Buggy D Clown

Revolutionary Army Headquarters.

Dragon surveyed the crowd, his eyes scanning the faces of his followers, before slowly parting his lips to speak.

"In truth, our Revolutionary Army has always lacked both a clear goal and complete information about our opponents. Without them, even if we manage to overthrow these corrupt nations by force, they will inevitably return to their former state. Without a feasible political system to follow, and without a guiding goal at the helm, our revolution could ultimately fail."

He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.

"Let alone overthrowing the World Government!" he continued, his voice growing more intense. "The gap between our combat power and theirs is simply too vast. The disparity is glaring."

Dragon took another breath before continuing, seemingly unfazed by the shifting expressions in the room.

"Recently, I've gathered some crucial information while following the Buggy Pirates. The current situation is far more dire than we anticipated."

The room fell into a tense silence as the revolutionary leader revealed the extent of the threat they were facing.

"Right now, at least five people are operating at above Admiral-class level within the World Government! I'm unsure how many others exist at the quasi-admiral level, but I know at least three of those I've encountered have reached that tier. For instance, there's Admiral Momousagi, Tokikake, and the Logia-type Smoke Smoke Fruit user, Smoker. Add to that Vegapunk's Seraphim clones—there are at least three combatants under government control who rival the Admiral class."

Dragon's voice grew even darker as he revealed the next piece of the puzzle.

"And that's not all. In the Holy Land, beyond the CP agents, I've learned that the Celestial Dragons have their knights—The God's Knights. There are only seven known members of this order, and each of them is likely as powerful as an Admiral."

A hush swept through the room as Dragon's words began to resonate.

"The Five Elders of the World Government, whom I've encountered once or twice, are extraordinary in both wisdom and strength. Those who command the world are no weaklings. I've felt their power firsthand."

He paused for a moment, the gravity of the situation settling in. "The sheer scale of the World Government's might is overwhelming. Their combat prowess far surpasses ours. I finally understand why the Revolutionary Army has felt so... powerless."

The room remained still, each individual grappling with the enormity of the revelation. Dragon continued, his voice somber but resolute.

"This information, this analysis of the current situation, was given to me by Buggy before I left the Crimson Empire. It's the truth we must face."

Silence filled the room, broken only by the distant buzzing of a phone bug. On the other side, the same stunned silence echoed.

The revolutionaries, once brimming with confidence after toppling the eight nations that had aligned themselves with the World Government, now felt a deep, gnawing fear. The thought of facing the might of the World Government, the Navy, and the terrifying combat forces Dragon had described, left them shaken.

"Is this the reason the World Government has ruled for 800 years?" Bello Betty's voice was laced with disbelief. "How could we possibly stand against them?"

The weight of Dragon's words hung heavily in the air.

"Even if we fight the World Government, the gap in combat power is insurmountable. The head of CP0, certain old marine, and... the God's Knights... all of them could crush us in an instant. We can't defeat them. It's... impossible."

The room fell into a tense, unsettling silence as the full scope of the situation set in. The difference in strength was too great. They had no chance—at least, not yet.

Especially the final words of their leader struck a deep chord—The Five Elders might also be top-tier powerhouses as strong as Yonko!

Despite the overwhelming weight of the revelation, the revolutionary commanders trusted their leader's knowledge implicitly. If Dragon believed it to be true, then it was absolutely inseparable from their reality.

The most pressing issue, however, was the Celestial Dragons and their possession of a secret weapon—a weapon of mass destruction so powerful, that it could serve as the foundation of their rule over the world.

The leader's insights had left them all in stunned silence. The weapon in question was likely one of the three Ancient Weapons: Uranus. The thought of this weapon, capable of reshaping the world map, sent a chill through their ranks.

With such an immense disparity in strength, the question loomed over them like an insurmountable wall—how could the Revolutionary Army ever stand a chance in a war with the World Government?

In the face of such power, their revolutionary leaders of four armies, though equal to admiral in their own right, were simply not enough. They had no hope of winning against the overwhelming might of the world government's military and resources.

In a world where high-end combat powers frequently devastated entire islands and countries, the advantages of fighters below the admiral level seemed irrelevant. If they were to have any chance at victory, they had to overcome the World Government's terrifying combat force. Victory could only come through defeating them at that level.

Without such a victory, the government could still rule the world by force, regardless of their unpopularity. The strength of more than a dozen Admirals was simply too vast for ordinary forces to contend with.

It was clear now—if the war began, the Revolutionary Army had no chance of winning.

The realization settled over them like a heavy fog. Silence hung thick in the air. Even the den den mushi, a constant presence during their meetings, seemed to fall into a quiet slumber.

After what felt like an eternity, Crow, the leader of the northern army, broke the silence. His voice was hoarse, filled with both weariness and hope.

"...Boss... you've known about this... for some time." His voice would carry a rasp, distorted and haunting.

"...Does that mean... you already have... a solution?"

At his words, a flicker of hope stirred within the room. Everyone turned their attention to Dragon, the one who had led them from nothing to this point. They had followed him through every struggle and trusted him in every decision. If there was anyone who could turn the tides, it was him.

They all knew Dragon well—his mind was sharp, his resolve unshakable. And if he had held this information for so long without revealing it, surely he had a plan to confront the impossible odds.

