The world's development has not stopped with the passage of time.
The speed of change is astonishing...
South Blue.
As the headquarters sea area of the Revolutionary Army, the offensive here is unusually rapid compared to the other three seas.
Kingdom of Arata, Port.
It has long been occupied by spontaneously rebelling farmers and Revolutionary Army informants.
While resisting the continuous waves of the Kingdom's army, they are also preparing to welcome the arrival of the Revolutionary Army.
Inside the Royal Palace.
Compared to the fighting outside.
It was also unusually busy. King Derrick commanded the guards:
"Move that in too!"
"Right! And that oil painting, it's a masterpiece by a great artist, be careful!!"
As he loaded valuable items onto the long line of carts, he said with some complaint to the members of the CP organization dressed in black suits:
"What's going on with the World Government?"
"To give up just like that, damn it..."
"My royal palace..."
"Those lowly people had better take good care of it, or they'll regret it."
He gazed longingly at the magnificent royal palace that had been renovated less than two months ago.
A leading CP member said with a slight apology on his face:
"Apologies, King Derrick."
"These Revolutionary Army scoundrels have stirred up rebellion in all four seas, and the Government is powerless to intervene."
"However, the Revolutionary Army's headquarters is almost located."
"Once we deal with them decisively, you can dispose of these lowly people however you wish."
King Derrick snorted coldly:
"I hope so."
"Alright, that's about it."
"Let's go."
"I must have a good talk with the Five Elders..."
Saying this, he walked towards the royal convoy escorted by a group of CP organization members.
The carts filled with treasure, however, sped off on another road, heading towards the government's rendezvous ships on the backside of the island.
Meanwhile.
Shortly after the royal convoy departed, it stopped.
King Derrick poked his head out in confusion:
"What's..."
Before he could finish, he was grabbed by the collar and pulled out by the leading CP member.
*Thwack*
A three-pronged pitchfork, commonly used by farmers, pierced Derrick's chest.
Derrick's face was filled with disbelief as he weakly raised a finger:
"You..."
The CP member indifferently pulled it out with force, leaving Derrick lying on the ground, his pupils dilating, barely breathing:
"Let's finish this quickly."
Before the guards ahead could react, the CP members escorting the entire royal convoy suddenly attacked, all drawing farmer's tools.
In a short while, the entire royal convoy was massacred, not a single soul left...
Then, they threw the bodies of the royal family members onto the carts and sped back to the royal palace, discarding them in various locations before hastily retreating.
A long time later.
A snow-white cloud descended from the sky. Sabo landed and consolidated his form, looking at the empty royal palace and the massacred royal family members:
"Damn it..."
"I'm late again."
A look of distress appeared on his face.
The World Government always managed to time their actions perfectly.
They always massacred the royal family and plundered their treasures just before the Revolutionary Army arrived.
It wasn't that they hadn't captured any, but those individuals would commit suicide immediately, and no matter how they tried to predict the Revolutionary Army's movements, they couldn't extract any information.
Furthermore, no one believed it was the government's doing; how could allies harm them?
Now, the World Government was using the Revolutionary Army's offensive as a pretext to purge the affiliated countries in the four seas, and the Revolutionary Army had to take the blame.
Sabo ran his hands through his hair in frustration, looking up at the sky helplessly:
"Ah—"
"What is going on..."
He transformed into a gust of wind and snow and ascended into the sky, realizing this matter needed to be investigated...
He had already taken the blame for the government quite a few times. These affiliated countries were desperately resisting because of the Revolutionary Army's constant pattern of annihilation.
This wouldn't do...
Although it wasn't a major problem, being inexplicably blamed for something like this was extremely annoying...
----------
South Blue, Bang'gu Island.
Inside the temporary headquarters meeting room.
Dragon listened to Sabo's report and also frowned deeply.
He had noticed this problem for some time. He had even divided into several attack routes, with each person in charge receiving separate orders.
Yet, the government still managed to slaughter the royal family and abscond with their treasures in advance.
It couldn't be that the high command of the Revolutionary Army were all double agents.
Especially since one attack order was personally issued by him... was he himself a double agent?
That would be a joke...
Dragon pressed his temples and sighed faintly:
"I understand."
"You may go about your business, I will find a solution..."
However, he didn't have any good solutions, really. After much thought, he decided to seek help from Vegapunk.
If the government possessed precognitive abilities, this war would be unwinnable...
He had a vague feeling that something was amiss somewhere...
----------
New World, Egghead Island.
In the secret laboratory in the clouds.
After hearing Dragon's account, Vegapunk's brows furrowed:
"You mean to say..."
"Even the orders you personally issued were discovered by the government in advance?"
Dragon's steady voice came from the other end:
"That's right."
Vegapunk's mouth twitched as he heard this, and he instinctively pulled the Den Den Mushi further away.
If the people weren't compromised, then there was no need to guess; the Den Den Mushi must have been bugged.
Fortunately, Egghead Island's equipment was encrypted, and the government's technology couldn't track them here, but it was still frustrating...
Pirates relied on individual strength, while the Revolutionary Army relied on an industrialized technological explosion.
To fight against the Navy and the Government, which had long entered the information age, it seemed like child's play...
After all, the limitations of this era were here. Who would have thought that Den Den Mushi could be bugged? Even if they were told, would they believe it...?
Even if they believed it, they couldn't crack it...
Vegapunk sighed:
"If you have enough funds."
"Replace your Den Den Mushi."
"It's highly likely the Den Den Mushi has been bugged..."
Dragon was silent for a long time:
"Bugged?"
Vegapunk chuckled wryly and shook his head:
"Yes, it means exactly what it says."
"You'd best replace all your Den Den Mushi."
"The government likely stumbled upon a bugged Den Den Mushi by chance, and then followed the lead, uncovering a whole network..."
This world is not small, and the number of Den Den Mushi is in the tens of millions.
Precisely bugging the Revolutionary Army's Den Den Mushi is almost impossible, the workload is too great.
The only possibility is that by chance, they bugged one, and then, following the trail, continuously uncovered the Den Den Mushi frequencies within the Revolutionary Army, and then monitored them all.
Dragon took a deep breath:
"Thank you..."
Vegapunk sighed faintly:
"You're welcome."
"Oh, and here's something else for you."
"The technology for warships capable of traversing the Calm Belt..."
Sakazuki had assigned it, but there hadn't been a suitable opportunity to give it to them, but isn't this just the right time...?
--------
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima.
After several days, Charlotte Linlin finally arrived in Wano Country.
Upon seeing King immediately, she forgot the main reason for her visit:
"mamamama~"
"Since Kaido is useless anyway, join me."
"My country is actually missing three races."
"Although one of them might have disappeared into the river of history..."
"But you're still alive..."