บท 92: Dark Hand Behind the Revolutionary

The dimly lit room in the secluded hideout of the Revolutionary Army in Loguetown held an air of silence, broken only by the faint clink of a wine glass in Dragon's hand. He took a slow sip, his eyes fixed on the door, waiting for his guest's arrival. After a moment, the door creaked open, and in walked Raja — or, as he was known within the Revolutionary Army, Shadow.

He entered with a cheerful smile, but in a split second, his expression shifted to one of pure authority and wisdom, emanating an aura that demanded respect. As he walked closer to Dragon, his suit morphed into his black and gold assassin's attire, a hood shrouding his face in shadow. Shadow had arrived.

Dragon rose to his feet, bringing his right hand to his chest in a solemn salute. "For the Future," he intoned, his voice filled with reverence.

Shadow returned the salute, his face equally serious. "For the Future," he replied, taking his seat across from Dragon. They were not just allies tonight; they were the masterminds behind a force that sought to upend the world.

Dragon studied Shadow for a moment, a slight smirk forming on his usually stoic face. "So," he began, his tone playful, "The Great Revolutionary Strategist and the Dark Hand Behind the Revolutionary Army has decided to play pirates with a bunch of kids? How's that experience working out?"

A soft chuckle escaped Shadow's lips. "It was good," he said, a hint of nostalgia coloring his tone. "Genuine smiles, helpless people who still hold hope, and kids with dreams that shake the foundations of the world."

Dragon smiled knowingly, lifting his glass. "You know, with you gone, I'm drowning in paperwork. Spy reports, economic assessments, Revolutionary missions — it's enough to drive anyone mad."

Shadow raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Didn't I create a perfectly efficient system for you? A managerial workforce designed to handle every aspect of our operations, streamlined and optimized. But you insisted on rechecking everything because of your… paranoia."

Dragon couldn't hold back a snort, slamming his fist down onto the table with exasperation. "You made me this paranoid! With your absurd ideas, insane strategies, and that infuriating line of yours: 'Trust no one, show mercy to none, and rise above everyone.'"

Shadow chuckled, watching Dragon's frustration with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Dragon let out a sigh, shaking his head. "When are you planning to return to headquarters? Your left and right hands are becoming… more absurd than even you." He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing in a mixture of amusement and concern. "Remember the girl you saved? And that boy I found? They've both turned into battle-hungry monsters. I could swear, the girl alone could take my head if I don't fight with everything I've got. And then there's the boy — you gave him that devil fruit, and now he's… well, let's just say absurd doesn't cover it."

Shadow's smile deepened, his tone playful. "Tell them to train even harder. I'll need them for a mission soon."

Dragon's face lit up in surprise, a flicker of excitement crossing his usually reserved expression. "A mission? Are you planning to… attack Mary Geoise? If that's the case, I'm in. I wouldn't miss that for the world."

Shadow shook his head with a mysterious smile. "Not quite. You'll find out when the time is right. But tell Kuma that I'll need his assistance."

Dragon nodded, filing that information away for later. A moment passed in silence before he spoke again, his tone lightening. "So, what's with you joining my son's crew? And as his Vice-Captain, no less?"

A genuine smile appeared beneath Shadow's hood. "He has a smile that's… pure. Rare in this world."

Dragon's brow furrowed in curiosity. "That's it? The smile? You know, he got that smile from my father."

Shadow turned his head, his gaze shifting toward the door as if sensing something in the distance. "Well, your son needs your help. We should go."

Dragon nodded, but a glimmer of curiosity remained in his eyes. "One last question, though. Why did you duel Mihawk?"

Shadow's eyes widened, clearly taken aback. "How do you know about that? I asked him to keep it a secret."

Dragon grinned, a rare expression on his usually stern face. "Our Mihawk information division reported the scar on his chest. Word is, he got it while practicing." He leaned back, smugly satisfied with his deduction.

Shadow looked at him, caught somewhere between exasperation and respect. "How did you put the pieces together?"

Dragon chuckled, folding his arms with a self-satisfied smirk. "When you're as paranoid as I am, you notice every detail. Mihawk got that scar in East Blue, and right around the same time, I saw your new bounty poster show up in our information Wing by our Spies yesterday. It didn't take much to connect the dots."

Shadow snorted, shaking his head in amusement. "Well, let's not waste any more time. Your son is in danger."

Without another word, they left the room, heading out into the storm of revolution and destiny that awaited them.

Loguetown buzzed with anticipation, filled with curious townsfolk and the unflinching gaze of Marines patrolling the square. From their perch above, Dragon and Raja, known within the Revolutionary Army as Shadow, watched the commotion below in silence. They had come to keep a close watch on a certain young pirate with grand dreams.

Shadow, cloaked and hooded in his assassin's garb, remained composed, his figure almost blending with the shadows cast by the setting sun. His expression was unreadable, though his eyes followed every movement below with keen interest. Beside him, Dragon stood with his arms crossed, his powerful aura barely contained, his gaze fixed on the execution platform where his son, Luffy, now stood.

Luffy's eyes blazed with that familiar spark as he looked out over the crowd, even with the gallows ropes near his neck. The same free, reckless grin Dragon remembered from his father, Gold Roger, was carved into his son's face, but in Luffy's eyes, there was an energy even stronger, a relentless force of pure will.

"It seems… he really does want to be the Pirate King," Dragon murmured, his tone low, almost amused.

Shadow chuckled beside him. "The boy wears his ambitions openly. There's no mistaking his spirit."

Dragon glanced at Shadow, his mouth lifting in a rare smile. "That smile of his—it's something that runs in our blood, it seems."

Shadow nodded, sharing a slight grin. "A dangerous smile, that one. It's as if nothing could sway him."

They watched as Luffy, smiling broadly, declared for all to hear, "I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"

As the crowd erupted in a mix of shock, disbelief, and awe, Shadow and Dragon watched Luffy with silent pride. Dragon took a breath, his chest swelling with a mixture of emotions as he raised his hand. It was time to act. With a slow, deliberate movement, Dragon clenched his fist, and a dark cloud formed above the town, swirling and churning with intensity.

Shadow took a step back, his eyes flashing with a knowing glint. "So, you're finally going to step in?"

Dragon nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "It's his moment. But he'll need some help to keep it."

With a single gesture, Dragon summoned a bolt of lightning, crackling down from the heavens. The blinding strike shattered the wooden execution platform, sending splinters and debris flying in all directions. The sudden explosion left the crowd in stunned silence as smoke and ash filled the air. Amidst the chaos, Luffy dropped down, his bindings broken, his grin as fierce as ever.