"Been busy lately? Haven't come here for drinks in a while?"
Spandine poured two glasses and handed one to Rowan.
The two clinked their glasses and drank in one go.
"I've been trying to practice swordsmanship recently. Never really learned it properly before, so I can only start from the basics."
"Sword?"
Spandine looked at him strangely.
"The fourth monster to come out of the Marine training camp… the first three are Logia users, and you rely on Haki. And now you're suddenly learning swordsmanship? Trying to become a great swordsman?"
Rowan glanced at him.
"You just said it yourself, those three are Logia users. Their Armament and Observation Haki aren't weak either. I'm still a bit behind. And improving Haki isn't simple, so I can only look for other ways."
As someone with basically no combat strength, Spandine just shrugged and skipped the topic.
He didn't use swords anyway.
He did have a few Devil Fruits, but they were mostly Zoan types. Logia or strong Paramecia types would never reach him.
Not to mention the even rarer Mythical Zoan types.
"We'll have to pause our business going into the Grand Line for a while."
"Something happened?"
Spandine poured another two glasses.
"A new armed force has caught the attention of the higher-ups. It's also connected to that terrifying guy who killed Celestial Dragons twice."
Hearing this, Rowan's gaze sharpened slightly, but his expression remained calm as he took the glass and sipped.
"What does that have to do with us? If shipments from the Four Seas to the Grand Line stop, we'll lose a lot."
Spandine let out a breath.
"I know. But those rats are operating in the Grand Line. The higher-ups want to move against them. Your Marine higher-ups should've been notified too."
"An armed force needs supplies. Neither of us can guarantee that some of the goods entering the Grand Line haven't been bought by them. They've been spotted in Oykot Kingdom in the East Blue, and five countries in the Grand Line are suspected to be under their control. If we get suspected over a bit of profit now, it'll be a huge problem."
Seeing Rowan's displeased expression, Spandine tried to smooth things over.
He didn't want to upset a long-term partner.
And this guy had the title of the fourth monster in the Marines. Even if he wouldn't become an Admiral, reaching Vice Admiral level under Spandine's push was almost guaranteed.
Power and influence together meant they would remain equals even if Spandine climbed higher.
"Don't worry, it won't last long."
Spandine continued,
"Recently, CP0 has sent out some serious people. The trap at Sabaody Archipelago is now real. The higher-ups in Mary Geoise couldn't hold back anymore. When I went there recently, I saw a big shot from the Donquixote Family."
Rowan fell silent for a moment.
"They're using real Celestial Dragons as bait? The higher-ups are getting bold."
"Bang."
The glass hit the table as Spandine frowned.
"I've told you many times, when talking about people in power, you should call them 'lords.' If someone hears you talking like this, it'll affect my ability to promote you!"
Rowan waved his hand.
"Relax, I'm not stupid. I only say this when it's just the two of us. You're not going to report me, right?"
That calmed Spandine a bit, though he still lectured Rowan again.
Truth be told, someone like him, with little strength, had climbed this high purely through flattery and gifts.
"The bounty says that cloaked guy has teleportation abilities. If he wants to escape, it's probably impossible to stop him, right?"
Spandine snorted.
"Devil Fruit users already have their weaknesses. Before Vegapunk disappeared, the science division developed technology that lets warships pass through the Calm Belt safely. The P-substance contained in Seastone is enough to stop him from using his abilities."
P-substance?
So… Seastone restraints?
Even if Rowan were a Devil Fruit user, that stuff would only work if they actually managed to cuff him.
Rowan didn't continue asking for details.
If he pushed too much, it might raise suspicion. Spandine's connection to the World Government was too close, this relationship needed to be handled carefully.
But the bait at Sabaody Archipelago being replaced with a real Celestial Dragon…
That needed planning.
Eat the bait, and throw the hook back at them.
Also, the Revolutionary Army being noticed years earlier than expected meant one thing.
Dragon and the others had been moving too aggressively.
Grand Line, Baltigo.
