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"This group of people is just my fishing bait!" Arashi said with a laugh.
Although he was laughing, Kizaru could see a trace of anticipation and excitement in his eyes.
At the same time, his heart was shocked by Arashi's words. What kind of joke was this?
Although the strength of the Straw Hat crew had indeed grown considerably compared to two years ago, to say they could pose a threat to someone like Arashi was too absurd.
"Fishing bait? How scary," Kizaru said.
He took the Straw Hat crew seriously, but that did not mean he believed they possessed the power to challenge Arashi, let alone the Marines. At best, they were just a scattered group of pirates.
"So, do you have any new leads on their movements?"
Arashi asked with a smile. His expression was casual, as if he were not concerned about the matter.
"Lucci is arranging for people to track them down quickly," Kizaru said.
"The Marines' intelligence network now covers every corner of the New World. I believe we will have clues very soon."
"You can handle this matter," Arashi said with a faint smile.
"What about the World Government? Any new movements?" Kizaru's expression tightened slightly, and he then lowered his voice.
"Recently, they seem to have increased the pressure on the nations in the alliance. The World Government's allied forces are also expanding at an extremely fast rate. Perhaps," he paused, "they will soon be unable to resist making a move against us."
The smile on Arashi's face faded, and he replied faintly, "That day will come sooner or later!" Kizaru's eyes narrowed.
"Yes, it will come sooner or later! It will truly be a terrifying battle!" Arashi fell silent.
It was foreseeable that it would be the decisive battle for the world! And it would come with incredible suddenness.
Perhaps, when you imagined a tomorrow as quiet as any other day, war would suddenly erupt.
Everything the Marines had done in the past two years was in preparation for this war.
Likewise, the World Government was also actively organizing its allied forces to counter the Marines' power.
The total number of troops in the current Marine forces, combined with those from around the world, was approaching ten million.
Their sphere of influence covered the entire globe. Compared to a scale like this, the Straw Hat Pirates' strength could be called utterly insignificant, not enough to even make a splash.
"When will Vegapunk's operation to repair Pluton be finished?" Arashi murmured to himself.
He was waiting for the completion of Pluton and was very much looking forward to the power of this Ancient Weapon.
Right now, he could be said to have two Ancient Weapons in his hands.
One was naturally Pluton, and the other was the princess of Fish-Man Island, of the Ryugu Kingdom.
When the final war arrived, he would not hesitate to use these two weapons.
The very moment Pluton was repaired, he would personally announce the beginning of the final battle.
Looking up again, he saw that Kizaru's face was now incredibly grim and unsightly. "What's wrong with you?" Arashi asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing!" Kizaru said with some difficulty.
He knew very well that the man before him was the person who most wanted Pluton to be repaired, and he could foresee that when that Ancient Weapon was successfully restored, the first shot would inevitably be fired by him.
That shot would also be the first shot of the world's decisive battle! He truly hoped that day would never come! Isn't life in the Marines as good as it is now?
Why did this guy have to insist on starting a great war? Suddenly, he remembered something else, and his expression instantly became grave.
"Urgent intelligence from Lucci. A figure suspected to be the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon, has appeared on Lulusia Island!"
Arashi's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Hahaha, the fish has come to the bait!"
.....
--It was the year 1524 of the Sea Circle Calendar, in the Lulusia Kingdom--
Looking at this kingdom from the sea, one could see vast stretches of green jungle, but the sky above the island was shrouded in dark, dense clouds, making it seem somewhat gloomy.
Strictly speaking, this was not a prosperous nation. It was rife with internal conflicts and had a sluggish economy.
Previously, the royal family had to exhaust all means to scrape together the Heavenly Tribute.
Now, although they no longer had to worry about the Heavenly Tribute after siding with the Marines, the kingdom had become restless again due to the royal family's change in attitude toward the commoners and the nobles' oppression of them.
It could be said that acts of bullying and riots broke out daily. The decrees issued by the Marines were not being properly implemented on this island.
The King of Lulusia, after being freed from the pressure of the Celestial Dragons, seemed to have undergone some transformation.
He had become increasingly brutal, greedy, and ambitious. After the Twenty-Nation Conference ended, the Lulusia Kingdom received the protection of the Marines, but the king refused to allow the Marines to land.
Because of this, even now, there is still no Marine base on the island. Because of the Marines' mercy, the people of the Lulusia Kingdom lived in increasing poverty, leading to numerous uprisings and brawls.
Amidst the surging undercurrents, another force was vaguely brewing and gathering within this nation.
The Royal Army had recently discovered that the actions of the commoner armies were becoming increasingly organized and disciplined, and they were feeling the pressure.
A small town named Asia on the southwest side of the island had already been lost.
At this moment, inside the Lulusia royal palace.
"Damn it, this mob dares to resist the royal family! How many sacrifices did we nobles make for them in the past, to pay the Heavenly Tribute and prevent the World Government from destroying this kingdom?"
"We even only ate meat for five months a year, and our clothes were only mixed with a small amount of gold thread!"
