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[TIOP] Chapter : 58
🕑 Added 2025-03-02 04:40:20 +0000 UTCThe moment his feet touched the ground, a cheerful voice greeted him.
"Welcome!"
Standing before him was a young girl with vibrant orange hair, a small hat with goggles perched atop her head, a short dress, and high heels. She beamed at him confidently.
Jack narrowed his eyes, studying her. She looked familiar—too familiar. Then it clicked.
"Who are you?" he asked, already suspecting the answer.
The girl smiled. "Hello! I’m the training instructor of the Revolutionary Army’s Fish-Man Karate. My name is Koala!"
"Ah, I am an esteemed Commodore of the Navy Headquarters, Jack! Welcome!" Jack greeted Koala with an exaggerated gentlemanly bow before grumbling under his breath. "Now, where the hell is this place? I swear, when I get back, I’m going to beat that damn Kuma’s ass!"
"This is a small island in the South Blue. Were you sent here by Kuma-san?" Koala asked, eyeing Jack curiously.
Jack let out a sigh and nodded. "Yeah, I was originally trying to meet Dragon, so I went to the Revolutionary Army’s nearest base to Marine Headquarters. But instead of Dragon, Kuma showed up. The next thing I knew, I was sent flying."
Of course, he wasn’t about to admit that he had been helpless against Kuma’s ability. Even though his strength had improved, facing Kuma head-on was an entirely different matter. Despite never openly displaying his Haki, Kuma’s Devil Fruit alone made him an absolute menace—capable of attacking, defending, and even healing. A complete anomaly in battle.
"I see. The leader told me to wait for you here. Come with me!" Koala said, motioning for Jack to follow her.
As they walked, she couldn’t help but feel intrigued. Why would a Marine commodore go out of his way to meet the Revolutionary Army’s leader? And even more puzzling—why would Dragon actually agree to see him?
Before long, Jack finally stood face-to-face with Monkey D. Dragon, the man the World Government had labeled "the world's most dangerous criminal."
More than that, he was the son of Vice Admiral Garp and the father of Luffy—the protagonist of One Piece.
"Dragon-san, long time no see!" Jack greeted casually, taking a seat across from the Revolutionary Army leader as if they were old acquaintances.
Dragon, clad in his signature green windbreaker, glanced up with a faint smile. "Heh… What exactly do you want to talk about?"
Jack swept his gaze over the gathered revolutionaries. Among them, he recognized Sabo and a mink-like commander, but the others—undoubtedly high-ranking officers—were unfamiliar to him.
"There are indeed matters I wish to discuss, particularly concerning the Celestial Dragons and the Holy Land of Mary Geoise," Jack said, his expression turning serious.
Dragon chuckled. "And what business does a Marine have discussing such matters with me?"
"That depends on your motives," Jack replied, tilting his head slightly. "Are you fighting for the people, or are you simply after power?"
Dragon fell silent for a moment before responding, "That is not your concern. Just tell me why you're here."
"Before I do, I have one more question," Jack said, locking eyes with Dragon. "Is the Revolutionary Army fighting for revolution itself, or for the people?"
"We are, of course, fighting for the oppressed and suffering people of this world—the very ones your Navy tramples upon!" Sabo interjected, his voice tinged with sarcasm as he rose to his feet.
"Alright then, let me ask you something," Jack said, turning to Sabo. "You're aware of Alabasta, right? That vast desert kingdom that was nearly torn apart by war not long ago?"
Sabo frowned. "We had nothing to do with that. You’ve investigated it yourself—it was Crocodile’s scheme."
Jack chuckled. "Oh, I know. But if your goal is truly to help the oppressed, why didn’t the Revolutionary Army intervene in Alabasta? It was dragged into chaos by a conspiracy, yet you did nothing. With your intelligence network, you must be well aware of the Nefertari family's stance and how they rule their people."
Sabo remained silent, but before he could respond, Koala, who had been guiding Jack, interjected angrily. "That was the territory of a Shichibukai, under the jurisdiction of your Navy. Don't blame us for your failures!"
For a brief moment, Jack was at a loss for words. He wasn’t the type to shift blame, but he had a point to make. Fortunately, Dragon seemed to understand his underlying message and refrained from making any cutting remarks. The conversation came to a standstill, shrouded in an unusual silence.
Finally, Jack broke it. "I want to reform the Navy."
Dragon removed his hat, watching Jack with keen interest. "Heh… Reform, you say? Do you have any idea how difficult that will be?"
Jack exhaled slowly. "Of course I do. But if a man doesn’t have a dream, how is he any different from a lifeless fish?" His gaze hardened with determination. "The Navy, as it stands, is far from just. Under the World Government’s influence, we’ve committed countless injustices. I want to change that—I want to reshape the Navy into a force that truly upholds justice."
"There have always been many marines who shared your ideals," Dragon said, nodding seriously. "But most of them chose to abandon the Navy, turn to piracy, and follow their own path on the seas. So why do you insist on changing the Navy from within?"
Jack grinned, flashing his white teeth as he pointed to himself. "People with ability shape their environment. People without ability are shaped by it. And I am someone with ability."
His words caught not just Dragon by surprise but also the revolutionary soldiers around him, who exchanged curious glances.
"Hahaha, what an interesting perspective," Dragon chuckled. "But words alone won't get you anywhere. What do you actually have? How many subordinates can you count on?"
Jack hesitated. He had always believed that strength alone was the key to achieving his vision. But when faced with Dragon's question, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed. In the presence of these seasoned revolutionaries—Dragon himself, the army commanders, and the elite cadres—his power seemed insignificant.
After a brief silence, he finally spoke. "I've already secured the support of the rulers of Alabasta and Fish-Man Island. They’ve agreed to stand behind me."
