Listening to Diarmuid's calm and composed response, Dragon felt another surge of helpless rage in his heart.
"So, what exactly are you planning to do?" Dragon demanded.
"You understand the situation, Dragon. You are one of the few leaders capable of seeing the shift that is coming. What you need to do now is increase your stakes, make the Revolutionary Army more substantial. That way, when the cards are dealt, you can claim a larger share of the profits. We are the same. This game was started by us, the Marines. While the Revolutionary Army has provided us with some help along the way, at this critical juncture, no one is allowed to snatch the lead from us!" Diarmuid said without a shred of hesitation.
"You bastard!" Dragon cursed.
"You too," Diarmuid replied with a chuckle.
There was a long silence on the other end, as if Dragon were being driven to a fit of angry laughter. Finally, he let out a sharp chuckle. "At least we still have the qualifications to sit at the table?"
"That, you do," Diarmuid admitted placidly.
Diarmuid didn't waste any more breath on him. Both men knew that from this moment on, the secret cooperation between the Revolutionary Army and the Marines had officially fractured. The strategic alliance between Diarmuid, Stussy, and Dragon, which had lasted for years, was essentially over. To be more precise, Dragon and the Revolutionary Army had been temporarily kicked out of the inner circle.
Getting back into the game wouldn't be a problem for the Revolutionary Army, but they no longer had allies. Without allies, their share of the spoils would naturally be much smaller.
Soon after, both men hung up. Diarmuid continued sipping his tea in peace.
Dragon, meanwhile, initiated his next moves. Numerous Revolutionary Army cadres assumed hidden identities, joining the royal entourages of East Blue nations already under Revolutionary influence. They intended to follow them to the Holy Land of Mariejois to participate in this Reverie.
Dragon himself did the same. Taking on the role of the Chief Steward for House Outlook of the Goa Kingdom, he traveled incognito toward the Holy Land.
At this stage, Dragon had a bold idea. Looking at the current situation, the Marines frantically pouring troops into Mariejois under the guise of "protection", he was one of the few people who knew the truth. This essentially confirmed that the Marines were going to move against Mariejois in the near future.
Based on his calculations, the most likely window was this very Reverie. Therefore, he had to be there. He needed to secure more leverage before the Marines made their move.
Since cooperation with the Marines was no longer an option—they were now powerful enough to play the game without their "little brother"—Dragon had to find his own way. He was certain the Marines would strike during the Reverie, which presented a golden opportunity for the Revolutionary Army to transition from a so-called "evil" organization back to the "side of justice."
Based on Dragon's understanding of the Marines, they would definitely seize the moral high ground when they acted. The Marines were an organization of "Justice," and Fleet Admiral Sengoku was a man with a "moral obsession" in this regard. It wasn't just Sengoku; all the high-ranking Marine officers were people of principle. Fighting pirates was one thing, but to take down Mariejois, they needed a righteous cause.
Thus, Dragon reasoned the Marines' first step would be to blacken Mariejois's name. In fact, his deduction was spot on. Sengoku and Diarmuid thought exactly the same way.
Following this logic, the Marines surely had a certain level of confidence, likely having already secured some vital intelligence. Therefore, during the Reverie, Mariejois's reputation would be dragged through the mud. The Marines would condemn them as an evil or corrupt force.
Once Mariejois was painted black, the Revolutionary Army, who had been fighting them for years, could seize the momentum to clear their own names. The roles of "black" and "white" would be reversed. If the Revolutionary Army became a "Justice" organization, it would be a massive boost to their reputation. With that reputation and their existing power, Dragon's leverage would increase, allowing him to secure more benefits.
How could he achieve this? There were many ways, but time was short. Dragon decided to "jump the gun" and revolt first! He would act ahead of the Marines to stigmatize Mariejois. Regardless of his success, as long as the Marines still wanted to move, they would have to grit their teeth and accept it, cooperating with the Revolutionary Army to hammer Mariejois until their already poor reputation was shattered beyond repair.
All to seize the moral high ground!
Dragon's plan was now simple: get to Mariejois immediately and gather intelligence. Even a tiny bit of "dirt" would suffice. If he couldn't find any, he'd make it up! He had to act before the Marines. By riding the wave of the Marines' momentum, he would "come ashore" to wash the Revolutionary Army clean, increase his stakes, and claim his slice of the cake!
