Chapter 131: Adventure And Hope
Science.
This term did not appear only in modern times; traces of this vocabulary can be found in ancient texts from hundreds of years ago, and those dilapidated but remaining ruins can indeed prove the glorious civilization that was not recorded in history books.
In the field of history, the Void Century is an absolute forbidden zone that is not allowed to be touched.
The archaeological holy land once located in the West Sea, which had the world’s most scholars and the library with the most books—the island where the Tree of Knowledge was located, Ohara, was completely burned down by the cannon fire of a Buster Call, constantly warning the other historians and archaeologists.
Monkey D. Dragon.
As a child of the Monkey family, he did not inherit his father’s eccentric personality; his calmness and wisdom led him down a path completely different from his father’s. Facing the corrupt World Government and the Navy that could only patch things up like tinkers······ he chose to leave in disappointment.
However, he has always believed that it was precisely by seeing the true face of the World Government that he was prompted to take the path he is on now. He boldly broke the World Government’s ban, seeking the truth of the Void Century’s history. He discovered more than ten Poneglyphs that could not be destroyed by external force in various parts of the world. Of course, his wisdom could not be applied to deciphering ancient texts.
Ancient texts—this is not his area of expertise.
Or rather, after Ohara was destroyed, the only person who could read the text on those stones left was that Devil Child, Nico Robin. Under Dragon’s will, the Revolutionary Army had also tried to find this Devil Child, but unfortunately, the World Government and the Navy were also pursuing her closely, and that Devil Child held strong vigilance toward anyone.
In order not to leave a negative subjective impression of the Revolutionary Army on Nico Robin, under Dragon’s strict orders, no one dared to use overly violent means, and the Revolutionary Army’s program did not allow despicable acts such as kidnapping. Due to various twists of fate, the Revolutionary Army never managed to contact this Devil Child.
However,
Dragon was clearly not someone who could be defeated so easily. Even though he could not decipher the text on the Poneglyphs, he still traveled across the Four Seas and, with the help of his Revolutionary Army comrades, gathered some scattered knowledge. From those fragmented words and phrases, he somewhat learned that the Void Century history seemed to be related to a certain kingdom.
The incomplete information was not enough for him to make more speculations, but he discovered the existence of science from it.
In the erased century of history, what disappeared was not only history, but also science and technology developed to an extremely high degree. The power of science······ is extremely powerful. If this view only stemmed from some incomplete and hard-to-verify knowledge, Dragon was not someone who would easily entrust his trust.
However, after combining it with his own personal experiences and feeling the changes that so-called science and technology brought to the World Government and the Navy, he realized the power of science. For example, the Jermma Kingdom in the North Blue was a prime example—this kingdom that rampaged in the North Blue using powerful science and technology was the most striking evidence.
He was wary of Doctor Vegapunk.
He did not know what kind of power this scientist, who was said to possess wisdom 500 years beyond humanity, had given to the World Government. If the World Government mastered terrifying weapons that humans would only have 500 years later······ the world would probably continue to be ruled by the Celestial Dragons.
“Bear, I don’t need to tell you the risk of this matter; you know it yourself. If you really choose to do this······ I won’t stop you. Doctor Vegapunk has always been an uncertain risk factor. Having a chance to contact him would be something worth looking forward to for the organization, and for me as the leader.”
The bar quieted down.
More than ten high-level cadres of the Revolutionary Army all closed their mouths, quietly listening to the conversation between the leader and Bear.
Such a secret, in any other organization, would probably not be known to anyone except the involved parties and the supreme leader. But the Revolutionary Army was not like other organizations; it was a group of warriors gathered on the foundation of ideals. Perhaps there were members at the bottom who joined because of life circumstances.
But at the top level.
These people were without exception warriors fighting for ideals, fighters who would not hesitate to dedicate their lives.
If there were traitors or spies among these people······ heh, the Revolutionary Army would not be regarded by the World Government as a thorn in the side. So Dragon and Bear’s conversation did not avoid these comrades.
