Chapter 88: The Revolutionary Army

——Wano Country, Onigashima.

Inside the massive hollow of that rocky mountain lies our estate.

"Mmmnnn… Fwah…"

"—Lady Nue, are you awake?"

"Mmmnnn… Yeah, I'm up~. Nngh…!"

On the large black bed, I stretch as I wake up.

The room is enormous—more than spacious enough for a personal chamber, and lavishly decorated at that. The ceiling is high enough to comfortably fit a giant, and the layout is more than sufficient. It’s a refined space, naturally—a fusion of Wano and Western aesthetics, crafted by Wano artisans and our own. Every piece of furniture is custom-made, and the smaller items are either from my personal collection or things I’ve brought in myself.

In other words, this is my room.

And—right now, it’s morning.

When I’m not out at sea or on another island, I sleep and wake up here. Not that I need to sleep, but it does feel good, and it’d be a waste not to use my own bed.

The one who just spoke to me is one of my subordinates—a blue-haired mermaid woman with a long tail fin. Standing over eight meters tall, with red horns protruding from her hat, she looks far sleepier than I do.

Beasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" – Sonō

"Good morning, Lady Nue. Now then, I’ll go ahead and… report today’s schedule and updates… so please… don’t go back to sleep… zzz…"

"YOU’RE the one nodding off!!"

"Ah… My apologies. I only got fifteen hours of sleep yesterday, so…"

"That’s way too much."

Her ridiculous excuse—implying she did nothing yesterday because she overslept—comes from Sonō, the mermaid I picked up during one of our past vacations. That’s right—she’s now a full-fledged Tobiroppo of the Beasts Pirates. And she also handles managerial work for me.

Not that she’s my only attendant—I have a few close aides, like the kind of page you’d see in Wano. Like that cute girl over there. ♡

"Komurasaki-chan, did you sleep well~?"

"…Yes, I managed to get some rest."

"Good, good. ♡ You worked hard during training yesterday, after all. ♪ The way you desperately, desperately ran for your life… it was wonderful!!"

"…If it pleased you, then I am glad."

The one I address with a smile and cheerful tone is the kimono-clad girl standing beside Sonō—Hiyori… no, Komurasaki-chan.

Though she’s already seventeen and quite the beauty now. Not that she can compare to me, of course! Still, I wish she’d drop that serious face and smile a little. Seems she still hasn’t let her guard down around us. Would it kill her to be friendly? Even when I try to engage her, all she does is bow politely. Well, whatever.

"So, today’s newspaper?"

"My apologies. It’s running a bit late… It should arrive within the hour."

"Hmm, I see. What about Kaido?"

"Captain Kaido is currently suffering from a hangover—'My head fuckin’ hurts'—so he went off to vent his frustration by personally crushing some pirates whose location he got from intel."

"Ah, the usual. Guess I’ll take a bath then."

"Yes… as always… what a hassle… haah…"

Sonō sighs in exhaustion as she follows me to the bath—but then again, this is the norm.

Kaido drinks. Especially at night—he always drinks. Well, he drinks whenever he feels like it, so he’s pretty much drinking all the time. But in this case, "drinking" means drinking until he’s wasted.

I’m the same—booze-filled parties are basically a daily occurrence. If we’re free or have nothing to do, we’re probably drinking. That hasn’t changed since our apprentice days. We drink when we want to. That’s our way.

So Kaido getting drunk and causing havoc is just another day for us. Today, he apparently went out to crush some random pirates because his hangover made his head hurt—but honestly, that’s tame for him.

At least the victims are just some no-name pirates. It’s practically a public service, taking out enemies. There’s zero chance of failure—he’ll just come back like normal when he’s done.

"What about Yamato and Musashi?"

"…Lord Yamato is… somewhere in the estate. Lord Musashi is… somewhere in the country."

"So you have no idea where they are or what they’re doing, huh~?"

"My apologies… It was too much trouble to check."

"THAT’S your excuse!? Well, whatever!!"

