One Piece Gunslinger

Speaking of this, Li Ang chuckled twice: "Hehe, that was just a mistake. It's all Sabo's fault for giving himself away. If it had been Robin, the problem wouldn't have happened last time."

Listening to Li Ang and Long discuss issues that completely shattered their worldviews, Robin was utterly disgusted. "I never imagined you Revolutionary Army members were like this. I'm getting off."

Robin's bewildered expression caught the dragon's eye, so the dragon began to explain on Li Ang's behalf: "Don't you think we're different from what you imagined? Shouldn't we be more dignified? Or more serious?"

When Robin heard the dragon ask him a question, he hesitated for a moment, but then nodded.

"Do you think it's easier to get along with us the way we are now, or with someone who always has a stern face and gives off an unapproachable vibe?" Long asked again.

"Well... it's probably easier to get along with them the way they are now, but..."

Before Robin could finish speaking, Dragon continued, "Yes, this way is easy to get along with because it's what we're really like. We're not deliberately trying to become what people idealize us to be. But for most people, this way of being lacks authority and gives the impression of being incapable of leadership."

In the eyes of ordinary people, we are exactly as you imagine. Among the grassroots revolutionary soldiers, we remain that noble and radiant figure. That's because people need that image, do you understand?

"I see, I understand now!"

Robin finally understood. She didn't understand why they were sometimes so dignified and sometimes so silly and cheerful, but rather that Li Ang had already considered her one of his own, which was why he was showing his true self in front of her.

When the dragon flew down from the sky, it was definitely not without special effects. How it landed, at what speed, in what posture, with what expression, and what kind of atmosphere and aura it created—all of these were carefully considered.

After all, if you want to create a hero, you must first design his entrance. A stunning entrance can definitely leave a deep impression.

Li Ang later deliberately disrupted the atmosphere by making some jokes, essentially telling Long that he no longer needed to act for this person, as he was one of their own.

After understanding Li Ang's meaning, Long cooperated with him and shattered Robin's illusions about the Revolutionary Army.

Seeing that Robin understood his intentions and accepted their image, Li Ang said with satisfaction, "Don't you think about what kind of image I've always had? I'm the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army! The moment you learned my identity, compare it with the image you've always had in your mind, and you should understand."

A sense of authority is something you should only use occasionally, in crucial moments. But if you have to maintain that authoritative demeanor even when facing friends and family, don't you find living like that exhausting? And your family and friends don't want to see you always with a stern face.

Indeed, in Robin's eyes, the author of that book should have been a tall, handsome man with eyes full of wisdom, whose every action revealed the truth of the world, and whose every word was a sacred truth. Precisely because of this, he should have been taciturn, always pondering how to simply teach the truth to the ignorant people.

Judging by that image, even if Zhuge Liang came, he would be a monkey in front of him, and Pan An would be a short, ugly man.

“Hehe, that’s true.” Robin nodded. “Now I actually like you guys the way you are, because this is real, and it means that you’ve accepted me.”

Li Ang nodded and said, "That's right, Robin. Welcome to our family."

"Haha, it seems it's too late for me to refuse now?" Robin covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "Really, it seems there's no escaping this time."

"Hey, to be honest, next time I'll take you to experience the Fujitora airliner. It's completely different from this Dragon Express."

"Fujitora excels at transporting large quantities of goods at once. But when it comes to speed, I'm still the best."

Chapter 228 Return

Unlike when he left, Li Ang didn't disappear without a word this time. He told everyone in advance that he was coming back.

This meant that when Long returned to headquarters with the two of them, a crowd had already gathered below, waiting for his return. Li Ang saw Nami and Karina, whose appearances differed from the others, from the air; the rest of them wore expressions of ecstatic joy.

"You actually knew to come back!" Sabo was the first to shout, before Li Ang even came down, "If you hadn't come back, life would have been unbearable."

"Hey, there's something wrong with what you're saying," Li Ang complained. "It makes me sound like Lao Gan Ma chili sauce."