“As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, I won’t stop your choice. If you need anything, I will do my utmost to help you achieve it······” Dragon’s voice was somewhat low, his emotions not as uplifting as his words suggested. “But as a friend, I hope you pay attention to your safety.”
Dragon’s expression could absolutely not be called happy; the conflict of attitudes brought by his different identities made his mood extremely complicated.
“I’ll be careful.”
Bear’s response was as concise and to the point as always.
Unless necessary, he would not say an extra word. Of course, as old friends, more than half of the high-level people present could hear the slightly raised tone in Bear’s voice. Bear, who never showed emotion, like those wooden or stone carvings worshiped in religions, was not truly heartless.
“Bear!”
Sabo looked up at Bear.
They were very good friends, close enough that no extra words were needed; an exchange of glances could convey the worry and comfort in their hearts.
“Bear, everything goes smoothly!” Carrot raised his cup, the dark red mixed juice swirling.
“Next time, I’ll buy you a drink.”
The one saying this was the East Army Commander with a cigarette in his mouth.
The others also sent sincere blessings to Bear one after another. They all knew that getting close to Doctor Vegapunk was like dancing on the tip of a knife. The countless eyes from the World Government and the Navy would scrutinize anyone or animal approaching Doctor Vegapunk from inside out, tracing back three generations······
Once the Revolutionary Army’s identity was exposed, even someone as powerful as Bear would not have a good end.
Of course, from the day they took this path, from that moment on, they understood that the god of death was constantly lurking around them. Over these years, the sacrificed comrades were far from just one or two; even the Grand Line Army Commander had been imprisoned in Impel Down, with no hope of rescue in sight even now.
But this did not prevent them from sending sincere blessings to their comrade.
————
The matters of the Revolutionary Army······ Elus was not clear about them, or rather, he originally did not care much about the Revolutionary Army’s internal affairs. As long as he confirmed that Dragon was still alive and the Revolutionary Army still had the ability to cause trouble for the World Government, without making him take huge risks in trading with the Revolutionary Army in vain, that was enough.
Yes,
In the trade with the Revolutionary Army, Elus bore huge risks. Although these trades brought him enough profits to continue supporting Caesar’s enormously expensive laboratory without damaging the interests of the Eckmond Kingdom······ but this could not offset the risk that could plunge the Eckmond Kingdom into eternal damnation.
This trade was essentially Elus’s aid to the Revolutionary Army.
Elus did not care about what changes were happening inside the Revolutionary Army, and he had never thought of sending spies into the Revolutionary Army to gather intelligence. What he needed was only for the Revolutionary Army to continue opposing the World Government.
The World Conference ended,
Berville spent a headache-inducing seven days. The kings’ quarrels were no more elegant than the street scolding matches of village women. With an ignorant bastard like Wapol mixed in, the quarrels were certainly not elegant, and Berville’s head ached from the buzzing quarreling voices.
Compared to his father’s hardship, Elus spent a leisurely time.
Having handled the affairs with the Jermma Kingdom and the Alabasta Kingdom before the conference began, and with no other immediate demands, Elus could naturally settle down to appreciate the scenery, natural landscapes······ and human scenery of the Holy Land, while conveniently training Bell.
Falcão—one of the two guardian gods of the Alabasta Kingdom.
This middle-aged man, who had already passed his thirties, had in fact missed the best growth period. Without a miracle, it would be hard for them to achieve a leap-forward breakthrough, but······ miracles were exactly what Elus excelled at.
The miracle named Hogyoku could realize Elus’s wishes to a certain extent.
The problem Bell faced did not exceed the scope of this miracle’s capabilities.
“Clang!”
The feathers shone with a black luster like steel.
The spread wings blocked Dillon’s fist.