I can’t believe she didn’t even try to confirm… Sonō is something else. I couldn’t help but snap at her—but eh, it’s fine. It’s not like it matters where they are or what they’re doing.

Besides, if they’re in Wano, I can always detect them with my UFOs. If I focus… yeah, Yamato is definitely in the estate. Musashi is harder to pinpoint, but I can vaguely sense him/her(?) in… Hakumai? Probably somewhere around there.

My Observation Haki covers a huge range—I can sense the presence of people and living beings, but identifying who is where is only possible if I already know their aura well. Like Kaido, the All-Stars, the Tobiroppo… Orochi too. Yamato and Musashi barely make the cut. That’s about it.

Though, if I concentrate, I can get a rough idea of how many people are in Wano at any given time, so it’s usually not an issue. If someone emits strong Haki or if my UFOs detect something, I can sense enemies or disturbances. Especially if someone destroys a UFO—I’ll know immediately, even without focusing. They’re like an extension of my senses, part of my ability.

That’s why I use them to monitor, defend, and patrol our territory. In a way, I’m probably the hardest worker in the Beasts Pirates…

As I undress and step into the private bath—a beautifully lit hot spring with lanterns—Sonō and Komurasaki follow me inside. The reports continue, this time from Komurasaki.

"…Lady Nue. Also, a message from General Orochi… 'We captured a retainer of the Kozuki last night. If you want him, come and get him. We’ll be holding a banquet, so…'"

"Hmm~, I see. Orochi’s as fixated as ever. But I’ve had my fill of retainers, so I’ll pass. The banquet does sound fun, though… Maybe I’ll drop by. For now, just tell him 'I’ll come.'"

"…Understood."

Komurasaki bows respectfully in front of me as I sink into the bath. Her emotions must be a mix of sorrow and hatred right now—I can feel it. The thought makes me smile. She’s about to break… or maybe…? Heheh, it’s good to see her growing. ♡

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if she tried to slash me with that sword at her waist right now. This tub is pretty shallow—my feet touch the bottom easily. If I lie down, my head goes under, but sitting normally, the water only reaches my shoulders.

And at that depth, I can still move just fine. Besides, even if you dunk me in the sea, I won’t be hurt. So attacking me in the bath isn’t much of an advantage—unless you’re really strong. ♪

If that day ever comes, it’d be pretty entertaining. Though, even I’d have trouble if, say, Linlin or Garp barged in while I was bathing—that first hit would sting.

The reports continue, and Sonō starts to speak again—

"Also, about the All-Stars—"

"—Nue-san."

"—!"

At that moment, a voice calls out from outside the bath—one I recognize instantly. I glance at Sonō.

"Guess we don’t need to talk about that anymore~♪"

"Yes… So, can I go back to sleep now?"

"Stay. It’s more fun with you here. ♡"

"Ugh… What kind of logic is that…?"

"Sonō-san… That’s exactly what you just tried to pull…"

Komurasaki deadpans at Sonō’s shameless attempt to bail, which only amuses me further. Before I can tease her more, the voice outside speaks again.

"Nue-san. I have a report. Mind if I come in?"

"Sure~!! Wanna join me while you’re at it?"

"…Spare me the jokes."

Coolly brushing off my offer, the towering figure steps into the bath—his wingspan dwarfing even Sonō, let alone Komurasaki. His name is one even these two know… hell, most of Wano and the New World knows it. Though, given how tense they’ve both gotten, I can’t blame them. Among the All-Stars, he’s easily the most intimidating—

"Ehhh? You’re really turning down a chance to bathe with little ol’ me~? King, you’re no fun."

"…This is your private bath. For me, it’d be little more than a foot soak."

"Well, technically true!!"

One of our proud All-Stars—King the Wildfire. A loyal, indispensable subordinate who works tirelessly for our sake.

I’d almost let my guard down to bond with him like a proper captain should, but King, ever the pragmatist, shuts it down with a single observation. Just then, Sonō lifts her head, seizing the opportunity.

