Monkey D. Dragon's Invitation

"I really need Space-Time Sealing Jutsu. This is such a hassle without it."

Brando saw quite a few things he wanted to buy, and his hoarding habit was starting to act up.

But he could not carry them, nor did he have a ship to store them on.

Summoning Jutsu could not be used like Space-Time Sealing Jutsu. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to obtain Space-Time Sealing Jutsu and become a mobile warehouse like Tenten.

After Garp arrived in Loguetown, he did not do much of anything. He just wandered around, with no intention of working at all. Unless news came from the World Government and Sengoku contacted him, he would never voluntarily do a bit of work.

And Brando was not a pirate. Garp had no interest in anyone who was not a pirate; the only trait he liked was being a pirate!

After spending two days in Loguetown, Brando caught two pirates to release some Haki on. At the same time, he threw his weight around in the underground black market and successfully obtained an Eternal Pose for one of the islands along a route through Grand Line Paradise, while also increasing his currently pitiful amount of chakra.

Brando planned to cross the Red Line alone and enter the Grand Line. Going through Reverse Mountain was not suitable for him; he would need both a ship and a navigator.

Just as Brando was looking for an inn to get a good night's rest before leaving at dawn tomorrow, someone blocked his way in a dim alley.

A face that looked as though it had been smacked by a Supreme Grade Great Slipper.

Monkey D. Dragon.

The moment Brando saw him, he knew his identity had been exposed.

Dark clouds spread across the sky, and a light drizzle began to fall.

"I didn't expect someone like you to come see me in person."

Even Brando was somewhat surprised.

Monkey D. Dragon had also been among the targets of his Haki, but he had never expected to encounter him in Loguetown.

"Looks like I found the right person."

"Our people have some intelligence in the black market as well. At this time, a lone wolf appeared who was interested in the Grand Line. I guessed it had to be you."

As Monkey D. Dragon explained how he had found him, he removed his hood and revealed his face.

Brando activated his Sharingan immediately.

The man before him was extremely dangerous. Brando did not dare let down his guard in the slightest.

"Don't tell me you're here to invite me to join the Revolutionary Army."

Brando felt that was the only value he had to the Revolutionary Army.

"That's right. The Revolutionary Army has always recruited righteous people who dare to resist the World Government. You dared to strike at a Celestial Dragon, so joining the Revolutionary Army is the best choice."

Monkey D. Dragon nodded and admitted it directly.

He believed Brando's Devil Fruit ability was quite unusual and especially suited for fighting the World Government. He guessed it was the Copy-Copy Fruit. Such an ability was extremely useful for gathering intelligence and infiltration.

The Revolutionary Army was currently being suppressed rather severely, so they needed people who could infiltrate the World Government and help obtain intelligence.

"Ha ha ha!"

"What makes you think I'd join the Revolutionary Army?"

"Because of your so-called freedom and equality?"

Brando openly laughed without any attempt to hide his ridicule.

"All over the world, people are constantly being driven to ruin by the Heavenly Tribute demanded by the Celestial Dragons. Many are forced into slavery and lose their lives. Entire countries that cannot afford the Heavenly Tribute are reduced to slaves and slaughtered."

"What we must do is save these people, overthrow the rule of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, and liberate everyone!"

Monkey D. Dragon spoke with great seriousness about the Revolutionary Army's ideals.

After the God Valley incident, he had become thoroughly disappointed. He left the Marines and founded the Freedom Fighters, which later gained everyone's recognition and was reformed into the Revolutionary Army.

Over the years, he had overthrown the oppressive rule of more than ten countries and saved countless people. He believed he had done nothing wrong.

"Heh, do you think the World Government's goals were any different when it was first founded?"

"Heroes will eventually become dragons. You're merely repeating the same mistakes. This endless cycle will continue—once you overthrow the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, you'll become the new Celestial Dragons. That has never changed."

Brando calmly stated his view.

He had no interest in saving ordinary people, nor did he possess that much empathy.

In a world with supernatural powers, equality? That was the biggest joke of all.

Such a world could never be equal. After all, some people could not even die. The notion of one life per person did not exist, so how could equality possibly exist?

It was nothing but a perfectly woven lie, just like Infinite Tsukuyomi—no, it was even worse than Infinite Tsukuyomi!

"Our Revolutionary Army won't become like that. We all have ideals, and we're even willing to give our lives for them. After overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, we absolutely won't repeat the same mistakes."

Monkey D. Dragon hurriedly argued.

He had considered that possibility too, but he did not believe it would happen.

"Sorry, but I don't believe in these so-called ideals. I'm someone who puts profit above all else."

"Everything is chosen with profit as the highest priority."

"If you think what you're saying is true, then I have only one condition for joining the Revolutionary Army: I want to become its leader."

Seeing Monkey D. Dragon's serious expression, Brando mercilessly stated his demand.

"That... I'm afraid I can't agree to that. You can join us first. If you earn the recognition of the other members, I'm willing to give you my position as leader."

Monkey D. Dragon looked troubled before finally saying this.

Clearly, he did not believe Brando could replace him. Yet he also believed Brando had the determination to oppose the World Government, that he was not a bad person, and that if Brando truly could gain everyone's recognition, he would be willing to step down and yield his position.

"Stop saying things that make people laugh. In a world like this, there's only one way to solve anything: become stronger. Become stronger than everyone else, and then whatever you want to do can be accomplished."

"Stop deceiving yourself with this hypocritical self-satisfaction. None of what you're doing has any meaning. People are dying everywhere in the world, and you can't save them all. Isn't your so-called liberation just another desire to satisfy yourself?"

"Put away that sanctimonious face. It makes me sick."

Brando sneered.

What the Revolutionary Army was doing had no meaning at all. Brando could already guess the final plot: only after Luffy defeated the final "god" would the Revolutionary Army be able to overthrow the World Government.

Without Luffy defeating that "god," everything else was meaningless.

In a world of supernatural powers, strength was the only thing that mattered.

He believed Monkey D. Dragon understood that as well, yet he still chose to act this way.

"But if we do nothing, then nothing will ever change."

After remaining silent for a while, Monkey D. Dragon raised his head and spoke firmly.

After witnessing those scenes, he could no longer remain indifferent. He did not want to live numbly while ignoring suffering, so he wanted change. Even if it was only a little, he was willing to act.

"You..."

Brando revealed a surprised expression.

"You have my recognition, but unfortunately, I still have no intention of joining the Revolutionary Army."

After acknowledging him, Brando refused once again.

What does your dream have to do with me?

If he had a God Tree capable of activating Infinite Tsukuyomi, he would have acted long ago. Every day, he would make everyone inside Infinite Tsukuyomi endure his Will of the Overlord, letting them experience all day long what it felt like to be surrounded by Konoha's troublesome civilians!