"At which World Conference were we not ridiculed by the other nobles? For how many years has the royal family suffered grievances?"
"Now that our lives have finally gotten a little better, what's wrong with them suffering a little? We only took some of their food, clothes, and money! They dare to organize an army to resist us! Who taught them this? Who is so bold!"
The old king roared in fury, his face flushed red. The crown on his head was askew from his anger.
The ministers below trembled, not daring to make a sound. The square-jawed captain of the guard standing to one side sighed.
After the Twenty-Nation Conference, he had thought the common people of this kingdom would live a good life from then on, but unfortunately, he had been wrong.
The old king had become brutal and greedy. He wanted to take back from the commoners everything he had lost and given away in the past.
This led to even greater suffering for the kingdom's populace. Now, the regime of this kingdom is in a precarious state.
Its internal situation was even more outrageous and unbelievable than the Marines outside understood.
There were rebels in almost every city, and the commoners even occupied some small towns.
Others were occupied by rogue pirates who had landed on their shores. In such a complex situation, the common people had no security at all.
It truly proved the saying: when the state thrives, the people suffer; when the state falls, the people suffer!
All the glory, wealth, beauty, and happiness were enjoyed only by the ruling class at the top.
"Father, I believe that under these circumstances, we should report our country's situation to Dressrosa! The pirates, the rebel army, their strength is already beyond what the Royal Army can withstand!"
At this moment, the prince of the Lulusia Kingdom gritted his teeth and stepped forward to speak. His words made the ministers all look up at him.
Compared to the increasingly brutal and greedy old king, His Highness the Prince still had benevolence in his heart.
Everyone knew very well that only by handing power over to the Marines could the common people of this kingdom live a good life.
Just look at the other nineteen countries that participated in the conference; they had all now integrated with Dressrosa, enjoying the convenient Sea Train, and had established Marine academies and bases.
In comparison, the Lulusia Kingdom was the most insecure nation.
"Shut up! It's only been a few days of good living, and you already want to hand it over to the Marines? How foolish!"
But the prince's words were met with a torrent of curses from the old king, who then flew into an even greater rage, smashing many things.
"But!" The prince's face was grim. He knew very well that if the current situation was allowed to continue, what awaited the Lulusia Kingdom was destruction.
"No buts! Don't you understand what we will face once the Marines set foot in this nation? Look at the other nineteen countries!"
"The Marines, with their concept of absolute equal justice, bring absolute destruction to the royal family and the nobility!"
"At that time, you will no longer have beef, mutton, or fish to eat, no clothes or accessories inlaid with gold thread, precious metals, or gems."
"Everything you have now will be taken away from you! If you break the law, you will be guilty of the same crime as a commoner!"
As the old king spoke, fear and anger appeared in his eyes. "Heavens, can you imagine it? What a foolish and terrifying situation that would be! It would be a disaster for royalty and nobility!"
The loud voice echoed in the royal hall. The prince and the ministers stared blankly at the king before the throne, who seemed to have gone mad, their faces filled with disbelief.
"But," the prince murmured, "isn't a world like that a good thing?"
He seemed, however, to be faintly understanding his father's thoughts, so his words were barely audible.
At the same time, this prince, who had personally set foot in Dressrosa and had admired and envied the lives of the common people in the new Marine Headquarters kingdom, could now faintly sense the coming destruction of his own country.
In the southwest corner, in the small town named Asia.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!" The fierce wind blew across the scattered rooftops, kicking up a cloud of dust.
On the streets below, figures in disheveled clothes but with strong auras could be seen. They stood there quietly, as if waiting for something.
Suddenly, a flock of black crows appeared in the sky, flapping their wings as they flew this way.
The crows flew in perfect unison, and when they were above the crowd, they suddenly transformed into a black mist.
Then, a human figure emerged from within the mist. "It's the North Army's commander, Lord Karasu!" someone below exclaimed.
Following that, figures appeared from the southeast, west, and north directions of the town.
"It's the West Army's commander, Lord Morley!"
"The South Army's commander, Lindbergh! And finally, the East Army's commander, Belo Betty!"
When all four figures appeared and stood before the crowd, everyone became invigorated and extremely excited. "All four army commanders have appeared!"
"A major operation, this is a major operation!" "Are we going to conquer the Lulusia Kingdom?"
"That's right, the common people in this nation have suffered enough, they've endured to their limits. This is the most opportune moment."
"Then, all that's left is that person!"
A tense voice, tinged with a slight tremble, spoke up. Everyone raised their heads, looking up at the sky with a strange expression in their eyes.
The four army commanders also fell silent at this moment, looking up at the overcast sky.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!"
The wind grew stronger, and the large trees on both sides of the street shook violently. Suddenly, the wind swirled dust and sand in the sky, and lightning flickered.
A human figure had appeared at some unknown time on the roof of the building directly in front of them.
"Where will the winds of fate blow this country?" A deep voice, carried by the wind, reached everyone's ears, bringing a look of excitement and thrill to their faces.
