"What!?"
Ivankov flipped in through the window and snatched the wanted poster.
His expression immediately darkened. With his large face, the pressure was palpable.
"The World Government moved... this fast?"
"Just for interfering in the Sorbet Kingdom's civil war, and we're already wanted?"
Michael took the wanted poster back from Ivankov and placed it on the table.
Right now, all the core members of the Freedom Fighters were gathered in this room.
"Don't be naive. The World Government had its eyes on your Freedom Fighters long ago. It's just that until now, you were only organizing marches and protests, so they didn't bother."
"But now, you've changed your approach. You've used force to overthrow a member nation of the World Government, cutting into the 'Heavenly Tribute'. That's something they definitely won't tolerate."
"But you're lucky. In terms of what they 'won't tolerate,' you're still pretty low on the list." Michael tapped the wanted poster on the table. "Otherwise, Dragon's bounty wouldn't be as low as just one billion."
Michael's words were like a bucket of cold water over the heads of the Freedom Fighters's officers. And once their overheated minds cooled down, he poured them a bowl of hot soup.
Even Dragon had underestimated the situation.
They had thought that overthrowing the Sorbet Kingdom meant they could repeat this method in every nation under tyrannical rule.
But in truth, the Sorbet Kingdom was just beginner-level.
If it hadn't been for the kingdom capturing Ginny and Kuma's friends to threaten Kuma, he could've probably wiped out the entire Sorbet Kingdom by himself.
And that's Kuma, who even now only knew how to rescue people and hadn't learned many combat techniques.
Michael scanned the room, noting that all the Freedom Fighters officers had fallen into silence.
"Alright, alright, why are you all looking like someone died?" Michael clapped his hands. "But lucky you—because I'm here!"
"...I've been meaning to ask," Ginny suddenly snapped out of it. "Why is this Marine standing here with that 'I'm on your side' look on his face?"
That one question snapped everyone else back to attention.
But Michael remained perfectly calm, patting Dragon on the shoulder as he spoke:
"Why am I standing here?"
"Because what I seek, at its core, is no different from what the Freedom Fighters seeks."
"You want to overthrow the World Government and create a new order."
"And I want the Celestial Dragons and the World Government to be completely and utterly destroyed. To achieve that, I'll stop at nothing. I'll unite every force that can be united..."
Dragon stiffened suddenly, murmuring:
"Unite every force that can be united?"
Michael nodded without hesitation.
"Exactly! That's the first step of the revolution! The first step of the Revolutionary Army!"
"Revolutionary Army?"
"Don't you think the name 'Freedom Fighters' doesn't quite fit anymore?"
Michael spread his wings, feet slowly rising off the ground.
"This world, under the rule of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, has rotted completely. There's no curing it—only tearing it down and rebuilding it anew."
"I know some pirates who are as noble as the finest knights. And I know some Marines who are as wicked as the cruelest villains."
"Unite every force we can. Let us become the torch that lights the road to revolution!"
"'How heroic are those willing to sacrifice, daring to change the very sun and moon!'"
"Today, on Sorbet's soil, we've ignited the first spark."
"And now... the fire is ready to spread!"
With that, Michael stretched out his arms.
He smiled at the officers of the Freedom Fighters.
"How about starting a revolution with me?"
...
"Hey! Everyone hurry to Sorbet's main square! There's a victory celebration tonight!"
"They said everyone! Put down your work for now and join in!"
"And tonight, Leader Dragon has an important announcement to make!"
The messengers of the Freedom Fighters were running through the streets, spreading the word.
Civilians and Freedom Fighters members alike set down their tools, gathered their families, and made their way to the main square of Sorbet.
The square was already piled high with food and wine—Kuma and Ginny had gone out to buy it that afternoon.
"Everyone!"
"Come grab a seat!"
With a shout from Ginny, the local boss, people sat down around the bonfires, right on the ground.
There was no separation between civilians and the Freedom Fighters—they sat mixed together.
Soon, a festive atmosphere began to take over.
Everyone there had been under immense pressure for far too long.
After experiencing the bitterness of war, they finally had a chance to release all the tension.
There was no distinction between people—they raised their cups in celebration, toasting to a new life starting from today.
And at the same time, they mourned.
They mourned those lost to the war, hoping they could rest peacefully forever.
Ivankov, after a few drinks, even started dancing his bizarre, funny okama dances in front of the fire.
That massive face didn't scare anyone—instead, it had the children laughing until tears streamed down their cheeks.
Three rounds of drinks, five rounds of food.
No one left their seats. All eyes turned toward Monkey D. Dragon—and the strange man beside him with a pair of white wings.
Under his leadership, the entire country had been liberated from top to bottom.
The king had been deposed, the slave policies abolished.
Everyone had been reborn.
And it was all thanks to this man, and the soldiers of the Freedom Fighters behind him.
Like a ray of dawn breaking open the gates of despair in the darkness.
With the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, the will of freedom once again shook the entire sea.
These warriors, fighting for freedom, had ignited their fury against the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
"Citizens of the Sorbet Kingdom, and warriors of the Freedom Fighters!"
"I am Monkey D. Dragon!"
Dragon stood up. His deep voice enveloped the entire square.
Instantly, all fell silent.
They waited—waited to hear what the man who had liberated the Sorbet Kingdom would say.
"Former King of the Sorbet Kingdom, Bekori, has been executed by the Freedom Fighters."
"A new day is coming for Sorbet Kingdom!"
At the news that the tyrant Bekori—who tried to mimic the Celestial Dragons—had been executed, many citizens, especially those from the lawless southern regions, burst into quiet tears.
The demon who had made their lives hell... was finally dead!
And beneath the tears, hope began to fill their eyes.
After a short pause, Dragon continued:
"From today onward, the Freedom Fighters will officially be renamed the Revolutionary Army!"
"Together, we will change the world!"
"We will drag those arrogant Celestial Dragons..."
"Down from their thrones!"
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