"As for the user of the Melt-Melt Fruit, there's no lead on them for now. We'll send them over once they're found."
Sakura nodded. "Understood, Mr. Carroll."
Lilith, her eyes full of curiosity, took the fruit. She then presented the Slow-Slow Fruit. "Is this the fruit that can emit unknown particles?"
Carroll chuckled. "Unknown or not, I don't know, but its light can indeed slow people down several times over."
"Mmm... how magical."
Lilith, holding the fruit, turned to walk towards the experimental bench.
However, Sakura snatched it away. "Don't mess with it, Lilith."
"Wait until the main body gets back to handle it."
Lilith's face flushed with annoyance. "That'll take half the day!!!"
Carroll shook his head, looking at the two of them. "Alright, I'm leaving now."
"Please send my regards to Professor Vegapunk."
Sakura quickly turned around. "Understood, Mr. Carroll."
Carroll smiled.
*Swish—*
He vanished from his spot...
------------
Late at night.
Vegapunk yawned as he and Enel walked into the underground research facility.
"There's still not enough time."
Enel, hands behind his head, casually followed Vegapunk. "Aren't two clones enough?"
Vegapunk sighed and shook his head. "I feel like even ten wouldn't be enough."
Enel chuckled helplessly and said nothing.
He casually greeted Sakura and Lilith, then noticed the Devil Fruits on the table.
"Brother Carroll has already been here."
Sakura said, "Yes, after Mr. Carroll delivered these Devil Fruits, he rested for a bit and then left."
Enel picked up a few Devil Fruits and looked at their labels. "Heat-Heat... Iron... missing the Melt-Melt Fruit."
"But with the Baku-Baku Fruit, we can start construction now."
Vegapunk walked over and looked at the Devil Fruits. "Indeed."
"With these fruits, it'll be much more convenient."
"We can start gathering materials."
Lilith, standing nearby, interrupted. "Hey! Hey! Main body!"
"Let's research this first!"
Holding up the Slow-Slow Fruit, Lilith exclaimed, "This contains unknown light particles!!!!"
-----------
Holy Land, Marie Geoise.
The tall Elder of the Five Elders looked at the secret report.
"Are you certain?"
The sword-wielding Elder of the Five Elders spoke. "We're mostly sure."
"It's just that there's no direct evidence."
"A few photos can't definitively prove his guilt."
The curly-haired Elder of the Five Elders scoffed. "Ridiculous."
"As the king of a member nation, he's colluding with the Revolutionary Army."
"He's digging his own grave."
The muscular Elder of the Five Elders said, "If that's the case... then the Queen Dowager of the Sorbel Kingdom."
"Her world travels were a cover for him, weren't they?"
The blonde Elder of the Five Elders chimed in. "Most likely. After all, he's her son."
"With the Queen Dowager traveling the world, it's natural for her son, Bartholomew Kuma, to accompany her."
"So, a few photos aren't enough to convict him."
"Even if we threw the photos in their faces, they could easily come up with an excuse about where they disembarked, coincidences, and so on."
"After all, they're all from behind or in profile."
The sword-wielding Elder of the Five Elders frowned. "This is troublesome..."
"And these are just the ones we've discovered."
"What about the ones we haven't?"
The curly-haired Elder of the Five Elders shook his head. "This guy is an anomaly."
"The disposition of the so-called kings of the world's nations is well-known."
"Let's gather evidence first."
"The Sorbel Kingdom, after generations of rule, has excellent public standing in the South Blue."
"It's also one of the leading nations in the South Blue, so there are too many entanglements."
The sword-wielding Elder of the Five Elders said, "That's the only way..."
"But we still need to investigate thoroughly."
"There are quite a few individuals with such high public standing."
"Like that traitorous clan..."
The curly-haired Elder of the Five Elders narrowed his eyes. "Indeed..."
------------
The Grand Line, Balidego.
The sky-high sandstorms swirled here day after day.
While monotonous, it was a good place to reflect on life if one could quiet their mind.
On the rooftop of the Revolutionary Army Headquarters.
Dragon stood by the railing, lost in thought, gazing at the swirling sand.
*Tap-tap-tap—*
Footsteps approached from behind.
Bartholomew Kuma walked over. "What are you thinking about?"
Dragon's senses returned, and he sighed softly. "The future."
Though his words were calm, Kuma detected a slight unease.
Kuma asked with some confusion, "This isn't like you."
"What happened?"
"Why are you suddenly recalling our forces?"
Dragon considered for a moment, then shook his head. "How much do you know about the World Government?"
Kuma's brow furrowed. "Not much. I've always hated the government."
"My knowledge of government affairs is limited."
"But I can ask Mother."
"She should know something."
"What aspect do you want to know about?"
Dragon looked into the distance. "Queen Kony..."
He shook his head. "Never mind."
"It's nothing, really. It's just a lack of a breakthrough."
"A breakthrough that can overcome the government's suppression."
Kuma was somewhat silent. A breakthrough, huh...
Dragon's eyes narrowed as he pondered a way out of their predicament in the distance.
Ever since the call from Marineford, that dense network of bases...
It had sent a cold sweat down his spine.
The government's intelligence capabilities were this formidable.
His mind had been a chaotic mess these past few days, searching for a breakthrough.
No one is a god who foresees everything.
Even their idol, the omnipotent Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon.
He too had moments of helplessness.
The Revolutionary Army's development had reached a bottleneck. Although they could still barely maintain their current state,
Their scale was too large. If they didn't vent outward and relieve internal pressure, they would explode from within and self-destruct.
Therefore, the plan to incite a world revolution at the next World Conference could not be stopped.
Yet, the World Government's foundation, revealed just a sliver, was already enough to destroy nearly half of the Revolutionary Army's bases worldwide.
Although those bases were varied, some he hadn't even heard of and only discovered through investigation,
This indicated a significant problem. Dragon was also reflecting on this issue.
Ultimately, with so many people, it was no longer possible to oversee the entire picture...
Because the Revolutionary Army's influence was now too vast, and its people too numerous.
It had reached a point where, even if Dragon didn't act, the Revolutionary Army in the four seas would push him forward.
This was the so-called general trend...
Now, Dragon could only stand at the forefront, doing his best to adjust their direction...
Before the world revolution began, he needed to find a breakthrough, a breakthrough against the government's formidable foundation...
------------
Several days later.
The Grand Line, on a warship.
Sakazuki, looking at the recent data on the Revolutionary Army transferred from headquarters, frowned slightly.
"Why have they suddenly become so quiet..."