Half a month later.
Punk Hazard, G-5 Branch Temporary Command Center.
Tatsuki leaned back in a lounge chair, leisurely trimming his nails with an exquisite pair of nail clippers. His posture was relaxed, and his expression was content.
From the other end of the island, terrifying roars that shook the earth and mountains echoed continuously.
That was Sakazuki, Borsalino and Kuzan performing manual labor that was called "training". Every punch and kick of theirs contained the frustration and anger they had nowhere to vent after being manipulated by Tatsuki, accurately pouring it onto the innocent mountain.
On the table in front of Tatsuki lay a black cargo list submitted by Stussy. The final tally was—thirty billion Berries.
Cash and gold were disguised as construction waste and delivered in batches through underground transportation lines. Aside from Tatsuki, no one knew where this massive sum of money, enough to buy several kingdoms, had come from.
Regarding this, the attitude of Sakazuki and the others was: I don't know, I didn't see anything, don't ask me.
In any case, the base construction funds had mysteriously become plentiful, so why not?
"As long as the result is justice, what does it matter if the process is a bit dark?" Tatsuki blew away some nail clippings, very satisfied with the results of his brainwashing.
Just then, a uniquely shaped black encrypted den den mushi on the table began to ring.
Purururu...
Tatsuki picked it up casually.
The den den mushi's face immediately changed, perfectly replicating Stussy's charming expression mixed with a hint of awe.
"Master, all thirty billion has been stored in the vault. Are you satisfied?"
"Good efficiency."
Tatsuki gave a brief word of praise, serving as an affirmation for his tool.
"This money will be used to fill the gap for purchasing Sea Stone. By the way, how is the matter I asked you to investigate?"
"Just as you expected."
Stussy immediately reined in her flirtatious manner and adopted a professional intelligence director's tone.
Monkey D. Dragon had officially established the 'Revolutionary Army' on a small island in the South Blue a month ago.
Tatsuki's eyebrows twitched.
It's finally here.
"The scale is very small." Stussy's voice carried a hint of disdain. "Including himself, there are fewer than twenty core members, all of whom are rebels wanted by various kingdoms."
"They tried to incite rebellion in several member nations but failed every time. They are currently being hunted by CP agencies, hiding here and there, and their situation is quite pathetic."
"No money, no people, no weapons?" Tatsuki summarized incisively.
"Yes, like a pack of stray dogs clutching onto unrealistic fantasies." Stussy said.
"Very good." The corners of Tatsuki's lips curled into a pleasant arc.
Stray dogs?
No.
In his eyes, that was a patch of super leeks that had just sprouted, growing well and in urgent need of irrigation.
This is a storm that can shake the world in the future, how could it be allowed to die in its cradle?
"Stussy, I have a new mission for you."
Tatsuki's fingers lightly tapped the table as he issued a new order.
"In the guise of an underground arms dealer, go and make contact with them."
"I want to dispose of a batch of pirate weapons seized by the G-5 Branch, enough to equip about two thousand people."
Stussy on the other end of the line was clearly stunned. She couldn't keep up with her master's wildly imaginative and erratic thinking at all.
Selling weapons seized by the Marines to the World Government's most-wanted criminal?
"You mean... sell them to them?"
"Correct, let's send some warmth to the Revolutionary Army." Tatsuki spoke nonchalantly.
"They must be dirt poor right now. As for the price, give them a massive discount—just charge them ten percent of the cost as a token. If they really have no money, an IOU will do."
Stussy was silent for two seconds.
Though waves of shock crashed in her heart, as a perfect tool, she never questioned her master's decisions.
"Understood. I will arrange it seamlessly; it will never be traced back to you."
Furthermore, as if remembering something, Tatsuki took a pre-prepared book out of a drawer.
"I have a special gift here. Send someone reliable to deliver it personally into Dragon's hands."
...
One week later.
West Blue, in a hidden harbor of an unnamed deserted island.
In the mournful sea breeze, a man wearing a green hooded cloak was listening to a desperate report from his subordinate.
"Dragon-san, our last bit of money is only enough to buy thirty old-fashioned flintlock rifles and two crates of damp bullets."
"Yesterday, Jess had his leg broken by CP agents because his gun barrel exploded."
Monkey D. Dragon's face was ashen, and the tattoo on his face looked exceptionally fierce in the shadows.
The flame of his ideals was being blown out bit by bit in the cold wind of reality.
Just then, a companion responsible for keeping watch came running over, scrambling and crawling, his voice full of panic.
"Dragon-san! A... a ship is approaching! It's flying the black flag of the Underworld!"
Dragon's heart tightened.
A few days ago, for the sake of survival, they had tried to contact a seemingly unremarkable arms "middleman," but they were completely unsure of the outcome.
"Let them come over." Dragon said in a low voice, his hand already on his waist.
Soon, an unmarked black merchant ship pulled alongside.
A man wearing sunglasses with a face full of scars stepped off the ship, followed by several burly men carrying large crates.
"You are that group... the so-called Revolutionary Army?"
The man sized up Dragon's group of ragged, sickly-looking people, a hint of strangeness in his eyes.
"If you want money, we don't have much."
Dragon got straight to the point, his voice low and heavy. "If you think it's a loss, you can turn around and leave."
Money?
The man in sunglasses sneered and waved his hand dismissively. "Our boss doesn't care for such a small amount of money. The boss said this batch of goods is 'half-sold, half-gifted'."
Bang! Bang! Bang...
Over a dozen heavy crates were slammed onto the ground, their lids crudely pried open.
The breathing of every Revolutionary Army member present stalled at that moment.
The crates didn't contain any discarded junk. Instead, there were rows of shiny, brand-new rifles, fierce-looking heavy hand cannons, and even several small mobile artillery pieces gleaming with metallic coldness.
Dragon and his companions were dumbfounded.
The value of this batch of arms would be at least five hundred million Berries on the black market.