Chapter 157

One edit that I made in the last chapter: made Rowan's bounty the 'second highest,' not the 'highest.' As for the reason... you'll see in this chap.

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[Raijin, October 15th, 1522]

A month has passed since the Grimheart pirates arrived at the Raijin island.

Although it was a difficult island to approach from the outside, such a fact meant that it was the perfect place for them to hide and recuperate without any worry.

*PAZZZZZ*

As another lightning struck the nearby metal rod, Rowan, who was now completely healed, was in contemplation.

'The Revolutionary Army.'

Within the letter sent by Dragon a month ago, there only existed the words regarding the time and place:

<December 15th, 1522. Location: Coala's Coffee, Northwest Section, Runelight island.

We wish to speak with you and your crew, Grimheart. It's about the Emperors whom you've gone against.

I, Monkey D. Dragon, write on behalf of all members of the Revolutionary Army. We hope to see you at the indicated destination.>

'Dragon. Branded as the world's worst criminal, and serves as the leading figure of the Revolutionary Army. Also, his full name really did turn out to be Monkey D. Dragon—the same surname as Luffy and Garp.

Revolutionary Army. They are the organization that directly opposes the World Government. When judging by the characteristic of that organization, there is no need for us to fight one another. Their goals seem to align with mine.'

And Dragon did manage to gain his attention anyway. After all, why was the News Coo delivering Dragon's letter to him in the first place?

Rowan doubted that Dragon was plotting against him, for there was no reason for a worldwide organization like the Revolutionary Army to make more enemies than necessary.

Folding up the letter and placing it in his pocket, Rowan stared up ahead at Prominence which had various metal plates patched around its frame; the patchwork was rubbish at best.

"Yeah, I know." Dan scratched the back of his head as he noticed Rowan's gaze, "We're going to need an expert shipwright to properly fix up our girl."

"Agreed."

Prominence was a fragile ship. The failure to fully protect her within the violent storm messed up the whole system within her. The utilities, various options such as the wings that sprouted out from her sides, and most of all, the non-existent sails; there was so much that one could do in this barren island.

Additionally, Prominence was a large and complex ship. Even with the collaboration involving everyone in the crew, it took a month to recreate the airbags that enabled the heavy Prominence to float on water, detach the impaired dials from the bottom, mend the holes with whatever they could use, and fix up the jumbled network of wires.

How about the sails?

Well, they were in Raijin, the island where barely anything was able to grow due to the constant lightning strikes.

Then there were the broken engines. With them having functioned at the maximum output within the heavy storm, the crew found, after their arrival in Raijin, that they no longer worked.

The only saving grace of the current situation was the fact their wealth managed to remain intact—it was mainly thanks to the room being located right at the centre of the ship next to Rowan's room.

"I miss those skillful shipwrights in the Nidaifuku." Carina sighed wistfully.

Urouge, who was making the last inspection of Prominence, shouted out from the deck, "She should be alright for a while! We lost many rooms due to the lack of materials at the current moment, but there's no problem for the sail of the eight people and one horse!"

"Sail?" Cavendish retorted gloomily, "Prominence doesn't even have the sails on her right now. Haaaaa... just look at the miserable state that she's in right now!!! Oh, Prominence, how much pain must you be going under right now?"

"Well," Urouge shrugged, "we can still travel just fine, right?"

After all, they still had Rowan, who was able to freely maneuver the ship with his fruit ability alone.

*Creak*

At the next moment, the door of the small house that lied nearby opened, revealing Carmen and an old-aged woman with a pale face.

"I think we're ready to go. Got the rations done." Carmen stated in a monotone as she held up the basket full of pale-green-coloured balls.

The faces of all the other members of the Grimheart pirates turned green upon seeing the basket.

"Nah... just nah. I thought we were done with that abomination." Dan shook his head while taking few steps backward.

"Rations? Hehe, I think you meant a biological weapon." Carina chuckled weakly.

"S***, throw that thing away right now!!!" Cavendish screamed in horror, "I-I... I just can't!! We've eaten that disgusting thing for 3 weeks straight!!!"

Just as Cavendish said, the Grimheart pirates ran out of the food supply 3 weeks ago, and had to rely on the strange ball-shaped plants that grew by absorbing lightning.

The only reason they found out that it was edible was thanks to one inhabitant of this island.

"Oh, you are leaving already?"

It was an enigmatic old woman who seemed frightening at first glance. Her name was Kasa, and throughout her guidance, the Grimheart pirates were able to enjoy a relatively comfortable stay.

Rowan replied with a shaky smile, "Thank you for your hospitality up until now, Kasa."

Although Rowan's face twitched in disgust upon staring at the basket in Carmen's hands, he quickly turned his head away to retain his smile.

"But alas, I-I think it's time for us to leave. Boha...haha...ha..."

"Heeheeheehee!!!" The old woman laughed in a creepy manner. However, regardless of how it seemed to be, she was simply being genuine, "No worries! I wish you good luck on your journey ahead!!"

"Hm... this surely is something to study for." Carmen, who was holding onto the basket, muttered in intrigue, "Up until now, I couldn't make this thing taste good... no, I refuse to succumb to such thought!"

At the back, Robin, one member of the crew who tended to maintain her calm in most of the cases, almost puked.

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[Yukiryu]

"Blackbeard is wreaking havoc in the South Blue." Shanks, who was staring at the most recent copy of the newspaper, muttered with narrowed eyes.

"It's a blatant provocation to the Marine." Beckman stated calmly, "Blackbeard wishes them to dispatch the force. Judging by Marine's lack of manpower right now... at maximum, they should be able to send one Admiral."

