<h4>Chapter 132: Dragon Is Heading to East Blue to Stir Things Up?</h4>


    Dragon took another sip of tea, his expression seeming somewhat conflicted.


    udius noticed Dragon''s hesitation and stayed silent. The atmosphere between the two grew heavy as neither spoke for a while.


    After a long pause, Dragon finally asked, "So, what exactly are you nning to do in basta?"


    udius nced at Dragon with a somewhat amused expression, saying nothing, which only made Dragon feel a little awkward.


    After a moment, udius spoke. "Is it really appropriate to ask?"


    Dragon shook his head with a faint smile. "No, it''s not. I guess it''s as inappropriate as you prying into how our Revolutionary Army handles its affairs."


    "Hahahaha! At least you understand that much, Dragon. Tell me, do you have any personal connection to the Nefertari royal family?" udius asked with a chuckle.


    Dragon shook his head. "Not really. Back when I was with the Marines, I met them once or twice, but we didn''t have much interaction."


    "Exactly. Since there''s no personal connection, why are you so interested in involving yourself in this muddy water?" udius asked casually, lifting his teacup to take a sip.


    "It''s not really about them. It''s more... regret, I suppose. There aren''t many royal families like the Nefertari n left in the world. You know that as well as I do," Dragon replied after some thought.


    udius nodded slowly, acknowledging the point. From an outsider''s perspective, the Nefertari family truly was an exceptional royal family. They ruled basta with fairness and maintained their kingdom''s prestige. If they hadn''t governed so well, they likely would''ve been overthrown long ago.


    But from udius'' perspective, their excellence was precisely the problem. In this world, "a piece of unblemished jade invites trouble." If the Nefertari family had been an ordinary royal family from a small and insignificant kingdom, udius might have even protected them.


    However, as rulers of the powerful kingdom of basta, with significant military strength at their disposal, they became a strategic target. For udius, building his power meant he couldn''t afford to let such a potential threat stand.


    "I understand where you''reing from, Dragon, but I have my own burdens to carry," udius said softly. "You don''t tell me the Revolutionary Army doesn''t shed blood for its cause, do you?"


    Dragon fell silent, not responding to udius'' rhetorical question.


    "Whether it''s your bottom-up revolution or my top-down approach, blood will be spilled. If you flinch today, you''ll end up paying the price tomorrow. Don''t underestimate this world, Dragon," udius said seriously.


    Dragon suddenly smiled. "Are you lecturing me now?"


    "Of course," udius replied with augh.


    Dragon knew there was no changing udius'' mind. He also recognized that he was unnecessarily meddling in something unrted to him. Deep down, he understood udius was right—this wasn''t his fight, so why wade into it?


    After some quiet reflection, Dragon decided to back off. As udius had said, there was no point in stirring up unnecessary trouble.


    "You''ve made your point. What else can I say? If I keep pushing, I''ll just look unreasonable," Dragon said, shrugging his shoulders.


    "Good, good. Let''s not dwell on unpleasant topics. Besides meeting me, do you have any other ns while you''re in basta?" udius asked.


    Dragon shook his head. "I''m just passing through. My next stop is East Blue."


    "East Blue? Ah, right, that''s your homnd, isn''t it?" udius remarked with a grin.


    "Yeah. The Goa Kingdom. It''s said to be the most beautiful country in East Blue, though... well..." Dragon''s tone softened for a moment, as if reminiscing, but a flicker of disgust soon crossed his face.


    udius knew about the Goa Kingdom. It was indeed renowned as the most beautiful country in East Blue, with its polished image of wealth and prosperity. However, it achieved this reputation by ruthlessly discarding anything deemed undesirable. The nobles lived in luxury, while the poor barely survived in the squalor of the kingdom''s infamous Gray Terminal.


    "It sounds like East Blue is in for some trouble," udius said with a chuckle.


    Dragon waved his hand dismissively. "You''re reading too much into it. Nothing major. I''m just visiting a friend and taking care of some business while I''m there."


    "Care to share the details?" udius asked curiously.


    "Tequ Wolf," Dragon replied nonchntly. "I think it''s a ce with fertile ground for sowing the seeds of revolution."


    The Tequ Wolf country was a peculiar ce. Technically, it wasn''t even a proper nation since it had no king or centralized government. But its history spanned more than 700 years, making it one of the most unique regions in East Blue.


    Over seven centuries ago, the Celestial Dragons had conceived an ambitious n to connect the world''s inds through an extensivework of bridges. While it sounded grandiose at the time, the sheer scale of the project made it utterly unrealistic. From a modern perspective, it was nothing short of absurd.


    However, viewed through the lens of history, the idea wasn''t entirely without merit. It was a colossal undertaking meant to benefit future generations, even if it was impractical in its own time.


    When the Celestial Dragons proposed the project, the World Government had taken it seriously. But thebor requirements were astronomical, so vast that not even the wealth of the World Government could sustain it. To address this, they came up with a "brilliant" solution: instead of hiring workers, they would use ves.


    At first, the ves were primarily pirates and criminals captured by the World Government. But as time went on and the government''s morality eroded, they began enving innocent people as well. Generations of ves and their descendants toiled on these bridges, and over centuries, their numbers grew into what could be described as a nation in itself, a nation built on suffering.


    The Tequ Wolf Country''s resentment toward the World Government had festered for centuries. And yet, despite their hardships, they had managed to achieve remarkable feats. Over 700 years, they sessfully connected many of East Blue''s inds through their bridges. This had significantly boosted the region''s prosperity, as the bridges became vital trade routes linking various countries.


    udius had once studied the history of the Tequ Wolf Country and its cultural significance. He even spected that its existence might exin why East Blue had earned its reputation as the "weakest sea."


    The bridges not only enhanced the World Government''s control over the region but also improved the standard of living for the people. Pirates who ventured into East Blue often found themselves captured and sent to the Tequ Wolf Country asborers. Over time, the harsh consequences deterred many would-be pirates from even attempting a career in piracy, giving East Blue its reputation as the most peaceful sea.


    Perhaps this was why the World Government promoted East Blue as a shining example of stability—a sea untouched by chaos, serving as a symbol of their governance.


    And now, Dragon intended to use the Tequ Wolf Country as a foothold to nt the seeds of revolution. In a few decades, this region, which had contributed so much to East Blue''s prosperity, would likely see drastic changes. By then, the bridges might no longer serve their original purpose.


    But history always marched forward. Even if the bridges were abandoned, perhaps new technologies like the sea train would emerge to take their ce. The world was ever-changing, after all.


    ***


    For every 500 PS = 1 extra Chapter. Support me on patreon to read 55+ advanced Chapters: /Blownleaves.