Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the Sea Circle Calendar reaches the year 1514.
This year holds special significance.
It's time for the Reverie.
In previous Reveries, the top 50 nations barely saw any changes.
But this year, some unfamiliar names have made it into the top fifty.
Meanwhile, some familiar nations from previous years have fallen off the invitation list.
Each country that dropped off had different reasons for their decline.
Take the "Drum Kingdom," for example. Once the world's leading medical power, their doctors were poached by the "Cross Guild." As a result, they lost not only their main source of income but also their reputation.
This caused the "Drum Kingdom" to fall from its place as the world's top medical power to just an ordinary member nation.
Ordinary member nations aren't eligible to attend the Reverie.
In the Drum Kingdom's place is the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
Yes, the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
As the saying goes, when one rises, those close to them rise as well.
After Kahn became an Emperor of the Sea, the biggest beneficiaries were undoubtedly the Cross Guild's subsidiary forces.
The World Government has grown dependent on the Cross Guild's unique medicine, high-quality weapons, and seastone, benefiting both Capone Bege in the West Blue and Scarlett in the New World, who now control both the underground and legitimate markets.
In the West Blue, Capone Bege has become so powerful that even the Marines must tread carefully around him.
Not only is Capone Bege the wealthiest person in the West Blue, but he also has access to thousands of replicators at his command—far more than even the Marines.
Even the Land of Flowers, one of the dominant powers of the West Blue, dares not challenge Capone Bege.
Now, both the underworld and the world's weapon supply in the West Blue are controlled by the Cross Guild.
In the past, Capone Bege was part of the "Worst Generation," but now he's one of the biggest winners.
Unless Kahn specifically calls on him, Capone Bege won't bother with the Grand Line anymore.
After all, why focus on a small sea route when the vast West Blue offers so much more?
Scarlett's Kingdom of Dressrosa has even become a favoured ally of the World Government.
Although Kahn didn't make any public statements, everyone knows that the Kingdom of Dressrosa is the top affiliate of the Cross Guild.
Backed by the Cross Guild, Dressrosa could easily leave the ranks of the World Government's member nations.
With the deepening cooperation between the Cross Guild and the World Government, Kahn could easily ask for Scarlett's departure from the World Government. And to secure seastone from the Cross Guild, the Five Elders would likely agree.
But Kahn didn't push for that. Instead, he ensured Scarlett continued to pay a hefty tribute each year.
For Kahn, the world's richest man, that sum is nothing.
But this gesture earned Kahn a good reputation with the Five Elders.
This is a Yonko who truly understands how the world works.
In the past decade, Kahn has only killed one Celestial Dragon, and that was because the latter broke the rules first.
Otherwise, Kahn has kept a low profile, building up his family like a businessman rather than a pirate.
His dealings with the underworld are marked by trust and reliability, with no complaints about his character.
Most importantly, there's no "D" in Kahn's name, making him seem like a minimal threat to the Five Elders.
As a result, the Five Elders don't mind maintaining a long-term, friendly relationship with Kahn, at least until they have the power to control the Cross Guild completely.
The stronger Kahn becomes, the stronger the Cross Guild grows, which deepens their bond with the World Government, possibly for good.
Inviting the Kingdom of Dressrosa to the Reverie is a clear sign of this friendship.
Aside from the Drum Kingdom and Dressrosa, which saw changes due to the Cross Guild's influence, the other nations that were replaced on the top fifty list experienced internal upheaval. These kingdoms saw their royal families and nobles overthrown by their own people, with new rulers taking over.
And the force behind these revolutions was none other than—the Revolutionary Army.
This year's Reverie centres on the growing threat of the Revolutionary Army and its leader, Dragon.
When the Reverie ended, the headlines of *Dragon* shook the world.
The headline read: "The World's Most Ferocious Criminal, the Man with a 5 Billion Berries Bounty!"
The cover? Just one bounty poster.
The portrait on the poster was of a man wearing a cloak and a tattooed face.
This man had only one title and one name.
**"Revolutionary Army Leader" Dragon. Wanted for 5 billion berries, dead or alive.**
The World Government knows the full identity of Monkey D. Dragon, including his full name.
Not only the World Government but also many Marines are aware of Dragon's lineage.
Yet, none of them have publicly revealed or printed Monkey D. Dragon's full name on the bounty poster.
If Dragon's full name were revealed, it would be a huge blow to both the World Government and the Marines.
That's because Monkey D. Dragon is the son of Marine hero, Monkey D. Garp.
Garp is a symbol of justice and the pride of the Marines. He's more famous than even the Fleet Admiral.
Despite only being a Vice Admiral, Garp's authority rivals that of an Admiral.
Countless soldiers joined the Marines because of Garp's legacy.
If the public knew that Garp's son had become the World Government's top criminal, it would make Marines question their own sense of justice.
So, the World Government and Marine Headquarters not only hide but also deliberately suppress the truth about Garp and Dragon's relationship.
That's why, in the original story, when Garp revealed Luffy's lineage to his subordinates, they were shocked.
Some even claimed it was the first time they heard Dragon's full name.
A starting bounty of 5 billion berries speaks volumes about how much of a threat Dragon is to the World Government.
If Dragon weren't a revolutionary, this bounty would make him surpass even Kahn as the second most wanted man in the world.
Dragon's 5 billion berries bounty also brought the Revolutionary Army into the spotlight, making the organization world-famous.
Though they've operated far more quietly than the Cross Guild, the Revolutionary Army is now a rising star.
But with this fame comes an influx of those who despise the World Government and are desperate for change, joining the Revolutionary Army with hopes of toppling the rule of the Celestial Dragons.
A new dragon slayer is rising at an incredible pace.
Once this dragon slayer matures fully, it will be time for him to confront the "evil dragon" that has ruled the world for over 800 years.
But whether the dragon slayer will become the next evil dragon or fall along the way remains to be seen.
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