Dragon: Perhaps One Day, We Can Fight Side by Side?

Soon, the warship docked at the shore of the deserted island.

After the ship's ladder was lowered, Ortolan, carrying a heavy Warhammer, stepped off the ship, followed by Gion.

"It looks like it's never been developed and no one lives there," Ortolan casually glanced at the island before releasing his Observation Haki to conduct a simple survey of its surface.

There were indeed few people around, and Ortolan nodded, quite satisfied.

In fact, if his Observation Haki had penetrated another ten meters or so into the ground, he would have been able to sense that there was something seriously wrong inside the cliff in the center of the opposite island!

However, normally speaking, given the preconceived notion that this place is a deserted island, no one would be so stubborn as to use Observation Haki to scramble the island to its core, right?

Ortolan was able to scan the area with Observation Haki, which is considered quite meticulous.

"It's not a full moon today, it'll be tomorrow. We've been sailing at sea for so long, why don't we let everyone come ashore and stretch their legs? Let's not go too deep into the island, in case we encounter any poisonous creatures or wild beasts, it would only increase the risk of injury. Let's just stay on the shore, have a barbecue party or something, and relax." Ortolan stroked his chin and discussed with Gion beside him.

It had been a while since they left the Red Line and arrived in the South Blue. Gion was also getting tired of being on the ship, so he immediately agreed, saying, "I think it's a good idea."

Soon, Gion called upon his Marines soldiers to begin preparing for tonight's barbecue party.

The Marines soldiers were also very happy, as the warships had ample supplies and sufficient manpower.

Ortolan found a calm shoreline to fish, trying to calm his increasingly irritable temper over the past two days, while the Marines soldiers acted swiftly.

He hadn't even finished catching a single fish, while the campfire was already set up and the cooks on board were already preparing the ingredients.

Meanwhile, on the cliff, Dragon and Ivankov were huddled together in front of a small ventilation hole, observing the outside world.

Because of their high altitude, they could easily see what was happening on the other side of the coast from the cliffs.

In their view, Marines warships were casually anchored on the shore, and a large group of Marines disembarked, preparing bonfires and food. They all looked beaming with joy, clearly preparing for a party.

Seeing this, Dragon, who came from the Marines, smiled and said, "I am very familiar with this situation. Occasionally, the Marines will choose to stop at a nearby island to hold a banquet and boost morale because they are exhausted from sailing at sea for a long time. It seems that this is what they are doing. They are not here for us, so we can rest assured."

"So how long will this banquet last?" Ivankov asked again.

"Normally, one night should be enough, right? But perhaps because of tonight's revelry, they'll continue to rest on the ship tomorrow and officially set off the day after tomorrow," Dragon said with a knowing look on his face.

"I see. Then there's no problem. We can stay hidden in the base for two or three days and avoid this danger." Ivankov smiled, looking much more relaxed. He then casually asked, "Do you recognize which Marines officer that is? Maybe he's a friend of yours?"

Upon hearing this, Dragon leaned forward again and peered through the hole. Soon after, he saw Gion helping the Marines soldiers on the beach.

"It's Gion!" Dragon smiled and said, "I'm on pretty good terms with her. When she first joined the Marines, I was even her superior officer..."

"From what you're saying, she's a very good Marines?" Ivankov asked again.

"Yes, Gion is a very righteous Marines. She also has great potential and talent. I even think that she will be able to reach the level of Marine Admiral in the future..." Dragon said with some emotion, "But at that time, I was confused and at a loss myself. Otherwise, I might have dragged her into the promising career of the Freedom Army with me."

"When we grow bigger and stronger, there will still be opportunities," Ivankov said confidently, patting Dragon on the shoulder.

Upon hearing this, Dragon laughed and said, "You're right. There are actually many reliable guys in the Marines. It's just that they've been tied down for too long. They can't see any hope and have become somewhat despondent. If we can give them hope and an opportunity in the future, they might really be able to achieve great things!"

Dragon loathed the dark, quagmire-ridden Marines and deeply resented the upper echelons of Mary Geoise and the Celestial Dragons who had created this mess.

He didn't actually hate his father, the Marines Admiral Sengoku Teacher Zephyr because of this.

He knew very well that this world needed people like him to stand up, overcome obstacles, and forge a new path. At the same time, it also needed people like Garp, Sengoku, Chief Staff Officer Tsuru and rolled in the quagmire.

If it weren't for them writhing and struggling in that quagmire, the massive Marines would probably have collapsed long ago, and the impact of the Marines's collapse on the world would have been absolutely terrifying.

How many people will die before this ocean returns to its current eerie balance and tranquility? Nobody knows; it's certainly an astronomical number.

Although Dragon disdains the so-called 'big picture' advocated by Sengoku, Garp, and the others, he acknowledges that it is indeed a necessary sacrifice.

This sacrifice refers not only to the innocent lives crushed by darkness, but also to the tormented hearts and spirits of these high-ranking Marines officers.

Whether it was their own father, the Admiral Sengoku, or Teacher Zephyr, who among them didn't join the Marines with a heart full of justice?

Do they enjoy struggling in that quagmire, which is why they stay in the Marines? With their strength and abilities, they wouldn't be worse off than they are now, no matter where they are outside the Marines, right?

Why insist on staying there?

Dragon has always believed that there are still many reliable champions of justice in the Marines, but they don't have a better way out right now and can only struggle in that quagmire.

But sooner or later, Dragon will bring them new options, and perhaps then, everything will be different?

"Who knows, maybe we'll fight side by side again someday?" Dragon thought to himself.

Just as Dragon was pondering these thoughts, Ivankov suddenly spoke up, "Hey? Who's that guy also wearing Rear Admiral general's epaulets? He looks kind of familiar."

"Which one?" Dragon asked, glancing at the spot.

"He's the guy sitting a bit off to the side, the one who seems a little out of place, fishing over there!" Ivankov described.

Soon, Dragon spotted the figure, frowning as he said, "From behind, he doesn't seem familiar, but that Warhammer on his back... I feel like I've seen it somewhere before..."

A moment later, Ivankov and Dragon exchanged a glance and said at the same time, "It's that guy in the newspaper who defeated the Red Count!"

"He's a formidable character, at least according to the newspapers. The Marines considers him a new generation monster, no less powerful than Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino. He's also a user of the Goro Goro no Mi, and it's said he's incredibly strong and Steel Bones and Iron Muscles... Speaking of which, Borsalino and the other two really that strong? Are they stronger than you?" Ivankov asked, looking at Dragon.

Dragon paused for a moment, then stroked his chin and said, "Out of pride, I think I should be stronger than them, right? But those three guys were indeed very strong, and probably even stronger now. Let me put it this way, I'm confident in a one-on-one fight, but if it's a two-on-one situation, I have absolutely no chance of winning!"

After a brief pause, Dragon smiled confidently and said, "Even if we're not strong enough, we won't lose to them easily."

Hearing this, Ivankov sighed and said, "It seems the Marines truly has a wealth of talent..."

Upon hearing this, Dragon remarked with a touch of emotion, "Indeed, otherwise how could the Marines be the Overlord of the Sea?"

After observing for a while longer and seeing that the Marines was indeed holding a banquet, Dragon and Ivankov were completely relieved and left to rest.

Let's wait a couple of days, until the Marines has left and things have calmed down again, before we start working.