“What did you say? You’re part of the Revolutionary Army?”
Rosha was stunned, looking at Ilya in disbelief through the prison bars.
This man, who treated countless lives like ants, was actually a member of the Revolutionary Army?
Had Dragon lost his mind?
Perhaps sensing Rosha’s shock, Ilya showed a rare serious expression.
“Don’t misunderstand Mr. Dragon; he’s the only person I respect.”
A look of reverence appeared on Ilya’s face for the first time.
“Mr. Dragon is a true pioneer, the first man in this decaying world to stand up and declare his refusal to collude with the World Government. He boldly ignited the flame of hope and light for this world!”
“Unlike Pirate King Roger, who placed his hopes of overthrowing the World Government on a chaotic band of pirates, Mr. Dragon personally went to impoverished, despairing places lost to darkness, bringing food, warmth, and hope.”
“His actions did not plunge the world into chaos like the Great Pirate Era. Instead, they lit a spark of hope in forgotten corners.”
“He once told me that he indeed found his path on the day Roger was executed.”
“But he is destined to be different from Roger. He intends to carve a new path to save this world.”
“I let him down and went astray. But…”
Tears suddenly streamed down Ilya’s cheeks as he looked up.
“I have no regrets.”
As Ilya spoke, Rosha’s eyes widened further.
The shock he felt was indescribable.
He thought he had already overestimated Ilya.
But he had still underestimated him.
This man had seen through Roger’s true intentions.
Ilya continued speaking.
Rosha learned that Ilya had once been a strategist for the Revolutionary Army.
Although he wasn’t the second-in-command, his rank was equivalent to a deputy commander, a high-ranking Revolutionary Army member.
About ten years ago, in 1506, frustrated by his inability to gain his father’s approval, Ilya left the Prince’s Kingdom to travel to other countries in the North Blue.
By chance, he encountered Dragon, who was organizing a civilian uprising in one of those countries.
Perhaps it was fate.
With Ilya’s exceptional eloquence, Dragon successfully took over the small nation’s government without bloodshed.
The oppressed, starving civilians overthrew the ruling nobility, gaining their land and freedom.
Dragon invited Ilya to join him, and Ilya did not refuse.
At that time, he was equally moved by Dragon’s courage to challenge the World Government.
In the following years, Ilya helped the Revolutionary Army dismantle the noble rule in several small countries in the North Blue, freeing tens of thousands of civilians from oppression and giving them hope for survival.
This success filled him with confidence.
He believed that if he persisted, he could win his father’s approval.
He didn’t seek the throne of the Prince’s Kingdom; he just wanted a word of recognition.
Later, when the Revolutionary Army shifted its focus to the South Blue, Ilya chose to stay behind, agreeing to look after the few nations that had gained light.
This decision became the turning point of Ilya’s life.
“Do you know what I saw when I returned to those countries after seven years, the ones that had overthrown their nobility?”
Ilya’s face showed a mocking smile.
Rosha did not answer but had an inkling of the answer.
“I saw darkness reclaiming the light. Those civilians had returned to a state of oppression and rule, even worse than before.”
Ilya’s face twisted in pain as he spoke.
The clinking of chains echoed as he raised his hands to clutch his head.
“Why did it turn out this way?”
“It shouldn’t have been.”
“We killed all the nobility, leaving no heirs to the throne. Those civilians should have become the masters of those small countries.”
“Why did new nobles, new oppressors, and new rulers emerge?”
“Heh, I couldn’t believe what I saw. I had to find the answer!”
Ilya looked up, his eyes bloodshot.
“One of those small countries was called Cornis.”
“It was so small it didn’t deserve the title of ‘kingdom,’ with a population of less than ten thousand.”
“I stormed into the palace, no bigger than a common estate, and gathered all the new rulers for interrogation.”
“I laughed when I got the answer. Those rulers had come from the oppressed civilians. They were the educated, visionary representatives we left in charge after overthrowing the nobility.”
“Who would have thought that in less than five years, no, even three years, they would see themselves as rulers of Cornis!”
“Because of the previous uprising, they treated the common people even more harshly.”
“I couldn’t believe my ears. I had thought I was doing something sacred, saving people from misery.”
“But instead, I pushed them into an even darker abyss.”
Ilya lowered his head, his shoulders shaking.
From quiet chuckles to loud laughter.
He laughed as he cried.
“I left that place. Before I left…”
“I killed every last citizen of Cornis!”
“From top to bottom, old to young, men and women alike, none were spared!”
Ilya stared at Rosha, speaking each word with emphasis.
“Then, I decided to find the essence of everything, the answer to it all.”
“Only by knowing the true nature of the world can we prescribe the right cure and prevent another Cornis from happening.”
“If we don’t understand the world’s essence, no matter how hard Dragon or Roger tries to change it, the world will eventually return to its broken state!”
“Rosha!”
Ilya’s tone rose.
“I greatly admire what you said.”
“About courage and faith, about kindness and conscience.”
“You were absolutely right. It’s the correct path!”
“Mr. Dragon and the others follow a similar path, risking their lives to fight against the world.”
“But if we don’t find a way to deal with the world’s essence, all your efforts will eventually revert to square one!”
“That essence is destiny and power!”
“Control them, and you might become the world’s new rulers.”
“Destroy them, and the world will head into an unknown future.”
“This is a choice you must make; there is no third path.”
Having said all this, Ilya’s aura weakened drastically, like a candle flickering in the wind.
It was as if his mind had shattered, losing the will to live.
His once delicate, handsome face now looked haggard.
With lifeless eyes, he looked through the bars at Rosha.
“Rosha, if you get the chance, please tell Mr. Dragon the answer I found. You’re the first person I’ve admired besides him.”
“Courage… perhaps I never truly had it my entire life…”
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
