145 143. Three Wooden Stakes Become Sworn Brothers
"Reform and revolution!"
Atlas' eyes bore depth. Slowly, he disclosed his response.
Sabo appeared perplexed. While he had received some aristocratic education, both reforms and revolutions impacted vested interests like the aristocracy, leaving his understanding of this aspect relatively blank.
"Reform is a top-down improvement, similar to tending to a decayed tree. What we require is to eliminate the insects and sever the decayed branches, leaves, and roots, allowing it to regain new vitality."
"Revolution involves felling the ailing tree and planting a new one. It not only demands significant sacrifice and bloodshed but also necessitates formidable power to withstand the borers. In a world reliant on force, this path of revolution can be described as perilous, challenging, and arduous!"
"If it were up to you, Sabo, which approach would you opt for?"
In reality, in a world like the One Piece world, where extraordinary force reigns supreme, confronting the World Government, which has been in operation for 800 years, makes both revolution and reform exceedingly challenging.
However, from Atlas's perspective, relying on the World Government to bolster the military might of the Marines and rearranging the global forces, including the World Government itself, is undoubtedly a much more dependable approach than revolution. Neither the organizational structure nor the actual strength of Dragon's revolutionary army is sufficient to shake the foundations of the World Government's rule.
You might argue that his revolutionary ideals could indeed shake the foundations of the World Government, as evidenced by the fact that they designated Dragon as the most notorious criminal in the world upon learning of the existence of the revolutionary army.
Atlas genuinely found this notion absurd. If it were applicable in an era with primitive weaponry, like in the normal world, the force and technology wielded by the World Government far exceeded what some fledgling ideas could contend with. Furthermore, the ruling class of the World Government consisted of the aristocracy, not the common people, so the lives and thoughts of the common folk were not considerations for the Five Elders at all.
Sabo appeared conflicted. Despite his enduring disdain for his aristocratic lineage, the idea of changing the world had never crossed his mind. He was still young and simply wanted to break free from the stifling environment and chase after freedom on the expansive sea. In this regard, he was undeniably very similar to Ace; otherwise, the two wouldn't have connected so well and forged a strong friendship.
"Are you suggesting... overthrowing the rule of the World Government?"
Ace, who had been contemplating earnestly, finally heard something different.
"But, aren't you a part of the Marines?"
"That's correct; precisely because I'm a Marine!"
"So, Mr. Atlas, what steps should we take if we choose the path of reform?" Sabo, being the most astute among the three brothers, quickly posed the crucial question.
"Marines! Only the Marines, and exclusively the Marines, have the potential to change the world. It's because the Marines are presently the sole armed organization that upholds justice yet isn't entirely manipulated by the World Government. Nurtured by the World Government's resources, birthing a new Marine is currently the most viable solution."
In truth, Zephyr's NEO Marines also hold a certain appeal, but foremost, the Marines must attain complete autonomy. This is something that, for the time being, Atlas cannot achieve. It lacks a decisive impact in terms of strength and status.
After absorbing Atlas's insights, Sabo didn't immediately offer his response, and Atlas wasn't in a rush. The three youngsters were like turtles in an urn to him, unable to escape even if they wished to.
While Orange Town is quite a distance from Foosha Village, it poses no challenge for Atlas, with his super speed. The primary issue lies in the fact that the speed is too fast for the three bodies to withstand.
...
Three days have elapsed since Atlas last took the three off the island.
During the past three days, neither Ace nor Sabo expressed any desire to set sail and become pirates. Instead, they handed over all the treasures they had secretly amassed to Dadan and her gang. Dadan was immediately thrilled, even though she initially belittled such a modest sum of money. Despite her initial dismissal, her chubby face beamed like a blossoming chrysanthemum.
Deep within Mt.Colubo, there is a clearing surrounded by wooden remnants from recent logging activities.
The silent mountain forest stood empty. Luffy, dressed in a white shirt, and Sabo, donning a gentleman's uniform, lay on the grass feeling idle, observing as the white clouds transformed into various shapes overhead.
They were already aware of Atlas's intention to return them to Naval Headquarters, yet there was no trepidation toward the unknown—only curiosity and a yearning for the outside world.
"Hey! Sabo, where's Ace?"
Luffy stood up, surveying his surroundings, then shifted his gaze to Sabo, who appeared content.
"I don't know; he seems mysterious..."
Sabo, too, was a bit taken aback. It was unmistakably Ace who had summoned both of them here.
"Hey! I'm here!"
Suddenly, the nearby bushes rustled, and a figure in a red vest swiftly leaped out, landing steadily on a large wooden stack.
He swiftly produced a small bowl, bit open the cork, and evenly poured the clear liquid into the bowl. "I found this on the Atlas warship. It seems to be stashed away by that stingy Smoker."
Atlas has been taking them to the warship in recent days, and Smoker seems to have developed a soft spot for Luffy, playfully teasing him at every opportunity.
"But," Sabo was puzzled, "Ace, why did you steal a bottle of wine?"
"Sworn friends? Is it like the three sworn brothers in Taoyuan?" Luffy asked with excitement.(T/N: The main characters in Romance of the Three kingdoms)
"Taoyuan trio?"
"Yeah, it's the story that Uncle told me about three Marines who swore their friendship in a peach garden and vowed to destroy all pirates! Uncle really didn't lie to me!"
Luffy nodded vigorously, even waving his fist in excitement.
"..."
Even though the painting style felt a bit odd, Ace still pushed Luffy's cup toward him. "In the future, we'll head to Naval Headquarters. We might not be shipmates, but we're all fighting for our dreams!"
"Then, let's use brotherhood as the bond between us! Even if we're not together, we can still connect with each other." Ace's face flushed with enthusiasm. He raised the wine glass in his hand and shouted excitedly, "I want to bring an end to the Age of Great Pirates! Let's drink up this glass of wine!"
"I want to become the Fleet Admiral!"
"I want to overthrow those detestable nobles!"
"Cheers!"×3
The warm sunshine bathes the splashing wine, casting a bright golden hue. The smiles of the three individuals appear as if frozen in this moment and space, pure and beautiful...
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