"Lord King, this seems like a critical report. As a mere Tobiroppo, it might be improper for me to overhear. Shall I excuse myself?"

"Wow, way to sound noble while dumping this on King just to leave."

"You’re not leaving. Do your job."

"…Yes, sir."

I call out her bluff, and King shuts it down harder. With a resigned sigh, Sonō stays put. Gotta admit—for all her laziness, she’s got nerve. Most Tobiroppo wouldn’t dare act this casual around King.

But then again, that’s our crew for you. As long as you meet the conditions, even attitude like hers is tolerated. Because we allow it.

King shifts his focus back to me, cutting straight to business.

"Few updates. First—that pirate crew that sank one of our subs and fled? Since Kaido’s out, I used your name to order Who’s-Who after them."

"Ahh, that’s been happening a lot lately. Fine by me—I’ll back you up."

"Appreciate it. They wouldn’t budge for my orders…"

The first issue is a uniquely us problem—a minor headache, but nothing new.

Lately, skirmishes targeting our fleet—both main and subsidiary crews—have spiked. Whether it’s schemes by other Emperors or the Navy, or just rookies testing their luck in the New World, it’s part of the price of infamy. When you’re strong, you invite challenges. And as the Beast Pirates amass power, it’s only natural others would try to whittle us down.

Not that I mind. Crushing overconfident fools—or puppets sent to provoke us—is its own reward. Our Tobiroppo handle most of it, but even the All-Stars occasionally get dragged into the mess.

Because here’s the thing—we operate on absolute freedom.

For the strong, that is.

"Let me guess—only Who’s-Who and Sasaki were available from the Flying Six?"

"Right. The others are tied up."

King’s reply confirms my hunch.

Kaido and I run the Beast Pirates on meritocracy—where strength comes first, results second, and everything else is irrelevant.

The strong rule. That’s our law. Our truth.

Humans are beasts. And among beasts, the powerful naturally dominate. Why should the weak lead? That’s absurd. If someone weaker tries to stand above you, crushing them is only logical. We’re pirates—this isn’t some corporate ladder. Strength decides everything.

So in our crew, seniority means nothing. A rookie who’s strong enough gets promoted to Tobiroppo on day one—just like Sonō.

"Sigh… The Flying Six have it so easy… But more responsibility sounds exhausting. I’d rather lounge around in luxury."

"…Sonō-san, you have zero ambition… despite your strength."

"Not really… I’m just decent near water. On land? Well… Talking’s tiring, so imagine the rest."

"How am I supposed to imagine a conversation…?"

Komurasaki and Sonō’s banter is amusing, but—well, that’s freedom for you. As long as they’re strong, Tobiroppo and above can do as they please.

Many of our officers are former pirate captains absorbed into our ranks, still commanding their own crews—raiding, defending territory, or pursuing personal ventures.

Most Tobiroppo are fiercely ambitious. They follow Kaido’s and my orders, but we often sweeten deals with rewards to motivate them. We let the strong do as they please—no micromanaging.

That said, every member respects Kaido and me as their superiors. Even the most headstrong know better than to openly defy us.

But that deference stops at us.

The Tobiroppo—like Who’s-Who and Sasaki—are ex-captains with egos to match. They’re gunning for the All-Stars’ spots, convinced they’re just as strong.

(Not that the All-Stars share that delusion.)

"Speaking of, Who’s-Who, Sasaki… maybe even Jack might challenge the All-Stars soon! Not that replacements are necessary… but ohh, what’ll you do if they try~?"

"—I’ll remind those fools of their place."

"That’s the spirit!! Now, next report~♪"

"Right."

King’s flames flare slightly—a silent declaration of absolute confidence. The Flying Six’s arrogance stems from their belief that they could win. And why should they bow to those they don’t deem stronger?

In the Beast Pirates, you kneel only to those who’ve proven their might.

"Weapons trade’s booming across several nations. Drafted plans for new factories in Wano and our territories—review the details with the client list later."

