While the Navy and the World Government struggled to clean up the aftermath of their disastrous defeat, the Revolutionary Army also convened a major internal meeting.
The Revolutionary Army, led by Monkey D. Dragon, existed for one purpose: to overthrow the unjust rule of the Celestial Dragons and dismantle the World Government itself.
However, the sudden upheaval across the seas had disrupted even the Revolutionary Army's plans.
The Four Seas member nations had begun seceding from the World Government one after another. The scale and speed of the movement had completely exceeded the Revolutionary Army's expectations.
For years, the Revolutionary Army's strategy had been clear.
If they wanted to destroy the World Government, they first needed to sever its lifeline: the member nations that continuously supplied Heavenly Tribute.
That was why Revolutionary Army operations frequently targeted corrupt allied kingdoms. They infiltrated nations, incited uprisings, overthrew tyrants, and weakened the World Government's authority from the ground up.
But now, the situation had changed completely.
Those kingdoms were no longer allied with the World Government.
That meant they were no longer enemies.
If the Revolutionary Army continued attacking them now, it would directly violate the very ideals upon which the Revolutionary Army had been founded.
More importantly, it would instantly turn the Four Seas kingdoms into hostile enemies.
And once the kingdoms truly united against them, the Revolutionary Army would suffer catastrophic losses.
After all, the Revolutionary Army's current foundations were largely hidden within the Four Seas. If those seas became hostile territory, forget overthrowing the World Government, even basic development would become nearly impossible.
Previously, the kingdoms had not deliberately targeted the Revolutionary Army because they trusted the World Government to handle the threat for them. After paying Heavenly Tribute, they naturally expected the Navy and the World Government to suppress revolutionary activity.
But now things were different.
The power of half the world acting together could even pressure the World Government itself, let alone a still-developing Revolutionary Army.
Furthermore, with Dragon's existence, the Revolutionary Army was fundamentally different from the small rebel groups of the past. A force led by a top-tier monster naturally caused other nations to remain vigilant.
So the question before them became extremely important.
What should the Revolutionary Army do next?
Their future direction needed to change.
Grand Line.
Baltigo, headquarters of the Revolutionary Army.
Inside the underground conference chamber, the atmosphere was unusually serious.
Dragon sat at the head of the table, his fingers lightly tapping against the wooden armrest.
Around him sat the Revolutionary Army's core leadership.
Bartholomew Kuma remained silent as always, his massive body sitting motionlessly in the corner.
Beside him sat Emporio Ivankov, the self-proclaimed "Okama King," whose usual exaggerated expression had become noticeably restrained.
This meeting would directly determine the Revolutionary Army's future operational strategy.
Dragon slowly raised his head.
"How are things in the Four Seas?" he asked calmly.
An intelligence officer standing nearby immediately stepped forward.
"The Four Seas member nations have officially severed ties with the World Government and no longer rely on the Navy for protection."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"To defend against pirate invasions, kingdoms throughout the Four Seas are rapidly expanding their military forces. Weapons shipments from the West Blue are being transported continuously across all seas, including the Grand Line."
"After annexing local Navy branches, many kingdoms have already greatly increased their military strength. Combined with the advanced firearms they've purchased, the effects are becoming obvious."
"Large-scale clashes between kingdoms and pirate crews have already broken out across the Four Seas."
"The kingdoms are mostly winning."
As he spoke, stacks of documents, photographs, and Visual Den Den Mushi recordings were displayed before everyone.
The surrounding Revolutionary Army cadres quickly showed expressions of surprise.
This situation was completely different from what they had expected.
The intelligence officer continued.
"Many pirates are already abandoning plans to invade those kingdoms and are beginning to target weaker regions instead."
"It can be predicted that, over time, the Navy's role in the Four Seas will gradually be replaced."
"The pirate expansion trend is already beginning to slow."
Dragon narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And?"
The intelligence officer inhaled deeply.
