【When Luo Ya spoke, Goemon and the others immediately became anxious.】
【They had never imagined that Luo Ya and the others would leave one day. They hadn't left even under the worst conditions at the Terminal Station, and now, with things improving all around.】
【“Alright, it’s not like we're parting forever," Luo Ya said with a smile, pressing down his hand to signal them to calm down.】
【He then spoke in a gentle voice: “You've all studied revolutionary thought and participated in the revolution for over half a year. You should have your own understanding of the world situation by now."】
【“The revolutionary power of the Goah Kingdom alone cannot overthrow the World Government, even if it includes the entire East Blue.”】
【“To overthrow the World Government, people from all over the world must unite. When the sparks of revolution across the world merge into a raging fire, even the Celestial Dragons who control the World Government will be overthrown as easily as the Goah nobles are now."】
【Luo Ya smiled and said, “Revolution can't be done by me alone, nor by you all alone. It has to be done by people all over the world."】
【“In fact, Mr. Izo and I were destined to leave from the start. We will spread the seeds of revolution along the way until the day it truly becomes a raging fire."】
【“Goemon, Jimmy, Salo, and all the other cadres, the revolution has not yet been successful, comrades still need to work hard. East Blue is entrusted to you," Luo Ya stepped forward, shaking hands and embracing each of his comrades.】
【“I will, Teacher Luo Ya," Goemon clenched his fist, lowered his head, and held back his tears.】
【He was the first person in the Goah Kingdom to follow Luo Ya, and their bond was deep.】
【He would probably never forget Luo Ya's kindness for pulling him out of a life of apathy and transforming him from a third-rate thug into the revolutionary cadre he is today.】
【“Alright, Goemon, it's not like we're parting forever. We're just working towards the same goal in different places. We will have opportunities to meet again in the future.”】
【Luo Ya looked at Goemon’s appearance and patted him on the shoulder.】
【Although they had decided to leave, they weren't in a hurry to do so in the next few days.】
【During these few days, Luo Ya and Goemon discussed their final plans.】
【They decided on many things in this discussion.】
【Firstly, they confirmed that the economic system would be primarily based on public ownership. The land, factories, and other properties seized from the Goah nobles would become national assets, used to propel the Goah Kingdom’s infrastructure development.】
【The villages outside the Colber Mountains would adopt a collective economic system.】
【At the same time, they would actively promote Goah Kingdom’s overseas trade, even cross-sea trade.】
【They would promote commercial development and the advancement of science and technology.】
【They would promote the transformation of the Colber Mountains, aiming to improve connections between the capital and the villages outside the Colber Mountains as much as possible.】
【Secondly, they planned to renovate and redesign the capital. They would demolish Hightown and the palace walls, demolish the extravagant buildings in Hightown and the palace, and convert them into administrative offices.】
【They would transform the frontier towns, crack down on the ringleaders of the thugs, and provide ideological education and reform to the thugs in the frontier towns.】
【Thirdly, they would determine the Goah Kingdom’s future revolutionary path.】
【Considering the situation in East Blue and the strength of the World Government, after the Goah Kingdom, they would no longer launch armed uprisings and overthrow other countries. Instead, they would focus on spreading revolutionary thought, remaining dormant and developing as much as possible.】
【They shouldn't attempt to fight the World Government head-on. They would choose a nominal king and remain dormant under the shadow of the World Government, developing their strength.】
【But they would always adhere to the dictatorship of the proletariat.】
【The nominal king chosen was Goemon, the little thug who had initially joined them. He deserved it, from the time he spent ten days living with Luo Ya at Terminal Station, from the moment he started contributing to the construction of the camp, brick by brick.】
【“Let me tell you this beforehand, Goemon," Luo Ya said to Goemon as he prepared to leave.】
【“Don’t forget who you were half a year ago. Don’t forget the journey of the revolution. Don’t forget the thoughts you’ve learned. Don’t become decadent,” Luo Ya said earnestly.】
【“I don't want you to be the target of revolution one day.”】
【“I will remember your teachings, Mr. Luo Ya.” Goemon’s eyes were resolute and clear.】
【“Then, everyone, goodbye.” Luo Ya waved goodbye.】
【From among the revolutionary soldiers who volunteered to leave, they selected some who knew how to sail. Luo Ya and Tengu left on a ship.】
【Unlike their solitary departure, they now had thousands of comrades accompanying them.】
【Just as the Goah Kingdom’s revolutionary cause had entered a new era of development, Luo Ya and the others were about to embark on a new journey.】
【“So, you weren’t supposed to be retiring at Terminal Station? Why did you come along?" As they sailed further and further from the Goah Kingdom, Luo Ya withdrew his slightly reluctant gaze and turned to the thin old man huddled by the mast, puffing on his pipe.】
【Luo Ya had originally intended to leave Naguri in the Goah Kingdom. On the one hand, he was old, and this was his hometown.】
【On the other hand, Naguri was quite strong and was the captain of the cross-sea trading fleet that Luo Ya was leaving behind for the Goah Kingdom. With his strength, he was capable enough to escort the fleet across long distances, transporting goods to North Blue.】
【Luo Ya had already contacted the cross-sea trading fleet—the same one they had used to travel from South Blue to East Blue.】
【East Blue’s abundant food and North Blue’s advanced technology were the development paths Luo Ya had set for the Goah Kingdom, using technology to drive the advancement of productivity.】
【“Heh heh, I thought about it and finally decided that I wasn't old enough to retire yet. I'd rather be with you, Luo Ya. Besides, other seas are not as peaceful as East Blue. I can be a bodyguard and guide,” Naguri said with a grin, holding his pipe.】
【“Alright, come along then," Luo Ya said, looking at Naguri’s cheerful face. He didn’t say anything more.】
【He had to admit that Naguri was right. The places they were going to next were not peaceful, and Naguri’s formidable fighting strength could be very helpful.】
【“Where are we going next, Mr. Luo Ya?” asked one of the revolutionary soldiers. “Are we going directly to the Reverse Mountain?”】
【“Not yet," Luo Ya took out a rather detailed nautical chart. It was a collection of the Goah nobles, and it had very detailed records of the seas surrounding the Goah Kingdom.】
【After looking at the map, Luo Ya pointed to an island near the Goah Kingdom and said, “Let’s go here first."】
【Not long after, the merchant ship docked at the port of Shells Town.】
【This wasn't Luo Ya’s first time here. During the months when the Terminal Station camp was getting on its feet, Luo Ya and Tengu had also visited here, but they hadn’t gone very deep.】
【This was his second time here, and before leaving East Blue, he wanted to confirm a thought he had.】
【Shells Town belonged to the Colco Kingdom, another member of the World Government, but even though Shells Town belonged to the Colco Kingdom, the two were not close.】
【Their relationship was perhaps even more distant than the relationship between the Goah Kingdom and the villages outside the Colber Mountains.】
【Shells Town was not small. The Navy had a branch base here, but there weren't many soldiers—a hundred or so. They lived in harmony with the town's residents.】
【Luo Ya and the others stayed here for about two days. During that time, Luo Ya unexpectedly befriended a young Navy officer who was full of passion and justice.】
【His name was Monkey D. Garp, and he was eighteen years old, full of vigor.】
ps: Chapter release this afternoon. Please consider subscribing to the book, thank you.