Invitation (Please Bookmark and Recommend)

On the inner city wall of Pus Island, Zhong Hao sat facing Dragon, while Robin sat behind Zhong Hao and watched them.

Below the wall, Emporio Ivankov and Shandi's battle had already ended. Shandi was bound off to one side, while the others stood beneath the wall, raising their heads silently to watch the two figures above—one large, one small.

On the wall, the two looked at each other. Dragon spoke first. "From what you said earlier, it seemed you already knew it was me four years ago?"

"More or less," Zhong Hao said.

Dragon continued, "Then what did your words at the dock mean?"

"Don't you know?"

Dragon shook his head. "I want to know your interpretation."

Zhong Hao shook his head as well. "When you first heard those words, the first interpretation that came to mind was your own insight, and it was what you needed. My interpretation isn't important."

Dragon nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "How do you understand the Revolutionary Army?"

Zhong Hao frowned in thought for a moment, then pointed to the people below, who were looking up at them. "They are an uprising. Those in power care only for their own pleasure, showing no concern for ordinary people. They levy harsh taxes, extort relentlessly, and live in endless extravagance, leaving the country in misery. The people are forced to rise up in resistance. That is what it means when oppression drives people to rebel."

Dragon nodded slightly without speaking. He knew Zhong Hao had not finished. He had only spoken of an uprising, not revolution.

Zhong Hao continued, "Revolution means transformation. It means changing through new ideas and new systems, casting aside old, decayed social structures that harm the people. A successful revolution is progress for world civilization."

A bright light shone in Dragon's eyes as he asked, "Is that your understanding of revolution? You see farther than I do. All I had wanted was to overthrow the corrupt World Government and build a fair, peaceful world of universal harmony."

Zhong Hao shook his head. "That alone would only repeat the same cycle. Even if you overthrow the World Government and establish a new regime, a few centuries later, the founding generation will have passed on, and the descendants will go unchecked. Gradually, they will be intoxicated by power, chasing authority and profit. Wouldn't that simply become another corrupt World Government?"

As Robin listened to their conversation, her eyes widened round. She had never expected these two to discuss something so lofty in broad daylight—and one of them was an eight- or nine-year-old kid. No matter how she looked at it, it felt utterly out of place.

Dragon let out a heavy breath and said dejectedly, "So I was merely staging an uprising, not carrying out a true revolution."

He suddenly raised his head and said solemnly, "I, Dragon, formally invite you to join the Revolutionary Army, to guide us in new ideas and establish a new civilizational order."

Hearing this, Zhong Hao did not know whether to laugh or cry. He knew very well that he was merely standing on the shoulders of giants; he did not possess such lofty vision himself.

He repeatedly shook his head. "The Revolutionary Army doesn't align with my outlook on life. What I said just now was only empty talk. If you truly asked me to put it into practice, I couldn't do it. And I'm not someone who cares about the whole world. I'm far more selfish than you imagine. Most importantly, if I joined the Revolutionary Army, my teacher would be put in a difficult position. His circumstances in the Marines would become very bad as well."

"Old man Garp..." Dragon was unwilling to accept it, yet helpless. Zhong Hao's concern was rooted in the most basic filial duty, so Dragon could not persuade him further. He could only ask, "Then what are these new ideas and new systems you speak of?"

"You're the leader, so naturally you should be the one to think of them. Gather companions who share your ideals and pool everyone's wisdom and efforts." Zhong Hao crossed his legs and laid Sea Fang flat across them. "I'll give you one more saying. Perhaps it will inspire you."

Dragon straightened his posture, his expression incomparably serious, like a student listening attentively in class. After all, this was the goal and dream of his life. He could not afford even the slightest carelessness.

Zhong Hao said solemnly, "There is a saying in my hometown: 'The people are most important; the state comes next; the ruler is least.' You can build a new system around those words."

"The state?" Dragon froze. He understood "the people," and "the ruler" referred to those with the highest authority, such as kings and leaders. But he had never heard the term "the state," though he vaguely had some idea of what it meant.

Seeing his confusion, Zhong Hao explained, "You can understand it as the regime."

"Seeking the welfare of the people as the highest principle, with the regime second, weakening the power of kings..." Dragon murmured softly, seeming to realize something. He bent forward in a bow and said solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance."

Zhong Hao waved his hand. "By the way, there's something I've never been able to understand. Why did you choose this path of revolution?"

