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Chapter 1193: A Great Cause
Chapter 1193: A Great Cause
Within the Riku Riku Kingdom, in a jungle near a grand plantation, a simple Revolutionary Army camp had been set up.
Inside the camp, a man cloaked in deep green surveyed the troubled expressions before him and asked, "They still don't believe us?"
"No, Captain", one man replied. "No matter how we explain, they refuse to trust us. Even when we present nobility before their very eyes, they still call us ruffians."
A one-eyed man sighed. "Captain, since when did the Revolutionary Army become ruffians?"
Dragon fell silent.
They had long identified this nation's problem. He had come here to resolve it, but as before, no matter how hard the Revolutionary Army tried to reason with the civilians—even presenting nobles as evidence—the people insisted the Revolutionary Army had forced the nobles into compliance. The deep-rooted distrust sown over years could not be undone overnight.
"Hey, Dragon! You keep saying you want to overthrow this nation, but so far, you’ve failed!"
A voice rang from the tent flap. A nobleman in fine clothes stepped forward, his face twisted with impatience. "Are you even capable? The people are suffering! These nobles use pirates to loot the people’s wealth. Every day you delay, their pain grows. As the Revolutionary Army’s leader, why not just strike the capital? Let me take the throne—I promise I’ll end their suffering!"
Dragon glanced back. This noble had been the one who first revealed the nation’s corruption. It was his information that led them to act, and they had chosen him as the future king.
"No." Dragon shook his head. "The Revolutionary Army strives for self-driven change. If the people don’t accept you, forcibly overthrowing the regime will achieve nothing. For now, focus on fighting the pirates. Whatever happens, protect the people’s lives."
"Tch." The noble scoffed and turned away.
The one-eyed man shouted angrily, "You rely on us yet act so arrogantly? Show Captain some respect!"
"Even if I act like this, I’d never oppress the people! You’re choosing a king—who else but me would even consider partnering with you rebels?" the noble snapped.
True enough. He was a small, landless noble with no power to raise a pirate crew.
The nation’s custom was clear: nobles formed pirate crews to harvest the people’s wealth, but they couldn’t let the civilians see. Who else would work the plantations? The nobles wouldn’t do it themselves. Without generous welfare, the people would lose motivation, but too much welfare left the nobles with little profit. The solution? Give welfare first, then take it back through force.
The noble understood this well. Any noble with power would avoid the Revolutionary Army altogether, for even if the regime fell, the new king would have to collect only minimal taxes for years. Still, being king was better than his current status.
The one-eyed man pressed his lips together, glaring at the noble but saying nothing.
Indeed, only this noble would act. Regardless of his attitude, he had exposed the truth. He genuinely cared for the people.
"Captain! Captain!"
As Dragon pondered, a Revolutionary Army soldier burst from the jungle, panting wildly as he pointed behind him. "The Navy! There’s a Navy force approaching!"
"The Navy?" Dragon’s eyes widened. "How could they be here? This is a non-member state’s territory—the Navy has no jurisdiction!"
Non-member states refused to pay the World Government, so the Navy typically stayed away. Why had they come now?
"I don’t know, but the Navy has joined the fight against the pirates!" the soldier gasped.
Frowning, Dragon became a whirlwind and vanished into the sky.
From above, he saw white-clad figures surging toward the villages like a storm. Below, pirates scattered like chickens as the Navy encircled and annihilated them.
"This speed?!" Dragon narrowed his eyes. These Navy forces moved unnaturally fast, cloaked in a strange white mist.
Then he spotted a bearded man in one plantation, staring up in shock.
"Kas?!"
This man had long been a thorn in the Revolutionary Army’s side. Why was he here?
As if sensing something, Kas glanced upward but saw nothing. His gaze returned to the survivors below.
"The Navy? Thank you, Navy officers, for saving us!"
A civilian leader stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"Did you know these pirates were raised by the nobles to steal your wealth?" Donald declared bluntly.
He was straightforward—truth first, diplomacy second.
The leader’s grateful expression collapsed. "Here we go again! Even if you saved us, don’t slander the nobles! They’re kind—they comfort us, give us food after pirates steal from us. They’re good people, not what you claim! You’re just like the Revolutionary Army—why do you always defame others!"
"You—" Donald started, but Kas raised a hand.
"There’s no need to persuade."
"Right", Wilbur nodded. "Justice’s Words, Page 2, Section 6: Kuro Mr. said, ‘Time and practice test truth alike.’ We need only act. Our great cause is difficult—facing criticism is inevitable. If we abandoned it when everyone doubted us, it wouldn’t be a great cause at all."
"Exactly", Kas agreed. "We don’t debate—we act. No matter what they say, we’ll visit the capital ourselves. Truth will emerge soon. If false, we’ll proceed as planned. If true—"
No need for words. If true, they would purge the nobles.
"Kas, you never cease to amaze me!" Wilbur’s voice rang with passion.
"Justice’s Words, Page 2, Section 11: Kuro Mr. said, ‘Old Man believes you?’ This sentence embodies Kuro’s disdain for worldly matters. Rushing to judgment without observation is wrong, but once observed, one must act on their convictions. Our great cause cannot waver, no matter the criticism!"
Donald: "...”
Was that how Kuro phrased it? He didn’t recall hearing that from the Admiral.
"Move out—straight to the capital. Let the Navy handle the rest."
Kas turned, leading his forces away, ignoring the stunned civilians.
Wilbur tossed down a copy of Justicefaith. "Read it. It’ll teach you to judge for yourselves, not just accept appearances."
"Vice Admiral", Donald murmured, concern in his tone. "If this is true, will killing them harm how civilians see us?"
"Doesn’t matter." Kas lifted his gaze, eyes piercing the sky as if staring at a golden pirate ship far away.
"The people’s hatred won’t change our path. Time erases all. We exist to uphold justice. If bearing curses achieves justice, let them curse more. Donald, justice is never simple. If it were, Kuro Mr. wouldn’t still be waiting."
The Navy vanished into the distance. The civilians returned home, and the wind carried the Justicefaith book away.
…
Dragon stared at the distant Kuro, his mind tangled.
Why did the Navy, upon learning the truth, massacre the capital’s nobles? Why did Dressrosa arrive soon after, claiming conquest?
"Your Navy… and Dressrosa… are they part of your territory?"
What are you planning?
What is your justice?
Dragon burned to know the answer!
(End of Chapter)
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