As soon as Fox appeared, Dragon raised his chin toward the densely packed sword marks on the low hill and praised, "Fox, look at those marks. They were left by White Dove when he practiced his swordsmanship here years ago. That young man is no ordinary person. Given more time, he might very well catch up to you and me, reaching the very pinnacle of this sea."
Ivan's expression turned slightly subtle. He never expected that his publicly known identity would be held in such high regard by Monkey D. Dragon. Following Dragon's gaze to the sword marks, he decisively nodded and praised, "Indeed, that young man is quite remarkable. His sense of justice is pure, truly worthy of being called a real Marine."
Upon hearing this, Dragon was taken aback. He narrowed his eyes, looking at Ivan with a hint of surprise. He had assumed that an organization like Shadow Garden, which opposed the World Government, would harbor some hostility toward those with Marine backgrounds. He never expected Fox to speak so highly of White Dove.
After a moment of silence, Dragon spoke again, his voice low. "I've been waiting for you for a long time, Fox. I knew you would come looking for me and that you could find me. Ultimately, our goals are the same: to overthrow the World Government, save this manipulated world, and find true justice, not the lies cloaked in power. Since our goals align, why not cooperate? If the Revolutionary Army and Shadow Garden join forces, we can deliver a truly fatal blow to the World Government."
Ivan gently shook his head, his tone calm but leaving no room for negotiation. "I'm sorry, Dragon. While our goals may seem the same, we are not on the same path at all."
Dragon frowned. "Oh? I'd like to hear how they differ."
Ivan looked up, meeting Dragon's gaze without evasion. "It's simple. The Revolutionary Army has goals but lacks true timing for action and hasn't brought about substantial change. Over a decade has passed since the Revolutionary Army was founded, yet you remain tightly suppressed by the World Government, hiding in the shadows. While it may seem like you're building strength, you've hardly accomplished anything useful. You talk about changing the world, but in the end, civilians are still oppressed, the world remains shrouded in sin, the World Government's prestige remains undamaged, and the authority of the Celestial Dragons remains unshakable. You only talk but never truly act, never bringing any real change to this world. But Shadow Garden is different. We take action with every step. We actively strike at the World Government, assassinate Celestial Dragons—all to shatter the illusion of their untouchable status in the eyes of the world. We let people know that even Celestial Dragons can die when killed. Beyond that, we use Shadow Garden's power and influence to dismantle the slave system, freeing countless slaves and restoring their liberty. Everything we do shakes the World Government's rule and brings hope for life to the oppressed."
Ivan's words struck deep into Dragon's heart. Dragon stood still, his fingers tightening slightly, his expression growing complex. He did not refute, as Ivan's words had precisely pinpointed the Revolutionary Army's long-standing predicament.
After a long while, Dragon slowly spoke, attempting to justify himself. "Fox, you don't understand. It's not that we aren't acting; we're waiting for the best opportunity. The World Government has deep roots and immense power. Acting recklessly would only lead to more unnecessary sacrifices. We're building strength to deliver a fatal blow, not just for show."
Hearing Dragon's justification, Ivan scoffed. "Aren't you just waiting for the Liberation Drum? Placing the entire hope of the revolution on something so uncertain is utterly ridiculous!"
Dragon shuddered violently, his eyes narrowing sharply. "How do you know about Nika? The secret of the Liberation Drum is known only to a very few. No one else should have any idea. Where did you get this information? How do you know what we're waiting for?!"
Nika, the Liberation Drum—this was a secret the Revolutionary Army had guarded for years. He never imagined that Fox would know of it.
Facing Dragon's shock, Ivan remained calm, his tone indifferent. "Shadow Garden knows far more than you imagine. The World Government's secrets, the Revolutionary Army's trump cards, the Celestial Dragons' weaknesses—we understand them all."
Dragon stared intently at Ivan, silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "Even so, I won't give up. The Liberation Drum is tied to the liberation of the entire world. It's our best chance to overthrow the World Government, and I will never abandon it lightly."
Pausing, he looked at Ivan and advised, "Fox, I know you're eager to change the current situation, but acting recklessly like you do will only lead to unnecessary sacrifices and total annihilation."
Upon hearing this, Ivan did not continue to refute Dragon's ideals but merely raised an eyebrow slightly. "I won't force you to change your mind or argue against your convictions. But for now, are you willing to offer us some assistance?"
Dragon looked at Ivan, hesitated briefly, then nodded. Although their ideals differed, their ultimate goal of overthrowing the World Government remained the same. Offering some help within their means was not unreasonable. He said solemnly, "Very well, but I have one condition: the assistance requested must not put the Revolutionary Army in danger. Additionally, the Revolutionary Army cannot deploy troops or expend its own strength to aid you."
Ivan gave a faint nod and stated his needs directly. "I want intelligence: the CP Department's defensive arrangements, the travel patterns of Celestial Dragons, and the locations of slave auction sites."
Hearing this, Dragon agreed without hesitation. "Very well. I'll have someone compile this information and deliver it to your specified location."
Ivan nodded in satisfaction but did not turn to leave immediately. He added, "Besides that, we also need Devil Fruits—the more, the better. Even Devil Fruits without combat abilities will do."
Upon hearing this, Dragon's expression shifted slightly as he nodded in understanding. He had long heard that many members of Shadow Garden could wield multiple Devil Fruit abilities simultaneously, breaking the iron rule that one could only consume a single Devil Fruit. Fox's request for a large number of Devil Fruits was likely for this purpose.
He did not agree immediately but hesitated briefly before making his own request. "Fox, I can provide you with Devil Fruits and do my best to meet your quantity needs. But I have a request: I want to obtain from you the technology that allows you to use multiple Devil Fruits simultaneously."
If he could master such technology, the Revolutionary Army's strength would increase significantly—an undeniably tempting prospect for Dragon.
However, faced with Dragon's request, Ivan refused without hesitation. "Impossible."
Dragon's brow furrowed tightly as he pressed further. "Why? Our goals are the same. Sharing this technology would greatly increase our chances of success. Of course, we wouldn't ask you to give it away for free. We would do everything in our power to offer appropriate compensation!"
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