Dragon glanced at Robin, then looked to Zhong Hao with a questioning gaze. Zhong Hao nodded to show that it was fine, and only then did Dragon say, "It's related to the D. Clan. I once happened to obtain some information from the Poneglyphs. Part of it concerned the Celestial Dragons, the World Government, and the D. Clan."

Robin perked up at once, staring at Dragon without blinking. Zhong Hao asked doubtfully, "The Celestial Dragons? The D. Clan?"

Dragon nodded. "The Poneglyphs were carved by the Kozuki Clan of Wano Country, but the ones who seemed to have led all this were the D. Clan. As for the Celestial Dragons, they are the enemies—indeed, the sworn foes—of the entire world and every race. The information I obtained was incomplete and extremely vague, but that was essentially what it amounted to."

Zhong Hao furrowed his brow slightly. "That's all? I heard the D. Clan are the enemies of the gods."

"Old man Garp knows more, but he refuses to tell me. There's also Roger. Kozuki Oden, a descendant of the Kozuki Clan, was once one of his crewmates. He possessed the ability to decipher the Poneglyphs and entered Laugh Tale with him. So I am certain Roger knew the true history. Even if he did not know all of it, he knew at least most of it."

"I once speculated that although he knew setting off the Great Pirate Era would plunge ordinary people into misery and suffering, he still did it because he hoped more pirates who refused to submit to the World Government would appear. Then, under the call of the next One Piece, they could unite their strength and overthrow the World Government. In other words, in Roger's eyes, the World Government was more harmful than pirates."

Zhong Hao pondered for a while before saying, "Roger... The true history is at Laugh Tale, so he definitely knew it. Among his crew, at least Rayleigh and Kozuki Oden knew as well. And as far as I know, he once told Whitebeard everything, so Whitebeard knows too. Didn't you go to them?"

Dragon's heart tightened slightly. He really does know a great deal. Then he shook his head and sighed. "Of course I did. But they said I was not the person Roger was waiting for, so they refused to tell me. I also possess rubbings of two Poneglyphs, one of which is even a red Road Poneglyph. But no one in the Revolutionary Army can read them. That is why I have been searching for Nico Robin, Ohara's sole survivor, yet I was never able to find her."

Zhong Hao froze upon hearing that, then turned to Robin behind him and smiled. "You really are good at hiding."

Dragon's eyes narrowed. "Could it be?"

Zhong Hao nodded, jumped down from the battlement, pulled Robin down as well, and lifted her hood. "She is Robin."

Dragon climbed down from the battlement and studied her carefully for a while, delight appearing on his face. He had never imagined that the person he had searched for all these years would appear before him so easily.

"Hello, Mr. Dragon," Robin said. She knew Zhong Hao wanted her to join the Revolutionary Army, and since this man was its leader, she needed to build a good relationship with him.

"Hello. I'm truly delighted to meet you, Miss Robin," Dragon replied. Then he looked at Zhong Hao. He wanted to invite Robin to join the Revolutionary Army, but he did not know what relationship the two shared.

Zhong Hao saw what he meant and said directly, "Robin is in a very bad situation. Many people want to obtain her or eliminate her. With my current strength, I can't yet provide her with enough protection. I brought her here specifically so she could join the Revolutionary Army."

Protect me! Is he willing to protect me...? Robin's thoughts raced as she stared intently at Zhong Hao, one thought after another flashing through her mind.

Zhong Hao noticed her gaze and explained, "The moment it becomes known that you can read the Poneglyphs, you become a thorn in the World Government's side. The Revolutionary Army is an unwavering anti-World Government organization, and Dragon is even stronger than Aokiji. You'll be safe there."

"Yes. The Poneglyphs are extremely important to the revolutionary cause. As the only known person capable of reading them, so long as even one member of the Revolutionary Army remains, we will protect Miss Robin to the death." Dragon paused, his face solemn. "Here and now, in my capacity as leader of the Revolutionary Army, I invite Miss Robin to serve as an officer of the Revolutionary Army and concurrently as our historical archaeology adviser."

"Then it's settled. Robin has no taste for conflict and usually likes reading quietly, so try not to involve her in battles. But you must also urge her to train diligently and strengthen herself in case of emergencies." Zhong Hao did not ask for Robin's opinion and made the decision for her directly.

"Uh..." Dragon looked at the two of them, unable for a moment to tell what their relationship was. Friends? Brother and sister?

The scene fell silent for a moment...