What did he want to do?
Those lives that were lost for absurd reasons, and those who were poor yet still struggled to live.
The existence of the Heavenly Tribute placed unbearable pressure on the affiliated nations. In fact, relying solely on their citizens was no longer enough to meet the required payments, so these nations began waging war against non-affiliated countries to plunder resources.
But even so, those non-affiliated nations that could not originally afford the Heavenly Tribute were already suffering from pirate raids while also being forced into wars with affiliated nations. How long could they continue plundering?
So the root of everything came from the city at the top of the Red Line… Mary Geoise.
Then… was this what he wanted to do?
"Dragon."
Rowan's voice sounded.
"Although I could meet you two years later in the future, I chose to meet you today in Loguetown."
"The reason is that you and I share the same position and the same goal. That is… to overturn this world."
"To drag down those who claim to be descendants of gods from their pedestal, and to completely eliminate all unreasonable laws."
Dragon snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze shifting from the pile of treasure. "Unreasonable… laws?"
Rowan replied, "Is the Heavenly Tribute reasonable? Is it reasonable that no one is allowed to refuse the Celestial Dragons? As long as those parasites who call themselves descendants of gods still exist on this sea, these unreasonable things will continue to exist. You, me, everyone… none of us will be free."
Silence filled the basement.
After a long time, Dragon looked at Rowan with a complicated expression. "So… you want revenge against the Celestial Dragons, right? The ones behind them are the World Government, which is why you say you want to overturn this world."
"A year ago, when I was gathering supplies in the West Blue, I heard about a young man who became an executioner in Rasgap Town at the entrance of Reverse Mountain. Later, when I passed by once, I went to take a look at the square."
"Executioner Rowan. A Seaman from Marine Branch 80 in the West Blue. Or rather, from the beginning, did you intend to infiltrate the Marines?"
At this moment, Dragon was trying to regain control of the conversation.
But Rowan showed no panic and replied directly, "Fourteen years ago at God Valley, Ivankov and Uncle Kuma rescued me. Now you understand why I said I would meet you again in two years, right?"
Hearing this, Dragon fell silent again.
Ivankov… God Valley…
At this point, Dragon had already pieced together Rowan's background.
A young man with deep hatred toward the Celestial Dragons. That alone was enough to define his stance.
Combined with Ivankov, if Dragon truly made his decision two years later, then seeking like-minded allies would be natural.
And among those, no one would share the same stance more than those who escaped from God Valley.
"I will verify what you said later."
Rowan smiled. "Then leave a Den Den Mushi. It will make communication easier."
After a moment of thought, Dragon handed over a small Den Den Mushi. At the same time, he noticed Rowan handing him a booklet.
[The Core Ideology of Revolution]
"What is this?"
"Some suggestions for after the Revolutionary Army is established. Whether soldiers or high-ranking officers, every revolutionary needs to understand from the beginning why they fight and why they are willing to sacrifice."
Rowan tapped the cover of the booklet. "Meeting you early is not just about giving you money and weapons. What I want you to understand is the core ideology of the future Revolutionary Army."
"This world is very unique. A person's will and spirit can influence their strength. Weapons like swords and guns will never compare to one's own power."
At this moment, Dragon had already opened the booklet.
Just the opening was enough to draw him in.
Time passed slowly. The contents of the booklet were somewhat scattered, but for Dragon, they clarified the direction and central idea of the thoughts that had already been forming in his mind.
To change this world, only a bottom-up revolution would work.
After a long time, Dragon looked at Rowan again, his expression even more complex.
"Although it is somewhat unorganized, this kind of ideology is not something someone your age should be able to write."
Dragon looked at the young boy before him. "Only now am I starting to consider whether what you said about the future is true. A Devil Fruit ability perhaps. Earlier, you also showed an ability similar to a Paramecia like the Castle-Castle Fruit, with a space for storing items."
Rowan replied, "Regarding the future, I have only seen part of it, not everything. Also, after this meeting, I hope that when you overthrow kingdoms, you will leave the main culprits for me to execute."
Dragon thought for a moment, then nodded. He did not continue asking further, because he understood that this was Rowan's secret.
Digging too deeply could cost him a good ally, or even turn someone with the same stance into an enemy.
Today's conversation was already an unexpected gain. After returning, he only needed to confirm things with Ivankov. Once verified, he could place trust in this young man.
Finally, the prototype of the Revolutionary Army would begin.
…
Late at night, Rowan did not return to the Marine branch.
His shadow clone was still sleeping soundly there, and it was not a good place to switch between his real body and the clone. So after the conversation ended, he shamelessly stayed overnight at Dragon's place.
Everything had gone smoothly. Meeting Dragon and the upcoming execution of Roger, his trip to Loguetown had been going well so far.
After today, with the mobility provided by the Flying Nimbus, the prison's sin points would start increasing again.
Also, the Revolutionary Army, which was originally supposed to shake the seas years later, would now develop differently from this point on.
That booklet he wrote, though somewhat scattered, had already given Dragon a clear direction for the future of the Revolutionary Army.
But this was still far from enough.
This world was one with supernatural power. A large number of ordinary people formed the foundation.
In a world with Haki, strengthening their will might have some effect, but against the one in Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise, who could erase an island in a single strike and leave behind a bottomless void that could not even be filled by seawater…
Such power, along with the hidden forces of the World Government accumulated over eight hundred years, required a way to deal with them.
Sixteen years ago, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn looked almost the same as he did twenty four years later. Clearly, he had obtained immortality.
With such an example, how many powerful figures existed within the so-called God's Knights would likely be a terrifying number.
So in the end… everything still depended on luck when opening treasure chests.