Carroll looked at the intelligence in his hand, pondered for a moment, and said,
"Increase the monitoring intensity and see what they are up to."
"I will report this to Fleet Admiral 'Sakazuki'."
The head of the monitoring department nodded and said,
"Yes."
He put down the intelligence, slowly retreated, and left.
Carroll picked up the intelligence and also exited, heading towards Fleet Admiral 'Sakazuki''s office.
----
Egghead Island, ten thousand meters above.
Fleet Admiral 'Sakazuki''s office.
'Sakazuki' took the intelligence handed over by Carroll, which recorded the monitored content and the matter of the Revolutionary Army's branches establishing nations.
He scanned it briefly, chuckled, and casually put the intelligence down:
"Quite interesting."
"Dragon isn't as foolish as I thought."
Unlike the purely robotic Seraphim.
The transformation Devil Fruit user, in the form of 'Sakazuki',
not only possessed all of Sakazuki's memories but also had the ability for independent thought. He instantly understood Dragon's intentions.
Carroll below also showed a hint of interest:
"Oh?"
Looking at Carroll, 'Sakazuki' said,
"Dragon is trying to preserve the spark by disbanding the Revolutionary Army."
"Because no matter whether the World Government or the Navy wins, a purge of the Revolutionary Army is inevitable."
"But by disbanding these Revolutionary Army branches and establishing kingdoms,"
"they become legitimate nations."
"If one wants to control the world, they cannot send troops against these newly established legitimate nations without losing the moral high ground."
"By then, with Revolutionary Army nations scattered across the Four Seas, can they truly purge the entire Four Seas?"
"This is his plan."
"Unfortunately, he was one step short..."
Carroll couldn't help but click his tongue after listening.
Indeed...
With such a plan, regardless of who won, this loss had to be swallowed, even if it was difficult.
Otherwise, would they declare war on all the nations of the world? If so, they would truly be abandoned by the world, even the Navy.
Unfortunately, they encountered Fleet Admiral Sakazuki...
This move to blockade communications put the entire world in the palm of his hand.
Not only did hidden figures and ambitious kingdoms jump out, but Dragon, who gathered the wisdom of several generations of the Monkey D. family, was also completely outmaneuvered...
A sure-kill plan turned into a joke...
------------
Sea Year 1521, the Great Cataclysm entered its second year.
The world had completely calmed down. All islands in the New World were fully garrisoned, and the Navy began to re-establish order and implement new systems in the New World.
Meanwhile, after more than a year of communication isolation, hidden powers and ambitious kingdoms around the world began to emerge...
At the former Mary Geoise ruins.
At the top of the massive gap in the Red Line, a colossal beam spanning the gap was connected.
In the center stood a towering spire, and mounted on the spire were the Pluton main cannon and its targeting equipment.
Egghead Island and the still-under-construction World Federal Government headquarters were all located below.
Within the temporary office of the 'Vice-Speaker' of the World Federal Government headquarters.
The head of the monitoring department was reporting to Carroll:
"....."
"....."
"Including the Kabuklu Kingdom in the Grand Line, a total of seventeen kingdoms have begun to resume navigation and launch wars externally."
"The number of kingdoms established by Revolutionary Army branches has increased from the six reported last time to eleven."
"The main reason is the gradual calming of the seas. Although communication is severed, the most basic navigation techniques have begun to be utilized."
"Islands that are relatively close to each other have begun to resume trade."
"As for hidden unstable factors, there are currently four hundred and ninety-one detected by monitoring and detection. Some are hidden pirates with bounties exceeding one hundred million."
"Some are wild dojos or powerful individuals from various nations."
"According to the detection results, among the currently known unstable factors,"
"the highest combat power is the thirteenth generation leader of the Eight Treasures Navy in the Flower Country of the West Blue—Old Tsai." (ps: You might not believe it, but this book has reached a point where, excluding the current Navy, the supposed strongest fighter outside is actually Old Tsai.)
"And the former leader of the Eight Treasures Navy, the five-hundred-million bounty—Chin Jao."
"For underground criminal organizations, their locations have been detected as:"
"The whereabouts of the Loan Shark King, 'God of Fortune' Lou Field."
"The location of the Shipping King, 'Deep Sea Current' Umit."
"The location of the Warehousing King, 'The Concealer' Gibson."
"The location of the Undertaker King, Dracula Mihawk, and the headquarters of his subordinate forces."
"The entertainment district is now within our surveillance range, but according to investigations, the 'Queen of the Entertainment District,' Stussy, left that place when we declared war on pirates."
