"Mm. You handle things on your end first. I'll ask someone about it."
After Robin answered, Cyrus ended the call.
Then he contacted Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
"Ask Vegapunk how long that thing in the sky needs between attacks after receiving the Mother Flame."
The moment the call connected, Cyrus spoke first.
The other end went silent for quite a while.
"How do you know Vegapunk is with me?" Dragon asked. "The World Government shouldn't have revealed that I took him."
"I have a lot of sources. And your operation wasn't exactly a secret. Besides, I did help with the planning."
Cyrus smiled at the Den Den Mushi.
The snail perfectly copied the markings on Dragon's face.
"Fine."
Cyrus's answer sounded useful on the surface, but after thinking it through, it did not really explain much at all.
"According to Vegapunk, the time was too tight. The Mother Flame originally still needed several years before it could be fully completed, but someone took it ahead of schedule.
"So compared with the finished version, its output is definitely lacking."
"So it can't fire repeatedly in a short time?"
Cyrus pressed.
"I can't estimate the exact interval," Vegapunk's voice came through. "That depends on too many factors, such as the strength of the target, or the energy absorption rate of the thing in the sky."
"That's enough."
Cyrus nodded slightly.
"The Guild's exam will begin soon, and I'll be returning from the New World as well. I'll need the Revolutionary Army's help with this."
He said it casually, then added as if the thought had just occurred to him.
"Though during this period, you've already taken the chance to overthrow quite a few countries. Your progress is much faster than before."
"Understood."
Dragon did not deny it.
He agreed directly to Cyrus's request.
After all, the Revolutionary Army had already been cooperating with the Guild for some time, so they were used to this kind of coordination.
As for what Cyrus had mentioned, the Revolutionary Army really had been doing it, and there was no point pretending otherwise.
With the Hunter Guild drawing most of the world's attention, the Revolutionary Army's operations had advanced far more quickly than before.
"That's all for now. I'm going to Wano next. After this, that country will no longer exist."
Cyrus ended the call after saying that.
Dragon looked at the Den Den Mushi in his hand as it closed its eyes again, then turned toward Vegapunk.
"What did he mean by that? Is he planning to completely destroy Wano?"
...
The Revolutionary Army's intelligence network was not weak either.
Since Wano was Kaido's base, they had naturally been keeping an eye on it, so they had heard about what happened there.
However, with their hands full elsewhere, the Revolutionary Army had not been able to investigate the exact situation in the New World.
Now that Cyrus had said something like that, Dragon could not help paying closer attention.
"Is it because of what happened in Wano?"
Dragon set down the Den Den Mushi and looked toward Sabo.
Although Sabo was still young, he had already shown a natural sharpness and insight during this period.
"Chief, it may be connected to the Marines' movements."
Noticing Dragon's gaze, Sabo thought for a moment before speaking.
"You mean the Marines are going there to clean up for the World Government?"
Dragon looked at him.
"Didn't you previously suspect that what happened in Wano was caused by the person hiding behind the World Government?" Sabo said. "If that's true, then Chairman Cyrus's target this time should also be that person. We just don't know the full situation in Wano right now.
"After all, it's still an entire country."
After saying this, Sabo's expression turned a little complicated.
He admired Cyrus deeply. More than once, he had heard Dragon talk about how Cyrus had first appeared in East Blue and then, step by step, become one of the strongest people in the world.
In an incredibly short time, Cyrus had built a colossal organization capable of rivaling the World Government.
To Sabo, the Hunter Guild seemed extremely loose as a power structure, but with Cyrus's overwhelming influence holding it together, it was also strangely united in its own way.
But if Cyrus casually erased an entire country now, then in some ways, how different would that be from the Celestial Dragons, who could execute anyone they pleased?
"The situation in Wano has probably reached a point where no other result is possible."
Dragon's expression was grave.
After Cyrus rose to prominence, every major force had spent effort studying him.
His background, the path by which he became stronger, his way of doing things—the Revolutionary Army was no exception.
That was why Dragon made this guess.
"Chief." Belo Betty spoke.
Her arms were crossed beneath her chest, and with her open jacket being squeezed by the motion, it looked like everything was about to spill out.
She had a cigarette between her lips, and her gaze stayed fixed on Dragon.
"There's no point discussing Wano right now. But there's one thing Chairman Cyrus is right about. Once the Hunter Exam begins, it'll draw most of the world's attention.
We can't miss that chance.
Besides, nobody said the Revolutionary Army can't take part in the Hunter Exam."
"Can we really do that?"
Another commander who was still present froze for a moment and asked instinctively.
"Why wouldn't we?" Betty said. "During this period, we've helped the Hunter Guild establish branches, and quite a few of our people have already used Hunter identities while doing so. This isn't that different."
"You're right."
Dragon nodded.
He naturally understood that Betty was correct.
Whatever was happening in Wano, they had no way to stop it.
"Draw up the operation plan. I have a feeling this will be our best opportunity. Once the exam ends, we may not have much time left."
Dragon gave the order, and the Revolutionary Army began moving in the shadows.