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While the entire Underground World and even the entire sea trembled at the mere mention of "Zishu" and the Twelve Zodiac, they remained utterly unaware that:
Somewhere on a desolate island in the Grand Line...
"Finally got them all together," Zishu murmured contentedly as he sat in his pocket dimension, leisurely humming a tune and admiring the nineteen boxes laid out before him.
Yes… Zishu was waiting for his "clients" to arrive, while also taking the time to appreciate the fruits of his labor over the past few weeks.
As some perceptive observers had already suspected, the incident on Candied Island had spurred many previously hesitant parties to place orders with Zishu.
By now, he had already gathered all nineteen metals required to create Pluton Alloy, a pace even faster than he had anticipated.
This could only mean that, despite their outward obedience, there were indeed many who secretly wished for the Tyrants' downfall.
Naturally, for Zishu, his mission couldn't stop here.
Not just for the Beli he would earn, but more importantly...
"That 'buyer' certainly has remarkable patience," Zishu muttered to himself.
But just at that moment...
"Hmm?"
His brow furrowed.
From somewhere outside his pocket dimension, the ears he had created using the Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) picked up some sounds.
The content of that conversation piqued his interest immensely.
And what Zishu overheard proved to be exactly as he had heard.
At that moment, on the shore of this desolate island, a figure who had just landed moved with a furtive air.
It was a man with curly brown hair hidden beneath a black hat. He crouched motionless within a thick patch of grass, completely concealed.
"Yes, Leader, I've already landed on the island," he whispered into the Den Den Mushi in his hand, his voice barely audible. "I'll do my best to determine their objectives and contact you again once the situation is resolved."
The Den Den Mushi bore a distinctive emblem, a dragon-like head with outstretched wings. Flanking the emblem were the letters "R" and "A."
Throughout the sea, most people understood the meaning of those two letters:
Revolutionary Army.
Over the past few decades, the Revolutionary Army had grown steadily through repeated confrontations with the World Government. They had overthrown dozens of tyrannical nations oppressed by the Celestial Dragons, earning them the World Government's designation as the "most wicked force."
The young man currently on the island was Bunny Joe, an officer of the Revolutionary Army.
"Understood," Joe replied.
A resolute and steady voice came through the Den Den Mushi: "Joe, remember this, your top priority is your own safety. If you find it impossible to gather information, abandon the mission immediately. Follow the plan: deliver the fabricated request, and compensate them as agreed afterward."
"Our primary objective is to uncover the purpose of 'The Twelve Zodiac,' not to make enemies. Any actions that could jeopardize this goal are unnecessary."
Hearing the other party's words, Bunny Joe nodded solemnly. "Yes, Leader."
He was about to put away the Den Den Mushi when suddenly a voice rang out:
"Though I don't care whether your request is genuine or not, exchanging 200 million Beli for a single chance to investigate information..."
Bunny Joe flinched at the unexpected interruption. But as a battle-hardened soldier of the Revolutionary Army, he instinctively drew his guns from his waist and aimed them in the direction of the voice.
However…
Click!
The instant his guns cleared their holsters, they were sliced into pieces by a swift slash.
At the same moment, Bunny Joe felt a razor-sharp blade press against his throat.
The figure wearing a rat-headed mask materialized before him, snatching the Den Den Mushi from his hand.
"You're truly willing to go all out, Mr. Dragon."
As the name "Dragon" was uttered,
"Leader! Hang up the Den Den Mushi immediately!"
Bunny Joe roared and without hesitation slammed his neck against the razor-sharp blade held at his throat.
His intent was clear: his death would force the person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi to hang up. In such a short time, even if the Den Den Mushi was being tracked, its precise location couldn't be pinpointed. This would ensure the Leader's position remained secure.
"Hmm?"
Witnessing Bunny Joe's decisive embrace of death, Zishu seemed genuinely surprised.
In the next instant, the blade vanished, replaced by two hands that materialized from thin air, pinning Bunny Joe firmly to the ground.
"Joe, don't be reckless," the voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi spoke again, as Bunny Joe continued to struggle violently, nearly dislocating his own arm.
"But, Leader…"
Bunny Joe tried to protest, but was cut off: "Haven't you realized yet? They harbor no malicious intent!"
At that moment, the identity of the person on the other end of the Den Den Mushi was self-evident: Monkey D. Dragon, founder of the Revolutionary Army and the world's Most Dangerous Criminal.
"I've told you before, don't make rash decisions to throw your life away. Such sacrifices should only be made when truly justified!"
Dragon, having likely guessed what Bunny Joe had just done, was delivering a stern reprimand.
After scolding his subordinate, the Den Den Mushi's gaze turned to Zishu. "And thank you, Mr. Zishu, for stopping him for me."
Hearing this, Zishu seemed intrigued. "You don't seem surprised by my attitude?"
Though he had read the original story, it had to be admitted, his understanding of Dragon, the father of the Sun God, remained limited.
Dragon's voice remained calm and steady. "If you wanted to eavesdrop or track my location, there was no need to reveal yourselves now. Waiting until after I hung up the Den Den Mushi to ambush Joe would have been a better strategy."