After leaving Judicial Island, Rowan didn't even go to Shimotsuki Village for sword training that afternoon. He came here directly with his real body.
After several uses of Flying Thunder God, Rowan was slightly exhausted. He took a couple of breaths and looked at the gathered Revolutionary Army leaders.
"What happened in Oykot Kingdom?"
As commander of the East Army, Ginny replied,
"That place was one of our food supply points in the East Blue. When we went there last time, we happened to run into a pirate invasion. Their king had also made a deal with the East Blue Marine branch to reduce population and lower Heavenly Tribute, so when we arrived, we took action."
At the head of the table, Monkey D. Dragon looked at Rowan.
"Have we been noticed? Our actions over the past year have been quite large. It was only a matter of time."
Rowan nodded slightly.
He knew Dragon was right.
Because of his existence, the Revolutionary Army's development had accelerated constantly.
Just Vegapunk's lab alone had already produced impact cannons, giving non-Haki users offensive capabilities.
Though they consumed a lot of energy.
Under such circumstances, expecting several more years of hidden development was unrealistic.
The five elders in Mary Geoise weren't fools.
And CP wasn't useless either.
"The World Government has already taken notice of the Revolutionary Army."
Rowan paused.
"And because of the Oykot Kingdom incident, they may have linked me to them."
That made Dragon pause.
After all, the cloaked man's bounty was 830 million Beli, and it was his first bounty.
The stated crime of "attempting to destroy the world" was meaningless.
The real reason was the killing of two Celestial Dragons, combined with his teleportation ability.
The ability to move instantly from East Blue to the Grand Line…
Dragon knew just how terrifying that mobility was.
If not for the unknown depths of Mary Geoise, Rowan could visit it daily and drive them insane.
Also, Celestial Dragons held major secrets.
The nineteen royal families… killing too many of them might trigger unknown consequences.
That was another reason for restraint.
At this moment, Bartholomew Kuma spoke,
"So… are we going to war? Our people have already been waiting—"
Emporio Ivankov interrupted him.
"Kuma, you weren't like this before. We're still in the accumulation phase. If we start a war now, we have no chance of winning."
Dragon nodded.
"All of us here know Mr. Flame's identity. Our plan also includes the Marines. And just the Marines alone… Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the future Admirals, and Vice Admirals like Monkey D. Garp… the difference in power is too great."
Rowan stood up.
He pointed at the map on the table, where five locations on the Grand Line were marked.
"Avoid direct confrontation."
"We withdraw from these five nations."
"Leave only low-profile mid-level personnel. Everyone else pulls out."
Ginny frowned.
"This is our biggest achievement in over a year. The Heavenly Tribute for this cycle is already prepared. They might not discover anything."
Rowan looked at her.
"You're thinking too simply, Ginny."
Monkey D. Dragon explained,
"The World Government's intelligence network is far stronger than ours. Before we draw attention, they won't notice. But once we do, every clue from the past will be pieced together bit by bit by CP's intelligence division."
Emporio Ivankov frowned.
"But the people from those five countries… nearly twenty thousand have already joined the Revolutionary Army. And if we include their families…"
Twenty thousand?
Rowan was a bit surprised.
That was a lot.
After all, joining the Revolutionary Army required screening. The most basic requirement was a firm belief in its ideals.
But five countries… five islands… actually, that number wasn't too high.
Ivankov continued,
"Just one or two lessons, and those young people understand that we're the ones truly trying to help them. Since the Great Pirate Era began, countless pirates have flooded into the Grand Line from the Four Seas. Countries without protection from powerful pirate crews or without the ability to pay Heavenly Tribute… more than just a few have been destroyed."
"Affiliated nations need to pay Heavenly Tribute. In Big Mom's Totto Land, you either provide food or settle there and pay with your lifespan. Kaido's Beast Pirates are even more brutal. Compared to them, we're far better."
So it's all relative comparison?
No.
To hell with that. The Revolutionary Army isn't pirates.
After thinking for a moment, Rowan spoke directly,
"Then we move everyone."