"Many kingdoms have displayed astonishing military strength."
"Some even possess hidden experts whose abilities are strong enough to make names for themselves in the Grand Line or even the New World."
"These kingdoms were clearly hiding their strength under the World Government's suppression."
"Now that they've severed ties with the government, they no longer need to conceal themselves."
Another wave of surprise spread through the room.
Dragon silently watched the footage projected before them.
Scenes of heavily armed fleets.
Elite soldiers.
Cannons large enough to destroy pirate ships in a single volley.
And powerful figures effortlessly crushing pirates with overwhelming force.
None of this resembled the weak Four Seas they had imagined.
But after a moment, Dragon slowly nodded.
"This is normal."
Everyone turned toward him.
"There are too many inheritances and hidden techniques in this world," Dragon said quietly.
"The Happo Navy of the Flower Country possesses the inherited Hasshoken."
"If one kingdom can possess such a legacy, others naturally can as well."
"They may not have monsters like Don Chinjao, but suppressing ordinary Four Seas pirates is more than enough."
Dragon's gaze darkened slightly.
"The World Government has ruled for nearly eight hundred years."
"The kingdoms that survived until today all possess some kind of foundation."
"Even if they lacked strength initially, after witnessing how powerful individuals can dominate the world, they would inevitably begin cultivating their own."
"And cultivating strong fighters requires methods."
At this point, Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Navy's Rokushiki has already begun spreading throughout the Four Seas."
The room instantly stirred.
"What?"
"Rokushiki?"
"Who leaked it?"
Ivankov frowned deeply.
Dragon shook his head slowly.
"Doflamingo."
The room fell silent for a brief moment.
Even Kuma slightly raised his head.
Dragon continued calmly.
"The collapse of the World Government delighted him."
"He has already seen the possibility of the Celestial Dragons falling from power."
"And he understands very clearly how important the Four Seas have become."
"He's worried the kingdoms may eventually fail to suppress the growing pirate population, allowing the World Government to reclaim control."
"So he chose to strengthen the kingdoms instead."
Dragon folded his hands together.
"And there's nothing more suitable for rapidly increasing military strength than Rokushiki."
"Universal techniques."
"Clear training methods."
"Anyone can learn them."
"As long as someone masters even one or two techniques, they can become a capable combatant."
The surrounding Revolutionary Army officers exchanged stunned looks.
Dragon spoke slowly.
"Doflamingo sold detailed Rokushiki training manuals to kingdoms throughout the Four Seas."
"At extremely high prices."
"But the kingdoms still bought them."
Ivankov's eyelids twitched.
"That lunatic…"
Dragon nodded slightly.
"He made a fortune."
"But more importantly…"
"He strengthened the Four Seas."
"And he intends to spread Rokushiki even further."
Dragon's expression became increasingly solemn.
"He wants power itself to become common."
"The stronger the pirates become, the greater the pressure placed on the World Government."
"The world is already collapsing."
"And Doflamingo intends to accelerate that collapse."
The Revolutionary Army meeting continued.
One powerful kingdom after another was displayed before them.
The originally weakest Four Seas were revealing terrifying hidden foundations.
Many arrogant pirate crews had already been completely annihilated by kingdom militaries.
Some were destroyed before even reaching shore.
The footage eventually stopped on one particular nation.
"The Kingdom of Tirisfal."
"One of the largest kingdoms in the West Blue."
The intelligence officer pointed toward the projection.
"They currently maintain nearly one hundred warships patrolling surrounding waters."
"Every pirate crew approaching their territory has been annihilated."
"They even possess enough military strength to assist neighboring kingdoms."
The room became silent again.
Millions of soldiers.
Massive naval fleets.
Advanced artillery.
Powerful hidden experts.
Even Dragon felt his heart sink slightly.
The true face of the world was finally beginning to reveal itself after the World Government's decline.