"Moreover," he added, his tone subtly pointed, "though it was merely a suspicion before, I'm now virtually certain, you've been extending a 'meeting invitation' to me all along, haven't you?"
At this point, Zishu understood his meaning perfectly.
'Yes.'
From the very beginning, Zishu's mission directive, "only kill Nobles and Kings who oppress the people", was not merely a reflection of Roy's own high moral standards. Its primary purpose was to attract the attention of the Revolutionary Army.
As an organization dedicated to guiding the masses in overthrowing tyranny and having fought for this cause for decades, the Revolutionary Army couldn't possibly ignore someone like Zishu.
They would inevitably investigate Zishu, and likely extend their inquiries to the Twelve Zodiac behind him, attempting to discern their attitudes and objectives.
Just as Dragon had said, this was indeed an "invitation to meet."
And at this moment...
"We've simply come to honor the invitation," Dragon said calmly.
Zishu countered, "Aren't you afraid this is a trap meant for you?"
"If a plot against the Revolutionary Army could drive an organization like yours to antagonize the Yonko and the World Government, effectively making enemies of the world..."
The Den Den Mushi grinned, revealing a slightly carefree smile. "Then I'd say all my years of effort haven't been wasted."
Hearing this, Zishu was momentarily stunned.
Then he, too, began to laugh.
'Buzz!!'
He casually released Bunny Joe from his restraints and sat down on a nearby rock.
"You guessed right, Mr. Dragon. I'm here on the Leader's orders to meet with the Revolutionary Army."
"We, The Twelve Zodiac, wish to discuss a deal with the Revolutionary Army."
His concise words silenced the Den Den Mushi on the other end.
Beside him, Bunny Joe's expression turned solemn.
'So the rumors are true... Besides the twelve highest-ranking Officers of "The Twelve Zodiac," there's also a Leader?' he murmured inwardly, holding his breath and listening intently to the conversation.
He knew that if his suspicions were correct, the outcome of this exchange could potentially reshape the entire world!
On the other end of the line, Dragon remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice deep and resolute: "I won't press you about your Leader for now, but regarding the transaction you mentioned…"
"Does it involve those nineteen metals?" he cut straight to the point.
"Precisely, the transaction we propose is for an 'alloy'," Zishu replied without hesitation. "Its name is 'Pluton Alloy'!"
As soon as those words left his lips, Zishu was rewarded with a clear disturbance on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Ouch, Sabo! You bumped into me!"
"I'm so sorry, Koala, but, Pluton, that can't be…"
After a moment of hushed whispers, Dragon's voice continued, "Pluton? Pluton Alloy?"
His tone was unusually grave.
"That's right," Zishu confirmed with a nod. "This alloy is the very one used to forge Pluton long ago!"
He casually revealed the alloy's origins, believing there was no real need for secrecy. While the nineteen metals required to create Pluton Alloy might be readily obtainable, its dependence on the "Mother Flame" made it virtually impossible for anyone else to replicate.
"..."
At the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Dragon clearly understood, if Zishu dared reveal such sensitive information about Pluton Alloy, he must be absolutely confident in his control over it.
Therefore...
"Do you possess information about Pluton?" Dragon asked in a deep voice.
"That information isn't part of our transaction, Mr. Dragon," Zishu replied casually.
But it was clear that sometimes avoiding an answer was an answer in itself.
At least for now, Dragon on the other end of the Den Den Mushi had gained a deeper understanding of the mystery surrounding "The Twelve Zodiac."
"We need to first verify the existence of this alloy you speak of before we can discuss any trade," he said after a moment's hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Zishu nodded without hesitation. "Naturally."
He then added, "However, I myself am merely fulfilling the Leader's request to establish preliminary contact and provide you with advance notice, to prevent any unforeseen incidents."
"After all, I am a 'Hitman,' and the forging of Pluton Alloy does not fall within my responsibilities."
"Therefore, if your side is interested in further discussions, I can provide you with a specific meeting location."
Watching Zishu speak so smoothly, Bunny Joe frowned.
"Mr. Zishu," he said gravely, "regarding the meeting location, I'm afraid we haven't established enough trust yet."
The very nature of the Revolutionary Army made it impossible for them to easily trust others, let alone agree to negotiate at a location chosen by their opponents.
It wasn't just Dragon himself; the capture of any commander or officer would represent a catastrophic loss.
Yet Zishu showed no surprise at his words.
"That's precisely what I was about to address," he said, his tone meaningful. "'The Pluton Alloy' project is being handled by another colleague of mine. By sheer coincidence, he's planning a trip to the East Blue soon."
"According to our intelligence, the village he'll be visiting happens to be a place you trust implicitly."
At this point, Zishu's words struck Bunny Joe's ears like a thunderclap.
"In one week, another member of 'The Twelve Zodiac' will travel to Shimotsuki Village in the East Blue."
"We sincerely hope you'll honor us with your presence for discussions then!"
(End of Chapter)