Chapter 129: Plans Can't Keep Up with Changes
After hearing what Kuma said, Ian felt puzzled and asked, "Is there something more to this?"
"Yes, at this point, I won't hide it from you. My true identity is a Revolutionary Army officer!" Kuma said in a low voice. "I'm just using my position as a Warlord of the Sea to infiltrate the World Government. The Navy hasn't received specific information about the mastermind behind this plot to seize the Heavenly Tribute yet, but the Revolutionary Army's intelligence sources differ from the Navy's, so we have some leads."
"Then who is the organizer this time?" Ian asked, looking around and lowering his voice.
"It might be Kaido, one of the Four Emperors!" Kuma said. "The route for the Heavenly Tribute is real, and the information about the Demon Fruits is also real. Those two Demon Fruits are suspected to be Zoan-type, and they haven't appeared in any guidebooks, so they might be extremely rare Mythical Zoan fruits!"
As soon as Ian heard this, he immediately understood. If those two Demon Fruits really were Zoan-type fruits, then the mastermind behind the scenes could indeed be Kaido of the Four Emperors.
Because the explosion at Punk Hazard had just occurred, Caesar and Doflamingo hadn't yet teamed up to produce SAD and manufacture Artificial Devil Fruits. For Kaido to build his "Beast Army," he could only try to collect various Zoan-type Demon Fruits. And if one of them was an extremely rare Mythical Zoan, it would be even more worth Kaido's effort.
Ian had also speculated about who the mastermind might be. He had thought of Doflamingo and even Crocodile, since the codename "Mr. Justice" reminded him of the naming system of Baroque Works. But he never expected that all his guesses would be wrong!
"You mean, when the Heavenly Tribute is seized, Kaido of the Four Emperors might show up?" Ian asked.
If that were the case, it would be terrible. If such a powerful figure appeared, the outcome would be obvious without even thinking. It would be better to give up early.
However, Kuma shook his head and said, "Kaido won't appear. That would directly trigger a war between Kaido and the World Government. So, it's likely that one of his senior officers will show up. Regardless of whether the seizure succeeds or fails, the participants probably won't end up well."
Ian understood Kuma's meaning. The Navy and the World Government might not have the information yet, but they would eventually find out. Kaido's activities were always in the New World. It was rare for one of his officers to appear in the first half of the Grand Line. If the Navy was decisive enough, they might take this opportunity to kill one of Kaido's officers.
And if the Navy didn't want to provoke that madman Kaido, they might choose to secretly transfer the Heavenly Tribute and Demon Fruits. In that case, Kaido's subordinates, failing to get what they wanted, might take out their anger on the participating bounty hunters.
A madman's subordinates are also madmen. Just look at the unreasonable behavior of "Jack the Drought" to understand that.
"So, we have to give up?" Ian sighed.
Kuma asked him somewhat puzzled, "Why do you want to get involved in this?"
Ian explained his thoughts to Kuma.
In fact, after learning from Kuma that the Demon Fruit might be a Mythical Zoan, Ian wanted it even more.
Kuina had always been bothered by the fact that her strength couldn't match that of boys. Zoan-type fruits were exactly the kind that could enhance a person's "strength" and "physique." And if it was a Mythical Zoan, the enhancement would be even greater.
So, when Ian first thought about finding a Demon Fruit for Kuina, he had considered that a Zoan-type might suit her. A Mythical Zoan could even be more powerful than a Logia.
"I see. So it's Master Koushirou's daughter..." Kuma pondered for a moment and said, "Actually, if you really want that Demon Fruit, there might be a way..."
Ian was taken aback and asked, "What way?"
"From my estimation, the Navy will protect the Heavenly Tribute no matter what!" Kuma said. "Whether they choose to suppress it forcefully or avoid conflict, they won't let the Heavenly Tribute be lost. For so many years, the Heavenly Tribute has never been compromised. It's a matter of face for the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. Once a precedent is set, countless people will try to plunder the Heavenly Tribute in the future."
Ian nodded in agreement. Kuma's reasoning was sound.
"So, those two Demon Fruits will still end up safely in Mary Geoise along with the Heavenly Tribute?" Ian asked.
"Exactly!" Kuma nodded in a low voice. "So there's still a chance. You just need to infiltrate Mary Geoise."
Ian was shocked. "Infiltrate Mary Geoise!? Isn't that too risky!?"
"Don't think of Mary Geoise as too formidable," Kuma shook his head. "Eleven years ago, the fish-man explorer Fisher Tiger climbed the Red Line with his bare hands and caused chaos in Mary Geoise. After that incident, the Celestial Dragons were on alert for a while, but so many years have passed, and their defenses have slackened. Normally, a stranger in Mary Geoise might be recognized, but now it's during the Reverie..."