"Hee-haw! Dragon, you're finally here!" a very tall person with a large face and a purple afro shouted from below.
"Does this mean our operation is about to begin?" The figure on the roof, completely shrouded in a cloak and hood, heard this, slowly turned around, lifted the hood from his head, and revealed a smile.
"Ivankov, you can't rush a good thing! Doing things requires patience!" This figure had a distinct mark on his face.
He looked mature and steady, and his words were filled with a convincing, powerful force.
"Commander-in-Chief! It's Dragon!"
"Is the Commander-in-Chief also participating in this operation? That's wonderful!" A wave of excited voices immediately erupted, echoing through the streets.
Following closely behind Dragon, another figure strode out, smiling as he scanned everyone present.
"It seems everyone is already prepared!" Ivankov laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha, Sabo, you look like you're in high spirits. Have you already seen Luffy and Ace?"
Hearing this, Sabo nodded emphatically, an excited expression on his face. "I have, and we agreed to meet on Lulusia Island. Counting the time, they should be arriving here soon!"
The smile on Ivankov's face grew even wider. "That's great! With their help in this operation, our chances of success will be even higher! Even if the Marines send people, there won't be any problems."
At the mention of the word "Marines," Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly. He leaped down from the roof and landed in front of the four army commanders.
"Karasu, is there anything unusual about the Marines' recent activities?"
Karasu's eyes focused. "They seem to have already cast their gaze upon this island."
"According to rumors, the Marines have an elite squad responsible for gathering intelligence from all over the world, and they will take the initiative to strike and eliminate all enemies."
"It's called the SWORD squad. In the Battle of Onigashima back then, it was this squad that arrived first! Right now, we should pay close attention to the movements of this squad."
Dragon's expression became serious. "The SWORD squad, you say?"
Then, he suddenly smiled. "It seems it used to be led by the old man himself! That's something you really can't ignore!"
Karasu nodded, his face heavy. "That's right, it was personally led by the Marine Hero, Garp!"
"At the same time, the highest commanders of this team were former Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Staff Officer Tsuru!"
Hearing this information, Ivankov's eyes widened. "Dragon! Your old man, plus Sengoku and Tsuru, that was the best golden trio of their time!"
Dragon smiled. "The old man retired last year. He shouldn't lead the current SWORD. But as for which powerhouse in the Marines it is, that's unclear."
At this, his expression also became solemn.
For Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru to be able to retire peacefully and no longer be responsible for the elite-backed SWORD squad, their successor, the second-generation leader, was likely no small matter.
"Keep a constant watch on the Marines' movements! Even if the SWORD squad is already on Lulusia Island, they are merely the Marines' vanguard."
"Compared to them, the large-scale Marine army is the most terrifying!" Dragon said in a deep voice.
"Yes!" Karasu nodded. "Are our sleeper agents distributed throughout this kingdom all ready?" Dragon then asked.
"Everything is ready. Everyone is waiting for the Commander-in-Chief's order. They have all taken up positions as leaders and officers of the rebel army."
"As long as they act in unison, they can overthrow the Lulusia royal family in a short amount of time!" said the East Army's commander, Belo Betty.
"Good!" Dragon nodded, his eyes flashing. "Wait for Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates to land. Once we rendezvous, we will begin the operation immediately!"
This sentence made the army commanders' eyes light up, and they all shouted in unison, "Yes!"
After the Battle of Onigashima, they had successively overthrown the tyrannical regimes of many countries around the world and had absorbed a great deal of strength.
The Lulusia Kingdom was their next target. The only difficulty and difference was that this kingdom, on the surface, belonged to the Marines' sphere of influence. Still, in reality, their investigation had revealed that the relationship between the royal family and the Marines was not so harmonious.
After the Twenty-Nation Conference, the Lulusia Kingdom was the biggest loophole among them.
The town of Asia, a remote town in the Lulusia Kingdom, was, on this day, bearing what could be described as historic pressure.
Three days later, the Whitebeard Pirates landed on the southwest corner. After crossing through vast stretches of jungle, they entered the town.
The town was quiet. The common people were living and working in peace, chatting on the streets, and doing farm work.
From the outside, it was impossible to imagine that this was a base where the Revolutionary Army had gathered.
Ace and the others entered the town, scanning left and right, but found nothing unusual.
"According to the agreement, this is the place. Are the revolutionaries hiding here?"
Quiet conversation began as Marco and the others suspiciously observed their surroundings, appearing somewhat cautious.
The group slowly walked into the town center but found nothing unusual. Suddenly, Ace's head shot up, and he looked ahead.
"It's time to show yourselves, Revolutionary Army!"
He shouted, his gaze fixed on the end of the street. "Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo!"
A great wind gusted up, and before the astonished eyes of Marco and the others, a human figure appeared abruptly.
"The Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army! The World's Worst Criminal! Monkey D. Dragon!" A solemn voice came from behind Ace.
The figure ahead, shrouded in a cloak and hood, had a composed yet powerful aura.
It was the legendary leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon! In terms of fame, he was even greater than their own old man, Whitebeard!
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