???
Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
The words Sengoku originally wanted to roar at Yahn suddenly lodged in his throat.
"You… You brat, don't try to act all high and mighty. And why the hell did you suddenly run off to Naval Base 741?" Sengoku asked irritably.
"Someone reported that the base commander of 741 was involved in illegal activities, actions contrary to justice. So I went to investigate," Yahn replied.
Sengoku's first reaction was disbelief.
"You? Since when are you so diligent?"
Yahn's lips twitched. Without hesitation, he shot back.
"Oi, old man, don't slander me like that. When it comes to justice, I'm as steadfast as they come. And in my position as Inspector of the North Blue, I naturally have the duty to uphold the integrity of the navy here."
"If you're so righteous, then why, after I've asked you countless times over the years to return to the Grand Line, to take on a more important post and contribute more significantly, have you always refused?" Sengoku countered.
Yahn fell silent for a moment, then answered in a wistful tone.
"Because… I can't bring myself to leave the North Blue just yet."
"Hmph." Sengoku snorted coldly before his tone grew serious.
"Don't play tricks with me, brat. And about Flevance—don't pry into it, don't interfere. As marines, without an explicit order from the World Government, we are not allowed to meddle in the internal affairs of a member nation."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Yahn replied casually.
"And one more thing…" Sengoku's voice paused, then softened ever so slightly.
"Brat, happy birthday in advance."
Yahn blinked, then chuckled.
"Thanks, old man."
After exchanging a few more perfunctory but sincere words, Yahn hurried back into the hidden chamber to confirm the latest intelligence.
Once he had gone over everything, his expression grew heavy.
"So, the people of Flevance are preparing to revolt and break out?" he asked.
"Exactly," one of the Revolutionary comrades answered. "Flevance is completely sealed off. Not only are the citizens denied proper treatment, but even food and other essential supplies are running out. To survive, their only option is to force their way past the quarantine lines set up by neighboring nations."
"This is nothing but a trap laid by the World Government…" Yahn muttered, shaking his head in frustration.
"Flevance is still a member state of the World Government. They can't just wipe it out with a Buster Call like they did to Ohara. That would provoke a backlash from the other nations.
"So instead, under the pretense of 'containing a contagious disease,' they've blockaded Flevance, cutting off all supplies. Their true aim is to push the citizens to revolt, to break through the borders in desperation."
Yahn paused, recalling intelligence gathered by Revolutionary allies in neighboring countries. A grim realization struck him.
"And once the people of Flevance, driven into despair, resort to violence, the neighboring nations will have all the justification they need. They'll unleash the armies they've already prepared, marching in under the pretext of 'eradicating the disease.' In reality, it'll be the annihilation of Flevance."
Yahn's deduction sent a chill down the spines of the Revolutionaries present.
The World Government wouldn't dirty its own hands—yet it had quietly set everything into motion from the shadows.
"Damn it…"
At that moment, a Revolutionary soldier suddenly exclaimed.
"Lord Yahn! If that's true, then conflict could erupt at any moment. Before the royal family of Flevance abandoned the nation, they didn't destroy the armory. In fact, they left its gates wide open!
"I can't quite fathom their intent… but this—this is practically handing the people weapons to march straight into the grave!"
Yahn's pupils shrank. Just as he was about to demand details about the armory, gunfire suddenly echoed from outside the hideout.
"It's already begun? So soon?" Yahn muttered in disbelief. Even with the situation at its worst, he had expected a few more days of breathing room.
…
Meanwhile, among the swelling crowds of Flevance's desperate citizens, voices of rage and despair rose.
"If this goes on, we'll starve to death even if the Amber Lead doesn't kill us first!"
"Charge! Only by breaking through the border blockade can we find food, find medicine!"
"We can't stay here any longer. The royal family abandoned us, but we still have weapons—we can still fight to protect ourselves!"
"We need treatment, we need food—we need to live!"
…
The uproar grew. Guns from the royal armory were hauled out and handed to the citizens one by one.
Clutching the weapons, driven by despair and spurred on by fiery words, their hatred and fury exploded. The tide of people surged toward the border.
But within that mass of frenzied citizens, some of the most impassioned agitators quietly slipped away, gathering in a hidden corner.
"The spark of rebellion has been lit."
"The damp rifles from the armory are all distributed. Only a handful of bullets will actually fire."
"That's enough. Let these sparks of revolt ignite into a blaze that consumes all of Flevance."
"Initial mission complete. Proceed with follow-up monitoring. Once we're sure nothing unexpected happens, withdraw according to plan."
…
Perched in the shadows of a wall, a golden canary tilted its head.
Through the bird, Yahn—just returning from the Revolutionary hideout—heard their conversation clearly.
World Government spies!
So it was them fanning the flames all along. No wonder the rebellion erupted so quickly!
What troubled Yahn most was that these agents would likely continue to shadow the citizens, reporting and interfering.
In such a tightly monitored situation, rescuing the people of Flevance in secret would be nearly impossible.
Gritting his teeth, Yahn turned to Robin.
"Robin—try to control them!"
Robin nodded. Crossing her arms, she activated the power of the Hana Hana no Mi/Flower-Flower Fruit.
At once, eyes sprouted in hidden corners within her field of vision, each locking onto a spy.
"Brujería (Sangha of the Bewitching Eyes): Amor!"
Almost instantly, strange markings appeared on the foreheads of the spies, their eyes turning vacant and dazed.
But one escaped!
The man in the center, dressed in a white suit, reacted in the split second Robin unleashed her power. He lunged aside, dodging the gaze of the Brujería.
Damn it!
Yahn's face darkened.
---
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