Next Bonus, 100!!
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Jin had some understanding of the God's Knights and the situation with Imu.
Because of this, he had always kept a low profile.
He was careful never to cross the World Government's lines.
Jin nodded. "You need to be careful as well. CIU is coming in hard this time—they won't back down easily. You'll need to vet the refugees from the South Blue carefully. Be wary of CP agents slipping through and discovering your main base."
Dragon shook his head. "Impossible. We've already screened everyone. Anyone even remotely suspicious is being watched."
Jin's expression turned grim. "And the refugees themselves?"
"The ones who've lost their families... the ones who've suffered..."
"That doesn't make them saints," Jin countered. "In fact, they're the most likely to resent you. It's your rebellion, after all, that brought the World Government's wrath down upon them."
"Someone with that mindset could easily become a dog of the World Government, all for a taste of wealth and security."
Dragon's face fell. He rested his forehead in his hand. "Of course..."
"It was right in front of us." He looked up, his face a mask of cold realization.
"No wonder the battle in the Sorbet Kingdom always felt... off."
"No wonder CIU found our base in the South Blue with such precision."
"There must have been someone among the refugees who was bought."
Kuma frowned. "Then that means Baltigo..."
He had sent a significant number of refugees to Baltigo himself.
Dragon was on his feet.
"Don't panic," Jin said, holding up a hand. "You and Kuma are the core of the Revolutionary Army. In a way, Baltigo is safer without you there. If I were Shamrock, after setting up a trap this elaborate, I'd want to catch all the big fish in one net."
Dragon considered this. It made sense.
He let out a long breath. "The World Government's eight-hundred-year foundation runs deep. Who knows what other monsters they have hiding in the shadows."
"Having regrets?" Jin asked.
A bitter smile touched Dragon's lips. "A little... When I think of all the innocent people who have died because of us... the guilt is heavy."
Jin shook his head. "This isn't on you. The World Government is tyrannical by nature. This is just another one of their countless crimes. The more they act like this, the more they prove the necessity of the revolution. A great man once said..."
"A revolution is not a dinner party. It's not writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery. It cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained, and magnanimous."
"A revolution is an insurrection—an act of violence by which one class overthrows another."
"Bloodshed is inevitable."
Dragon was lost in thought. "If something does happen to Baltigo," he asked, "where do you think we should go? Or rather, in the face of the World Government's tyranny, what is our next move?"
"Go to the non-affiliated nations," Jin said without hesitation. "The people there are crushed under the heel of pirates and corrupt nobles. Go to the wider seas, to the countless islands, and fight from the shadows. Build your strength in secret."
"Huddling together provides warmth, but scattered sparks can spread the flames much farther—until it becomes an unstoppable wildfire."
"Until the idea of revolution takes root in the hearts of the people."
"The more the World Government oppresses, the more violent the resistance will become."
"And once that fire is lit..."
"It will be like a tempest, swift and ferocious."
"No power on earth will be able to contain it."
"They will break every chain that binds them and sprint toward the path of liberation."
Dragon and Kuma's eyes were blazing.
Jin's words were a potent shot of adrenaline, a guiding light in a moment of doubt.
And in truth, despite the heavy losses in the South Blue, the Revolutionary Army's growth over the past two years had been explosive.
Unofficial estimates put their numbers at over a million members, spread across the world.
If that weren't the case, the World Government would never have created "CIU" specifically to counter them.
And all of this was thanks to the new revolutionary ideology Jin had shared with them—a far more proactive approach than their previous methods.
After talking for the better part of the afternoon, Kuma "sent" Dragon back to Baltigo to begin preparations for a secret relocation.
Kuma remained, a curious look on his face. "You're a king," he said. "Why would you help the Revolutionary Army overthrow the World Government?"
With Jin's status, power, and influence, it was a thankless, high-risk endeavor.
"There is no why," Jin replied. "Or... if you need a reason, let's just say I don't approve of the way the World Government and the Celestial Dragons do things. And... I want to leave my mark on this world."
"After all," he continued with a wry smile, "once you have power, you can't just spend your days drinking fine wine with beautiful women, eating and sleeping like a pig, can you? You have to do something. Something interesting. Otherwise, what's the point? It's all so empty, so boring, so dull."
Kuma considered this, then took out a small notebook and jotted something down.
A person must do something meaningful.
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After concluding his meetings on Drum Island, Jin traveled to Hannabal.
A ship belonging to the Bounty Hunter's Guild had arrived from the East Blue, escorting Wiggins Jack.
He had eaten the Zoan-type Wolf-Wolf Fruit, Model: Werewolf.
If the Vampire Fruit existed, then the Werewolf Fruit was certainly plausible.
In addition to the standard Zoan enhancements to speed, strength, and endurance, the Werewolf Fruit's power was amplified at night, especially during a full moon, when the user could transform into a more powerful Moon-Wolf form, similar to the Minks' Sulong.
The only reason Wiggins Jack had been captured so easily was that he was new to his powers and incredibly weak to begin with.
Give this fruit to a Mink... I wonder how much stronger their Sulong form would become?
The acquisition of a new fruit put Jin in a good mood.
Accompanied by Hannabal's new mayor, Zuron, he went to watch a match in the main arena of the colosseum.
Hajrudin vs. the blind swordsman, Issho!
As last year's champion, Issho had defeated a host of powerful fighters, including Brogy, Ideo, and Abdullah. His reputation was well-established. His strength was immense, his depths unplumbed.
Hajrudin, since his return with Jin, had been competing non-stop, racking up ten victories in the secondary arenas to earn his shot at the champion.
"Bobby! Do you think Hajrudin can win?" a young giant named Colon asked curiously.
Colon, along with Bobby and Pogo, had been assigned to security detail around the arena. He knew the two brothers from their village of Elbaf. They had gone out fishing ten years ago and had never returned.
And Brogy... Brogy was an idol to the young warriors of Elbaf. Unlike the kids from the walrus school, Brogy had taken a liking to Colon and had already agreed to take him on as an apprentice.
"Win?" Bobby laughed. "No way. Issho is incredibly strong. Hajrudin is no Loki."
"If Loki were here, he'd have a chance," Pogo added.
"He's that strong?" Colon said, surprised. "What about compared to the king?"
Bobby scratched his head. "That... I don't know."
"Idiot!" Pogo smacked him on the head. "Of course the king is stronger!"
"Right, right!" Bobby quickly corrected himself.
The fight went just as the giant brothers had predicted. Hajrudin was no match for Issho. The blind swordsman didn't even use his Devil Fruit. With his footwork and swordsmanship alone, he ran circles around the giant.
After all, this was the man who, after the Summit War, would be chosen through a worldwide military draft to become a Marine Admiral.
Right now, he was in his prime.
Jin was intrigued. "Zuron," he said, "get me everything you have on that man."
"Sir!" Zuron scurried off.
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