Grand Line, Baltigo.
The wind swept across the barren rocky plains, carrying fine white sand with it.
Inside a hidden stone chamber, Dragon stood before an enormous world map.
The map was densely covered in red markers.
Every marker represented a spark the Revolutionary Army had planted over many years.
In the direction of the New World, two enormous black crosses were especially glaring.
Totto Land.
Onigashima.
Sabo stood to one side, gripping a freshly delivered newspaper, his gaze lingering on it for a long time.
[Two Emperors Fall in a Single Day!] [The Marines Purge the New World, and the World Government Remains Silent!]
Those words exploded over the world like thunder.
Ivankov could not help but grin.
"Hee-haw!"
"That Azure Dragon really has turned the whole world upside down!"
No one disagreed, because it was true.
Even before the Two Emperors Purge War began, Dragon had received an unsigned piece of intelligence through covert channels.
"Once the Two Emperors Purge War begins, the World Government will be tied down on multiple fronts by the Holy Land, the Marines, public opinion, and underground funding."
"That will be your best window to act."
Dragon had remained silent for a long time after reading it.
Because he had known at a glance who those words came from.
Rock would not raise the banner for the Revolutionary Army, openly acknowledge them, or let the Marines bear the accusation of colluding with them.
But he would force the World Government into its busiest, most chaotic, least able-to-look-back moment—then push open that door.
As for whether the Revolutionary Army dared to walk through it, that was their own affair.
Dragon had not wasted the opportunity.
In truth, the Revolutionary Army had waited many years for this day.
There were more than three hundred countries