Ryu froze, his expression darkening.
"Fine. I'll find a way to get you out of here. In exchange, you'll take me to Dragon. How about that?" Ryu took a deep breath, his tone resolute.
Ivankov and Inazuma exchanged shocked glances. Who was this guy, to make such a bold offer? After all, since this underwater prison was built, only one person had ever escaped—the legendary pirate "Golden Lion Shiki."
"What exactly do you need to tell Dragon?" Ivankov asked, adopting a rare serious expression. Anything involving the Revolutionary Army required utmost caution.
"It's too complicated to explain here. Just tell Dragon that I'm his father's disciple and that he needs to find a way to contact me. I have crucial information for him," Ryu said, shaking his head.
"His father?" Ivankov and Inazuma both exclaimed in shock.
Ryu nodded, continuing, "This concerns not only the Revolutionary Army but also the Marines and pirates."
"What's happening on the outside?" Ivankov's face turned grim.
If things were truly as urgent as Ryu claimed, he wouldn't hesitate to consider breaking out.
"The Marines are preparing to enter the New World, and they've set their sights on one of the Four Emperors," Ryu said in a low voice.
"What? Is this information reliable?" Ivankov asked, his face pale.
"It's one hundred percent accurate. And during this operation, Mary Geoise will be more vulnerable than ever. The Marines won't have the forces to defend it, making this the Revolutionary Army's prime opportunity," Ryu confirmed.
Ryu's purpose and vision included eliminating the Celestial Dragons, and he was willing to collaborate with the Revolutionary Army to achieve this. His goal was for the Marines to become a true force of justice, one dedicated to eradicating all darkness on the seas—a vision that didn't clash with the Revolutionary Army's ideals. They sought to overthrow the current regime by uniting all the kingdoms, which Ryu was also inclined to support. This cooperation, he believed, could lead to a truly liberated world.
In his ideal future, the Revolutionary Army would govern, while the Marines would focus on military strength and oversight, creating a balanced division of power. With this setup, the Marines could ensure that no kingdom could exploit its people, stepping in wherever darkness emerged, while the Revolutionary Army took care of governance. This separation of powers would prevent either group from becoming like the Celestial Dragons.
This, in short, was Ryu's vision and the goal he was tirelessly working toward.
"Mary Geoise isn't as simple as you think. Even if the Marines empty their ranks, Mary Geoise won't fall so easily," Ivankov replied, visibly uneasy about the Celestial Dragons.
"I'm aware of that. I'm not suggesting that you take over Mary Geoise; I know you couldn't hold it for long. But looting the place in the chaos? That's doable, isn't it?" Ryu said with a grin.
"You underestimate the Celestial Dragons. If their forces were as weak as they appear, they'd have been overthrown countless times by now," Ivankov shook his head, clearly skeptical.
"How much do you know about their hidden power?" Ryu asked, his voice steady.
"I don't know much, but the less we know, the more careful we should be!" Ivankov replied cautiously.
"But if you don't test their defenses, how will you ever know what cards they're hiding?" Ryu asked, tilting his head.
Ivankov and Inazuma fell silent. According to Ryu, the Marines wouldn't have the strength to back up the Celestial Dragons this time, but even without Marine support, the Celestial Dragons' power was formidable. Still, this was an opportunity—even a probing attack might be worthwhile.
"Although what you say is tempting, I truly can't contact Dragon right now!" Ivankov sighed, sounding resigned.
"Alright, then. Tell me a location or a contact in your network, and I'll find them to pass along the message. Whether Dragon wants to meet with me is his decision. How about that?" Ryu proposed, seeing no other choice.
"Fine. I can't fully trust who you are, but if you trick me, I'll hunt you down all the way to Nyangasa Cape to avenge any fallen comrades!" Ivankov said, eyes fixed on Ryu.
"Relax. Though we may be on different paths, our goals align, so cooperation is beneficial for us both," Ryu replied with a nod, satisfied.
Having obtained the information he needed from Ivankov, Ryu left Impel Down.
"Why exactly did you come here?" Tokikake finally asked on their way back.
"Don't ask. If you ask, I don't know," Ryu replied with a casual shrug, playing it cool.
Tokikake's face twitched in frustration at Ryu's dismissive attitude, though he was more curious than truly insistent on getting an answer.