Ohhh, I'm getting all excited just thinking about what our fearless leader has planned! Come on, spill it already! This tension is too much!" Morley's voice carried a dramatic flair, his enthusiasm making the room feel lighter despite the heavy situation.

"Morley, chill out! We're talking strategy here!" Lindbergh adjusted his goggles with a sigh. "Still, the World Government isn't playing around this time. If we're going to fight back, we need something big. What's the move, Boss?" His tone was more analytical but tinged with nervous energy.

"Stop whining, you two!" Betty's voice cut through the room like a whip, her commanding presence demanding attention. "If you're scared, then find some backbone! This is what we signed up for, isn't it? Whatever the Boss has planned, we'll carry it out. That's how revolutions are won." Her confidence was fiery, rallying the mood of everyone present.

The air grew tense again as all eyes turned to their leader, awaiting the plan that could turn the tide against their overwhelming foe.

Swish!

At that moment, the other commanders at the Revolutionary Army's headquarters fixed their gazes on Dragon, their expressions filled with anticipation. They needed to know what their leader's next move would be in the face of such an overwhelming and seemingly invincible foe.

Dragon's voice broke the silence. "Yes, I can do it."

A surge of hope flooded the room, but the next words that followed immediately stunned everyone:

"I want to join the Crimson Empire with the entire Revolutionary Army in tow!"

The room fell into an uproar. Even the four army commanders were left speechless, their minds struggling to process what they'd just heard. Had they misheard?

"What did you say, chief?"

Sabo, standing to the side, stared at Dragon in disbelief.

"I said, I want to lead the Revolutionary Army to join the Crimson Empire!" Dragon's voice was firm, his resolve clear.

"I've made my decision. The Revolutionary Army will align with the Crimson Empire—not as followers, but as partners. This is the path forward to ensure our ideals endure."

New World, Crimson Empire

Piru Piru Piru...

Buggy was in the middle of a conversation with Uta when the den den mushi rang. He glanced at her and smiled, "It's probably Shanks. What do you say? Want to meet him with me?"

After a brief pause, Uta forced a smile and shook her head. "Forget it. I'm not ready to meet that guy just yet."

"Alright, it's your choice," Buggy said with a nonchalant shrug, though a hint of curiosity flickered in his eyes. "If she wants to see you, I'm not stopping her."

Uta let out a soft sigh, her tone heavy with lingering sadness. "Looking for me? That's hard to believe. He hasn't even tried in over a decade."

Buggy, uncharacteristically gentle, gave her a pat on the head. "Tch, don't dwell on it," he muttered. Still, there was a rare softness in his expression as he reached for the Den Den Mushi.

"Oi, Shanks, where the hell are you now?" Buggy barked into the receiver.

Shanks's hearty laugh boomed from the other end. "Buggy! What a surprise. Guess what? I'm right off the coast of your Crimson Empire. Fate must love you!"

Buggy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Cut the theatrics. Did you get your hands on the Golden Lion's fruit yet, or are you still dreaming about recruiting Gabban?"

Shanks chuckled, playful as ever. "Gabban? Come on, Buggy, you know he's got standards. Though I might snag him just to mess with you."

"In your dreams," Buggy shot back, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And about that Vegapunk tech—drop it off at Onigashima. Gabban will handle it. But let's get to the point—are you coming here to see Uta or what? I've already had to knock some sense into her."

The playful edge in Shanks's voice faded, replaced by something more serious. "You've talked to her? You know what she's capable of. Her dreams... her powers—they can spiral out of control."

"Yeah, no thanks to you," Buggy said dryly. "I stopped her before things got out of hand. If I hadn't, half the sea would be singing themselves into oblivion by now."

A low chuckle escaped Shanks, though it was laced with unease. "Figures. And the other thing—the demon king I told you about—has it shown itself?"

Buggy's smirk faltered slightly. "Not yet. Not that I can see, anyway. But something's brewing. I can feel it."

A moment of silence passed between them before Shanks spoke again, his voice quieter now. "She doesn't want to see me, does she?"

Buggy snorted, his irritation bubbling to the surface. "You really don't get it, do you?" he snapped. "You think you did her a favor, leaving her stranded on that island for ten years? Abandoned? Watching her dreams twist into something dangerous while you played the noble idiot? Get real, Shanks."

The line went silent. For once, Shanks had no retort.

Buggy crossed his arms, his tone dripping with disdain. "You know, this mess isn't just on her—it's on you, too. Your parenting skills? They're right up there with Captain Roger's half-baked life lessons and Garp's fists-first approach. You left her alone, Shanks. For years. What did you think would happen? That she'd magically grow into a saint?"

Shanks winced but didn't interrupt, knowing Buggy wasn't done.

"She's lucky Gordon stepped in," Buggy continued, his voice sharp. "If it weren't for him, who knows what kind of disaster she'd be now. Honestly, is Uta staying with you? That's not an option anymore. She'd get dragged into your nonsense and lose herself all over again. But if she's decided to stay here, fine. I'll take care of her. At least in the Crimson Empire, she'll have a purpose—bring in attention, boost the economy, and have a shot at stability."

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