"Her exact whereabouts are unknown even to the other leaders of the entertainment district."
"In addition, various other gangs and forces have begun to riot. The islands of the West Blue are currently in a situation where control is being contested by gangs and the Revolutionary Army."
"There are also some emerging forces in the Grand Line."
"At the entrance of Reverse Mountain, there is the Bounty Hunter Alliance, which currently occupies four islands."
"Gild Tesoro, who has captured six islands and established 'Slave Island,' is known to be a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, wielding the abilities of the late Rear Admiral Smoker's Smoke-Smoke Fruit."
"The Achnor family, a bounty hunter family occupying seven islands in the surrounding seas."
"Norri, who captured the Kingdom of Koka..."
*Creak—*
The sound of a doorknob turning was heard.
The head of the monitoring department immediately stopped speaking, put down the intelligence in his hand, and retreated.
At the doorway.
Robin entered pushing the door open with a book.
Seeing the head of the monitoring department approaching, they nodded at each other, then looked back. After the head of the monitoring department had completely disappeared, she turned to Carroll and said,
"It seems I've disturbed you."
Carroll, flipping through the documents left by the head of the monitoring department, chuckled:
"Just a routine report."
He looked at Robin:
"Is there something you need?"
Robin shook her head:
"No."
She walked to the sofa.
"It's nothing, I just got tired from reading..."
She put down the device in her hand, which had a screen the size of a book, and sat on the sofa, pressing her temples.
It was true. All the knowledge and books in Vegapunk's brain had been converted into electronic versions, accessible through the device in her hand.
But even if she loved learning...
she couldn't stand reading from morning till night...
Carroll smiled, got up, walked to the sofa, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it over:
"Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"
Robin thanked him, took a sip of the tea, and shook her head.
Carroll got up, walked to a bookshelf, took out a book titled 'A General History of the World,' walked back, and handed it to Robin.
Robin was a little curious. The title 'A General History of the World' clearly indicated an epic that told the story of the entire world, but she didn't recall anyone ever writing such a book.
Even the scholars of Ohara, after hundreds of years, had not managed to compile and organize the history of the entire world. She looked at the cover, but there was no author's name...
Robin gently turned a page and was a little stunned.
Two pages...
Three pages...
Five pages...
Seven pages...
This book...
had not a single word?
Robin was speechless. But at this moment, Carroll reached out, took the book, and closed it.
Unbeknownst to her, a pen appeared in his hand. Beneath the four large characters 'A General History of the World' on the book, he wrote "By Nico Robin," and looked at the dumbfounded Robin:
"How about that?"
Robin was a little stunned, and also a little surprised, but she hesitated:
"But..."
Carroll smiled and said,
"Don't worry."
"The newly established World Federal Government will not prohibit the study of history."
"If you wish, you can even compile a book interpreting the true history and publish it."
"We don't really care about history, nor do we need to fear it. Everything we have obtained is through legitimate means, and there is no need to hide anything."
"No matter how long ago, eight hundred years, a thousand years, or even several thousand years, or the history of the Void Century that was forbidden by the original World Government, it will not be prohibited."
"Just like the philosophy of Ohara, the truth of history naturally has the right to be known by the people."
"So, everything we are doing now, including cutting off communications, secret monitoring, and purging the world, you can write it all down in your book."
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki doesn't care, and never will."
"Even in Fleet Admiral Sakazuki's autobiography, he details all his plans and schemes since joining the military. Even if you don't write it, people will know when it's released later."
This open and easygoing ideology, spoken by Carroll, had a strong impact on Robin, leaving her in a daze for a long time...
She remembered that the people of Ohara, generation after generation, had secretly researched for hundreds of years, yet still could not escape the clutches of the World Government.
All because they wanted to uncover the truth of history.
Yet, the new World Federal Government now stated they didn't care at all, as if you cherished a treasure for hundreds of years, and they just glanced at it and threw it away, even stepping on it...
Although the analogy was inappropriate, it perfectly captured Robin's feelings at that moment...
Carroll looked at the stunned Robin and said,
"Strange?"
Robin, with a complex expression, nodded slightly, then shook her head.
If it were an order from that certain Marine Fleet Admiral, it wouldn't be strange at all. That person's style had always been open and aboveboard, unconcerned with reputation...
One could tell from the incident of roasting pirate heads and publishing it in the newspaper back then...
Carroll shrugged and said,
"History is meant to be remembered by people. It can be a tradition, a spirit."
"But it cannot save the world."
"It cannot defeat enemies, nor can it feed people, nor can it resurrect the Navy soldiers who sacrificed themselves to create this new world..."