"Use the floating ability from the talismans and Bartholomew Kuma's transport ability. No matter how many people there are, we can move them."
"Anyone willing to leave goes. Leave them an empty shell."
At present, about seventy percent of Revolutionary Army members who completed ideological training could already use Armament Haki.
With Vegapunk's impact cannons equipped, these members could reach the combat level of elite Grand Line Marines.
Meanwhile, the number of researchers in Vegapunk's lab kept increasing, accelerating development across multiple projects.
"Abandoning people is not an option."
Dragon shook his head at Ivankov.
"The Revolutionary Army's greatest strength lies in its ideology. We know why we fight, and we emphasize unity among comrades. So don't ever say things like abandoning people again. Also, Ivankov, you need to retake your ideological lessons."
Ivankov immediately deflated.
He had never liked those righteous ideological lectures anyway.
The beaches back home were far more appealing.
But after so long, even Kuma had changed.
So… did all Revolutionary Army members now long for open war?
With such high morale, combined with their growing strength, if war broke out…
it would truly be a world-shaking revolution.
Rowan tapped the map on the table.
"The evacuation starts tomorrow."
"All supplies and assets must be moved."
"With floating transport and Kuma, it's manageable."
"And the Oykot Kingdom in East Blue has already been destroyed. That place will definitely be monitored, so our people must avoid operating there."
Rowan then looked at Ivankov.
"Nearly twenty thousand able-bodied members… including families, around sixty thousand?"
Ivankov straightened up.
He had seen the changes in the Revolutionary Army over the past year.
The structured development and planning… Mr. Flame's role was crucial, and he respected that.
"The execution at Loguetown happened over three years ago, almost four now. In the Great Pirate Era, the elderly, women, and children have the highest death rates."
"And since those five countries are affiliated nations, their kings either wage war or deliberately reduce population to meet Heavenly Tribute demands."
"So many of our members are alone. But altogether, around forty thousand people sounds about right."
A large ship could only carry a few hundred people.
That meant at least a hundred trips.
"These five islands will also be under surveillance."
"I'll buy you time."
Rowan looked at Kuma and Dragon.
"Once I send the signal, remove the watchers first."
"Then have the prepared ships enter the ports immediately and begin evacuation."
"Starting tomorrow, organize ideological guidance."
"Three days later, wait for my signal and begin the operation."
"As for relocation… temporarily move them to uninhabited islands in the New World."
"Use the identity of pirates as cover."
"Use that guard captain we captured earlier. Build a pirate crew under his identity, put on a disguise, and operate in the New World."
The New World was a gathering place for pirates.
Among them, Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Edward Newgate each controlled vast territories.
To some extent, those islands would not be attacked by the Marines or the World Government.
Even though the Four Emperors system hadn't fully formed yet, this was the balance that already existed.
The World Government needed pirates to pressure ordinary people.
The Marines feared the possibility of the great pirates joining forces.
That was the balance.
Acting as pirates and acting as revolutionaries were two completely different situations.
Of course, this kind of retreat would dampen the morale of the more hot-blooded Revolutionary Army members.
But right now, it still wasn't time for a full confrontation.
Even if Rowan went all out, his Zanpakutō was still in its sealed state.
It couldn't provide any real combat boost.
At best, he could stall one Admiral.
And only stall.
Dragon and Kuma could each handle one more.
That made three top-tier combatants at most.
What about the rest?
The gap in high-end combat power was simply too large.
They couldn't even fight a proper battle.
Under these circumstances, once discovered, retreat was the only option.
Strategic withdrawal.
That was the reality.
As for testing the World Government's true strength with high-end combat…
At the very least…
he needed to achieve Shikai first.
Although the treasure chest labeled it as the strongest fire-type Zanpakutō, whether it was truly Ryūjin Jakka was still uncertain.
But if it carried the title "strongest," it should be comparable.
A Shikai temperature of six thousand degrees.
Combined with Flying Thunder God's mobility.
That alone might be enough to try.
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