Baldigo, the White Soil Island.
This was the base of the newly formed Revolutionary Army.
At the edge of a naturally formed platform stood a man nearly seven meters tall.
The man had a stern face and wore a spotted hat.
On that hat sat a pair of fluffy bear ears that clashed with his appearance.
He held a book in his hand, quietly gazing ahead.
Whoosh—
A gust swept past, and a current of air swirled beside him before coalescing into a cloaked man.
He was Dragon, the spiritual leader of the Revolutionary Army.
The little giant showed no reaction, as though Dragon's arrival was nothing unusual.
Neither of them spoke.
After a long while, Dragon said:
"Kuma, have you really made up your mind?"
The little giant, Kuma, replied:
"Don't try to persuade me, Dragon. If you succeed, then all of this will have meant something."
Unlike his appearance, his voice was very gentle.
At his words, Dragon gritted his teeth, conflict flickering in his eyes.
But in the end, he said nothing more.
He was the leader of the Revolutionary Army first, and Dragon second.
The two fell silent again.
At some point, Kuma was once again the only figure left on the platform.
He remained motionless.
East Blue, the Goa Kingdom.
A pirate ship with a dragon figurehead slowly approached the island.
A group disembarked.
"Say, Shanks, why do you insist on bringing that thing along?"
Benn Beckman asked, smoking a cigarette.
Shanks laughed without a care in the world.
"Haha, I don't know either. I felt like bringing it, so I did.
Besides, it's something the World Government wanted. What if someone stole it while we were away?"
"The boss is right!"
Lucky Roux chimed in.
Benn Beckman shook his head.
Perhaps he was