"Okaaay~♡ Weapons really do sell like hotcakes, huh~? Well, with how tense things are lately, every country’s got a laundry list of people they wanna kill—can’t be helped! ♪"

I splash my feet playfully in the bath, nodding cheerfully at the news of our thriving arms trade.

While I handle deals and factory expansions on a whim, the All-Stars—veterans of our crew, second only to Kaido and me in strength—command entire fleets, oversee multiple Tobiroppo, and act as our right hands in managing the organization.

They answer only to Kaido and me. Beyond that? As long as it benefits us, they’re free to act as they please.

Most Tobiroppo might harbor ambitions against the All-Stars, but they’d never dare defy them—the gap in strength is too vast. Many were former pirate captains who challenged them, only to be crushed and broken into submission.

But Who’s-Who and Sasaki are different. They bide their time, honing their strength and racking up achievements, waiting for their shot at the All-Stars’ thrones. They’ll only take orders from Kaido or me directly. Might be a headache for the chain of command, but Kaido and I don’t mind. Hell, we’re nicer than our captains were to us back in the day. If anyone but the captain gave us orders, Kaido would snap and start a bloodbath—and they’d try to kill us for "knowing our place."

In our crew, outright killing subordinates is off-limits—unless it’s treason. Brawls? Go wild. But pointless slaughter? Especially of Tobiroppo or higher? That’s just wasting resources.

Challenges for rank, though? Perfectly fair. A grunt gunning for Tobiroppo, a Tobiroppo aiming for the Flying Six, the Flying Six targeting the All-Stars—that’s healthy. The strong should climb. Kaido and I encourage it.

(If they die trying? Well. Weakness is a sin.)

I glance at Komurasaki, her face a silent mask as she soaks. You get it, right? I taught you this already~♪ Not that she’d answer. Instead, I tune back into King’s report.

"Doflamingo’s been funneling weapons into war-torn countries too—efficient as ever."

"Mingo’s pulling his weight~! Gotta praise him next time. —Oh, speaking of wars… those guys still around?"

"Yes. Recently, one of our territories rebelled under their ideology. Sent Jack to crush it. Need me to hunt them down?"

"Mmm~… But wars do boost weapon sales… Plus, no clue where they’re hiding. Eh, if we spot ’em, we’ll mess with ’em a bit. Sounds fun~♪"

"I’ll have them reported on sight."

"Good enough~! —Oh, what’s for breakfast?"

"Unagi hitsumabushi. Fresh from last night’s catch."

"Eel!! Fancy~!"

"—Can I have some too?"

"You’re a mermaid eating fish without a care!!"

I laugh at Sonō’s questionable dietary choices (not that I mind).

As I rise from the bath, Komurasaki hesitates, then finally asks:

"Um… Who are those guys you mentioned?"

"Hm? —Oh, right, you wouldn’t know. Dragon. The Re-vo-lu-tion-a-ry."

"Dragon…? You mean… Governor Kaido?"

Her confusion—mixing up "Dragon" with Kaido—makes me chuckle.

"Ahaha, no! Dragon’s his name! To put it simply—he leads the Revolutionary Army."

"The… Revolutionary Army?"

"Yep. Their leader’s the so-called ‘World’s Worst Criminal’—Monkey D. Dragon!"

Komurasaki’s been training in Wano, oblivious to world affairs. So I patiently explain: the rise of this faction, their ideology sparking wars across nations, and the man at its helm.

"His ideals are one reason wars keep breaking out! (Well, that and warmongers like Germa.)"

"I mean… We’re kinda the reason too, selling weapons—"

"Sonō, how dare you!! That’s slander!! We just prolong wars for profit! If we wanted war, we’d start it ourselves—way* more fun!!"*

"That’s… worse? Also, half a lie."

"Caught me?"

"Painfully* obvious."*

Deadpan, Sonō calls my bluff. Rude. Sure, I avoid unnecessary wars—but only because I’d rather fight for fun or chaos. A perfectly normal girl who enjoys killing! So it’s not a total lie.

