Koshiro sighed softly:
"Although I don't know what you've been hiding from all these years, Father."
"Kuina really likes you."
"Come back and visit often."
Looking at Kuina's room, Shimotsuki Kōzaburō nodded and said softly,
"Mm..."
----
North Blue, on the island of the World Edge Kingdom, Pado Island.
This is an island that Ryū once visited.
It is also the final stop for Rollca and Robin at the end of their North Blue journey.
Everything here seems out of place with the martial North Blue.
There is no scheming and infighting; it is filled with people who were once persecuted by world nobles, gathering together for warmth.
The Ginkgo leaves dancing in the wind make it feel like a different era.
Sitting at a table on the second floor of a restaurant,
Robin looked at the people outside the window and sighed,
"It's truly a paradise."
"Everything is so beautiful and peaceful."
"If only people didn't have such tragic experiences..."
Along the way, they learned about the tragedies that befell everyone,
And the cruelty of the world nobles, which sent chills down their spines.
How could people be so cruel?
Rollca, sitting opposite her, said leisurely,
"Why be so sentimental?"
"Most people in this world cannot control their own destinies."
"You included, and I included."
"These tragedies that have already happened cannot be undone."
"But we can focus on the future."
"This world is already rotten, and one day, a great fire will cleanse the filth of this world."
"Burn it all away."
Listening to Rollca's words, Robin was lost in thought,
"Is it a revolution..."
Rollca chuckled softly, remaining silent, but in his heart, he whispered,
"It's Sakazuki..."
----
Grand Line, the first half.
On a huge warship, Borsalino lay on a sun lounger, leisurely basking in the sun.
The warship moved at an almost stationary pace...
Several officers even sat on the guardrail, fishing.
Buru buru~ Buru buru~
The Den Den Mushi on the table next to the sun lounger woke Borsalino from his pleasant dream. He picked up the Den Den Mushi,
"Hello~"
Strobel's stern voice came through,
"Vice Admiral Borsalino."
"We have tracked the Sun Pirates."
"Should we take action?"
Borsalino replied listlessly,
"That~"
"Continue to monitor~"
"Don't launch a reckless attack, after all, those fish-men are as strong as monsters."
"If we lose another warship~"
"Then I'll have to act."
"This is a rare vacation mission~"
Strobel was somewhat speechless,
"This... alright."
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Strobel couldn't help but sigh.
Being assigned to a Vice Admiral like this, when would he ever get promoted?
He missed the days under Admiral Sakazuki.
He never hesitated...
"Tell the surveillance personnel to keep a greater distance and not provoke the Sun Pirates."
"Await orders from Vice Admiral Borsalino."
The soldier waiting at his desk saluted,
"Yes!!!!"
----
Grand Line, the first half.
On Yaxuto Island, at the port.
A giant warship slowly sailed into the port, towing several pirate crews that had been entirely frozen into ice.
Upon entering the port, soldiers from the warship formed ranks and headed for the pirate ships, beginning to smash and search for spoils.
Kuzan lay on a sun lounger, wearing an eye patch and sound asleep.
At this moment,
The ship's adjutant walked over and woke Kuzan,
"Vice Admiral Kuzan, there are two pirate ships docked at the port."
"Should we deal with them?"
Upon hearing about pirates, Kuzan struggled to get up and checked his watch, asking,
"Have they been plundering?"
The adjutant looked at the pirates busily loading supplies in the distance,
"Uh... not at all yet."
But seeing Kuzan not responding, he looked at Kuzan, who was staring at his watch, with some confusion,
"Vice Admiral Kuzan?"
Kuzan still didn't speak. After half a minute,
"Alright, it's quitting time."
"Since they haven't been plundering, let's let them go for now."
"Don't disturb my sleep."
He then lay down and fell asleep instantly...
The adjutant wanted to say something but sighed and didn't bother him further. Vice Admiral Kuzan had become increasingly lazy in recent years...
----
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
The Five Elders, who controlled the world, rarely showed such a solemn expression.
The Five Elder with a sword spoke,
"That fruit has appeared again."
"Send someone to retrieve it."
The elderly Five Elder with curly hair frowned,
"Just send any CP9."
"It's all a futile effort anyway."
"For eight hundred years, successive World Governments have been trying to recover it."
"But it has never fallen into the government's hands."
"As if it had a will of its own."
"The priority now is to stabilize the chaos in the Grand Line."
The Five Elder with a sword also frowned,
"Let it be chaotic, and weed out some useless people."
"They still dare to offer opinions to the government."
"There are plenty of countries willing to join the World Government."
"No matter what, the Celestial Gold cannot be reduced."
"Arrange the aftermath properly; the government's authority must not be undermined."
"We cannot set this precedent."
The other four pondered for a moment,
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
Unlike the Four Seas, which were temporarily suppressed by Sakazuki, the people of the Grand Line had broader horizons and wilder hearts.
Countless young people chose to go out to sea and become pirates.
Born in the Grand Line, they already had a unique advantage.
Compared to the ignorant pirates of the Four Seas, the pirates here had higher combat power.
Many countries had already been breached, although none were member nations.
But if things continued this way, it would only be a matter of time.
Due to a large number of young people going to sea, the productivity of member nations in the Grand Line had decreased, while the Celestial Gold they paid had not decreased, putting immense pressure on them.
They had all requested a reduction in taxes, otherwise, if they continued, it was almost certain they would face national ruin.
And some countries were already on the verge of collapse...
----
Grand Line, Enies Lobby.
Spandine, still the director of CP9, summoned Foxy, one of the strongest CP9 agents.
Looking at Foxy, who had a defiant expression, Spandine showed a hint of a smile,
"Foxy, sit down."
"I've called you here because of a mission personally issued by the Five Elders."
"After much consideration, I believe only you are suitable."
"And only you can complete it."
Foxy was somewhat surprised, but upon hearing it was a mission arranged by the Five Elders,
He immediately sat up straighter, thinking to himself, if he performed well, could he advance further...
From Foxy's fierce and defiant face, it was clear that he was not content to be a mere weapon...
After a while,
Foxy, without pausing, pushed open the door and left the office.
A white-haired CP man, who was about to enter, saw Foxy rushing out with a faintly excited expression, and his boss's smiling face...
He shook his head and sighed internally.
"Tsk, he's still young."
"Always looking like he wants to move up. He probably won't be coming back this time."
"The last time the boss smiled like this."
"It was when he tricked the former CP9 director..."