"No! I wasn't!"
Dragon's thunderous voice sent Caesar stumbling back a few steps, his face turning pale.
Beads of cold sweat actually appeared on Caesar's forehead, and his eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.
He spread his hands open and held them before his eyes, staring at his palms.
Within the crisscrossing lines of his palms, it seemed as if there were countless weeping, despairing faces hidden.
Those faces all had long horns and looked so familiar.
Some were old, some young, some bold, some gentle.
Men and women, old and young.
They were... the Oni Tribe.
Plop.
Two huge tears fell into his palms, shattering the familiar faces into nothingness, vanishing before Caesar's eyes.
"No! I... I am the sinner of the Oni Tribe..."
Suddenly, the ground beside Dragon was flipped over like a blanket, and a giant wearing a miniskirt emerged.
"Morley?" Dragon was taken aback.
The giant was covered in wounds—it was the giant Morley.
"Chief! I..." Morley was about to speak but was cut off by Dragon's wave.
Dragon handed Sabo over and said quietly, "Morley, take Sabo and leave this place first."
Morley was stunned, glanced at the dazed Caesar not far away, then nodded and quickly left, carrying Sabo.
After the giant Morley left, Dragon looked at the stunned Caesar, sighed, and actually sat down on the ground, not caring that it was covered in dirt.
"Caesar, we're actually quite similar!"
"I know, during the time you disappeared from the Oni Tribe, you must have been captured by the Celestial Dragons, right? Which Celestial Dragon branded you? Tell me, maybe I can help you find them."
"You joined Rocks because you wanted revenge against the Celestial Dragons, didn't you?"
"Thirty-eight years ago, the World Nobles, the Figarland family, were ambushed by the Rocks Pirates while passing through the waters near Hachinosu Island. Several of their most esteemed descendants were killed. It was then, as an infant, that Shanks was found by Roger."
"As you said, my Monkey family is also a tragic lineage, kept under the control and breeding restrictions of the Celestial Dragons. Even more pitiable than your Oni Clan! Because my family has now become a single line of succession! I don't know why those Celestial Dragons—no, it should be Imu—"
"I don't know why that mysterious figure, Imu, has been collecting the bloodlines of my Monkey family, the Oni Clan, the Lunarians, and even all races!"
"This hidden leader of the Celestial Dragons is the one who branded Rocks with the Celestial Dragon's hoof mark!."
Dragon spoke as if chatting with an old friend, rambling on.
"Caesar, we can cooperate. Our enemies are the same—the Celestial Dragons, Imu, and the Ancient Weapon Uranus. You must know why I came here. That's right, I came for one of the Ancient Weapons—the battleship Pluton!"
"To counter an Ancient Weapon, you must use another Ancient Weapon. Eight hundred years ago, Pluton and Poseidon were created to oppose Uranus! The ancestors of Wano Country are also descendants of the Great Kingdom that was destroyed by the Twenty Kings back then!"
Caesar, who had been stunned for a long time, gradually calmed down as his unstable aura dissipated.
He looked at Dragon with indifferent eyes, crossing his massive arms, and said coldly.
"Zunesha was the pet of Joy Boy from eight hundred years ago, an ancient beast specifically raised to open Wano Country and release the battleship Pluton. And Joy Boy, I've heard, is now your son, Straw Hat Luffy. His comrades died because of me. Do you really think there's any possibility of cooperation between us?"
"Hah."
Dragon chuckled.
"Death is merely the final destination of all life. I've witnessed countless deaths—friends, family, comrades, even my wife and father."
Dragon's gaze was profound, like two bottomless pools of water, as he continued softly.
"Those who achieve great things cannot be bogged down by trivialities. From beginning to end, I have upheld my beliefs and moved toward my goal. Even as those around me die one by one, it cannot sway my judgment. Perhaps there will be moments of sorrow, but I cannot dwell in them."
"Luffy... he is still too young."
"Well said." Caesar clapped a few times, then sneered, "It's just that he hasn't seen enough death. If he had, even the strongest mindset would crumble."
Dragon smiled. "Like you?"
Caesar snorted coldly. "Dragon, you truly live up to your reputation as the leader of the Revolutionary Army. Your words are quite persuasive, enough to tempt me. Cooperation isn't out of the question, but..."
Caesar leaned forward, his gaze aggressive and chilling.
"You sneaked into my territory without a word, caused chaos, captured my wife, allowed your subordinates to kill thousands of my men, and on top of that, you tried to secretly take Wano's national treasure—Pluton! Is this what you call cooperation?"
Dragon fell silent, and it was a long time before he spoke again.
"Sabo and Iva wouldn't do such things. What you described was likely done by Kid. All of his and Law's crewmates died in the last Flower Capital battle, so he holds a deep grudge against you."
"But they were brought here by your Revolutionary Army," Caesar's gaze turned icy.
"I can compensate you for some losses. How about one hundred billion Berries?" Dragon offered.
Caesar raised an eyebrow, inwardly cursing this rich bastard while maintaining his stern expression.
"Not good enough. I want those countries your Revolutionary Army conquered in the New World!"
Dragon's breath hitched at Caesar's words, and he grunted.
"Impossible! We sacrificed countless soldiers to claim those territories. I'll never hand them over to pirates. Besides, you're a pirate - what would you do with land countries? Don't forget, the World Government's army maintains order on land. Are you trying to dominate both sea and land? Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"
"Borororo! As a Mythical Zoan Kunpeng Fruit user, my appetite is enormous - I won't choke. As for the World Government... we'll clash sooner or later anyway. Why should I fear them?"
Caesar laughed heartily.
Dragon's face darkened.
After long contemplation, he finally said, "Three. I can give you three countries in the New World. But in return, you must hand over Pluton to me."
"Heh!"
Caesar snorted lightly and shook his head.
"Are you dreaming, Dragon? Look, I've already shown you great face by not killing your subordinates. I didn't even give Shanks that much consideration. Wano Country is mine. Pluton is mine! You still owe me that hundred billion Berry compensation! The population and territory of three countries are merely prerequisites for cooperation!"
"Are you joking, Caesar? Only in the Revolutionary Army's hands can Pluton pose a threat to the World Government! Don't be so stubborn and emotional!"
Dragon suddenly stood up.
Caesar sneered, his aura beginning to revive once more.
His voice thundered in Dragon's ears!
"I never joke, Dragon! I haven't finished speaking! Before any cooperation, you must fight me!"
"If you die, I'll execute all those brats right here to honor the souls of my fallen warriors!"
"Only if you survive can we continue discussing cooperation!"