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Zoro didn’t understand.
He had simply followed the dojo’s guest reception rules and brewed a pot of tea.
Yet, in that short span of time, three people had appeared in the room of the man called “Inoshi,” and there were traces of an explosion that were extremely exaggerated.
“Sensei, those people who just arrived were…”
What Zoro understood even less was how his sensei could sit calmly beside him and drink tea as if nothing had happened after something like that had occurred.
“Zoro, you’re planning to go out to sea, aren’t you?” Kōshirō did not answer Zoro’s question at that moment. He simply took a sip of the hot tea and asked softly.
“…Yeah.” Zoro didn’t know why his sensei asked this, but he nodded anyway. “Probably very soon.”
“Then remember this: Over the next two years, you only need to train in the East Blue. Until your sword technique reaches another level or you find strong enough companions, do not go to the Grand Line.” Kōshirō’s voice remained calm and even as he spoke.
“Huh? Why?” Zoro didn’t understand.
‘Companions?’ He had never felt the need for such things.
All he wanted was to become the world’s greatest sword hero. As long as he held a sword, that was enough.
“What you saw today is the reason.”
Kōshirō looked gently at his disciple. “I know your ambition, and I know the promise you made with Kuina.
“But you’re not ready to face that vast sea yet.”
Hearing this, Zoro frowned. “Is it because of that ‘Inoshi’? Sensei, do you think I can’t beat him?”
He was very dissatisfied.
Earlier, outside the village, Inoshi had sent him flying with a single blow. In Zoro’s eyes, however, that was only because Inoshi had held back when he attacked.
He didn’t believe that the Santoryu style he had trained in for so many years would be inferior to a guy who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“If I fought with everything I’ve got, I could definitely…”
Zoro didn’t finish his sentence.
At that moment, Kōshirō was looking at him with an expression more serious than ever before.
After a brief moment, he let out a sigh. The Isshin Dojo’s master said nothing more. He simply stood up in silence and left.
…
At the same time, in another room, the three members of the Revolutionary Army sat across from Inoshi.
The three Revolutionary Army officers all had unpleasant expressions.
Sabo’s face was especially stiff, and the other two looked at him with concern.
“I’m actually a noble…” Sabo clenched his fists tightly.
Moments earlier, Inoshi had spoken directly of the events from seven years ago when Dragon went to the Goa Kingdom.
Coincidentally, seven years ago, Dragon had rescued Sabo near the Goa Kingdom. After that, he lost his memory and forgot his identity.
But Inoshi had revealed the truth to him.
“You were a noble of the Goa Kingdom, but you grew to despise the ruling class and decided to set sail as a pirate.”
This truth made them suspect it was a lie almost immediately.
The chief of staff of the Revolutionary Army, a “noble” from a World Government–affiliated nation, had intended to become a pirate?
Who would believe something like that?
But…
“It’s not a lie.”
At that moment, Sabo knew it in his heart. As Inoshi recounted his past, fragments of memories unexpectedly flashed through Sabo’s mind.
“Sabo!”
“Sabo!”
The voices were youthful and clear, and they felt familiar to him.
“Who are they?”
The question arose instinctively in his heart, his intuition told him they were people extremely important to him.
But Inoshi did not answer.
Inoshi understood very well.
Disclosing information could give him control over the negotiations, but he had to do so in moderation.
Exposing something like a certain “Nika” or “Poseidon” at this point would likely cross Dragon’s line, and it would only be counterproductive for this deal.
What he revealed was enough.
The facts unfolded just as he had expected.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the three members of the Revolutionary Army realized a “fact.”
Since Inoshi could describe in such detail what had happened in the Goa Kingdom seven years ago, it was as if he had witnessed it himself.
It meant that the information-gathering capabilities of the Twelve Zodiac were far more terrifying than they had imagined.
Taking the speculation a step further…
Perhaps the Twelve Zodiac had been paying attention to and investigating the Revolutionary Army for a long time.
“This organization may have existed on the seas for a very long time. It’s just that no one ever knew of its existence.”
At this thought, the weight in Sabo’s heart grew heavier. He took a deep breath, pushing the chaotic memories and unnecessary thoughts in his mind down into his heart.
“Inoshi-san, thank you for helping me resolve my doubts. We apologize for what happened just now. As for the matter of the ‘Pluton Alloy,’ let’s begin now.”
He went straight to the point. “Did you bring the sample?”
“Naturally.” Inoshi smiled and nodded.
He removed his ceremonial headpiece and reached inside. A moment later, when he withdrew his hand… there was a pitch-black chunk of alloy in his palm.
Seeing this, the three members of the Revolutionary Army frowned again.
‘What was this?’
‘A magic trick? Or some kind of ability?’
But clearly, Inoshi had no intention of answering their questions.
“Please confirm it yourselves.”
He simply placed the alloy on the table and raised his hand slightly, inviting them to proceed.
Sabo exchanged a look with Lindbergh, who was standing beside him.
‘What do you think, Lind?’
Years of fighting together and private hand signals they had agreed upon long ago allowed the two to communicate seamlessly.
‘It’s definitely an alloy I’ve never seen before. I’ll confirm it.’ Lindbergh stroked his beard.
Sabo was the chief of staff and was responsible for presiding over this negotiation.
Belo Betty herself was the East Blue Army Chief, so naturally, she had come as well. In fact, she had also brought a group of Revolutionary Army fighters who were waiting nearby at sea.
As for Lindbergh, the reason the West Army Chief was there was simple.
As the chief scientist in charge of the Revolutionary Army’s weapon manufacturing, he had come to verify the authenticity of the so-called “Pluton Alloy” claimed by the Twelve Zodiac.
