Above the East Blue, an island was moving.
This island was the one he had previously designated as a battlefield.
However, after the great battle, the island's ecosystem was completely destroyed, requiring at least ten years to recover.
Thus, Reddy repurposed the island as a means of transportation and built a wooden house on it.
"Dr. Reddy, did I make a mistake?"
Ark listlessly poked at a piece of meat on his plate with a fork.
"Why do you say that?"
Reddy chewed on a piece of meat he had just forked, speaking indistinctly as he asked.
Ark hesitated, then said dejectedly, "They all see me as a traitor, even Mia. It hurts."
"That depends on how you define a traitor."
After bringing Amazon Lily and Fish-Man Island to the East Blue, Reddy had been focused on accumulating energy, spending most of his days eating. He wasn't fully aware of the situation on the satellite island.
Moreover, researchers like Beal, who had gone to the island's school as teachers, hadn't mentioned Ark's predicament when they returned.
Now, hearing Ark's words, he realized the young man was lost in confusion.
If he couldn't find his way out, he might become completely disheartened.
"I really am a traitor."
Ark grew even more despondent. "I was supposed to follow you in creating that paradise, but in the end, I chose to join the Marines."
"That's it?"
Reddy couldn't help but laugh.
Creating an ideal world was his dream, not anyone else's.
If someone was willing to follow him in realizing that dream, he wouldn't object, but he also wouldn't demand that anyone join him in pursuing it.
Ark was confused, not understanding why Reddy seemed so indifferent.
Reddy smiled and asked in return, "Are you still working toward that paradise now?"
"Of course!"
Ark answered without hesitation.
Reddy shrugged. "Then that's enough. As long as you don't abandon your dream, no one can stop you from achieving it."
"Reddy-sama, what exactly is that paradise you speak of?"
Hearing this sudden interjection, Reddy was momentarily stunned before spotting Leo jumping onto the table.
"Leo?"
Reddy asked curiously, "When did you get here?"
Leo didn't want to discuss the topic, but under Reddy's intense gaze, he reluctantly admitted, "Princess Mansherry has gone crazy. She beats me at least three times a day. She's so unreasonable."
Reddy burst into laughter.
Typical blunt Leo. Anyone with a bit of perception could tell that Princess Mansherry was expressing her dissatisfaction with him in this way.
"This is my specially prepared Sea King steak."
Hancock, wearing an apron, placed a plate of steak drizzled with Amazon Lily's secret sauce in front of Reddy, then looked at him expectantly.
"Thank you."
Reddy only ate to accumulate energy and didn't care much about taste. After politely thanking her, he returned to gossiping about Leo and Princess Mansherry's complicated relationship.
Green Bit had also been brought to the East Blue.
However, unlike Amazon Lily and Fish-Man Island, Reddy had no particular need for the Tontatta Tribe. He simply wanted to ensure that no one could harm the innocent Tontattas.
Ark was bewildered.
Weren't we just talking about me?
Why are we gossiping now?
Hancock, failing to get the reaction she wanted from Reddy, sighed and returned to the kitchen, determined to use one of Elder Nyon's secret recipes to conquer Reddy's taste buds.
"Where were we?"
After satisfying his curiosity, Reddy turned his attention back to Ark. "Ah, right. We were saying that no one can stop you from achieving your dream."
"Once you've made a decision, there's no need to care about others' opinions."
"If you want to join the Marines, that's fine."
"As long as you haven't abandoned your dream, I support your choice."
Leo crossed his arms and nodded seriously in agreement with Reddy's words.
Just like how his current dream was to stay as far away as possible from the unreasonable Princess Mansherry, but everyone, including King Gancho, only wanted to laugh at his misery, so he had come to travel with Reddy.
Ark said dejectedly, "But I don't want to be misunderstood."
Reddy scoffed. "Do you think realizing your dream is child's play?"
Ark looked up in surprise.
He hadn't expected Reddy to mock him.
Reddy said coldly, "There's a saying from my homeland: you can't have your cake and eat it too. Tell me, what is your purpose in joining the Marines?"
Ark answered instinctively, "To grow stronger and help more people."
"I can also make you stronger, and they wouldn't see you as a traitor. Would you still choose to join the Marines then?"
"No, I'd still choose the Marines."
"Why?"
"Because joining the Marines lets me grow stronger and gives me a better position to convince others to accept my help."
As he spoke, Ark's expression grew firm.
During his time with Garp, he had noticed many details he'd previously overlooked and had thought deeply before deciding to join the Marines.
The Marines held the highest trust among civilians.
Most civilians instinctively trusted the Marines.
Especially after seeing how the World Government had slandered Reddy in the media, he witnessed the townspeople's rejection of Reddy.
Though after Reddy took over Loguetown, the residents' opinions shifted drastically, and they came to revere him.
But Loguetown alone wasn't enough.
He wanted to join the Marines, using their reputation to earn people's trust, then work to overturn the World Government's slander of Reddy and help more people accept Reddy's grand dream.
But he hadn't shared these thoughts with anyone.
Reddy suddenly smiled. "The path to realizing your dream is full of thorns. If you can't overcome even this small setback, don't talk about dreams. That would be an insult to the very idea."
Windmill Village
Garp, dressed casually, roared, "Luffy, get out here!"
"Mr. Garp, has Luffy caused trouble again?"
Makino, holding a basket of freshly washed clothes, smiled as she looked at Garp.
Garp grumbled, "That brat Ace sneaked out to become a pirate while I wasn't looking. Luffy absolutely cannot become a pirate. He must join the Marines."
Makino stifled a laugh.
Luffy had been shouting since childhood that he would become the Pirate King. Everyone in Windmill Village had heard it so often it was ingrained in their ears.
Yet ironically, Luffy's grandfather Garp was the Marine Hero.
"It's all Dadan and that Red-Haired bastard's fault!"
Garp's usual blame-shifting made Makino unable to hold back her laughter.
Similar conversations had been happening ever since Garp returned to Windmill Village.
Makino pointed toward the shore. "I saw Luffy heading that way this morning. I heard he's building a boat to set sail."
Garp clenched his fist. "I'll make sure that brat understands there's no future in being a pirate..."
Mid-sentence, his expression turned serious as he looked up at the sky.
Makino followed his gaze and gasped in shock.
An island… flying in the sky?