Dragon had always been a clever man. Since the Marines were trying to screw him over, he planned to use them in return. This battle of wits was perfectly normal, and Diarmuid truly hadn't predicted this specific move. Furthermore, these high-level maneuvers were actually the responsibility of "The Strategist" Sengoku. Dragon's contact with Diarmuid was more of a personal nature.
Diarmuid had no intention of interfering in those matters.
He spent his morning in the office, drinking tea and reading the newspaper, quite at leisure. By the afternoon, however, various reports and contacts began to converge on his desk.
First was the situation in Alabasta. The nation's lingering issues were severe. Crocodile was dead, and King Cobra had been captured. The Warlords and various factions had run amok in Alabasta for their own gain before leaving a complete mess behind in one of the world's oldest human civilizations. Even after all this time, Alabasta hadn't even managed to crown a new king.
But a turning point had finally arrived. Nefertari Vivi, Cobra's daughter and the legitimate Princess of Alabasta, had reappeared. After being nearly taken by the Revolutionary Army and then intercepted by Crocodile, she had vanished after the latter's downfall. Now, she had resurfaced and was working with the remnants of the Rebel Army.
The rebel leader, Koza, was her childhood friend. Previously, he had hated the incompetence of the ruling class for letting the country fall into ruin. Now, knowing the truth, that Crocodile was the puppet master, the air was cleared. As Cobra had said before heading to Mariejois, the country would one day realize the Nefertari family hadn't failed them; rather, it was their own folly that had failed the Nefertari family.
With the truth out, Vivi was the nation's last hope.
Princess Vivi used Koza's influence, combined with her own prestige, to start restoring order in Alabasta. Upon learning she was alive, the Revolutionary Army also began cooperating with her. The scattered Royal Army and the surviving nobles naturally supported her. For a time, it seemed there were no enemies left within Alabasta capable of standing in her way—only small-time opportunists and desert bandits, who would eventually be dealt with.
Vivi had not become a puppet. On the contrary, she used the Rebel Army's strength to stabilize the Revolutionary Army. With the support of the loyal nobility and the regrouping Royal Army, she had enough capital to apply the "art of kingship" to heal Alabasta.
However, it was clear that Alabasta wouldn't fully recover for several years. Furthermore, Mariejois refused to recognize her legitimacy and had even attempted several assassinations. Diarmuid was no longer interested in Alabasta's story; there was no profit left there for him. He simply smiled after reading the report and offered no comment.
Next came news that the Neptune royal family of Ryugu Kingdom on Fish-Man Island had been invited to the Reverie. King Neptune even contacted him personally, sounding incredibly anxious. "Mariejois is too dangerous! Within the World Government system, you're my only true friend, Admiral! Once I'm there, you must ensure my life is protected!"
Fish-Man Island had always been a staunch ally of the Marines. As Jinbe's Free Trade Zone influenced their economy more and more, the bond became about more than just old sentiment—it was about inseparable interests. Fish-Man Island was firmly on the Marines' side. Their participation in the Reverie was a good thing for Diarmuid and the others, so he agreed immediately.
"Rest assured. If anyone dares to cause trouble in Mariejois, even if they are a Celestial Dragon, I will handle them!"
Neptune didn't quite believe him, but since Diarmuid had put it so bluntly, he couldn't say much else and happily accepted the reassurance.
Once the news from Fish-Man Island was settled, Diarmuid received a call from the King of Dressrosa, Donquixote Doflamingo. Doflamingo had confirmed through Diarmuid that the Marines were about to stir up a storm during the Reverie. He had been in high spirits lately, his health better than ever.
Having received a definitive answer, Doflamingo was beyond excited. As the recognized King of Dressrosa, despite still being a Warlord of the Sea, he intended to head to Mariejois openly to participate in the Reverie! He was checking in with Diarmuid to let him know he'd be attending. He sincerely declared that if the Marines needed him for anything, anything at all that involved sticking it to Mariejois or those "bastard Celestial Dragons", he would go through fire and water without hesitation.
Diarmuid was more than happy to accept someone so eager for revenge. He praised Doflamingo's courage and wisdom, promising that the Marines would definitely put him on the front lines...
It was a perfect match of mutual interest.
Over the next few days, everything began to fall into place. Marine Admiral Diarmuid, who had been sitting steadily at Marineford, finally prepared to set off for Mariejois to attend this grand gathering.