The crowd naturally overlooked what Lao Gan Ma was; it was not uncommon for such a strange term to come out of Li Ang's mouth.

To be honest, everyone's life has been getting worse every day under the intimidation of the Great Demon King Kella. Although they didn't notice it when Li Ang was around, life lost its flavor without him. Thinking about it that way, Li Ang really is similar to Lao Gan Ma chili sauce.

As soon as Li Ang landed, the eager crowd rushed forward and tossed him up and down on the spot, regardless of his wishes. They celebrated Li Ang's return with great enthusiasm.

If Long hadn't reacted quickly and pulled the stunned Robin away from Li Ang the moment he saw the crowd about to rush forward, Long and Robin would probably have been caught in the crossfire.

Li Ang wasn't so lucky; even if he wanted to run, he couldn't. So many people were surrounding him, all targeting him—where could he run? He had no choice but to surrender.

Robin's bewilderment was understandable; she couldn't help but be confused. She'd never seen anything like it before. Everyone here seemed quite skilled; even the weakest could hold their own against Mr. 1 outside. Yet, the moment Li Ang landed, they all unleashed their full power and charged at him.

This group comprised almost the entire elite fighting force of the revolutionary army. Their combined aura was immense and terrifying; an ordinary person would likely be terrified. And these people had rushed over simply to celebrate Li Ang's return.

Looking at the beaming smiles on everyone's faces, and at Li Ang, who had been abandoned by the group and was now dangling in mid-air, constantly begging for mercy and trying to appease everyone, Robin was somewhat mesmerized. "Is this what true comrades are like? Is this what joy looks like?"

"Wow, Nami and these people are terrifying! No wonder Koala advised us not to come and greet them. I regret it now. I should have stayed in the General Staff with Koala and never come out." Although Nami and Karina weren't facing these people directly, they were still startled.

Nami nodded, still shaken, and whispered, "Yeah, I think it's better if we stay away from these people. It's just one person coming back, right? They're as happy as children."

Nami originally wanted to see Leon as soon as he returned, which is why she ignored Koala's advice and insisted on running away. Now, she has no chance to get close to him at all.

To her surprise, these people were much more enthusiastic than she was, making her question her own existence: "Just how popular is Li Ang?"

Karina's Nami-like voice finally brought Robin back to her senses. Although the two voices were so faint in the noisy environment, Robin still managed to pick them up.

"So there are two normal people here who didn't join the celebration with that group. And they look like ordinary people, without any real strength," Robin thought to himself.

"Who are these two?" Robin rarely saw two normal people, so of course she had to go up and introduce them. Perhaps they would need to interact often in the future, maintaining this small circle of normal people. Karina and Nami, of course, also saw Robin, who had been brought back with Leon.

So the three introduced themselves, exchanged names, and briefly explained how they came to be with the revolutionary army. They discovered a striking similarity: they had all first met Li Ang and then been brought back by Long. They couldn't help but sigh, feeling a strange sense of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

"By the way," Nami asked, "what did Leon call you here for?"

He then introduced himself and Karina: "He said I'm a cartographer and will be drawing nautical charts all over the world. And Karina is a top spy."

Robin didn't bother to hide anything and said on the spot, "He said that from now on I will be his assistant and work with him in the General Staff."

"Working in the General Staff? Wow, now that I mention it, Robin, you were fooled too." Upon hearing that Robin was Li Ang's assistant, Karina, being outspoken, immediately began to slander Li Ang, "That big liar, didn't he first approach you with a different identity, and after getting to know you, he gave you some grand principles, and finally tricked you into coming to him while you were still confused?"

Robin thought about it carefully and realized that it actually made some sense; it seemed to be true.

"How did you know?" Robin asked curiously.

"Hey, that's what everyone in the General Staff is saying. They're all complaining that Li Ang tricked them into coming here."

During their time in the staff headquarters, the two of them mostly heard about how Li Ang had tricked them into coming, and how others shared their experiences. Therefore, they were naturally familiar with Li Ang's methods.

