In the Abasta desert, a camel caravan was slowly making its way through the dunes, heading toward Rainbase. Among the riders was a figure who seemed entirely out of pot because of his presence, but because of his sheer size. While the rest of the caravan sat fortably atop camels, this t man could only walk alongside the group. It wasn't an act of discrimination but sheer practicality the camels simply weren't tall enough to aodate his massive frame.

  Wearing a Madara bear-eared cap and tinted gsses that obscured his eyes, the figure carried a Bible in one hand. His face remaioid unreadable. This was her than the infamous "Tyrant," Bartholomew Kuma—a notorious pirate on the surface, but secretly an essential cadre of the Revolutionary Army.

  o him rode another man, his face cealed beh the traditional desert garb of Abasta. Despite his attempts to blend in, his sharp, anding gaze and the promi blood-red tattoo over his left eye made his identity unmistakable. This was Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army and one of the most wanted men in the world. With a bounty of 2 billion berries on his head, he was a stant thorn in the side of the Wover, a man whose name sent ripples through even the highest echelons of power.

  Dragon stared out at the endless dunes, deep in thought. "Crocodile has settled here as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea…" he muttered to himself.

  "What's the problem, Dragon?" asked Ivankov, riding beside him on a camel.

  "There's definitely a problem," Dragon replied, his tone quiet but firm, his pierg gaze cutting across the ndscape. "I'm worried about Cudius and what he might be pnning for Abasta."

  Ivankov raised a curious broould you think that?"

  Dragon exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts. "The ari royal family of Abasta is… unique. By bloodlihey could have been part of the Celestial Dragons, but they gave up that privilege long ago. They refused to move to Mariejois and chose to stay with their people instead. Their as have made them an outlier, a potential problem for the Wover. At the st World Summit, King Cobra even proposed redug the Heavenly Tribute. It wouldn't surprise me if Cudius were ordered to deal with them quietly."

  Ivankov fell silent for a moment, digesting this. "But I thought you admired the ari royal family? Didn't you say they were different from the rest of the oppressive nobility?"

  "They are different," Dragon admitted, his voice tinged with both resped frustration. "The ari family governs with passion. They care for their people, despise exploitation, and even sult public opinion in their decisions. They're one of the few royal families in this world that could serve as a model for others. That's exactly why they're a threat to the current system."

  Ivankov's frown deepened. "So… what do we do? Do we intervene if Cudius is really pnning something?"

  Dragoated, then sighed. "For now, this is just specution. I 't predict Cudius's moves entirely, he's an enigma. He's a Celestial Dragon, yes, but he doesn't operate like the rest of them."

  "You still trust him?" Ivankov asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Dragon smiled faintly. "Trust is a strong word, but I don't think Cudius has deceived me yet. He's not a traditionalist. His vision aligns with ours iain ways. A top-down ge plementing our bottom-up revolution… it's not impossible."

  "Maybe, but don't fet—he is a Celestial Dragon. And people ge, Dragon," Ivankov warned.

  "True," Dragon admitted, "but at least for now, I don't believe he poses an immediate threat to us. If things ge, we'll act accly."

  The caravaually arrived at Raiopping just outside the city. Dragon decided to visit Cudius in person. Kuma and Ivankov, however, chose to remain outside, setting up camp in the duheir identities were far tnizable, and their presen the city would draw unnecessary attention.

  ---

  By the time Drago Cudius, night had fallen. Abasta's desert sky was clear, untainted by clouds, and the stars twinkled brightly above, a breathtaking view that seemed almost otherworldly.

  "You actually came in person?" Cudius asked, stepping out into the courtyard to greet him. He looked Dragon up and down, noting the dust ging to his clothes. "You could've just sent someoo collect the books. Was this really necessary?"

  Dragon removed his desert veil, revealing his sharp features and the unmistakable tattoo over his eye. He smirked lightly. "'t a guest visit for a drink and a chat?"

  Cudius ughed aured for him to e inside. "Fair enough. My apologies for the ck of hospitality. e on in."

  The two sat in the courtyard, sipping tea uhe starlit sky. After a moment of silence, Dragon spoke. "See? Doesn't this show I'm sincere?"

  Cudius chuckled. "What's the point of siy between us? You, of all people, should know there's no such thing as pure altruism in this world."

  Dragon smiled faintly, not disagreeing. "Fair enough. But I do have a gift for you."

  "A gift, huh?" Cudius asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's the occasion?"

  Dragon leaned back, his tone light but deliberate. "The Wover's been hunting us relentlessly. I thought I'd make your job easier by giving you something you use."

  "Generous of you," Cudius said, his voice ced with amusement. "But aren't you worried I'll use this 'gift' to hurt you?"

  Dragon shook his head. "It doesn't matter. There's a group of people within the Revolutionary Army who have… questionable loyalties. sider this my way of taking out the trash while giving you something to appease the Five Elders."

  Cudius's expression didn't shift, but he uood the subtext. These "traitors" were likely being served up to the Wover iionally, Dragon's way of trolling the narrative and diverting attention. Still, Cudius saw o point this out. Why ruin the game?

  "Very well," Cudius said, taking a sip of tea. "And what's the catch? You didn't e all this way just to house, did you?"

  Dragon smiled, leaning forward slightly. "I heard about your Seven Warlords of the Sea initiative. I think we should talk about it…"

  ***

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