"Wars are profitable~♪ And watching others fight’s hilarious. But starting them ourselves? That’s the dream. Lately, it’s just skirmishes—boooring. Wish the Three Great Powers would clash in an all-out war festival~!"

"That’d be… doomsday."

Sonō towels me off as I step out, Komurasaki silently assisting. Ahh, morning baths are the best.

"…What’s the Revolutionary Army’s goal?"

"Hmm~? Who cares~ But they do seem fun—if we bump into 'em, let’s play a little~♪"

"……I see."

Oh? That answer must’ve given Komurasaki-chan something to chew on. Well, she’d better watch and learn—ah, right, almost forgot!

"Oh, Komurasaki-chan~♡ I’ve got a special gift for you later—so look forward to it!!"

"……A gift?"

I grin as I slip into my clothes.

"Fufufu… It’s about time you became one of us—a beast.♡"

"!?"

The shock on Komurasaki’s—no, Hiyori’s—face makes me decide: Today’s gonna be fun.

This day—the last day she’ll ever be human—I’ll make it memorable.

---

Somewhere in the Grand Line, on a certain island in a certain kingdom.

The World Government—an organization with member nations scattered across every sea in the world. A colossal entity comprising 170 nations, it represents the world’s established order.

Countries that refuse to join are labeled non-affiliated. Without the Navy’s protection, they often fall prey to pirates or descend into lawlessness. While not inherently criminal, their people suffer harsher lives than actual outlaws.

Thus, most nations force themselves to join the World Government—no matter the cost. That is the reality of this world.

And that cost? Wealth.

Only by paying the Celestial Dragons an exorbitant tribute—the Heavenly Tribute—can a country earn the government’s protection. But of course, the burden falls on the people.

Rulers who genuinely care for their citizens are rare. Most extort the money through crushing taxes, leaving their people in poverty without a second thought.

"My apologies. Times are hard. It pains me to do this." Empty words come easily. Some don’t even bother with excuses, outright sneering: "Would you rather we refuse and let pirates slaughter you?" Held hostage by fear, the people fall silent.

These corrupt rulers of World Government-affiliated nations aren’t as tyrannical as the Celestial Dragons… but they come close.

Kings rule. The people serve—sacrificing everything to protect their monarch’s lavish life in exchange for meager safety and a scrap of dignity. The country belongs to the king. Few rulers defy this truth. Even fewer truly uphold their duty to their people.

This is the world as it is. No wonder so many turn to crime. No wonder piracy thrives. No wonder wars never end.

Whether Gol D. Roger’s words stirred the seas or not, the world has always been cruel. The weak are robbed, powerless to resist. The strong survive; the weak perish. That is the law of this world.

—Until now.

"Hey, stop! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!"

"Beyond this point is the royal palace! You deaf or something?!"

"…You’re the ones who ain’t listening…!!"

"Huh…?"

—For there are those who defy this law.

"We’ve been screaming for years…! Decades! Every damn day about how much we’re suffering…!!"

"When did you ever lift a finger to help us?! Even once?!"

"No more being robbed… no more being ruled like slaves!! We’re done!!"

"W-wait… You’ve lost your minds…!"

—Their ideals spread, slowly but surely… igniting the spark of will in the masses.

Freedom. Liberation. Their philosophy is merely the kindling—the people must rise by their own choice. Forced rebellion would only birth new chains.

"We’re… NOT YOUR SLAVES!!! Move out!!!"

"OOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!"

"S-stop them—GUAHH!!?"

And once the oppressed rise, these revolutionaries never abandon them.

"—The rebels have won."

"I see…"

The hooded man observed the smoke coiling from the palace as his towering comrade delivered the report. Cloaked in night-black robes, they’d watched the battle unfold from the rooftops.

They weren’t part of the rebellion—just ordinary citizens who’d revolted against tyranny. But they were the ones who planted the idea.

