Later that night, after drinking with Shanks and Buggy, Bege parted ways with them.
He walked through the dimly lit streets, seemingly drunk. Several figures tailed him from a distance – Marines, assigned to track his movements.
Bege easily shook them off, ducking into another dark, narrow alleyway. He swayed unsteadily, pretending to look for a place to rest.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the alley. Bege's eyes instantly sharpened, the drunken haze vanishing completely. He focused his gaze ahead.
Standing there in the gloom was a tall figure clad in a voluminous, deep-green hooded cloak that obscured most of his form, leaving only a shadowed face visible. Bege's sharp eyes, however, caught the distinctive red, square-patterned tattoo on the man's left cheek.
Bege recognized him: the man who would one day be known as the World's Worst Criminal, the leader of the Revolutionary Army – Monkey D. Dragon.
"Rear Admiral Dragon," Bege addressed him calmly, using his former rank. "I heard you defected from the Marines. May I ask why you're intercepting me here?" Dragon's defection had indeed occurred about a year prior.
"Demon Dragon," Dragon's voice was deep and resonant, "your current situation is dangerous. The Marines and the World Government will not allow you to continue developing unchecked."
"Is that all you came here to warn me about?" Bege asked lightly.
Dragon shook his head. "I have observed you. You are an intelligent man; you wouldn't place yourself in inescapable danger. You undoubtedly have a method to leave Loguetown." His gaze intensified, a powerful light entering his eyes. "I sought you out because I wish to invite you to join a great undertaking – something monumental enough to change the world."
Bege chuckled softly. "Are you inviting me to become a revolutionary? To overthrow the rule of the World Government?"
Dragon's expression instantly turned glacial, fierce killing intent erupting from his eyes. Simultaneously, a terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki surged outwards, crashing towards Bege like a tsunami.
Not to be outdone, Bege unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki. The two immense pressures collided violently within the confines of the narrow alley.
The clash lasted only a moment before vanishing as quickly as it began. Dragon retracted his Haki, his cold eyes fixed on Bege. "The Revolutionary Army has only just been founded," he stated icily. "How do you know of its existence?"
Bege pulled out a lighter and relit his extinguished cigar, taking a long, satisfying drag. "Secrets rarely stay hidden forever," he replied leisurely. "You needn't be nervous; I only learned of the Revolutionary Army's existence by chance. Rest assured, the Marines haven't noticed you yet."
He continued, "This world has become rotten, foul-smelling. The ideals of your Revolutionary Army aren't half bad. However, those same ideals are precisely what makes you the most dangerous threat to the World Government. If they discover you, they will stop at nothing to eradicate you completely. You've likely just established yourselves, haven't you? Everything is still fragile. You should focus on developing quietly for now. In the future, there will be ample opportunity to truly threaten the World Government."
"I have a feeling," Bege added, his expression unreadable, "that your Revolutionary Army will become the World Government's greatest affliction."
Dragon looked surprised. "I myself lack complete confidence in the Revolutionary Army's future, yet you seem quite optimistic about our prospects." The coldness in his eyes softened considerably. Looking at Bege, he felt a sense of kinship, the rare feeling of meeting a truly understanding soul.
Bege elaborated, "Extreme oppression only breeds extreme suffering and despair. When a single ray of light penetrates the darkness below, all those who are oppressed will inevitably choose to follow it. The ideals of the Revolutionary Army are that ray of light, awakening the spirit of resistance within the downtrodden people. That spirit will coalesce into a terrifying force, one that even the World Government will be unable to suppress when the people rise up."
Dragon's expression grew animated, clearly moved. He hadn't expected to find someone in this world whose thoughts aligned so closely with his own.
"Capone Bege!" Dragon urged passionately. "Since you harbor such ideals, let us lead the Revolutionary Army together! Let us overturn this corrupt regime! With you joining our cause, we will surely succeed!"
Bege waved a dismissive hand, refusing flatly. "Once the Revolutionary Army is discovered, the World Government will never permit anyone to subvert their rule. You will face the most brutal suppression imaginable. It's far too dangerous – significantly more dangerous than being a pirate."
Bege's words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the flames of Dragon's excitement. He calmed rapidly, looking at Bege with a complex mix of emotions.
"Although I won't be joining you," Bege continued, offering an alternative, "we can cooperate."
"How?" Dragon asked calmly.
"The Revolutionary Army is newly founded; you must be lacking in everything," Bege stated. "I can provide you with the weapons and various other resources you require. Of course," he added with a sly grin, narrowing his eyes, "it won't be free. You will need to pay."
That's right, Bege thought inwardly, I've set my sights on the Revolutionary Army. They lacked everything now, and perhaps couldn't afford many arms yet. But the future Revolutionary Army would be a behemoth. If he established a partnership now, Bege's arms dealing business would secure a massive future buyer.
He continued his pitch: "The weapons in my inventory are the most advanced available on the seas. Their performance is guaranteed, which can effectively help you minimize casualties. Perhaps you don't require a large quantity now, but once the Revolutionary Army expands, your need for weapons and resources will increase exponentially. Furthermore, once you inevitably attract the World Government's full attention, they will make it exceedingly difficult for you to acquire supplies through normal channels. My supply lines, however," Bege stressed, "are exceptionally stable."
"We are in desperate need of a partner like you," Dragon replied, agreeing with barely a moment's hesitation.
Having secured a promising buyer, Bege grinned broadly. He casually tossed Dragon a Den Den Mushi. "You can use this to contact me."
As he turned to leave, Bege paused and looked back at Dragon one last time. "A piece of advice: the future of the revolution lies with the common people. Whoever wins the hearts of the people wins the world."
He elaborated, "I believe the Revolutionary Army should initially focus its efforts in rural areas, where the World Government's control is relatively weak. Rely on the strength of the populace to build your revolutionary forces. Then, step by step, expand from the bottom up, creating a strategic posture of gradually encroaching upon the World Government's power base, ultimately leading to its overthrow. I call it the 'Encircle the Cities from the Countryside' strategy."
"I have high hopes for the Revolutionary Army," Bege finished with an encouraging nod. "Keep up the good work, Dragon." He gave a final wave and walked away, feeling quite pleased with himself for so effortlessly sounding profound using Grandpa Mao's strategic principles.
Dragon stood frozen, stunned, muttering Bege's words under his breath. "'Win the hearts of the people'... 'Encircle the cities from the countryside'... Yes... Yes, that's it! This is the path for the Revolutionary Army!" His eyes shone with fervent excitement. Bege's words resonated deeply, solidifying into the core tenets of the Revolutionary Army's doctrine and strategy.
When Dragon finally looked up again, Bege was gone. A complex expression crossed his face. Capone Bege, he thought, possessing such profound revolutionary insights... why are you unwilling to join us yourself?