"Oh, Mr. Dragon, what brings you to Peach Garden?"
After sensing the arrival of the visitors, Rolan appeared before them without ceremony.
Only three people had come this time, Monkey D. Dragon, Sabo, and Koala.
Dragon looked at him with mild amusement. "You promised to show us around Peach Garden when you had time. I waited, and you never came. So I decided to come myself."
Rolan paused, then pressed his fingers to his forehead.
He remembered.
"…That's on me," he said flatly. "Come. I'll show you around."
…
The moment they stepped into Peach Garden, Dragon and the others immediately felt it.
This place was different.
There was no tension in the air, no visible fear in the people's eyes. Streets were clean and orderly, transport routes efficient, trade flowing smoothly. Laughter and conversation filled the air without restraint.
As Rolan guided them through the city, the shock only deepened.
Peach Garden felt like the world the Revolutionary Army had always dreamed of, a society built after victory, not one still fighting to exist.
The difference was simple and cruel.
Their ideal only existed on paper.
Peach Garden existed in reality.
Dragon's gaze darkened as memories resurfaced.
Rolan had once spoken to him about governance, about systems, about what came after revolution. At the time, Dragon had dismissed it as the arrogance of a powerful young man who did not understand the world.
Just another figure who believed strength alone could reshape an era.
Now, standing here, Dragon realized how wrong he had been.
This nation was democratic without being weak, orderly without being oppressive, prosperous without exploiting its people.
All of it stemmed from Rolan's vision.
Dragon found it difficult to imagine how someone so young could possess such clarity, such ruthless understanding of human nature.
Ideas like these had never appeared in this world before.
For the first time in years, Dragon felt something dangerously close to hope.
After Rolan finished explaining the education system, Sabo spoke up.
"You make every child study both academics and combat from a young age," Sabo said. "Aren't you worried this will lead to more wars once people gain strength?"
Rolan shook his head. "Strength has nothing to do with whether wars happen."
Sabo frowned. "Then what does?"
Koala listened closely.
"This world doesn't go to war because people are strong," Rolan continued calmly. "It goes to war because people are greedy."
Koala hesitated. "But as long as people exist, resources and power won't be distributed equally. Conflict is inevitable."
Rolan nodded. "Correct. No system satisfies everyone."
He stopped walking and turned to face them.
"So you don't try to satisfy everyone. You satisfy the majority, and you restrain the minority."
Silence followed.
As they continued their tour, discussions deepened. Governance, military balance, civilian protection, economic stability.
Dragon and the others realized something unsettling.
They were being convinced.
"I want deeper cooperation," Dragon said suddenly.
That had always been his purpose in coming.
Originally, this visit was meant to strengthen existing ties. Instead, Peach Garden had shown him something far more valuable.
Dragon was not chasing personal power. He had never wanted to rule the world. His war was for ordinary people, nothing more.
Rolan watched him quietly. He had expected this.
The Revolutionary Army was a force designed to destroy the World Government, nothing beyond that. It had no plan for what came after.
An army without a future.
"Oh?" Rolan said. "What kind of cooperation?"
"I want the Revolutionary Army to join Peach Garden."
The words landed heavily.
"…What?"
Even Rolan was momentarily caught off guard.
The Revolutionary Army was the largest organization opposing the World Government. Its influence rivaled major powers.
And Dragon was offering to fold it into Peach Garden.
Sabo and Koala turned to Dragon in disbelief.
"Dragon," Sabo said sharply.
Dragon raised a hand. "I didn't create the Revolutionary Army to rule. I created it to change the world."
He looked at Rolan. "And after all these years, I'm still standing at the same crossroads."
Koala frowned. "Even so, why not cooperate as equals?"
Dragon shook his head. "Because equality is an illusion."
He gestured around them. "Peach Garden's strength already surpasses us. More importantly, Rolan's ideals are suited for this world."
He paused, then spoke plainly. "If the World Government falls, who leads next?"
No one answered.
"There is no fair partnership when power is uneven," Dragon continued. "Since we understand that, joining Peach Garden is the logical choice."
Rolan studied him for several seconds.
"You don't need to rush into this," Rolan said.
"This isn't a rash decision," Dragon replied. "I believe you can take this world somewhere better."
Rolan finally extended his hand.
Dragon clasped it without hesitation.
The agreement was made.
What followed was a detailed discussion of structure and future roles.
Dragon was surprised.
Rolan had no intention of dismantling the Revolutionary Army. Its command structure remained intact. Its missions unchanged.
Funding would be provided.
In return, during the final war, the Revolutionary Army would pin down Marine forces at Mary Geoise.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
In Rolan's plan, the Revolutionary Army would eventually become one of the world's stabilizing forces, alongside the Marines, once the old order collapsed.
A necessary blade.
Not a ruler.
===
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