"Oh, right!" Ian realized. "The kings of the member nations are attending the meeting, and they bring their own guards and attendants. It would indeed be hard to identify everyone."
At this point, Ian suddenly asked Kuma with some doubt, "Uncle Kuma, you know this so well. Could it be that the Revolutionary Army also plans to do something during this opportunity?"
Kuma glanced at him and said, "That's a Revolutionary Army secret. I can't tell you unless you join the Revolutionary Army."
Ian thought for a moment and said, "Actually, joining the Revolutionary Army wouldn't be a bad thing..."
This was indeed Ian's thought. In fact, he had a vague feeling before that his time as a pirate hunter was coming to an end.
Ahead lay the New World, the domain of the Four Emperors. Being a pirate hunter in the New World was simply asking for death, because every one of the Four Emperors was born a pirate! With that identity, he would be a human-shaped self-propelled taunt machine!
There, the Navy's power was much weaker and couldn't provide Ian with effective help. Making money through bounties was no longer viable.
Ian had also considered staying on Sabaody Archipelago for a while longer, earning some money to pay-to-win and improve his strength. But the series of events made him realize what it meant when plans couldn't keep up with changes.
Finding a Demon Fruit just by stepping out of the house? Ian had never imagined that. He didn't think he had that kind of luck. If he had to search the world on his own, it would be questionable when he could actually find a Demon Fruit. And if he waited for an auction, not to mention whether he would encounter one or have the right channels, the amount of money needed to secure it was also a problem.
So for Ian, this might be the best opportunity to get a Demon Fruit.
But how could he get his hands on it? Neither Kaido's side nor the Celestial Dragons would just hand it over. To obtain it, Ian would have to seize it himself.
Now, Uncle Kuma had provided a feasible path, and Ian had to try it.
However, whether he succeeded or failed, he would be exposed. At that point, his identity as a pirate hunter wouldn't protect him, and he would inevitably be wanted.
If he couldn't protect himself, then so be it. From the very beginning, Ian had never planned to be a pirate hunter until he died of old age. It was time for a career change. Being a pirate hunter was a solo act, and it was indeed a bit weak.
In the current world, the three major forces were the Navy, the pirates, and the Revolutionary Army. If he successfully infiltrated Mary Geoise and stole the Demon Fruits, he definitely couldn't join the Navy. That left two options: one was to go to the New World and pledge allegiance to one of the Four Emperors, where the Navy wouldn't dare touch him; the other was the Revolutionary Army, which had been developing quietly for so many years that its influence had grown significantly, and it was probably close to being able to contend with the Navy.
Since Uncle Kuma, a Revolutionary Army officer, was right here, Ian took the opportunity to agree.
He was originally from a modern society, an independent thinker. After gradually witnessing the rule of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, why would he obediently stay and be a docile subject?
"Hmm?" Kuma turned his head slightly upon hearing his words and looked at him. "Are you serious?"
"Of course!" Ian nodded. "By the way, are there any conditions for joining the Revolutionary Army? Like a background check or something?"
"There will be those," Kuma said in his usual low voice. "But I can be your sponsor and save you the trouble."
Ian smiled. "Uncle Kuma, are you really that trusting of me?"
Kuma shook his head. "Not exactly. No matter who sponsors you, you can only become an outer member first."
"Uh," Ian didn't know what to say.
"I'll contact the Revolutionary Army's comrades and pass on your information," Kuma said. "During the last Reverie, the king of the Ilusia Kingdom proposed paying attention to the threat of our Revolutionary Army leader, Dragon. But at that meeting, not many countries took it seriously. Now, however, with the Revolutionary Army's activities expanding, our influence is growing. The topic of this Reverie will revolve around measures to counter the Revolutionary Army."
"I see," Ian nodded. "So this time, the Revolutionary Army plans to sneak into the Reverie amidst the chaos?"
"Yes," Kuma said. "The criminals fighting over the Heavenly Tribute will divert the Navy's attention. This is a good opportunity. If you want to infiltrate Mary Geoise, then in two days, a Revolutionary Army ship will head to Enies Lobby. You must reach that area in time to rendezvous with this ship. From Enies Lobby, the ship will take a special current to Impel Down, then to Marineford, and finally ascend to Mary Geoise."
"Isn't that very dangerous?" Ian asked doubtfully. "Isn't the special current controlled by the World Government?"
"Don't worry," Kuma said, straightening up from the ground and speaking in a low voice. "That ship is indeed a vessel from a member nation. After you board, you'll pretend to be one of the guards."
As he spoke, Kuma pulled out a small Den Den Mushi and handed it to Ian. "Wait near that sea area. Someone will contact you using this Den Den Mushi to pick you up."