Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In Sakazuki's home, the second-floor study.
Sakazuki, standing by the window, looked towards Mary Geoise:
"The World Conference should be starting."
Karuol shrugged and said:
"Probably."
"I always feel like the World Conference is useless."
"It seems like no useful decisions have been made."
Sakazuki chuckled:
"The so-called World Conference."
"It's just a fig leaf for tyranny."
"Those kings are just a bunch of appeased fools."
"The Government gives them a plausible reason to hand over money every year."
"In eight hundred years of time, it is enough for those with intentions to replace and control any power."
"The World Government is no exception."
"The ones truly in control of the World Government... are the people in the Holy Land."
Karuol sighed:
"That's terrifying..."
Sakazuki said:
"There's no use thinking about that now."
"By the way, where is Barrette?"
Karuol replied:
"He'll be at Headquarters this afternoon."
Sakazuki nodded:
"Later, go to the archives and organize the data."
"Compile a list of known Paramecia Devil Fruit users on the seas, with pirates prioritized."
"Continuously record newly appearing Paramecia users from now on."
"It's time to start recovering the Devil Fruits."
Karuol said:
"Yes."
"But, are you not collecting Zoan and Logia types?"
Sakazuki shook his head:
"For Zoan, except for those Mythical Zoans, the others are of little use."
"Same for Logia, they aren't of much use."
"It's only the Paramecia-type Devil Fruits."
"Many of them are rule-based, and cannot be resisted simply by strength."
"These are the dangerous ones, and they must be controlled."
Fruits like the Slow-Slow Fruit, Luck-Luck Fruit, Rewind-Rewind Fruit, Hobby-Hobby Fruit, and other very useful ones like the Melt-Melt Fruit, Swallow-Swallow Fruit, Barrier-Barrier Fruit, etc...
All of them belong to the Paramecia type. These troublesome fruits, if possible, must be kept under control.
Karuol nodded and said:
"Understood."
Sakazuki thought for a moment:
"Have the Devil Fruits of the Donquixote Pirates been extracted?"
Karuol nodded:
"They all met with accidental deaths."
"All the Devil Fruits have been transported to the base."
"And some of their collected Devil Fruits have also been brought into the base."
"The most valuable among them is the Gold-Gold Fruit."
"There's nothing else of particular note."
"However, two young girls from the Donquixote family were taken by Vice Admiral Tsuru in the North Blue."
Sakazuki raised an eyebrow:
"Wasn't it just one?"
He remembered it was Baby-5, which was harmless, so he didn't pay it much mind.
Karuol said:
"According to our personnel's reports, the other one was discovered at the beginning of the year when we swept through the Donquixote family's base."
"A young girl who was about to join the Donquixote family, an ability user of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit."
"Before we could act, Vice Admiral Tsuru arrived."
"So..."
Sakazuki pondered for a moment:
"Is that so..."
"Never mind, no need to concern ourselves with her."
"If she fell into Tsuru's hands, she would likely become a Marine."
"Let's focus on collecting data first."
"And retrieve some necessary Devil Fruits."
Vice Admiral Tsuru's Wash-Wash Fruit ability could wash away the evil in people's hearts, gradually making them better... a mind-control fruit...
So, in the end, these two Devil Fruit users also joined the Marines.
---
Water Seven.
It was not as prosperous as it would be in later years.
On the dilapidated island, discarded parts and garbage were piled up everywhere.
Countless people lay listlessly on the ground, living day by day.
Due to its geographical location and frequent storm surges, ships were often destroyed and lives lost. Almost no one dared to come to this island.
Despair filled the hearts of everyone on the island...
In a derelict alley, two men holding wine bottles chatted idly:
"Suicide?"
"Yes, the president of Shipyard Company No. 4 lost his supplies due to that accident."
"He had to sell off his assets and organize another voyage."
"But due to another accident, he not only lost his supplies but also 50 people died..."
"He even closed his shipyard and committed suicide at home."
"Humans... are truly fragile."
"Is this island truly beyond saving..."
The two dejected and despairing men sat there, passing the time, when suddenly cheers from afar grew louder.
The two looked puzzled and listened carefully:
"It sounds like... Shipwreck Island?"
"What's on Shipwreck Island... Shipwreck Island..."
*Clang—*
The sound of a wine bottle falling to the ground.
The two men exchanged glances, disbelief on their faces:
"Shipwreck Island!!!!"
"Could it be... the Sea Train!!!!"
They got up and rushed madly towards Shipwreck Island...
There... was hope...
---
Water Seven, the port.
Countless residents gathered, gazing at the steel behemoth.
Shock reflected in their eyes as they discussed amongst themselves:
"Hey, hey, is it real!"
"It's all made of steel!"
"Can a ship like this really run..."
"It feels a bit dangerous, after all, it was built by criminals."
"I want to ride it!!!"
"Me too!"
"Huh?"
"Tom! Do you have any explanations!"
Tom stood nearby, smiling:
"Hahaha, no!"
"Everyone just get on board, and from now on, you'll be able to sail the seas with pride!"
A great cheer erupted from the crowd.
Fish-Man Kokoro poked her head out of the driver's cabin window:
"It's about to set sail, everyone hurry!"
A moment later.
*Hiss—*
Sharp steam spurted from the nose of the Sea Train.
It began to move slowly, amidst the heavy honking of its whistle... the first Sea Train began its journey.
---
Several days later, Enies Lobby.
On the table of the aged Chief Judge, a report lay:
"It's been ten years..."
"Did it succeed? That's quite good."
This was the Chief Judge who had originally granted Tom ten years.
Looking at the report in his hand, and the perfect performance of the Sea Train, a smile appeared on the Chief Judge's face.
It was time to clear his name. He called for a guard:
"Prepare yourselves, we will head to Water Seven in ten days."
At the same time.
The Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
In the World Government's administrative offices.
Spandain, who had been promoted to a high-level government position.
He held a report in his hand, the contents of which were identical to the report the Chief Judge at Enies Lobby was reading.
This was passed to him by a CP member who secretly served Spandain.
After all, having controlled CP9 for several years, he still had some influence.
Looking at the name of the Fish-Man Tom, he thought of the legend of the Pluton blueprints.
If things were handled well...
Then his unworthy son, with this achievement, would be enough to succeed him and be promoted to control CP9.
A smile flickered across his lips, and he dialed a Den Den Mushi:
"Hello...."