"Oh? Is that so?" Robin smiled after hearing their introductions. "So this is a standard routine. How about I tell you how I was tricked into this?"

Karina shook her head: "It's over, hopeless. Why does everyone have a smile on their face when they talk about how they were fooled? This world is doomed."

Nami looked at Karina with disdain. "You're so great, yet you dare to say that? You're not even on the same level!" But then she asked, "If you were Li Ang's assistant, wouldn't you have to stay by his side all the time?"

Robin shook his head and said, "Not really. Although I'm called an assistant, I'm actually pretty much the same as other general staff officers. Li Ang said that I have strong multitasking skills and can help him with some trivial matters most of the time. I don't really understand, but it seems to mean that I can handle multiple things at the same time."

"Oh, I see," Nami said calmly. "Wouldn't that be very tiring for you? You have to do so many things at the same time."

“It’s not actually that hard.” Robin smiled and then demonstrated his abilities briefly. “That’s how it is, which is why he said I can do the work of several people.”

"Wow, so you're an ability user, sister! This demon is really convenient!" Karina immediately envied Robin's ability. "If this were used for..."

Before Karina could finish speaking, Nami quickly pinched her from behind, making her swallow her words. Nami, of course, knew how effective this was when used in her old profession, and she knew that was exactly what Karina wanted to say.

Karina realized what was happening and chuckled awkwardly, "Hehe...it's quite effective in various situations." Then, not to be outdone, Karina reached out and pinched Nami from behind. Wouldn't it be a waste if I didn't pinch her back?

Robin was unaware of the subtle maneuvering between the two behind her back, which was practically turning into a battlefield. She simply chuckled and said, "However, Devil Fruits also have many drawbacks, and I need to be able to multitask to use them effectively. I'm actually not that confident."

The three of them chatted happily and soon began to address each other as sisters, as if they had known each other for a long time.

Li Ang had finally managed to calm the group down and shake them off. He then walked over to Long, who had been standing to the side for a long time, and said, "Alright, we have a very important meeting to attend. The three of you should come too."

"Huh? Can we attend that kind of meeting? That should be the Revolutionary Army's most confidential information. Is it okay for us to attend?" Karina asked incredulously, while the other two looked on in agreement.

"Hey, you will all be important cadres in our revolutionary army from now on. There is nothing you can't participate in. Although you are late, this is a good opportunity to quickly learn about the revolutionary army."

Li Ang's explanation elicited different expressions from the three of them. Karina excitedly said, "Hehe, I never thought I could become an important cadre in a major power."

Robin, on the other hand, remained calm, seemingly convinced that Li Ang's promise to her was still valid. She simply nodded slightly.

Nami, on the other hand, seemed rather hesitant and somewhat incredulous. It appeared she wasn't prepared for this at all, still clinging to her image as a simple country girl. "But I'm still too young..."

Li Ang didn't say much. Seeing that Nami was different from the others, acting shy and hesitant, he directly showed his intention by taking Nami's hand and walking towards the conference room.

The others naturally followed behind without Li Ang needing to lift a finger. However, none of them noticed the slight blush that flashed across Nami's face when Li Ang grabbed her right hand.

Poor Nami, she had no idea she had gained a rival, nor did she know she was about to be sent by two different teams to study on a distant sky island. It was tough for her.

The news of Li Ang's return quickly spread among the revolutionary army, and along with the joy came a notice that high-ranking cadres would be invited to participate in an important meeting.

It's fair to say that Li Ang hadn't rested since boarding the plane, and immediately convened a meeting after landing. This suggests the meeting was extremely important, at least in Li Ang's mind.

(Dragon: "You're tired my foot! You haven't rested at all, whether you're boarding or disembarking. I, the pilot, haven't even said anything yet!")

Chapter 229 Big Move

"Okay, everyone is on time." Li Ang said as soon as he saw that everyone had arrived. "I'm sure you all understand that we don't have much time left. We must carry out the next step of the operation as soon as possible."

