On a moonless, windy night , the streets of the Sabaody Archipelago were still brightly lit. Pink light shone through the windows, carrying a uniquely tempting allure. However, the two figures walking through the night—one tall, one short—had no mind to linger here.
Kuma wore a black coat over his shoulders. Tiger was dressed the same way, though he carried an enormous backpack on his back.
At the dock, the ship Roldy had prepared for the two of them was already moored by the shore. Without the slightest hesitation, they boarded the small boat. The oars pushed through the sea, and the little vessel slowly sailed toward the Red Line.
"Mr. Kuma, why is your Revolutionary Army taking part in something like this?"
Tiger could not help asking in the end.
In truth, he knew the reason they were doing this, but what he could not understand was why the Revolutionary Army would abandon an ordinary human life and instead rise up against the World Government. As a Fish-Man, this was something he could not quite comprehend.
Besides, judging from Kuma's strength alone, someone qualified to sit among the Seven Warlords of the Sea should at least be able to live a carefree life, if nothing else.
"Mr. Tiger, why would you ask such a question?"
Kuma seemed to think of something, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face.
"There are some things that do not need a reason. Because people in this world are suffering, the Revolutionary Army was born. What we must do is allow everyone under the heavens to smile, without worrying about the death of their loved ones, and without fearing the chaos of war."
Kuma had always been like this, a smile constantly hanging on his face. Though his height was like that of a giant, he was as warm and approachable as a kind older brother next door.
"Sorry. Perhaps it's my problem. I truly find it somewhat difficult to understand."
Tiger said nothing more.
The two of them sat quietly in the cabin. Several reliable subordinates arranged by Roldy controlled the ship's course. Kuma somehow took out a book from somewhere and began to read, while Tiger closed his eyes, making sure he could bring himself to his best condition when the time came.
After an unknown amount of time, there was a knock on the cabin door.
"Gentlemen, we've arrived."
This place had been selected by Roldy after precise calculations. With Kuma's ability, he could send Tiger as high as possible from here, while at this distance, the World Government's personnel would have no way of noticing them.
Kuma put away his book and stood up. Tiger opened his eyes and rose from the floor.
Kuma turned his head, seemingly about to say something, but after seeing the firm look in Tiger's eyes, he only said one sentence.
"Please be careful."
"It's time, Mr. Kuma! I should set off. Let me do what I must do!"
"Good! At ten o'clock in the morning two days from now, reinforcements from the Revolutionary Army will arrive!"
"Don't worry. I remember."
"Mm. It seems the place you wish to travel to is Mary Geoise."
As Kuma spoke, he removed the black glove from his hand.
Only then did Tiger notice that there was something on Kuma's palm that resembled the paw print of a beast. The thick paw pad was clearly extremely elastic.
"Then, I'll see you again in two days, Mr. Tiger."
"Mm!"
Kuma swung his palm fiercely.
Terrifying strength was contained within that thick arm. Even the airflow stirred up by his slap let out a sharp whistling sound. Yet the instant that enormous palm touched Tiger's body, no pain came.
Instead, with a soft pop, Tiger's figure disappeared.
"I hope you return safely."
Kuma held the book in his arms. It looked like something similar to a Bible. He closed his eyes, lowered his head, and silently began praying for Tiger.
...
Tiger only felt countless fierce winds blowing past his ears.
What was magical was that he himself was not disturbed in the slightest. An invisible paw-shaped barrier enveloped him within it. Very soon, the Red Line appeared before him.
Then came a thunderous boom.
In the night, the sound seemed especially abrupt. A massive paw-shaped indentation appeared on the rock wall of the Red Line. Tiger's entire body clung tightly to the protrusions in the cliff.
Looking down, he could no longer see the surface of the sea.
Looking up, the Red Line seemed to extend all the way into the heavens.
It seemed Kuma's aim was quite good. At this moment, Tiger was roughly three-fifths of the way up the Red Line. He needed to climb the remaining two-fifths himself.
It was an arduous task.
Without hesitation, Tiger took a deep breath and began climbing upward with determination.
There were many protrusions on the rock wall, so climbing was not particularly difficult at first. Coupled with the powerful physique of a Fish-Man, his climbing speed was very fast.
The flames flickering in his eyes were the reflection of the humiliation he had once suffered in the Holy Land.
He seemed to recall those miserable days as a slave. The pain of the whip falling on his back made his mind incomparably clear. Even now, he could not forget his fellow people who were still enduring suffering in the Holy Land.
This time, he would absolutely save everyone.
The bright moon and the countless stars filling the sky became the audience to Tiger's magnificent feat.
The wind tonight was not particularly strong. As it blew against the cliff, the occasional whistle sounded almost as though it were cheering on this brave man.
Tiger climbed like this for an entire night.
The Red Line was extremely high. The higher he climbed, the more the difficulty increased geometrically. Only when his stamina was nearly exhausted did he find a protruding section of rock and slowly sit down on it to rest.
He took out the high-calorie food Roldy had prepared for him in advance and bit into it fiercely, as if what he was tearing into was the flesh of the Celestial Dragons.
The moon set, then rose once more.
The sea did not change just because one Fish-Man had disappeared from it for a day.
In Tiger's field of vision, the endless Red Line suddenly came to an abrupt break.
He was about to reach the summit.
But now was not the time.
At ten o'clock tomorrow morning, the Revolutionary Army would arrive. Right now, he needed to rest and recover his stamina.
Perhaps even the heavens were helping him. A massive protrusion in the rock wall became the best foothold for him. There, he could even sleep for a while.
After checking the weapons on his body and eating food to recover his strength, Tiger lay there, wanting to rest for a while.
But no matter what he did…
He could not fall asleep.
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