The dragon's figure appeared.
Klar and Sabo snapped to attention, turning serious as they called out to their Commander-in-Chief.
Dragon nodded.
"No need for such formality."
He walked a couple of steps, stopping beside them and gazing down at the pirates training below.
"As the future Chief of Staff, what are your thoughts on the current state and future of the Revolutionary Army?"
Dragon, it seemed, was grasping at straws...
With the uneven quality of their bases and Revolutionary Army soldiers, there was nothing he could do for now.
All he could do was try to gather more steadfast seeds of the Revolution, cultivate them, and prepare for the unexpected.
But the root of the problem remained unsolved.
Sabo thought for a moment.
"Let's collect evidence of their crimes first."
Dragon looked at Sabo.
"Oh?"
Sabo spoke with confidence.
"You haven't been yourself lately, and it's because of this, isn't it?"
"We've developed too quickly, leading to inconsistent personnel. These children are being prepared for the future."
"Because if something like that happens, we will surely fall into chaos."
"And if we can't control it, we might collapse on our own before the government even acts."
"So the children below are the contingency."
"At a critical moment, we can purge the rot and promote them."
"Though it will be a severe blow, we won't collapse."
Dragon seemed lost in thought, then nodded.
"Indeed."
Sabo continued.
"Because of the fear of purging, people below might become disaffected, but there's actually no need for that."
"You underestimate your own influence. As long as we gather sufficient evidence of those corrupt elements' crimes."
"Everyone will stand by your side."
"As the beacon of hope for this world, you underestimate your own impact too much."
Dragon was slightly taken aback.
"Is that so..."
Looking at Sabo, Dragon suddenly chuckled.
"You truly are an excellent Chief of Staff."
Sabo smiled bashfully and turned to Klar.
"See that!"
------------------------
In the East Blue, on an unnamed island.
Smoke curled lazily from the chimneys in a small village.
Villagers, having finished a day's labor, sat in small groups by the fields, resting before heading home for dinner.
The elder village chief, looking at the lush green sprouts in the field, remarked,
"It's wonderful. This year will surely be another bountiful harvest."
A young man beside him chuckled.
"Is that really true, Village Chief?"
The village chief snorted.
"I've been farming here my whole life. I can tell if it will be a good harvest or not."
"With just a glance. You young whippersnapper, you doubt me."
The young man said,
"Village Chief, did you ever go out when you were young?"
The village chief paused.
"Go out? Where?"
The young man's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Go out to sea!"
"The Marines! Pirates! The Great Treasure! And mermaids mentioned in the newspapers!!!"
"They all sound so amazing."
"I really want to see them."
The village chief shook his head.
"What's so good about all that?"
"Your Uncle Reya's eldest son, because he became a Marine when he was young."
"They never even found his body, only a letter was sent back."
"Pirates are like mountain bandits, you understand?"
"Not long ago, Kore Town was ransacked by mountain bandits, hundreds died."
"As for the Great Treasure and mermaids, they're all fabricated stories, just to pass the time."
"How could such things exist?"
"At least I haven't seen any in my sixty-odd years."
The young man looked a bit disappointed.
"Ah—"
"Is that so."
The village chief stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants.
"Don't think about useless things. Work hard, that's what matters."
"Don't keep reading those newspapers, they're no good and a waste of money."
He turned and called to the resting villagers.
"Let's go, let's go! Everyone head home for dinner!"
Across the Four Seas... such backward places are everywhere.
Civilization's progress seemed to have come to a standstill.
Many people lived their entire lives within their small villages, learning about the world only through snippets from newspapers.
They would discuss unfamiliar things as if they were mere stories from the papers.
A stark contrast to the world-destroying powerhouses.
The Marines, Pirates, Revolutionary Army, the New World, the Great Treasure, the power struggles of various factions – who controlled the world was of no concern to them.
They were the majority in this world...
Occupying ninety percent of the world's population... ordinary people.
------------------------
In the New World, Punk Hazard, Dragon Lock Valley.
Enel led Rosinante and Law here.
"We've arrived."
This valley, where Kaido had been suppressed by Sakazuki, was the most suitable place for sparring.
Law was awestruck as he gazed at the solidified magma black monument.
"Dragon Lock Valley..."
Enel smiled.
"This is where one of the Four Emperors, Kaido, was suppressed."
"It was here that a considerable amount of Azure Dragon flesh and material was collected."
"How about it, kid?"
"Impressive, isn't it?"
Law looked at Enel and scoffed.
"You didn't do it, so why are you so proud?"
"This strong smell of sulfur and the heat..."
"It must be Admiral Sakazuki, right?"
Enel's eyebrows rose. *You'll be crying later...*
"You guessed correctly."
"Come on, let's see the results of your training."
He stood in place, a wicked smile on his face, casually hooking his index finger.
Law gritted his teeth, *That damn lightning bastard...*
He drew the short sword at his waist with his right hand and extended his left, pointing it at the ground.
A semi-transparent dome erupted and expanded from between them.
"Room!!!"
The light membrane enclosed an area of a hundred meters around them.
Enel crossed his arms, watching Law's performance, and smirked provocatively.
Law snorted, flipped his left hand into a fist, extended his index finger, and hooked it towards Enel...
The ground beneath Enel split into several sections, lifting him into the air. The chunks of earth bombarded Enel, forming a massive sphere of compressed earth.
Inside, Enel felt the crushing force and clicked his tongue.
"What the hell... Isn't this Sutor's ability?"
"This is possible too??"