"Father, if possible, could you please tell me before you act next time?" Saint Roselith Seraphina sensed what Victor was thinking and softened her expression as she spoke gently.
"No problem, no problem," Victor replied quickly, almost as though he were afraid his daughter would become upset with him.
"Father, you should rest more." Seeing his reaction, Seraphina's expression became slightly more concerned as she began asking about his health. Victor was, after all, a rather heavyset man, and with his age and lifestyle, problems such as high blood pressure and other ailments were not exactly impossible. His overall health was not particularly reassuring.
Victor merely chuckled and waved away her concern as though it were nothing worth mentioning. Then, as if remembering something, he suddenly brought up the reason Seraphina had stopped earlier.
"By the way, daughter, I saw you stop here just now. Is something wrong? Do you need your father's help?"
When Victor had first noticed the unpleasant expression on Seraphina's face, he had naturally wondered whether she was reluctant to see him. However, as her father, he could hardly bring himself to say something like that directly.
"No, nothing…" Seraphina immediately denied it.
If Victor discovered that those officials had been speaking ill of her behind her back, those people would probably not survive long enough to regret their words.
"I see…" Victor could tell that Seraphina did not want to talk about it, so he did not press her any further.
"Father, I have to go now. My men are waiting for me," Seraphina said quietly.
"Are you certain you don't need those bodyguards? What about taking Adolf with you? No, forget it! I'll just go with you!" Victor clearly had no intention of giving up. In his mind, the more people accompanying his daughter, the safer she would be.
"Alright, Father!" Seraphina had no choice but to invoke the status that came with her Celestial Dragon bloodline. "It's only the New World! We are the descendants of the gods, and this world belongs to us. How could we possibly be afraid of this or that?"
The Celestial Dragons publicly proclaimed themselves to be descendants of the gods, and many of them genuinely believed it.
If their so-called divine ancestors had created and ruled the world, then should the world not naturally belong to their descendants as well?
At least, that was the logic deeply ingrained within the World Government's ruling class.
If the world was supposedly theirs, then why should they fear traveling wherever they pleased?
"Alright, alright."
Victor sighed helplessly before looking at his daughter with concern.
"Then, daughter, take care of yourself. Don't neglect your health, either. No matter how important your work is, you must remember to rest."
"I know, Father."
After saying that, Seraphina turned around and left with Bruce.
…
"Your Highness, Lord Victor is only concerned about you."
Bruce followed a short distance behind Seraphina as they walked back toward the warship. He had noticed the troubled expression on her face and finally decided to speak.
"It's precisely because of Father's concern that I feel the burden on my shoulders has become even heavier." Seraphina's voice was quiet, and there was a trace of anxiety beneath her usual composure. "That is what troubles me the most."
Victor cared about her deeply.
Yet Seraphina knew that she could not simply reassure him by promising that everything would be fine.
What she was preparing to do was dangerous.
It involved challenging not only the authority and privileges of the Celestial Dragons, but potentially the very system that allowed the World Government to maintain control over the world.
And if her plans failed, her own life could be placed in genuine danger.
"Your Highness…" Bruce saw the distress in her eyes but ultimately found himself unable to say anything more.
Some burdens could not be removed by words alone.
The two continued walking in silence until they finally returned to the warship.
"Weren't you a little late?"
Hina was leaning against the railing of the warship when she noticed Seraphina and Bruce approaching. She glanced at them with a faint trace of reproach in her eyes.
Someone had already gone ahead to inform them that the warship was prepared and ready to set sail.
"Exactly, exactly!"
Luna immediately agreed with Hina, though her words were somewhat muffled because her mouth was still full of snacks.
Hina had only just given her the food, and Luna had already developed a strong sense of gratitude toward her.
"Let's go. There is still a great deal of work waiting for us in the New World."
Seraphina paid little attention to Hina's teasing and Luna's complaints. Her expression became serious as she stepped aboard the warship.
The Marines immediately began preparing to depart.
The warship soon left the harbor, its massive hull cutting through the waves as it headed toward the New World.
…
Meanwhile, on an island in the New World near the borders of Wano Country, a completely different operation was already underway.
The island was hidden from ordinary eyes, and the surrounding waters were being carefully monitored by Revolutionary Army personnel.
"Dragon! This time we're overthrowing the territory of one of the Four Emperors. Are you certain the Yonko won't come after us directly?"
Karasu, commander of the Revolutionary Army's Northern Army, looked toward the man standing beside him.
The man wore his familiar dark cloak and a distinctive hood, his face partially concealed from view.
He was none other than Monkey D. Dragon, the Supreme Commander and founder of the Revolutionary Army.
"Don't worry," Dragon replied calmly. "Kaido is too occupied with his conflict against Shanks to waste his time dealing with one of his peripheral territories."
Dragon removed his hat, revealing the distinctive red markings across his face.
Although his voice remained calm, his expression was considerably more serious than usual.
He turned toward another member of the Revolutionary Army.
"However, CP0's infiltration activity has increased considerably recently."
"The Cipher Pol agents have been moving more frequently?"
