Monkey D. Dragon's guess was spot on.
News over the next half month was reporting daily about the Revolutionary Army, with every captured cadre's history being published, and their past mistakes being greatly exaggerated, turning them into villains by the World Government.
If not for the World Government's news, even the Revolutionary Army wouldn't have realized just how many people had been captured by the CP Department in recent years...
At least one-third of the Revolutionary Army's upper ranks have fallen into the hands of the World Government!
Even the Revolutionary Army's First Half of the Grand Line G Army Commander, the Okama King locked in Impel Down Prison's lowest level, Ivankov, had their true identity revealed by the World Government!
Many cadre within the Revolutionary Army were eager to strike back at the World Government around the globe because they knew the news on the papers were slanderous.
However, due to Dragon's commanding orders, the Revolutionary Army's cadres restrained themselves, accepting Dragon's order, with both minor and major cadres heading towards Bardigo.
Monkey D. Dragon was still secretly investigating the location of Sabo and others' captivity, yet he found nothing about Sabo's location, but instead discovered news of Ace's capture...
This news...
Has yet to be revealed.
"...Sabo... Portgas D. Ace..."
Monkey D. Dragon murmured these names.
To those unaware of them, these two seem unrelated, but Monkey D. Dragon knew of Ace and Sabo's connection.
Therefore, Dragon also knew Ace's true parentage.
Ace...
Is the son of Pirate King Gol D. Roger!
Given Yakushi Kabuto's cunning nature, he couldn't possibly miss Ace's lineage, thus Kabuto risked angering the Whitebeard Pirates to capture Ace, surely not just to imprison him in Impel Down...
"Hmm?"
Monkey D. Dragon frowned, reaching for a new bounty order on the desk, his expression suddenly turning grave.
"Luffy..."
Considering the timing of Portgas D. Ace's capture, it coincides with when Luffy was leaving Alabasta; similarly, Sabo's capture matches when Luffy left Log Town.
Yakushi Kabuto that guy...
Perhaps secretly used Luffy to capture his two sworn brothers!
Monkey D. Dragon slowly clenched his fist: "Based on the sailing route, their next stop should be Long-Ringed Island, right?"
First Half of the Grand Line.
The Straw Hat Pirates have yet to receive the latest news of Sabo's capture.
Moreover, the Straw Hat Pirates' route was surprising, as they weren't heading to Long-Ringed Island like Dragon assumed...
But rather... Sky Island.
During their recent voyages, their Log Pose pointed skyward, prompting Luffy to propose heading toward the legendary Sky Island.
To gather information about Sky Island, the Straw Hat Pirates arrived at Jaya Island, a place dotted with the pirates' haven known as Demon Valley Town.
Jaya Island, Demon Valley Town.
When Monkey D. Luffy, Zoro, and Nami disembarked to scout information in Demon Valley Town, they were surprised to find that this pirate-filled town was unexpectedly harmonious.
The streets were bustling with people, almost everywhere pirates were drunken, yet no pirate dared cause trouble on them.
Only one man with silver hair was an exception.
This man had a long scythe on his back.
Everyone on the street automatically made way for him, and when they saw him, their faces were filled with frightened apprehension, as though afraid of attracting his attention!
"That guy looks so cool!"
Monkey D. Luffy watched the silver-haired man walking down the street, couldn't help but praise, his face full of surprise and admiration.
"Even though he does look cool..."
Nami slowly nodded and then punched Luffy on the head: "He's clearly not someone to mess with! Didn't you see everyone avoiding him?"
"Come on, he doesn't seem that scary!"
Luffy pouted discontentedly, as if seeing something amusing, chuckling as he spoke: "Look, Nami, he seems to be a very polite guy!"
In Luffy's field of view.
The silver-haired man pulled out a peculiar pendant from his chest, smiling as he chatted with a passerby: "Hey, would you like to worship Lord Evil God? The Evil God will protect you..."
"No... no thank you..."
"Hey, that's pretty rude!"
The silver-haired man's face immediately fell.
Seeing his expression, the passerby hesitantly spoke: "Hid... Hidan, I'm still young..."
"But we're about the same age!"
The silver-haired man grinned and spread his hands, sincerely inviting, "As long as you pass the Evil God's test, you can skip this month's protection fee. Money is such a filthy thing for us believers of the Evil God!"