Back at Marine Headquarters, Ryu covertly prepared a small boat and slipped away. Following the address Ivankov had given him, Ryu arrived at a small island where he found a Revolutionary Army outpost. After explaining his purpose, he stayed on the island, waiting for Dragon to respond.
A few days later, instead of Dragon, an unexpected yet not entirely surprising figure arrived.
"Bartholomew Kuma! Did Dragon send you?" Ryu asked calmly.
"So, you already know my identity?" Kuma replied in a soft voice.
"I know more than you might think! Did Dragon send you to vet me first?" Ryu asked.
"If you're planning a trip, where would you like to go?" Kuma asked, ignoring Ryu's question.
Ryu's eyes narrowed, and he tensed, understanding Kuma's powers as a Paw-Paw Fruit user, capable of "pushing" people to any location he desired.
"Kuma, don't mess around. I can't stray too far from headquarters, or Fleet Admiral Sengoku will have my hide" Ryu took a step back, wary.
Kuma, in the process of removing his gloves, paused. "Weren't you the one requesting a meeting with Dragon?"
"I was, but if you're planning to send me all the way to Baltigo, how am I supposed to get back quickly?" Ryu replied with a resigned smile.
"You certainly know a lot. Don't worry; we wouldn't send you to Baltigo. It's too critical of a location," Kuma said, slowly closing in.
"Alright then. But if you send me too far, you'll have to deal with Fleet Admiral Sengoku when he finds out," Ryu said, half resigned, half resigned to his fate.
With a smack, Kuma struck Ryu with his paw, sending him flying. A strange, protective membrane formed around him, cushioning him as he soared through the sky.
Watching Ryu disappear, Kuma calmly slipped his gloves back on, picked up his Bible, and walked away.
"That brute...where exactly is he sending me?" Ryu muttered, munching on food from his inventory space as he flew, grumbling as he munched.
After a day of travel, during which Ryu practiced meditation mid-flight, he finally began descending.
"Finally arriving, huh?" Ryu murmured, opening his eyes.
"Welcome!" As Ryu landed, a young girl with bright orange hair, goggles, and a short dress and heels greeted him with a cheerful smile.
"And you are?" Ryu looked at her, finding her vaguely familiar—likely the girl who had often been seen by Sabo's side.
"Hello! I'm Koala, the acting Fish-Man Karate instructor for the Revolutionary Army," she introduced herself with a bright smile.
"Hello. I'm Ryu, Rear Admiral of Marine Headquarters. And where exactly am I? Once I get back, I'm going to make sure Kuma pays for this," Ryu said, introducing himself politely before muttering his frustration.
"You're on a small island in the South Blue. Did Mr. Kuma send you flying here?" Koala asked curiously.
Ryu sighed. "Yes. I wanted to meet Dragon, so I went to the nearest Revolutionary Army base I could find near Marine Headquarters. But instead of Dragon, I got Kuma, who promptly sent me all the way here."
Naturally, he left out the part where he could have resisted Kuma's power if he'd truly wanted to; though his strength had improved, he still didn't fancy his chances against Kuma. In his mind, Kuma was one of the most formidable members of the Seven Warlords—a powerhouse with insane versatility. He could fight, defend, and even heal, a downright walking cheat.
"Understood. The commander sent me to wait here for you—follow me!" Confirming Ryu's identity, Koala gestured for him to follow.
She couldn't hide her curiosity. Why would a Marine want to meet their leader? And why had Dragon agreed to it?
Shortly after, Ryu finally met the man labeled by the World Government as the "World's Most Wanted Criminal," the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon—the son of Garp and father of the Pirate King hopeful, Luffy.
"Mr. Dragon, it's been a while!" Ryu greeted him as though they were old friends, taking a seat across from Dragon.
"Hehehe…So, what brings you here?" Dragon, cloaked in a green hooded coat, smiled and looked up.
Ryu glanced around at the Revolutionary Army members present. Besides Dragon, he recognized Sabo and a "General" who looked like a member of the Mink Tribe. The others seemed to be key figures within the Revolutionary Army, though Ryu wasn't familiar with them.
"Yes, I wanted to discuss a few things with you, Mr. Dragon. Specifically, about the Celestial Dragons and Mary Geoise," Ryu said, his expression turning serious.
---
30 advance chapters on patreon.com/CuteSelfieCat