Sabo's expression became serious.
"Yes." Dragon nodded. "We cannot allow them to discover our movements before the operation begins."
"I'll select the necessary personnel immediately."
The blond-haired young man nodded without hesitation.
It was difficult for outsiders to imagine that someone as young as Sabo already occupied such an important position within the Revolutionary Army.
Yet among the organization's commanders, his abilities were unquestionable.
He was not merely a powerful fighter.
He was also the Revolutionary Army's chief of staff and one of its most important strategists.
"Sabo."
Dragon's voice suddenly became heavier.
"If I die, you will be the next Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army."
Sabo's expression changed instantly.
"Dragon! What are you saying?"
He stared at Dragon in disbelief.
The statement had not sounded like a simple precaution.
It sounded like a final arrangement.
"What exactly are you planning to do?"
Dragon looked toward the distant horizon.
"This world can no longer afford to wait."
His voice was low, yet every word carried considerable weight.
"While the Navy has yet to fully react, and while the New World remains engulfed in chaos, we must seize this opportunity to strike Dressrosa."
"You mean…"
Sabo's eyes narrowed.
As the Revolutionary Army's chief of staff, he understood the current state of the world better than most.
He also understood the importance of Dressrosa.
Dressrosa was not merely another island in the New World.
Beneath its seemingly peaceful surface existed a vast network of criminal organizations, weapons dealers, pirates, and underworld brokers.
"The underground black market operating through Dressrosa controls a significant portion of the New World's weapons trade," Dragon explained. "Weapons, ammunition, SMILE-related resources, and countless other commodities pass through that network."
"If we can seize control of those resources, we can strike directly at the power structure supporting countless pirate forces and corrupt regimes."
That was the true reason Dragon had chosen Dressrosa as their target.
"But I've heard that the Navy has already begun paying attention to Dressrosa," Sabo said cautiously.
"That's correct."
Dragon's expression remained calm.
"But that may work in our favor."
Dragon's true strength had always been a mystery, even to many members of the Revolutionary Army.
There were very few people in the world who could accurately determine the full extent of his combat ability.
Even so, attacking a major underworld center while the Navy was simultaneously moving against the same interests was an extremely dangerous gamble.
Sabo understood that.
"If two sides fight, the third may profit from the chaos."
Dragon turned his head and looked directly into Sabo's eyes.
There was no hesitation in his expression.
Only determination.
Sabo remained silent for several seconds.
"I understand."
He finally lowered his gaze.
Dragon was their leader.
If Dragon believed this operation could advance the Revolutionary Army's cause, then Sabo knew there was little point in opposing him without a stronger alternative.
"Therefore, this time I will have two Army Commanders accompany me."
Dragon's gaze swept across the assembled officers.
"Does anyone have any objections to this operation?"
"Dragon, I think it's too risky."
Belo Betty, commander of the Revolutionary Army's Eastern Army, stepped forward with a serious expression.
"We cannot allow you, the Supreme Commander, to personally take such a risk. If something happens to you, the Revolutionary Army could lose its center of leadership at the most critical moment."
Her concern was not unfounded.
Dragon was more than merely the strongest figure within the Revolutionary Army.
He was its founder, its symbol, and the person who had united countless people beneath the banner of revolution.
If Dragon were killed or captured, the consequences would be devastating.
"Have I not already made arrangements for such a possibility?"
Dragon's voice became firmer.
"If I die or am captured, Sabo will continue to lead you."
"Dragon…"
Belo Betty wanted to say more, but Dragon's expression made it clear that his decision had already been made.
There was an unusual intensity in his eyes.
For a man who normally remained composed even when facing enormous pressure, his determination at that moment was almost overwhelming.
Everyone fell silent.
No one spoke for several moments.
Finally, Dragon turned toward the assembled Revolutionary Army officers.
"Alright. It has been decided."
His cloak shifted slightly in the wind as he looked toward the horizon.
"If this operation succeeds, the Revolutionary Army's influence will reach another level."
His voice became firm.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves."
The Revolutionary Army officers immediately responded.
"Yes, sir!"
The decision had been made.
As the founder and Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon's orders carried immense authority within the organization.
Once the objective was established, the entire Revolutionary Army began moving like a perfectly organized machine.
Those responsible for the ships immediately began making preparations.
Others gathered weapons, ammunition, Den Den Mushi, medical supplies, food, and other necessities required for the operation.
Personnel were assigned according to their respective roles, intelligence reports were reviewed, and the necessary infiltration routes were confirmed.
Every department began operating simultaneously.
There was no unnecessary hesitation.
The Revolutionary Army had survived for years by operating in the shadows, striking where the World Government least expected them.
And now, with the balance of power in the New World already beginning to shift, Dragon had decided that the time had finally come to make another major move.
Dressrosa would soon become the center of a conflict involving forces far greater than its rulers could possibly imagine.
And somewhere else in the New World, Saint Roselith Seraphina was also moving toward her own confrontation with the existing order.
Two forces were approaching the same storm from completely different directions.
Neither side yet knew how closely their paths would eventually intersect.
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