‘Stick to the plan’, Sabo signaled with his eyes.
‘Leave it to me, even if the sky falls, I won’t lose my composure!’ Lindbergh nodded resolutely.
Then, he pulled several professional-looking devices out of his backpack and lifted the alloy to examine it closely.
Seeing this, Sabo felt a bit more at ease.
He prepared to ask Inoshi for additional information. “Inoshi-san, we…”
But just as he opened his mouth, he heard a sharp voice from behind.
“This is…hss, no, wait! I can’t lose my composure…”
Everyone turned around to see Lindbergh biting hard on his cat-like tail. Tears were flowing from beneath his glasses.
Still, his eyes never left the alloy in his hands.
Sabo: “…
He sighed. Well, so much for the plan.
A few minutes later…
“How on earth did you do this?” Who forged this alloy? No, no, no, this can’t even be called an alloy! The energy required to create something like this simply cannot exist!”
“Have you tested its properties? What about its ductility…”
Lindbergh flailed about in front of Inoshi like a mad scientist, babbling nonstop.
“Quiet down!”
It wasn’t until Belo Betty smacked him on the head with her flagpole, unable to endure it anymore, that he finally calmed down.
After that, Sabo carefully questioned Lindbergh, who responded without hesitation.
“Unprecedented, Sabo. What they said is probably true. This thing should indeed be the alloy used to create ‘Pluton.’”
“I’m certain I can’t replicate it, but I’m sure that if this were added to weapons…”
They whispered and discussed among themselves for quite a while.
Then…
“Inoshi-san.”
With an increasingly solemn expression, Sabo looked at Inoshi and spoke formally. “We need to confirm its production volume, price, and method of supply.”
“The output won’t be very large,” Inoshi said with a light laugh. “Using this piece of alloy as the standard size, provide us with 200 portions of materials per year, and we will sell you 200 portions of alloy.”
There was no helping it.
The synthesis of Pluton Alloy relied on the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit, and the use of such an ability was ultimately limited by the human body, it wasn’t an actual factory.
This could already be seen with the original Wapol Metal. Despite creating an entirely new alloy, Wapol still couldn’t mass-produce it. This resulted in astronomical prices on the black market.
The difficulty of producing Pluton Alloy was even higher.
Just one piece contained nineteen different metals. Having the Munch-Munch Fruit devour and fuse them required nearly a full day, not to mention the massive stamina consumption involved.
As Inoshi said, its output would not be large. Large-scale production was impossible, at least for now.
“The price is 20 Billion Beli per unit.”
“In other words, you need to give us 40 billion Beli annually, and each payment, including this one, requires a 10 billion Beli deposit upfront.”
He stated his demands plainly.
“Forty billion?!”
Sabo shook his head. “Mr. Inoshi, this price is simply…”
As one of the world’s largest powers, the Revolutionary Army naturally had ample funds.
However, as the World Government’s greatest enemy, they had countless expenses: concealing their operations, arming their forces, supporting local militias, and funding clandestine propaganda campaigns. Every one of these required substantial funding.
An extra 40 billion Beli annually would be an overwhelming burden even for the Revolutionary Army.
But…
“Sabo, I think you’re mistaken,” Inoshi said calmly.
Bang!
He rose and slammed the ceremonial weapon in his hand onto the table, the impact ringing with a heavy, metallic clang.
“We don’t need you to buy it. You need it.”
He stated this calmly, as if it were an undeniable fact.
“Whether it’s ruling or overthrowing the rulers, power is essential, especially the latter. To overthrow the existing order is far more difficult than maintaining it.”
“Everything you’ve done so far may seem to have dealt a severe blow to the World Government, but in reality, the true war you must win hasn’t even begun.”
The Revolutionary Army officers present fell into a deep silence.
They all knew that as they led the people in overthrowing the World Government’s rule, the government’s scrutiny and oppression against them would only intensify.
Dragon had never told them, yet they understood it themselves.
The time for the final battle was drawing near.
Seven years? Ten at most?
That war would come.
“The Yonko, the World Government, the Marines, and you, the Revolutionary Army… it will be a war that shatters the old world.”
“To win it, you’ll need power sufficient to confront the entire world.”
As he said this, Inoshi pointed to the alloy on the table.
“This alloy… it’s ‘strength’ itself.”
Silence fell in the room.
The three high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary Army also stared at the alloy, speechless.
After a moment, Sabo spoke.
“Then what about you?”
The young Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army turned to Inoshi. “In the war against the world, what will be the stance of your ‘The Twelve Zodiac’?”
“Don’t you need this ‘strength’ yourselves?”
His question struck at the heart of the Revolutionary Army’s deepest concerns.
What were The Twelve Zodiac’s true goals and stance? And why had they sold the Pluton Alloy to them?
Then Sabo heard Inoshi’s faint chuckle.
“The Twelve Zodiac’s stance isn’t something I can decide.”
He said calmly, “I’m just an Officer. My colleagues and I only follow the Leader’s orders, selling you the alloy is no different.”
“As for power…”
He smiled, but didn’t elaborate.
Yet Sabo could clearly infer his meaning.
That’s right, Pluton Alloy symbolized the creation of Pluton’s “power,” but The Twelve Zodiac showed no interest in it.
The reason wasn’t hard to guess.
It was also one of the answers the Revolutionary Army had currently hypothesized.
Their formidable intelligence network, members who were all terrifyingly powerful, and the rumored mastery of techniques for forging ancient alloys…
“Perhaps The Twelve Zodiac itself possesses ‘Pluton’!”
“This organization’s power might far exceed everyone’s imagination.”
(End of Chapter)
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