Kamabakka Kingdom, Royal Palace.
"Hehe, don't run away," a group of Okama Newkama in flamboyant dresses wiggled their long, hairy legs as they blushingly chased two figures sprinting ahead.
"Little Brother, Little Brother Luffy, don't run! If we catch you, you'll let us, hehehe," one giggled.
"Sanji??san darling — even though we still adore your Newkama look, you're very handso now! Co play with us happily!" another called out gleefully.
Luffy grinned widely, clutching his Straw Hat,
"Hahahahaha! So Sanji, you've been playing this chase ga for six months now! It's so fun!"
"Huh? Fun? Do you know I have nightmares about this every night?!" Sanji burst out, puffing angrily on his cigarette, whirling around to shout,
"Damn it! You damn Okama! Stay away from . Though I appreciate your sparring before, I really don't like you at all! Please stay away from !"
"Sisters~ Sanji??san, this shy man is pouting at us! So cute!" they teased.
"Little darling, don't run, we're good sisters~"
…
anwhile, Shirogai sat upright in the VIP section, his expression neutral as he observed Luffy laughing joyfully while Sanji tried desperately to escape the Okama. Shirogai spoke with a calm smile:
"So, Dragon believes that spreading artificial Sky Island technology to the entire world will increase oppression against the people."
He paused, his gaze still on the commotion below.
"The scope is too small. Even Dragon's vision is limited after all. Yes, the people are exploited, but their attention is diverted. If they want continuous growth, they must hire more ordinary people, ensuring their basic needs for food, shelter, clothing, and transportation."
"If Dragon truly seeks to liberate the masses — freeing those in bondage and eradicating the World Nobles who steer the world's direction — there is no path but open conflict and direct suppression."
Newkama King Ivankov, Commander of the Revolutionary Army's Grand Line forces, tilted his head and gulped down a large asure of alcohol with a thump, thump sound. Wine dribbled from the corner of their mouth as they wiped it away, looking at Shirogai with both amusent and frustration.
"Hahaha! It's a pity," Ivankov bood, "that you refused to join the Revolutionary Army as Second Commander. Then the Sky Island Alliance's forces could have joined us too!"
"That would have accelerated the liberation of ordinary people everywhere, oppressed by the tyranny of the World Nobles!"
Shirogai gave a composed smile and responded,
"I already expressed my stance when I spoke with Dragon. The Revolutionary Army is taking the right path, but it's long and grueling. The Sky Island Alliance's path is also right, and perhaps faster. There are thousands of roads in the world; in the end, they all lead to the sa destination, differing only in speed."
"However — compared to the Revolutionary Army — the leaders of the Sky Island Alliance are too complicated. Many are notorious villains."
Human??Demon King Ivankov's expression grew serious.
"Hahaha! God??King, aren't you worried that the dragon slayer will beco a dragon himself? The Revolutionary Army purposefully stays distant from the Sky Island Alliance because they fear the Alliance following the sa old way as the World Nobles!"
Ivankov lowered their voice, eyes sharp and earnest.
"If that happens, positions will reverse. Even if your Devil Fruit ability is powerful, God??King, and even if your Air Force Admirals are strong with advanced weaponry, we will still lead the common people and raise the banner of rebellion against your erging hegemony! Even in the sky, we will attack the sky!"
Shirogai remained unflustered, picking up a wine bottle to pour himself a glass. He raised the cup toward Ivankov with an even smile:
"Dragon is indeed the founder of the Revolutionary Army. He sees far. Has he already foreseen all possible outcos even before defeating the World Nobles?"
Shirogai's gaze remained steady as he continued:
"I do not deny that mbers of the Sky Island Alliance are complex."
He took a sip of wine, then said,
"But does complexity make them evil? Are all who succeed inherently good? Take you, Human??Demon King — haven't you done things others would call wrong? Haven't you killed when necessary?"
Ivankov froze, expression twitching, then frowned slightly.
"That's not the point! Even if I made mistakes, I can bear responsibility! But among the Air Force you ford, many powerful pirates act recklessly and commit atrocities. Even if they beco Admirals, they will act on their own impulses, caring nothing about ordinary people."
"They can be held accountable. In the face of absolute right and wrong, even an Air Force Admiral will be judged! Even if it ans paying with their life!"
Shirogai's resolute words left Ivankov montarily silent. They took a deep breath and sighed.
"If the World Nobles are truly defeated soday," Ivankov asked quietly, "will the Sky Island Alliance and the Revolutionary Army still clash?"
Shirogai smiled with calm certainty.
"The world is vast enough for many ideals. If sothing is easily wiped out, it signifies it was unfit to endure."
"If the Revolutionary Army's ideals are just, the world will embrace them and spread them. If the Sky Island Alliance's ideals are flawed, then even with advanced technology, its ti will co."
Ivankov blinked, then rembered sothing.
"Your Talent??Talent Fruit allows mastery over other Devil Fruit abilities, right?"
Their eyes locked onto Shirogai's.
"You must have t Dr. Vegapunk, the greatest intellect in the world! You should have already learned the power of the Brain??Brain Fruit. That's why Sky Island's technology surpasses its era!"
"That's correct," Shirogai confird without hiding anything.
"The Brain??Brain Fruit's power is formidable and extrely useful in my plans. I have already applied it in many aspects."
Ivankov leaned forward with heavy breathing.
"Then I'm very curious — why don't you use the Brain??Brain Fruit to calculate which developnt path best matches the world's progression? The truth surely lies within reach…"
Shirogai put down his wine glass. The carefree smile faded, replaced by a calm, serious gaze.
"Ivankov, what do you think I am?"
Ivankov blinked as Shirogai continued, voice steady and unhurried.
"Just because others call
God??King, does that make
a god? Are my words absolute truth? If soone commands others in the na of God, in the na of truth, then that person has already walked a twisted path. It's only a matter of ti before the world consus them."
Ivankov was struck silent. Soone once told them the sa thing. They believed no being should be crowned a god — not human, not other creatures.
Shirogai's eyes shifted slightly, focusing on a room behind Ivankov. A knowing smile curved on his lips.
"You knew this test was aningless, yet you still allowed Ivankov to evaluate . Isn't that a bit petty?"
At that mont, the door opened. A middle??aged man in a dark green coat stepped out. A red tattoo marked his left cheek, and his face was clean??shaven. He walked forward, grinning at Shirogai with a sharp look in his eyes.
"Necessary tests are still needed," the man said with a cold smile, "after all, you want
to treat you like a human, don't you, Almighty God??King?"
===
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