Dragon let out a hearty laugh. "Ah, you’re still too naive, little one. Let me guess—those two old foxes didn’t actually promise you anything, did they? They probably just told you that they’d recognize your so-called 'New Navy' after you've succeeded, right?" He shook his head, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"That’s not an alliance. That’s opportunism. People who sit back, waiting to claim the rewards without taking any risks—they aren’t allies. They’re just spectators."
Dragon's words left Jack in deep thought. He was right—King Cobra of Alabasta and King Neptune of Fish-Man Island had only spoken about what they would do after Jack’s success. They had never promised any real assistance. At the time, Jack, confident in his status as a person who knew the future, hadn't realized the implications of this.
"If all you're looking for is that kind of promise, then I can give it to you right now," Dragon said with a smile, watching Jack contemplate. "As long as you can take full control of the Navy, you have my word—our Revolutionary Army will not consider you an enemy."
"No, that's not what I meant," Jack said, lifting his head. His gaze was firm as he continued, "I admit I was naive before, but I'm still young. Give me time, and I'll carve my own path. My goal is to work alongside the Revolutionary Army. Together, we will overthrow the Celestial Dragons and dismantle the corrupt World Government. After that, a new government will be formed—your Revolutionary Army and the ruling families of various nations will govern, while the Navy will be responsible for maintaining order across the seas."
"That's impossible," Dragon shook his head. "The Navy's enormous military budget is funded by the World Government. Once the Celestial Dragons are overthrown, that funding will disappear. That alone would ease the financial burden on each kingdom, allowing their people to live better lives. I can promise not to target the Navy, but continued financial support? That’s out of the question."
"Then let me put it another way," Jack said, his spirits lifting as he engaged in an intense discussion with Dragon about the future.
Their conversation lasted three days. By the time they reached a consensus, Jack had leveraged his foresight to propose a series of strategic plans. While Dragon did not fully agree with everything, he also did not object. As he put it, if Jack’s predictions were accurate, then when the time came, the Revolutionary Army would follow the course of action he had outlined.
"Alright, I need to return to headquarters to make some arrangements. Meeting all of you in the Revolutionary Army has been truly enlightening. I look forward to our next encounter!" Jack said, standing on a small boat. With a smile, he waved at the Revolutionary Army’s cadres before setting off.
"Dragon-san, can we really trust him?" Sabo asked uneasily after Jack had departed.
Dragon glanced at him before replying, "Didn't he say he knew your background? If you meet Ace or Luffy, the truth will reveal itself. That kind of thing can’t be faked, and everything he said can be verified. So even if he's using us, aren't we also using him? And if what he claims is true, then the world is on the brink of a major transformation." He patted Sabo’s shoulder, his tone filled with contemplation.
"I understand. I'll go find Ace or Luffy first," Sabo said, adjusting his hat, his gaze lowered in thought.
He had no memory of his childhood. After Dragon rescued him from the brink of death, his past had been completely erased. Because of this, Dragon himself had never been aware of Sabo’s origins. However, having been raised under the ideals of the Revolutionary Army, there was never any doubt about where Sabo’s loyalty lay.
"Let me go with you," Koala said quietly, stepping up behind Sabo.
"This..." Sabo hesitated, glancing at Dragon for approval. Seeing him nod slightly, Sabo relented. "Alright."
Dragon then turned to his subordinates. "We also need to send someone to verify the situation with Ivankov in Impel Down. If he requires assistance, we must be prepared to act. We haven't heard from him in years, and I didn't expect that he and Inazuma were imprisoned together."
"Understood, Chief. We'll make the arrangements immediately," a Revolutionary Army soldier responded with a salute before hurrying off.
Meanwhile, Jack, now aware of his location, sighed in frustration. "What a hassle! I didn't expect to end up in the South Blue. Looks like I'll need to borrow a warship from the local Marine branch—otherwise, getting back will be a nightmare."
Upon reaching the nearest branch, Jack discovered the reason behind the Revolutionary Army's presence in the area. They had recently liberated the kingdom of Santa Dorea, successfully toppling yet another tyrannical regime.
"Commodore Jack, the warship you requested is ready. Would you like to depart immediately?" a Captain inquired, snapping Jack out of his thoughts.
"Thank you for your assistance. Yes, please set sail for headquarters," Jack replied with a smile.
"Understood!" The officer saluted and turned to carry out the orders.
At the same time, Luffy and his crew, who had arrived in Water 7, found themselves caught in a whirlwind of trouble. Nico Robin suddenly left with the World Government's agents, Usopp parted ways with the crew after a heated argument over the Going Merry, and Iceburg, the kind-hearted mayor of Water 7, was mysteriously attacked—only for the Straw Hat Pirates to be falsely accused of the crime.
One crisis after another overwhelmed the crew, leaving them struggling to regain their footing.
The most unsettling revelation came when their investigation pointed to Nico Robin as the primary suspect behind Iceburg's assassination attempt. Aokiji's ominous warning about Robin resurfaced in their minds, casting a shadow of doubt over her actions.
Determined to uncover the truth, Luffy sneaked into Iceburg’s mansion under the cover of night, hoping to take Robin back and question her. Instead, he stumbled upon CP9, who were attempting to seize the blueprints for Pluton. A fierce battle erupted, but in the end, Luffy and his crew were soundly defeated.
Meanwhile, Nami uncovered the truth from Iceburg—Robin had chosen to sacrifice herself to ensure the Straw Hat Pirates' safety, even if it meant allowing Pluton to fall into the wrong hands.
Later, when Nami and Chopper found Luffy wedged into a wall and Zoro stuck upside down in a chimney, Nami tearfully relayed the truth to them. Realizing that Robin had not betrayed them but instead risked everything to protect them, Luffy and Zoro’s determination was reignited, setting the stage for their next move.