"Then what?"

"I'm not going to go as far as trying to guess what's in Blackbeard's mind. The only thing I can tell you, however, is that facing the dispatched fleet of the Marine is safer than the New World right now."

Beckman, while taking a sip of his cigarette, shifted his eyes to Shanks,

"Kaidou's arms trade business, contrary to our expectations after Queen's death, has expanded over the month. With more weapons being supplied to the kingdoms at war, the opposing forces, primarily the Revolutionary Army, has been suffering many losses.

Meanwhile, Big Mom has begun to take over many islands that were protected by Whitebeard in the past. On September 29th, the Phoenix pirates fought against the Big Mom pirates on the island of Cidsat. The result was the former's downright defeat."

Beckman paused momentarily as he gazed at the other members of the Red Hair pirates, before continuing.

"But that's just the beginning. The mercenary businesses, mainly the Donquixote family and Germa 66, are thriving more than ever right now; they are mainly hired by the kingdoms to drive the Revolutionary Army out.

With the war between the World Government and Revolutionary Army beginning to tilt in favour of the former, the Revolutionary Army now have two options to choose from: either to retrieve the forces from the four blues, or to give up their territories in the New World. Now, the only advantage that they have, perhaps, is the fact that their base of operation is still not found."

"Along with the official declaration of the alliance between those two Emperors... Grimheart has gotten himself into quite a trouble. Kaidou and Big Mom, as well as the World Government, are slowly increasing their control over the New World." Shanks said to himself with his hand placed under his chin, "What do you think? Do such threats apply to us as well? Or... should it be alright for us to leave our territories?"

Beckman responded intuitively, "Big Mom and Kaidou won't dare to intrude on our ground and turn another Emperor against them. After all, they won't want us enter the war and even out their opposing side. As for the World Government... I assume that you have them covered. However, even if they do take over our territories, Shanks, you aren't someone who'd care as much."

Beckman's claim was true. Shanks, unlike Whitebeard, wasn't someone who offers his protection out of kindness. Hell, all his territories were the uninhabited islands. He was an individual driven by three things only: the balance of the world, his friends, and most of all, freedom.

Shanks grinned as he stood up, "Well, what are we waiting for then? Let's head out!"

"Huh?" Yasopp raised his eyebrow questioningly, "We are heading out to the South Blue?"

Shanks, draping the black cloak over his back, replied firmly, "I don't feel like doing nothing and letting Blackbeard grow, especially since he decided to sit in the comfy South Blue instead of swiftly entering the New World. At this rate, when Blackbeard arrives at the New World one day, it will be the day where he's gotten confident enough to win against me."

All members of the Red Hair pirates stood up from their spots, ready to sail out.

"The time has come."

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[Baltigo; October 17th, 1522]

In the middle of the vast sea, there lied one barren island that showcased nothing but white soil and rocks.

However, if looked closely, one would find a carefully camouflaged building that sat in the middle. This was none other than the headquarter of the Revolutionary Army, which served as the hub of all the information; the centre of their communication network.

Within one particular room of the building, some of the executive members of the Revolutionary Army: Dragon, Sabo, Ivankov, Koala, and Inazuma, were seen to be sitting around one round table.

"Dragon. The situation isn't good right now." Ivankov, who held onto a slip of paper, said grimly, "The rebellion of the Bestolt kingdom has begun to lose."

"Same with the Asahi kingdom." Koala shook her head gloomily, "The World Government increased their monetary support on the royalties under a war. They used the money to purchase more weapons and hire mercenaries."

"Don't let the anxiousness overwhelm you." Sabo, with a calm expression, spoke firmly, "In all, almost every issue that we face leads up to one Emperor: Kaidou. And Kaidou, recently, allied with another Emperor, Charlotte Linlin or Big Mom."

Sabo placed his hand firmly on top of the table, where the drawn map of the New World lied,

"We have more cards up in our sleeve than you think. We just have to use them well.

First, the Grimheart pirates. The World Government blatantly showed their hostility against them by raising Grimheart Rowan's bounty up by 2.3 billion Beli in one go. Not only that, but they are the primary reason why Kaidou and Big Mom have gone so active right now. By forming an alliance with them, we will stand a chance.

Second, the Phoenix pirates. The Grimheart pirates and Phoenix pirates are well-known to be great friends of one another, and the latter crew recently suffered a disgraceful loss against the Big Mom pirates. They too stand as the potential allies.

And finally..."

Sabo momentarily paused as he stared at one particular point on the map,

"...the giants of the Elbaf. Although we aren't sure why, they possess a clear hatred for Big Mom. We can attempt to bring them in as well."

Dragon, who stayed silent up until now, finally opened his mouth in a low tone.

"Additionally, you must realize that we have received many good news as well. The situation isn't as detrimental as you three think."

Dragon placed two envelopes onto the table,

"The Army Commander of the East Blue, Belo Betty, reported their complete victory against the corrupt kingdoms. As for the South Blue... although it is regretful that so many innocents suffered at the hands of the Blackbeard pirates, they managed to recruit many soldiers this time around.

Now, those two armies reported that they will swiftly be able to return as soon as possible. With their arrival, if we can successfully form an alliance with three forces that Sabo mentioned, we stand chance against those Emperors, and... perhaps the World Government as well."

While the Revolutionary Army discussed their future plan, there lied many bounty posters attached to the wall. However, at the top left of the wall, one bounty stood out from the rest—it was the one belonging to none other than Monkey D. Dragon:

<'Vile Devil' Dragon. Wanted Dead or Alive. Bounty: 5,214,000,000 Beli.>