Freedom Alliance

Ryan and Buggy waited at the port while designing a pattern and waiting for Golden Lion and the others to return.

After waiting for quite a while, Golden Lion finally arrived late, controlling more than a dozen large ships. Everyone froze for a moment when they saw Ryan and Buggy standing at the dock.

"What are you two doing here?" Golden Lion couldn't help asking.

Ryan and Buggy had clearly still been in Mary Geoise carrying out a secret mission earlier, yet now they had appeared in Water 7. Judging from how relaxed they looked, they had probably been waiting there for some time.

Ryan gave a sly grin. "Guess."

"Talking to you is so infuriating!" Golden Lion cursed under his breath.

Everyone nodded in agreement!

Ryan said to Tiger and Beli, "Gather everyone together. I have a few words to say!" Tiger and Beli had been the ones who rescued everyone during this operation, so they were somewhat more familiar with them.

Soon, everyone had gathered. More than twelve hundred people stood densely packed on the dock, gazing at Ryan above them with worshipful eyes.

Looking at the crowd below, Ryan felt pressure for the first time. It wasn't caused by the sheer number of people, but by the fanatical worship in their eyes.

Ryan had never considered himself an especially righteous person. He merely acted according to his own principles.

For example, when he rescued the slaves in the South Blue, it was simply because he had seen them and had the strength to help, so he did.

If Ryan had still been weak at the time, he wouldn't have rescued those slaves at all. He would have pretended not to see them. After all, when comparing the lives of others to his own, which mattered more? That was why Ryan had specifically told everyone not to call him their benefactor.

This time was much the same. He had gone with Tiger to Mary Geoise to rescue the slaves because he wanted to use the opportunity to probe the Five Elders and Imu and find out what they were truly capable of.

Although the result had been Ryan leading everyone into Mary Geoise and rescuing them from the Celestial Dragons, that had not been his original intention.

So when Ryan saw the people below looking at him as though he were a savior, he felt unworthy. He had merely pursued his own objective and rescued them along the way.

Ever since Ryan had crossed into the world of One Piece and obtained the system, all he had wanted was to live freely and happily in this world. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said those things to Beli back then.

Seeing that everyone below was waiting for him to speak, Ryan could only suppress the confusion in his heart and address them. "Everyone! Starting today, you are free. From now on, you are no longer slaves of the Celestial Dragons!"

The crowd below erupted in cheers, celebrating their freedom and their escape from hell!

Ryan raised a hand, and everyone gradually stopped cheering and continued waiting for him, as though they were listening to a god's teachings.

Golden Lion watched the crowd fall silent at a single gesture from Ryan and couldn't help sighing. "A natural leader!"

Hearing Golden Lion praise Ryan, the corners of Fujitora's mouth lifted slightly. Of course. This is the man I bet my entire gambling career on.

If Ryan had heard Golden Lion's praise, he probably would have been speechless. Most people in his previous life already knew these things. He had merely imitated them.

"Next, you have three choices. First, you can return home, reunite with your family and friends, and continue living your own lives. Second, I plan to establish an organization, and those of you who have nowhere to go can join it. Third, you can make your own way in this sea."

Ryan's words reached everyone's ears clearly. Many of them began furrowing their brows and thinking about where they should go from there.

Ryan had come up with these three choices after careful consideration. After all, if such a large group of people wasn't properly arranged, they could become a disaster.

To put it bluntly, many people here had developed psychological problems. Years of slavery had twisted the minds of many. If they weren't given a goal, some of them might become twisted butchers.

Many people soon made their decisions. Those who still had family chose to return and live their own lives. Aside from twelve people who planned to make their own way across the sea, everyone else intended to join the organization.

Ryan gathered the remaining 888 people who planned to join the organization and addressed them.

"From now on, you are all family. Our organization is called the Freedom Alliance, and its goal is to free every slave in the world!"

Ryan paused before continuing.

"You may have to fight for this for the rest of your lives!"

"This goal may never be achieved!"

"Every one of you may die while trying to achieve it!"

"You will sacrifice your own freedom and fight for the freedom of others!"

"I'll ask you one last time! Does anyone want to withdraw?"

There was no answer. Only silence, and those burning gazes.

Although they said nothing, that was their answer!

"Welcome to the Freedom Alliance. Remember, our slogan is: Fight for freedom!"

"What is our slogan?"

"Fight for freedom!" the 888 people roared at the top of their lungs.

"What is our goal?"

"To free every slave in the world!"

Their unified voices echoed across the dock for a long time.

Watching Ryan gradually whip the crowd into a frenzy with only a few words, Golden Lion and the others all sucked in a breath.

Tiger had already thrown himself into it. He practically wished he could join the Freedom Alliance immediately. Ryan's words had set his blood boiling. Tiger had once been a slave himself, so he understood all too well how desperately slaves yearned for freedom!

Earlier, when Beli said Ryan's mouth was even more formidable than his swordsmanship, they had thought Beli was lying. Now they still thought Beli had been lying!

How was it merely a little more formidable? They weren't even in the same league!

Ryan continued addressing the crowd. "From now on, your leader will be Tiger!" After speaking, Ryan gestured for Tiger to come up and show himself.

Ryan had chosen Tiger long ago. The others were clearly unsuitable. As someone who had also been a slave, Tiger was the most appropriate candidate.

Moreover, Tiger had extensive leadership experience. On Fish-Man Island, he had been the boss of the backstreets, managing a group of underlings.

Tiger walked up nervously. He had never expected Ryan to make him the leader of the Freedom Alliance!

"Ryan... I... I can't do this!" Tiger stammered.

Ryan said earnestly, "Tiger, remember this: a man must never say that he can't do something!"

As he spoke, Ryan gave Tiger's shoulder a heavy pat!

"I understand, but the leader of the Freedom Alliance has to be you—and can only be you!" Tiger said solemnly.

Ryan was rather casual about the matter. As long as he didn't have to manage it himself, being an honorary leader was fine.

"Then you'll be the second leader!" Ryan immediately made the decision.

"Good!"

After Tiger stepped onto the platform and showed himself, he went back down. Ryan had done this to make it easier for Tiger to manage things in the future.

Ryan took out the pattern he had designed and addressed everyone. "From now on, everyone in the Freedom Alliance will be branded with this pattern. The hoof of the dragon on your backs will no longer be a symbol of shame. It will become a symbol of honor!"

Everyone on the dock was moved to tears.

"Lord Ryan really thought of everything for us. He even considered this!"

"I'm willing to die for Lord Ryan!"

"As if I'm the only one who isn't willing!" someone immediately scoffed.

Just then, the bells of Water 7 rang out.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

It was as though they were celebrating the founding of the Freedom Alliance.

The bells ringing at midnight represented the beginning of a new day!

----------------------------------------Ryan's life will go through four stages. Right now, he is transitioning from the first stage to the second. What I want to write is the story of an ordinary person who crosses into the world of One Piece and gains power. No one starts out wanting to be a hero, a schemer, or a world ruler. As the story develops, it won't merely grow in length. Ryan will grow and change as well, becoming more mature with age and experience.