Chapter 8: The Feeble Groans of the Weak

"We must make Kaldor revoke this order."

"Purchasing slaves so openly and shamelessly, where does that leave our reputation?"

"Navy Headquarters must negotiate with the Kata Kingdom."

"Make him retract this absurd order~"

Beside them, "Black Arm" Zephyr also roared angrily.

Kaldor, as a king himself, knew this was an enormous blunder. If they turned a blind eye to this within Navy Headquarters, they would fail to uphold the justice carried by the Dovish faction.

However, they conveniently forgot.

Even the World Noble, as aristocrats, captured slaves, albeit not in such a grandiose manner as Kaldor.

The shot was fired.

Could they clearly see who was firing it?

No, they couldn't.

They stood atop the moral high ground, bathed in the scorching sunlight.

Even the Five Elders remained silent regarding this matter.

They had merely dispatched Cipher Pol agents to investigate why Kaldor was so openly purchasing slaves.

And some high-ranking World Government officials arranged their own "white gloves" to capture slaves and exchange them with the Kata Kingdom for substantial wealth.

Now.

Factions with some power were capturing slaves everywhere, intending to trade them for advanced weaponry to strengthen their foundations.

After all, this was akin to a risk-free business.

"Woo~"

"Woo~"

"Woo~"

Fleets numbering many ships set sail from docks around the world.

The deep, resonant sound of ship whistles echoed through the skies.

Slave-catching ships loaded with slaves departed from various places, all heading towards the Kata Kingdom in the South Sea.

Everyone was afraid of missing out.

After all, the weaponry and armaments sold by the Kata Kingdom were in high demand.

The New World, the Grand Line.

Revolutionary Army's headquarters, Baltigo.

True to its name, the island was a desert of white sand, and the airborne sand obscured it from view from the nearby sea.

It was almost desertified, a solitary city on an island.

The island was perpetually covered in a blanket of pure white.

The leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Monkey D. Dragon was frowning as he looked at the documents on the table.

"Kaldor, what do you intend?"

"What kind of plan do you have?"

Monkey D. Dragon sat in the chair of the meeting room, pinching his brow and murmuring softly.

A hint of weariness could be heard in his voice.

Had the Revolutionary Army tried to sway Kaldor before?

But.

Kaldor had scornfully mocked their dreams, ridiculing the Revolutionary Army for aiming high but having paper-thin resolve.

An organization of a few cats and dogs trying to create a new order of equality for all!

However.

Monkey D. Dragon was no ordinary figure.

Despite Kaldor's verbal attacks, he hadn't given up on his inner dreams. Instead, he'd become even more resolute.

Gritting his teeth, he continued to move forward step by step toward his goal.

The Revolutionary Army also had a trade relationship involving weaponry with the Kata Kingdom.

Monkey D. Dragon understood Kaldor well enough; he wasn't someone who acted impulsively or without reason.

Kaldor's actions this time undoubtedly had a well-thought-out plan behind them.

As the saying goes, the wise act in accordance with the situation, while fools act against it.

In Monkey D. Dragon's eyes, Kaldor was among the former, a wise strategist who planned before he acted.

In Monkey D. Dragon's mind, an image of that individual with immense ambitions gradually surfaced.

"Leader."

"The uprising in the Kingdom of Molt is underway."

A gracefully built woman rushed into the room from the entrance, interrupting Monkey D. Dragon's contemplation.

This person was none other than Belo Betty, the Commander of the Revolutionary Army's "Eastern Army."

Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user: Possessor of the "Inspire-Inspire Fruit."

The Molt Kingdom was located in the first half of the Grand Line, a member of the World Government, a large traditional island nation.

Due to the Celestial Dragons' exorbitant taxes and the nobles' bone-deep taxation, the people were suffocated, leading to rampant domestic uprisings and overwhelming grievances.

What Belo Betty had just reported to their leader, Monkey D. Dragon, was the largest rebel force within the Molt Kingdom.

"What's going on? How did the uprising start so much earlier?"

Sitting on the meeting room chair, Dragon looked at Betty in confusion.

His tone was full of puzzlement.

This was different from the coordinated plan they had with the Molt Kingdom's rebels.

"We, the Revolutionary Army, aren't even prepared yet, and you've already taken action."

"I heard they received a large quantity of weaponry from the Kata Kingdom."

"They believe time waits for no one, claiming that the earlier they rebel, the greater their chances of seizing the initiative."

"They're constantly encouraging their supporters, rallying them for the revolution."

"We haven't yet determined which faction is supporting them. Our intelligence department hasn't clarified that."

Belo Betty truthfully explained the causes and consequences of this action to the "Leader" sitting in the chair.

"There's a high likelihood of failure in this operation!"

"Upon receiving the news, the Navy Headquarters will certainly dispatch personnel to suppress the local rebellion."

"Perhaps~"

"They've already set out."

"The loss of high-end combat strength cannot be compensated for by that large quantity of weaponry."

"Moreover, we can't quench our thirst from a faraway well. By the time we arrive in the Molt Kingdom to support them, it will be too late."

"Spread the word, have our members withdraw from the Molt Kingdom."

"And make it fast~"

Monkey D. Dragon issued orders to Belo Betty beside him.

His voice was filled with deep helplessness.

He understood that the Molt Kingdom was too close to Navy Headquarters. With ships running at full speed, it would take just three days to reach it swiftly.

In contrast, it would take at least half a month for them to arrive and support the Molt Kingdom.

By the time they arrived, it might be too late to make a difference.

That's why they needed to quickly arrange for their personnel to withdraw, not allowing themselves to be blinded by a momentary victory.

"Yes, Leader."

Belo Betty, after receiving the order, solemnly took out a Den Den Mushi from her pocket.

A hint of regret flickered in her eyes.

She was well aware that distant waters couldn't quench near thirst.

The Molt Kingdom's rebel forces were indeed a significant asset within the Revolutionary Army.

Now, they had to abandon the chariot to save the general, a decision that was undoubtedly regrettable.

"Blu~ Blu~"

"Blu~ Blu~"

"Hello?"

"Does Captain Betty have any orders?"

From the Den Den Mushi came a clear voice, imitating the expression of the person on the other end of the line.

"Spread the word!"

"Have all members immediately withdraw from the Molt Kingdom."

"Navy Headquarters might have already dispatched high-end combat forces to support the Molt Kingdom."

"We no longer have time to provide assistance~"

Belo Betty, with a serious expression, summarized the orders their leader had just given her to the subordinates in the Molt Kingdom who were cooperating with the rebel forces.

Her tone was concise and neat.

"Phew~"

"I understand."

On the other end, the Revolutionary Army members coordinating actions in the Molt Kingdom let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Captain Belo Betty's instructions.

"Beep~"

Upon confirming that the message had been received on the other side, Belo Betty hung up the Den Den Mushi.

A lady's cigarette was lit in her hand, and the faint scent of tobacco lingered in the meeting room.