Seeing everyone's expressions of agreement and nodding in agreement, Robin and his two companions were completely bewildered, having no idea what Li Ang was talking about.

Before they could even voice their questions, Li Ang quickly answered them: "As we all know, the next World Parliament is about to begin, and many kings are already on their way. We only have less than a month left. But we have to take over thirteen countries and eighteen islands this month, so time is tight and the task is heavy."

This is also the first large-scale operation our revolutionary army has undertaken since its founding. It is a full-scale war of liberation. I hope everyone can demonstrate revolutionary spirit and complete the mission no matter how difficult it may be.

Upon hearing about thirteen islands and eighteen countries, the three became even more puzzled. What was going on? This was quite a big move.

After Li Ang took out the map and explained the tasks to each member in detail, they finally understood what was going on.

For the Revolutionary Army, having territory in the New World is extremely important. To this end, they have deliberately slowed down their development. Since their powerful display of strength before the World Parliament, they have remained relatively quiet, all in preparation for this crucial moment to unleash their full potential.

Therefore, the place that Li Ang was aiming for was Dressrosa.

Dressrosa is an extremely important strategic location for the Revolutionary Army, as it is the closest human kingdom to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Note that this refers to the nearest human kingdom; the truly optimal location is the mermaid kingdom, situated beneath Mary Geoise and deep underwater. Attacking Mary Geoise from here would only take ten minutes. However, progress on friendly relations between the mermaids and fish-men is virtually nonexistent. Leon doesn't have a good solution for the time being; this problem will have to be addressed later.

Moreover, there are no longer any obstacles between Dressrosa and Mary Geoise; there is simply no place in between that can be used to establish a base or blockade the sea.

If it serves as a bridgehead, then from here, a ship can reach Mary Geoise within a day. The journey is smooth and unobstructed.

Moreover, besides its strategic location, Dressrosa is also a treasure trove, becoming the Revolutionary Army's second economic center. The reason, like the previous Kingdom of Yutaka, is its location on a vital transportation route.

At the start of the Grand Line, seven routes are chosen, and the log poles are used to move forward step by step. By moving forward and forward, they all eventually reach Dressrosa.

Dressrosa in the New World is a false endpoint; all seven routes ultimately lead there, and from there, the final stage of the Grand Line begins—finding the four Road Poneglyphs to find One Piece and Laugh Tale. Doflamingo likely recognized this, which is why he specifically targeted King Riku's territory.

Poor King Riku, he was innocent in possession of a treasure, yet his possession of it was a crime. Ultimately, it was because he lacked the strength to protect the precious gem of Dressrosa.

Therefore, the World Government is certainly taking extra precautions against such an important location and will not easily give the Revolutionary Army any opportunity. If the Revolutionary Army were to take it, it would be extremely difficult. As the saying goes, "How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed?" Especially since this Revolutionary Army is a group that wants to overthrow the World Government.

They might have to be constantly on guard against a potential attack from the Revolutionary Army, tying down a large number of their forces. The Holy Land of Mary Geoise is truly of extraordinary significance. The World Government can ignore other places, but as the residence of the Celestial Dragons and the center of the world, it absolutely must be well protected.

Furthermore, if the Revolutionary Army were to capture this location, it would threaten the scientific base located in Punk Hazard, which houses the elite research team, including the brilliant Vegapunk. Even if these individuals were evacuated, a significant amount of research data and facilities would be lost.

The World Government just doesn't understand that even without the Revolutionary Army, these things can't be protected, because there's a mischievous Caesar who will sabotage them a year from now.

So here's the question: if Dressrosa is so important, would the World Government be fools and wait until the Revolutionary Army reaches Dressrosa's doorstep and expands to nearby islands before they start defending it?

Of course not. As soon as they detect even the slightest sign that the Revolutionary Army intends to expand in this direction, they will keep a close watch and deploy heavy forces to defend key locations. They will never wait until the Revolutionary Army has already sailed their ships to Dressrosa before thinking about defending this place.