Then—
After holding for one second, Bell was once again sent flying. Another large hole appeared in the high wall at the end of the courtyard, turning a perfectly good wall into one full of holes······ Soon, flipping over the high wall, Bell flapped his wings and flew back. He looked disheveled, covered in dirt, with blood flowing from his nose······
However, Bell was not actually injured at all.
Having mastered Armament Haki, he had very well used this power to protect his body—provided that Dillon held back. Not only did he not use that iron ruler embedded with Seastone, but under Elus’s instructions, he also deliberately held back several points of his strength.
Otherwise,
Even with the miracle obtained, Bell still needed time to fully master and digest this miracle. Isca had only barely digested the miracle granted by Elus even now. Bell’s talent was not actually better than Isca’s; on the contrary, his older age made his malleability much lower than Isca’s.
He needed more time to familiarize himself with and master the power granted by the miracle.
A sudden surge of power was not entirely a good thing. He could indeed use this power to easily crush enemies who were once on the same level as him, but against truly powerful opponents, he was still not enough. It was like a child wielding a big hammer.
“Uncle Bell, are you okay?”
Vivi came over with a towel and water.
“Princess Vivi, I feel great. You don’t need to worry.” Bell smiled.
His feeling was indeed unprecedentedly good. How much pain he had felt in the past due to his own incompetence was how happy he felt now after gaining the power granted by the miracle. With this power, he could better protect Alabasta, protect His Majesty the King and the Princess.
“Your will is very good.”
After taking a sip of water, Dillon finally praised Bell.
“······Thank you?”
Bell was stunned for a moment.
Over the past seven days, he had been constantly hammered by Dillon. In the entire seven days, their total conversation did not exceed twenty sentences. Every day he was silently beaten for a long time—this was the first time he received praise from Dillon.
Watching Dillon’s departing back, Bell shook his head, cast aside distracting thoughts, and asked with concern, “Princess Vivi, has His Majesty confirmed the departure time?”
“Leaving tomorrow morning.”
Mentioning this topic, Vivi’s mood became somewhat low.
Alabasta’s civil war was still ongoing. Through the Den Den Mushi, she had learned about the domestic situation. Thinking of the kingdom’s people killing each other for inexplicable reasons······ her mood was not good. However, she had finally seen the dawn of ending the civil war.
Her gaze also looked toward Dillon’s departing figure.
This time returning to Alabasta, Uncle Bell would not accompany them back but would instead go as Alabasta’s ambassador to the Eckmond Kingdom in the New World. Dillon would also go to Alabasta as an envoy from the Eckmond Kingdom dispatched to Alabasta, accompanying Cobra.
Bell was a true ambassador. His visit to the Eckmond Kingdom was not just to train himself in the New World environment. As one of the kingdom’s two guardian gods, Bell’s dispatch to the Eckmond Kingdom could fully demonstrate Alabasta’s importance for this new ally.
Dillon’s real task in going to Alabasta was to deal with Crocodile, the sand crocodile preparing to swallow the entire kingdom.
“Uncle Bell, can the civil war really end?”
Vivi suddenly looked up and asked.
“It definitely can.”
Bell said firmly.
In the past, his vision had always been limited to the Alabasta Kingdom; his concept of true strong persons was actually very vague. Even though he had seen a Navy Admiral, it was not an enemy, and he had not personally experienced how terrifying a Navy Admiral was.
Only now had he sensed Elus’s terror up close.
He had felt with his body how bone-piercingly painful Dillon’s fists were.
He finally understood what a so-called strong person really was, and thus gained confidence to defeat Crocodile, an enemy who originally seemed utterly unbeatable to him.
“My poor judgment cannot tell whether allying with the Eckmond Kingdom is good or bad, but as long as Crocodile is dealt with, the kingdom······ will naturally return to its previous peaceful days. Princess Vivi, please continue to love those people who have suffered much torment! Even the Rebel Army—they are still our compatriots.”
“Yes, I will, Uncle Bell.”
A brilliant smile bloomed on Vivi’s face.
“I’ve never hated everyone.”