For years, the Revolutionary Army had focused entirely on overthrowing the World Government and destabilizing its member nations.
Because of that, Dragon realized something uncomfortable.
They had never truly understood how powerful some kingdoms actually were.
The nations they had overthrown until now were mostly weaker countries already drowning in corruption and internal chaos.
But the truly powerful kingdoms?
Those were entirely different existences.
If the Revolutionary Army directly confronted them now, even with all its current strength, it might not achieve anything meaningful.
These kingdoms possessed stable societies, strong economies, military foundations, and populations that had not been consumed by chaos.
There was no fertile soil there for revolutionary ideology to spread.
The Revolutionary Army's influence remained strongest in nations suffering under corruption, oppression, and pirate devastation.
Dragon slowly closed his eyes.
There were roughly three hundred kingdoms across the world.
Even outside the World Government, many powerful nations already existed independently.
After the Great Pirate Era worsened following the Marineford War, more than fifty nations had actually joined the World Government for protection.
That alone proved how unstable the world had become.
And now, with military expansion accelerating everywhere, the strength of those kingdoms would continue increasing.
Cannons powerful enough to threaten pirates worth over one hundred million berries were already appearing.
Their accuracy and destructive power continued improving.
But after thinking carefully, Dragon reached a conclusion.
Their enemy remained the World Government.
Not the kingdoms themselves.
Dragon slowly opened his eyes and tapped the table lightly.
"Let me explain the Revolutionary Army's future direction."
The room instantly quieted.
Dragon spoke calmly.
"I've decided to shift our primary focus toward the East Blue, the Grand Line, and the Red Line."
Ivankov immediately frowned.
"The Grand Line and Red Line make sense…"
"But why only the East Blue among the Four Seas?"
The others also looked confused.
Dragon calmly explained.
"Given the current situation, it's impossible for us to continue developing freely throughout the Four Seas."
"But we still need a sea far from direct World Government influence."
"And among the Four Seas…"
"The East Blue is the most suitable."
"The North Blue is constantly at war."
"The South Blue is secretly controlled by an Emperor."
"The West Blue…"
Dragon paused slightly.
"The West Blue is already secretly controlled by the Nightfall Pirates."
The room exploded instantly.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?"
"The Nightfall Pirates control the West Blue?"
Dragon nodded slowly.
"The Dark Council was established by the Nightfall Pirates."
"They already control the underworld there."
"And with the Dark Council's current influence…"
"It's essentially no different from controlling the entire West Blue."
Many Revolutionary Army members still looked shocked.
Dragon continued calmly.
"The Grand Line will mainly become an intelligence operation zone."
"As for our future actions…"
"Besides the East Blue, our true focus will shift toward the Red Line."
Dragon's voice gradually became colder.
"From now on, the Revolutionary Army will deeply infiltrate the Red Line."
"We will recruit members."
"Help the oppressed."
"And organize the residents there into a true resistance force."
"This is an enormous force."
"And we must grasp it firmly."
"For the near future, development remains our highest priority."
"The revolutionary forces on the Red Line need time to grow stronger."
"And they must remain hidden."
Direct resistance was impossible.
If they openly rebelled now, the World Government would suppress them immediately.
They needed time.
Weapons.
Food.
Resources.
Everything.
The destruction of the World Government's army during the Golden Sea War had already created opportunity.
Many soldiers originally came from the Red Line themselves.
After witnessing the slaughter and chaos, numerous members of the army had already defected or turned against the government.
But the World Government's rule over the Red Line remained complicated.
They constantly used one group to suppress another.
Benefits.
Power.
Wealth.
They bribed greedy individuals into becoming tools of the government.
As a result, the Red Line had effectively split into factions.
Some residents refused to abandon their homeland and stayed behind.
Among them, roughly thirty percent had become rebels.
Another twenty percent sided with the World Government for personal gain.
As for the remaining half…
They had already begun fleeing the Red Line entirely.