Chapter 20: A Defeating Thought

"Fisher Tiger, that guy is truly a remarkable person."

At the Naval Headquarters, Garp chuckled. He mentioned it there and brought it up in the chat room.

Meanwhile, the Five Elders were getting upset.

"Yet another troublemaker is back."

The bald Elder with a devil fruit-powered blade spoke with annoyance.

Fisher Tiger might not be as mighty as Whitebeard, but his impact is just as significant.

He led the movement to free slaves.

Now, who's the main supporter of the slave market? It's undoubtedly the Celestial Dragons.

Whether it's in Mariejois or in grand schemes like the Kingdom of the Bridge, they heavily depend on having a large number of slaves.

In a one-on-one impact, Shichibukai Jinbei can't match up to Taige at all.

Now that Fisher Tiger is back and leading the charge for the liberation of slaves, it's uncertain how many people will rally behind him.

Moreover, it was the Revolutionary Army that brought him back. If the two teams unite, the Revolutionary Army would gain a powerful ally, making handling even more challenging.

However, at this point, they can only feel powerless and frustrated.

The enigmatic movie-watching chat room has sealed everything away.

Regardless of how many cards the world government holds, they're useless right now.

Neither the Seraphim nor the Knights of God can utilize their resources, including a concealed weapon capable of destroying a country.

Despite its destructive potential, this weapon can't be deployed freely. Unfortunately, even this formidable tool is rendered ineffective under the current confinement.

I can only observe with concern as the world slowly descends into chaos.

The Age of Pirates brought chaos to certain parts of the world, and the Summit War didn't have the anticipated powerful impact.

This mysterious movie-watching chat room, displaying an unstoppable demeanour, forcefully shattered all the restraints binding this world.

The Five Elders wore grim expressions.

The colossal white screen in the sky resumed its display.

Witnessing this, a momentary hush fell over the chat room, with no one discussing the resurrection card that had been employed.

"The map before me claims to be a map, but it's more like a hand-drawn world map, overly simplistic."

"It only shows the basic Four Seas, Paradise, and the New World."

"Nevertheless, Roja examined the map intently, prompting Fujitora, who sat across from him, to inquire,"

"How do we proceed with the research?"

"It's not time for that yet. Before delving into research, you must establish the purpose of the research and then decide the location and direction based on that purpose."

Roja gazes at Fujitora with determination and adds, "First and foremost, we need to figure out what the research is meant to achieve."

"For the revolution?" Fujitora questioned.

"Too broad; that's the ultimate goal. Our research aims to gain a deeper understanding of the world, its systems, people's lives, the economy, and other matters. From these insights, we can determine how to approach the revolution."

"In which direction should the revolution go? For instance, Fujitora, which group do you believe is most likely to oppose the World Government?" Roja inquired.

Fujitora hadn't considered this question thoroughly before; he furrowed his brows for a moment before responding.

"Slaves?"

"Why?" Roja inquired.

"Because slaves are the most wretched and lowest group in this world," Fujitora replied.

This answer isn't hard to reach. Many people around the world, given a moment of thought, could arrive at the same conclusion. The most oppressed group is often the most likely to rebel since they have nothing to lose.

In the video, Roja's next words plunged everyone into profound contemplation.

"So, will the slaves become the most formidable force against the World Government?" Roja continued to probe.

Fujitora looked uneasy; he couldn't provide a clear answer.

"Why can't you answer this question? It's because you don't know the overall proportion of slaves in the world, and neither do I. That's why I emphasize that we lack the right to voice our opinions without research."

"Here's another question: among the slaves, who are born into slavery by their families, who are composed of conquered people, who are made up of captured pirates, and who among them possesses a stronger will to resist?" Roja asked.

"Slaves and civilians: one group has lost hope, and the other consists of peasants with families but struggles to feed them, facing starvation at any moment. Which group do you think has a stronger will to resist?" Roja questioned.

"Farmers and workers: if one is an ignorant farmer, and the other is an educated worker who understands the exploitation he faces, which one do you believe will possess a stronger will to resist?"

"How should we differentiate in our treatment of a cruel king and a benevolent king? What criteria can help us distinguish between them?" Roja further inquired.

Faced with Roja's questioning, Fujitora remained silent.

"This is why research is crucial. Many believe they have sufficient knowledge about the world, yet their judgments are often filled with subjective assumptions," Roja remarked.

"Especially for individuals like us who have transcended certain societal classes, merely discussing revolution is ineffective."

"If a revolutionary doesn't know the quantity of food on an acre of land, the imposed taxes, the cost of a loaf of bread, the minimum daily expenses of an average family, or the daily earnings of a commoner adult, how effective can their revolutionary efforts truly be?"

"If you're ignorant of these basics, what right do you have to discuss revolution on behalf of the oppressed?" Roja's voice grew more impassioned.

"So, we must conduct research. If we lack knowledge about grain output, we'll work in the fields. If we're unfamiliar with worker wages, we'll go to their workplaces and engage with their work. We'll have close conversations with people, gather information, and truly comprehend their perspectives on the present situation."

"Practice, investigation, and reform – that's the duty of us revolutionaries," Roja concluded.

Listening to Roja's words, Fujitora felt an indescribable emotion welling up in his heart. He was genuinely shocked.

This was the first time he had been profoundly impressed by this young boy, even more so than when he first heard him utter the word "revolution."

At this moment, a hushed silence enveloped the world. People like Fujitora were left in stunned silence.

They keenly sensed the strength embedded in Roja's words.

This power was challenging to articulate but visibly impactful, reaching a place in everyone's heart.

Roja seemed like a fundamental truth, always present, whether spoken or not, and undeniably correct.

It wasn't a brute force or overwhelming momentum; instead, it was a profound intellectual impact, a shock to thought.