The morning after the warehouse burned, Pablo sat in his room at the headquarters. Before him, the Den Den Mushi looked at him with its glassy eyes. He called one of his forty commanders in the south.
The man answered after the second ring. His voice was tired, but sharp.
"Pablo."
"I have news that you must spread. The main weapons warehouse in the north burned down last night."
The man was silent for a mont. "What?"
"It burned completely. Everything. Guns, cannons, gunpowder, ammunition. Half the king's arsenal has turned to ashes."
"How... who did this?"
"Our allies." Pablo said simply. He would not tell everyone about his own actions and abilities. "Spread the news in every village. In every town. In every field. I want the south to know that victory is near."
"I will."
Pablo hung up.
---
In a remote village on the outskirts of the south, the farrs were working in the fields as usual. The sun was scorching, sweat pouring down their faces. Suddenly, a young man ran toward the fields, screaming at the top of his voice.
"The warehouse burned! The weapons warehouse in the north burned!"
The farrs stopped working. They looked at each other. They did not understand.
"What are you saying?"
"The weapons! The king's weapons! Half of them burned! Last night! Our allies in the north did it!"
The faces began to change. First, shock. Then small smiles. Then shouts of joy.
"Long live the revolution!" one of them shouted. "Long live a free Sorbet!"
In another village, Pablo's forty n had gathered the young people in the public square. They were telling them the news. The faces were radiant. So were crying. So were laughing. So were holding their guns and kissing them.
"This is our ti!" one of the commanders shouted. "The king has lost half his weapons. His soldiers are fleeing. This is our ti!"
In a third village, the elderly won wept. They were not crying from sadness. They were crying from joy. For the first ti in years, they felt there was hope. That injustice might end. That their grandchildren might live in peace.
The news spread like wildfire. Within a day, every man, woman, and child in the south knew that half the king's weapons had burned. That victory was near.
Morale soared to the skies. The young n who had been afraid began to volunteer. The farrs who had hesitated began to take up arms. Everyone wanted to be part of the victory.
---
After Pablo finished his calls, he rose from his bed. He left his room. He walked through the corridor. He stopped in front of Jinny's door.
He did not knock. He pushed the door.
Jinny was sitting on her bed, wearing her simple clothes. Her pink hair cascaded over her shoulders. She was holding a newspaper, reading its news.
She looked at him with questioning eyes.
"I have a task for you."
"I'm listening."
"Go to Kuma. Tell him that the ti has co. I need him in the battle."
She was not surprised. She knew this day would co. Ever since he told her that he would need Kuma in ergencies, she knew he would call upon him. But she did not know it would co this quickly. Yet, she had no choice. The revolution itself had moved very fast.
"In the first battle, Kuma treated the wounded. He was in the rear lines. But now... the situation is different. If we win this battle, the chance of the revolution's success will rise to ninety percent. Therefore, we have no choice but to use every possible force."
Jinny was silent for a mont. She was thinking.
"I will go."
She stood up. She walked toward the door. Before she left, she looked at Pablo.
"Do you trust him?"
"I trust him. And I trust you."
She left.
---
In the nobles' palaces in the north, the atmosphere was completely different.
The nobles gathered in closed rooms, speaking in whispers. Their faces were pale, their eyes fearful.
Noble Cross was sitting in his luxurious palace, drinking a glass of wine with a trembling hand. Before him, his nephew stood.
"Uncle, the soldiers are fleeing. The warehouse burned. Even the queen has begun planning to escape."
"I know." Cross whispered. "I know."
"What will we do if the revolutionaries win? They will kill us all. They will burn our palaces. They will take everything."
Cross was silent for a mont. Then he said:
"Prepare the ship. Prepare so money and jewelry. If the army loses... we leave."
"Where to?"
"Anywhere. Just far away from these peasants."
In another palace, other nobles were planning sothing similar. So were planning to send their money to neighboring islands. So were preparing ships. So were buying the loyalty of soldiers to protect them in case of collapse.
Fear was consuming the north. The nobles who thought they were at the peak of security suddenly realized that their throne might crumble.
---
After a period of travel, Jinny arrived at the southern church.
The church was as she had left it. Simple, modest, the sll of candles still filled the place. Kuma was sitting on his massive chair.
"Kuma."
Kuma was surprised by her visit. "Jinny."
She sat on a nearby wooden bench. She looked at him. His face was calm as usual.
"Pablo asks you to participate in the battle. Not in the rear lines. In the front lines."
Kuma was silent for a mont. Then he said:
"I knew this day would co."
" too."
Another silence. Then Jinny spoke, her voice different. There was a warmth in it that had not been there before.
"Kuma... we were wrong about him."
Kuma looked at her. "What do you an?"
"We thought at first that he was a man who wanted to exploit the poor. We thought he was like the nobles, looking only for his own interest. But I saw him... I saw him risk his life for us. He burned an entire warehouse alone. Under the guard of over four hundred soldiers. And risked dying at any mont."
She paused. Her eyes were glistening.
"He is not a saint. He is not doing this only for the greater good. But he also does not abandon the poor. He has been sincere. More than we expected."
Kuma was silent. He was thinking.
"I do not fully trust him yet." he said finally. "But I trust that the poor need soone to protect them. And he seems to be the only one capable of doing that."
Kuma rose from his chair. He was massive. His height approached seven ters. His body was a mass of muscle. His face was stern.
"I will go. I will fight. For the south. For freedom."
Jinny smiled. "That is enough."
---
In the largest village in the south, the revolutionaries' camp was gathering.
The place was a wide field on the outskirts of the village. Tents were spread everywhere.
The number of revolutionaries was approaching three thousand. They were not regular soldiers, but they were enthusiastic. They were trained. They were ready to die for their freedom. Thanks to the brainwashing carried out by Pablo's n.
Pablo's forty n were spread among them. So trained them in using guns, so taught them combat tactics, so planned the coming battle. So planted suicidal ideas.
The place was bustling with activity. n carrying ammunition boxes. Soldiers training in shooting. Everyone knew the battle was near.
Then... they heard a commotion at the camp entrance.
Everyone turned.
Kuma was coming.
He walked slowly, but his footsteps shook the ground. His height approached seven ters, his body as wide as a wall. He wore a simple black cloak, his bear-eared hat raised high.
The revolutionaries looked at him with astonished eyes. So opened their mouths. So stopped talking. So dropped their weapons from their hands in shock.
They had never seen a human this size before.
"Who... who is this?" one whispered. Not everyone in the south knew Kuma.
"He is Kuma." said a young man who recognized him. "The priest who treats the poor. And now... he will fight with us."
A mont of silence. Then the camp exploded with chants.
"KUMA! KUMA! KUMA!"
They scread his na. They raised their weapons in the air. They cried with joy.
Kuma stood in the middle of the camp. He looked at the revolutionaries around him. He said nothing. He just nodded his head.
But that nod was enough.
The revolutionaries suddenly felt that victory was near. That death was no longer frightening. That they now had a great power on their side.
A man the size of a house beside them made morale soar to the skies.
Kuma was ready for battle.
And the south was ready too.
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