"N-no problem..."
The passerby on the street mumbled, waving their hand, and hurriedly fled from the silver-haired man, seemingly afraid of being pestered by him again.
Others also hurried along, avoiding the silver-haired man's gaze.
The silver-haired man couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, muttering, "What a bunch of faithless people..."
Just as the silver-haired man was about to turn and leave, he saw Monkey D. Luffy and his companions. His smile returned to his face, and he warmly spoke, "It seems I haven't seen you before, huh? Are you newcomers to Demon Valley Town?"
"Yes!"
Monkey D. Luffy nodded, smiling cheekily as he asked, "We're here to inquire about Sky Island..."
"Hahaha... you can ask about anything!"
The silver-haired man's face grew even more enthusiastic, smiling as he asked, "But since you've arrived here, have you paid the protection fee?"
"What... protection fee?"
Monkey D. Luffy couldn't help tilting his head.
Because they had just arrived in Demon Valley Town and didn't yet know the situation here.
However, this place on Jaya Island had a different atmosphere. Though it was filled with pirates, there was rarely any trouble caused by them here.
Moreover, in this small town, it's not about who has the higher bounty that can act arrogantly; rather, those with a lower bounty can live more comfortably.
Because this Demon Valley Town...
Has now been occupied by Kakuzu of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Initially, Kakuzu wanted to purge the pirates in this town, capturing them all to exchange for Navy bounties, but this would have led to the town's decline.
Thus, Kakuzu opted for a new approach.
Kakuzu took over this Demon Valley Town, announcing that every pirate occupying it must tribute money to him, with the tribute amount determined by their bounty.
In exchange for the tribute, Kakuzu promised their safety in Demon Valley Town and that he wouldn't hunt them at sea.
As a result...
Pirates with bounties of 40 or 50 million couldn't spare even a little money, while those with bounties exceeding 100 million dared not appear around Demon Valley Town, as 100 million Belly isn't easily obtained by any pirate!
However, with such a high bounty...
They're easily targeted by Kakuzu.
Any great pirate wanting to navigate the First Half of the Grand Line and survive Kakuzu's hunts must come to Demon Valley Town and pay enough money.
This has made Demon Valley Town prosperous again.
Because once the money is paid, Kakuzu won't capture them at sea, and these pirates can have Demon Valley Town as a safe base.
So pirates have a love-hate relationship with this place...
As long as they remain active in the First Half of the Grand Line, they must come to Demon Valley Town to pay money, and if that's not enough, they must go on expeditions to plunder, only for their bounties to be increased by the Navy;
When the bounty goes up, they need to pay Kakuzu more money, and must plunder more money again, and their bounty will increase further...
This is a deadly cycle!
Until one day, a pirate's bounty reaches an impossibly high number to plunder, and they can no longer pay Kakuzu enough money, ultimately getting killed by Kakuzu's companions and handed to the Navy for bounty...
This Kakuzu...
Sure knows how to make money.
Pirates in the First Half of the Grand Line, if unwilling to enter the New World, will eventually be sapped dry by Kakuzu!
Some low-bounty small pirates have found a business opportunity.
These small pirates simply stopped plundering and started businesses in Demon Valley Town, paying a small amount of Belly each month to ensure they're not threatened by others.
Besides...
There's another way to waive the protection fee.
Pirates can also choose to join Hidan's Cult of Evil God; as long as they become believers, they can be exempt from Kakuzu's protection fee.
However, to join the Evil God's Cult, one must pass the so-called Evil God's test, but so far, no pirate has passed it...
Because the Evil God's test is to survive after being beheaded by Hidan!
What kind of test is this!
Now the pirates in Demon Valley Town fear Hidan's evangelism; they'd rather pay Kakuzu's protection fee than be invited by Hidan to join the Evil God's Cult...
Years ago, many pirates sought small benefits and chose to join Hidan's Evil God's Cult, only to be decapitated on the spot by Hidan!
Now the silver-haired man spreading the Evil God's Cult to the Straw Hat Pirates is Hidan himself, and he's been preaching on this sea for years but remains the only follower of the Evil God's Cult...
Hidan's eyes gleamed as he looked at Luffy and the three newcomers, smiling as he said, "Hahaha... let's find a place to talk properly, and if you're willing to believe in the Evil God, I'll tell you everything you want to know..."