Those who preached freedom to the oppressed… who rallied them to defy the Celestial Dragons’ cruelty.

"This victory is small, but not meaningless. What they’ve achieved matters, Teabull!"

"Aye. To change the world, people must rise. Even the tiniest flames, united, become an inferno."

He raised a fist, demanding resolve from the crowd below.

"—If you fight for freedom, board our ship!!!"

"…RRRAAAAAGHHH!!!"

The collective will of the people birthed an army—the Revolutionary Army.

And the man leading them, his face marked by a tattoo on the left side, was—

"Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Army—'The World's Worst Criminal'—Dragon."

"I will change this world. And for that… I need all of you!"

Dragon. With his brethren in tow, he marches forward—step by step—to reshape the world.

His goal? The downfall of the World Government.

To achieve it, they spread their ideals, gather allies, and amass strength. To the government, they are the ultimate threat—a growing flame that can no longer be ignored.

In a few years—no, already—they’ve become too dangerous to overlook. That’s why, though not pirates, they are hunted. Never lingering. Never revealing their faces carelessly.

"—Dragon."

"! What is it, Kuma?"

"This…"

Just as they were about to board their ship with their new comrades and return to headquarters, another high-ranking officer—a man called Kuma—handed him a document.

It was a Revolutionary Army report. The contents made both Dragon and the officer beside him frown.

"This… says there was a weapons smuggling operation, Gaburu?!"

"More precisely, 'an attempted smuggling'—we intercepted intel about it."

"…Had they risen just a little later, this fight might’ve dragged on."

Dragon muttered as he scanned the report. In other words, their victory had been razor-thin.

Had that deal gone through, the revolution in this country would’ve been prolonged. At the very least, it wouldn’t have ended in a single day—and the casualties would’ve been far worse.

One of the officers, a man with a notably large face, nodded grimly.

"…So we barely made it, huh?"

"Yeah. The battle here is over, but the real problem lies ahead. Lately, there’s been a surge in weapons smuggling—and the sources are untraceable."

Indeed… it was likely that illegal arms deals were being brokered across multiple nations.

Otherwise, things wouldn’t add up. Countries that should’ve been starved for weapons were suddenly stockpiling them, dragging out conflicts. For the Revolutionary Army, this was a dangerous trend.

"We tracking down the suppliers? Sounds like a pain in the ass, Gaburu…"

"…Yeah. We’ll investigate, but—"

"? Something bothering you?"

"…………"

Dragon didn’t answer immediately. His silence spoke volumes—his longtime comrades knew when he was weighing a thought. And right now, he sensed something dangerous lurking behind this weapons trail. Something far worse than they anticipated.

Yet, as their leader, he had to act.

"…If the smuggling’s this widespread, the Underworld of the New World is probably involved. Proceed with extreme caution."

"—Understood."

"That’s a very real possibility, Gaburu. If we dig too deep, we might stumble onto someone way out of our league. Best brace ourselves now."

"Right. And we can’t afford to draw unnecessary attention."

Weapons smuggling. Black-market deals.

When multiple nations were involved, the shadowy players were almost certainly big-name pirates or brokers with deep ties to the New World’s underworld.

Their enemy was—and always would be—the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. They had no intention of picking fights with pirates.

But in this Great Pirate Era, understanding the flow of power was crucial.

The World Government’s military arm, the Marine Headquarters. The government-sanctioned pirates, the Seven Warlords of the Sea. And the emperors ruling the New World—the Four Emperors.

Of the Three Great Powers, two were pirate factions—further divided into eleven distinct forces.

To read the world’s currents, they had to understand pirates. And that meant Dragon needed more intel than ever.

"Ivankov. Kuma. Be prepared—we may need to make a major move soon."

"! Mmm-hmhmhm~ Roger that."

"Yeah."

"Good. Let’s return to Baltigo."

With that, they set sail for their stronghold—the Revolutionary Army’s headquarters.

—And yet, the unease gnawing at Dragon since he read that report… never faded.