly marking entries in the ledger.
The abacus clicked rapidly under her fingers, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
"Admiral, the accounts are sorted," Hancock said, putting down the quill and pushing the ledger toward Kane.
"The commission from the arms Doflamingo sent, plus the construction materials saved from Crocodile's Land Reclamation Project, and the transportation fees from Moria's logistics team..."
"This month's additional revenue for the G-5 Branch totals one hundred and twenty billion Berries."
"All deposited into your personal private account."
Kane took the ledger, flipped through a couple of pages casually, and tossed it aside.
He reached out and ruffled Hancock's hair.
"Well done. I'll add a chicken drumstick to your dinner tonight."
Hancock blushed at the head pat.
She twisted her hands together, bowing her head as she replied softly.
"It is my honor to be of service to you, Admiral."
The Den Den Mushi on the desk suddenly rang.
Kane withdrew his hand and picked up the receiver.
"Kane. The World Government orders you to immediately lead the G-5 fleet in a comprehensive purge of the Revolutionary Army in the New World."
Saint Saturn's raspy voice came through.
"The newly appointed Chief of CP0 will accompany the fleet to assist."
"You must bring Monkey D. Dragon's head back to Mary Geoise."
"Understood. The mission will be completed without fail. I will not disappoint the esteemed leaders." Kane's tone was firm and resolute as he hung up the phone.
He stroked his chin.
Fight the Revolutionary Army? Fight Dragon?
That was the "spark" he had personally nurtured.
That kid Dragon had been making quite a stir lately, his bounty soaring to nine billion.
The Revolutionary Army's expansion required money and weapons.
He just happened to have three hundred and fifty billion in funds, plus the Seastone Rifles being produced around the clock in Wano Country.
What a coincidence.
Kane pressed the internal communicator on his desk.
"Summon Gion."
Not long after, the office door was pushed open.
Gion entered briskly, wearing a sharp Navy Uniform, the Named Sword [Kumbhira] she treasured like a jewel hanging at her waist.
Her eyes shone with unconcealed delight and admiration as she walked in.
"Brother Kane, you called for me?" Gion stood at attention, her gaze burning as she stared at Kane's handsome face.
Kane pulled open a drawer, took out a lengthy list, and handed it to Gion.
"Take everything on this list from the base's underground armory before sunrise tomorrow and load it onto my flagship."
"Only the best goods."
Gion accepted the list with both hands, glanced down, and her beautiful eyes widened slightly.
"Ten thousand of Wano Country's latest model Seastone Rifles?"
"Fifty heavy howitzers?"
"Plus rations and medical supplies sufficient to equip fifty thousand men?"
Gion looked up at Kane in surprise.
"Brother Kane, are we going to wage a full-scale war against some great pirate?"
"We're going to fight the Revolutionary Army." Kane interlaced his fingers, resting his chin on them, his tone calm.
"This batch of goods was painstakingly produced by our own factories. We can't use them for free."
"Charge it directly to the fifty billion in Stability Maintenance Funds the World Government just approved for me."
"Allocate it at the 'internal cost' of the highest market price."
Moving from the left hand to the right.
Using the World Government's special funds to buy the weapons he produced himself.
These fifty billion were openly laundered into Kane's private treasury.
"Understood!"
"I will personally oversee this immediately. I guarantee everything will be loaded onto the ship before sunrise tomorrow!"
Gion stood ramrod straight, saluting with an extremely precise and energetic Navy salute.
Then, brimming with fervor and admiration, she turned and ran out, her high ponytail swinging through the air in a vibrant arc.
Three days later, at a temporary Revolutionary Army outpost.
In a clearing at the center of the island, tens of thousands of newly recruited soldiers stood densely packed.
They wore a motley assortment of clothes, holding crude weapons; some even carried farming tools.
But in each person's eyes, a fanatical flame burned.
On the high platform, Monkey D. Dragon stood facing the wind.
The hem of his dark green coat billowed in the breeze.
Ivankov stood beside him, holding a large Amplifying Den Den Mushi, shouting loudly.
"Dragon boy!"
"We are now strong and well-equipped! After our bounties increased, too many people have come to follow us!"
"Even several mafia families from the West Blue have sent people to contact us!"
Dragon crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.
He ignored Ivankov's clamor, recalling in his mind the words Kane had once taught him.
"Revolution is not a dinner party, not writing essays, not painting or embroidery."
"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."
Dragon took the Amplifying Den Den Mushi.
"Comrades!" Dragon's voice was deep and resonant, carrying across the entire area.
The crowd below instantly fell silent, everyone looking up at the world's most wanted criminal with a bounty of nine billion.
"The World Government calls us criminals, calls us rats!"
"They use high bounties to tempt the world into hunting us down!"
"But we know in our hearts that the real criminals are those Descendants of the Creators sitting atop the Red Line, treating people as slaves and goods!"
Dragon suddenly swung his arm, pointing toward the sky.
"We are not after treasure, not after power!"
"We fight so that there will be no more slaves on these seas, so that everyone can eat their fill, so that Justice will no longer be a fig leaf for the privileged class!"
The crowd erupted in roars.
"Overthrow the Celestial Dragons!"
"Establish a New World!"
Looking at the impassioned fighters, Dragon silently recited a name in his heart.
Mentor.
You are fighting alone within the Navy, using your own reputation and position to buy us time, and even sending us the funds and fame we need to develop.
I will never let down your painstaking efforts.
An intelligence officer scrambled onto the high platform, holding a report in his hand.
"Leader! Urgent military intelligence!"
"The Navy's G-5 Branch fleet is heading this way!"
"Leading them is Calamity Kane!"
The cheers below abruptly ceased.
A stir rippled through the crowd.
"Calamity Kane? That Navy attack dog who even dares to strike Celestial Dragons?"
"I heard he single-handedly destroyed one of our fleets to protect a Celestial Dragon!"
"He has three Rear Admirals under his command! Our tens of thousands here are nothing but a snack for them!"
Dragon raised his hand and pressed it downward.
The entire area fell silent again.
He turned his head, looking toward the sea.
From deep within the thick fog, the sound of warships cutting through the waves faintly echoed.
"Do not panic. All aboard the ships, prepare for battle."
Dragon took off his coat and threw it to Ivankov, striding down from the high platform.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "GoddessTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!