Three days later, East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.
"Who would've thought an organization like the Cross Guild would erge in this world? Reverse Bounty Posters? Truly audacious."
Shimotsuki Koushirou sat in the dojo's tearoom, lifting his cup as he spoke to Monkey D. Dragon, who sat across from him.
"This isn't surprising. After all, Rayleigh was Gold Roger's first mate. That man... has the eyes of a lion." Dragon also picked up his teacup and brought it to his lips.
"So when given the chance for revenge, he'd naturally seize it without hesitation."
"However, the Revolutionary Army's ambitions are even greater than those of the Cross Guild." Behind his pale glasses, Koushirou narrow eyes opened slightly, revealing sharp focus.
"I can help you resolve the issue of procuring food supplies, but I hope you'll keep it confidential. Don't let others know the provisions ca from Shimotsuki Village and surrounding areas."
"Of course." Dragon nodded in agreent. "We're engaged in the world's most dangerous work. Naturally, we'll take care not to involve civilians. But—"
"But? There is no 'but.'" Koushirou shook his head as if foreseeing the question.
"I cannot join the Revolutionary Army. My daughter has just been born and my father is growing old..."
Dragon showed no reaction to being rejected again—this outco didn't surprise him.
Ever since he witnessed that swordsmanship philosophy—"If you do not wish to cut, then even paper cannot be severed"—he had been deeply affected.
Back when he was still with the Marines, he had discussed the realms of swordsmanship with Michael.
In Michael's eyes, this was the highest attainable state.
Even the isolated nation of Wano had records describing such swordsmanship, perfectly aligning with Michael's theory.
It left such an impression on him that when he finally witnessed it firsthand, his shock was no less than when he first recognized Michael's talent.
"Very well. Since Shimotsuki-san has no such intentions, I won't bring this up again from now on."
Dragon nodded, making his promise.
The two then resud drinking tea in silence.
After a while, the usually energetic Ginny popped her head into view from the tea room's window.
"Boss, that guy's here."
"I've told you many tis, Ginny." Dragon sighed with slight exasperation.
"Address him as the Chief of Staff."
"I'm just considering his secret identity!"
Ginny grinned, prompting a wry smile from Kuma behind her.
Even as a Revolutionary, Ginny's childish personality remained unchanged.
"Alright, Kuma, don't make that face." Suddenly, Kuma felt a hand pat his shoulder.
Turning, he saw Michael, clad in his large white hood.
"We're Revolutionary battling for the world's sake."
With that, Michael landed on the ground.
However, he didn't enter the tea room.
Instead, he beckoned to Ginny.
"Co here, Miss Bottomless Stomach. Got sothing for you."
"Who're you calling 'Bottomless Stomach'?!"
"...Just look at the at in your hand! Can't even deliver a ssage without eating!"
Michael's eye twitched before handing Ginny the wooden box he'd been carrying.
"Open it."
"What's this? A Devil Fruit?"
Ginny opened the box and stared at the Fla-Fla Fruit resting inside, puzzled.
She wasn't unfamiliar with Devil Fruits.
Back in God Valley, they'd only escaped that hellscape by stealing the Celestial Dragons' Devil Fruits—prizes for their hunting competition.
In other words, it was just bad luck that they encountered Charlotte Linlin, who was still a mber of the Rocks Pirates at the ti and the Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Azure Dragon was stolen from them.
Otherwise, the Revolutionary Army today would have had an additional Azure Dragon Ivankov!
But having witnessed Kuma's expression when he ate a Devil Fruit and later hearing Kuma describe how disgustingly awful it tasted…
As a self-proclaid gourt, she couldn't help but keep her distance.
"Michael, where did this Devil Fruit co from?" Dragon asked with a serious expression.
"If it was a reward from the Marines, then its abilities would have been confird and recorded."
The implication was clear—this could expose Michael's ties to the Revolutionary Army.
But Michael shook his head and laughed.
"No worries. This was a 'thank-you gift' from a Celestial Dragon I saved—he insisted I take it. Who knows what those Celestial Dragons have hidden in their collections?"
"A… Celestial Dragon?"
Everyone present imdiately furrowed their brows but instinctively turned their gazes toward Michael.
Of course, they wouldn't hold it against him just because of his words—they had seen firsthand Michael's hatred for the Celestial Dragons and the World Governnt.
"What exactly happened?" Dragon pressed. "The only recent incident involving Celestial Dragons… was the execution event announcing the establishnt of the Cross Guild!"
"That's right, it was that incident."
Michael grinned, not hiding anything from his comrades in the Revolutionary Army.
"To set up this sche, I had to offer quite a few benefits to get Rayleigh, Gaban, and Gloriosa to co out of retirent."
"...So you're the one behind the Cross Guild?"
"Sharp as ever, Dragon." Michael nodded. "That's right. I organized the Cross Guild. I was the one who ambushed the Celestial Dragons, the one who issued a warning to the world and the one who ultimately saved a three-year-old Celestial Dragon."
Michael casually laid out the series of events that had shaken the entire world.
Even Monkey D. Dragon was montarily stunned.
But after a mont of thought, Dragon's sharp mind quickly pieced together the underlying sche.
On the surface, the Cross Guild appeared to be nothing more than an audacious bounty hunter organization.
But in reality, its existence would serve as the perfect smokescreen for the Revolutionary Army.
Before the Revolutionary Army made their next major move, their operations—limited to liberating surrounding nations across the seas—wouldn't draw direct targeting from the World Governnt, let alone the Celestial Dragons.
To the World Governnt, the threat posed by the Revolutionary Army paled in comparison to that of the Cross Guild!
"So, to keep the Revolutionary Army hidden in the shadows, you created another massive and dangerous organization?"
"For the sake of revolution… shouldn't we be willing to do whatever it takes?"
Michael chuckled, then placed the wooden box in Ginny's hands.
"Like I said earlier, Ginny, this is the Fla-Fla Fruit, a Logia-type Devil Fruit."
"You should know how powerful Logia abilities are."
"Even though Devil Fruits taste terrible, for the sake of revolution, we're willing to risk our lives—let alone endure sothing as trivial as 'bad taste' to gain power."
"And… don't you want to keep fighting alongside Kuma?"
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