Dragon took another sip of tea, his expression seeming somewhat conflicted.
Claudius noticed Dragon's hesitation and stayed silent. The atmosphere between the two grew heavy as neither spoke for a while.
After a long pause, Dragon finally asked, "So, what exactly are you planning to do in Alabasta?"
Claudius glanced at Dragon with a somewhat amused expression, saying nothing, which only made Dragon feel a little awkward.
After a moment, Claudius spoke. "Is it really appropriate to ask?"
Dragon shook his head with a faint smile. "No, it's not. I guess it's as inappropriate as you prying into how our Revolutionary Army handles its affairs."
"Hahahaha! At least you understand that much, Dragon. Tell me, do you have any personal connection to the Nefertari royal family?" Claudius asked with a chuckle.
Dragon shook his head. "Not really. Back when I was with the Marines, I met them once or twice, but we didn't have much interaction."
"Exactly. Since there's no personal connection, why are you so interested in involving yourself in this muddy water?" Claudius asked casually, lifting his teacup to take a sip.
"It's not really about them. It's more… regret, I suppose. There aren't many royal families like the Nefertari clan left in the world. You know that as well as I do," Dragon replied after some thought.
Claudius nodded slowly, acknowledging the point. From an outsider's perspective, the Nefertari family truly was an exceptional royal family. They ruled Alabasta with fairness and maintained their kingdom's prestige. If they hadn't governed so well, they likely would've been overthrown long ago.
But from Claudius' perspective, their excellence was precisely the problem. In this world, "a piece of unblemished jade invites trouble." If the Nefertari family had been an ordinary royal family from a small and insignificant kingdom, Claudius might have even protected them.
However, as rulers of the powerful kingdom of Alabasta, with significant military strength at their disposal, they became a strategic target. For Claudius, building his power meant he couldn't afford to let such a potential threat stand.
"I understand where you're coming from, Dragon, but I have my own burdens to carry," Claudius said softly. "You don't tell me the Revolutionary Army doesn't shed blood for its cause, do you?"
Dragon fell silent, not responding to Claudius' rhetorical question.
"Whether it's your bottom-up revolution or my top-down approach, blood will be spilled. If you flinch today, you'll end up paying the price tomorrow. Don't underestimate this world, Dragon," Claudius said seriously.
Dragon suddenly smiled. "Are you lecturing me now?"
"Of course," Claudius replied with a laugh.
Dragon knew there was no changing Claudius' mind. He also recognized that he was unnecessarily meddling in something unrelated to him. Deep down, he understood Claudius was right—this wasn't his fight, so why wade into it?
After some quiet reflection, Dragon decided to back off. As Claudius had said, there was no point in stirring up unnecessary trouble.
"You've made your point. What else can I say? If I keep pushing, I'll just look unreasonable," Dragon said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Good, good. Let's not dwell on unpleasant topics. Besides meeting me, do you have any other plans while you're in Alabasta?" Claudius asked.
Dragon shook his head. "I'm just passing through. My next stop is East Blue."
"East Blue? Ah, right, that's your homeland, isn't it?" Claudius remarked with a grin.
"Yeah. The Goa Kingdom. It's said to be the most beautiful country in East Blue, though… well…" Dragon's tone softened for a moment, as if reminiscing, but a flicker of disgust soon crossed his face.
Claudius knew about the Goa Kingdom. It was indeed renowned as the most beautiful country in East Blue, with its polished image of wealth and prosperity. However, it achieved this reputation by ruthlessly discarding anything deemed undesirable. The nobles lived in luxury, while the poor barely survived in the squalor of the kingdom's infamous Gray Terminal.
"It sounds like East Blue is in for some trouble," Claudius said with a chuckle.
Dragon waved his hand dismissively. "You're reading too much into it. Nothing major. I'm just visiting a friend and taking care of some business while I'm there."
"Care to share the details?" Claudius asked curiously.
"Tequila Wolf," Dragon replied nonchalantly. "I think it's a place with fertile ground for sowing the seeds of revolution."
The Tequila Wolf country was a peculiar place. Technically, it wasn't even a proper nation since it had no king or centralized government. But its history spanned more than 700 years, making it one of the most unique regions in East Blue.
Over seven centuries ago, the Celestial Dragons had conceived an ambitious plan to connect the world's islands through an extensive network of bridges. While it sounded grandiose at the time, the sheer scale of the project made it utterly unrealistic. From a modern perspective, it was nothing short of absurd.
However, viewed through the lens of history, the idea wasn't entirely without merit. It was a colossal undertaking meant to benefit future generations, even if it was impractical in its own time.
When the Celestial Dragons proposed the project, the World Government had taken it seriously. But the labor requirements were astronomical, so vast that not even the wealth of the World Government could sustain it. To address this, they came up with a "brilliant" solution: instead of hiring workers, they would use slaves.
At first, the slaves were primarily pirates and criminals captured by the World Government. But as time went on and the government's morality eroded, they began enslaving innocent people as well. Generations of slaves and their descendants toiled on these bridges, and over centuries, their numbers grew into what could be described as a nation in itself, a nation built on suffering.
The Tequila Wolf Country's resentment toward the World Government had festered for centuries. And yet, despite their hardships, they had managed to achieve remarkable feats. Over 700 years, they successfully connected many of East Blue's islands through their bridges. This had significantly boosted the region's prosperity, as the bridges became vital trade routes linking various countries.
Claudius had once studied the history of the Tequila Wolf Country and its cultural significance. He even speculated that its existence might explain why East Blue had earned its reputation as the "weakest sea."
The bridges not only enhanced the World Government's control over the region but also improved the standard of living for the people. Pirates who ventured into East Blue often found themselves captured and sent to the Tequila Wolf Country as laborers. Over time, the harsh consequences deterred many would-be pirates from even attempting a career in piracy, giving East Blue its reputation as the most peaceful sea.
Perhaps this was why the World Government promoted East Blue as a shining example of stability—a sea untouched by chaos, serving as a symbol of their governance.
And now, Dragon intended to use the Tequila Wolf Country as a foothold to plant the seeds of revolution. In a few decades, this region, which had contributed so much to East Blue's prosperity, would likely see drastic changes. By then, the bridges might no longer serve their original purpose.
But history always marched forward. Even if the bridges were abandoned, perhaps new technologies like the sea train would emerge to take their place. The world was ever-changing, after all.
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