"Moreover..."
Carroll stood up and looked towards the door.
A figure clad in a justice cape walked in, and 'Sakazuki''s indifferent voice rang out:
"Everything we have done is not wrong, there's no need to hide it, is there?"
As he spoke, he waved his hand downwards, gesturing for Carroll and Nico Robin to sit down.
He then walked to Carroll's seat and sat down, picking up the documents left by the head of the monitoring department to review.
Robin, sitting on the sofa below, seemed a little dazed:
"No need to hide it..."
Is this the difference between the new World Federal Government and the original World Government? Simply by not needing to hide anything, so many people wouldn't have died...
'Sakazuki' flipped through a couple of pages and put down the documents:
"That's right, no need to hide."
He looked at Nico Robin and asked,
"Do you think it was wrong for this old man to destroy the World Government?"
Robin shook her head. From a fair perspective, or from her personal perspective, the destruction of the World Government was a good thing for the world.
'Sakazuki' chuckled and asked,
"Then was it wrong for this old man to kill all the pirates in the world, eliminate the Four Emperors, and ensure there would be no more pirate threats? Was that wrong?"
Robin continued to shake her head.
'Sakazuki' asked,
"Then destroying the Celestial Dragons, freeing the world's nations from the burden of the Celestial Tribute, was that wrong?"
Robin shook her head again.
'Sakazuki' asked,
"In the process of plotting against the Revolutionary Army, through him, this old man pulled the entire world out of the agricultural era, purged the nobles. Was that wrong?"
Robin hesitated for a moment, then still shook her head, with a hint of relief...
Yes.
A Navy like this...
There was no reason, nor necessity...
Only despicable deeds need to be hidden. Having done so much as a Marine, why hide it? There was no need...
'Sakazuki' leaned back in his chair:
"This old man has served in the military for forty-one years, treading carefully, never taking a moment's rest. I overthrew the government, eliminated the nobles, and annihilated the pirates."
"I have led the entire world from an agricultural world into the industrial age, and now developing towards the technological age. Is all of this wrong?"
"If it is, posterity will judge."
"If not, then why hide it?"
Below, Robin smiled wryly and nodded. Yes.
That's right...
Seeing Robin smile wryly and nod, 'Sakazuki' smiled, his expression inscrutable, and said,
"But I have also done many things that I myself cannot judge."
"You say pirate Roger, due to a mere argument, massacred a nation's army of over five thousand, affecting thousands of families and creating tens of thousands of orphans and widows. Can such hatred be erased?"
"This old man gave the people the choice of whether to seek revenge or not. Do you say this old man was wrong?"
"Should a pirate's child be adopted by a Marine general and live the life that tens of thousands of orphans and widows dreamed of?"
"Or should the people who were harmed by pirate Roger's actions decide whether to forgive pirate Roger for his sins and let his orphan go..."
"If you were one of the people."
"Would you choose the general who adopted the pirate's son, or would you cheer for the general who brought them hope?"
Robin thought for a moment and said,
"I would cheer for the general who brought them hope."
"Unless the blade cuts you, you cannot imagine such pain. No one can forgive Roger on their behalf."
"It can only be said to be karma..."
"Massacring over five thousand people simply because of a few words exchanged, this..."
'Sakazuki''s index finger tapped on the armrest of the rotating chair, and he chuckled:
"Yes..."
"So Roger's orphan died, his wife died, and the Marine general who was going to adopt his son also died..."
"Karma, it's nothing more than this."
After a faint sigh.
'Sakazuki' looked at Robin and asked,
"During the Ohara incident, this old man ordered the bombardment of the evacuation ship, and all the innocent civilians on board perished."
"As a survivor, do you think this old man was wrong?"
Robin shook her head, her expression a little desolate:
"Regarding that incident,"
"Carroll told me that the order was given by the World Government, and the Golden Den Den Mushi was given to CP9 by then-Admiral Sengoku."
"To the people of Ohara, you were a devil, a god of death."
"To the Marines present at the time, you were a hero who bore all the blame."
"I am indeed a survivor of Ohara, but I cannot make a definitive judgment."
"Different stances will lead to two different outcomes."
"We cannot place all the blame on an executor."
"After all, when an order is given, someone will always carry it out..."
"The destruction of Ohara was an inevitable outcome."
He hadn't expected Robin to answer like this, as fair as an observer. 'Sakazuki' was slightly stunned, then chuckled and shook his head:
"Then this old man, for the sake of victory, killed hundreds of thousands of people in the New World. What do you say..."
He sighed softly:
"Was this old man wrong?"
Below, Robin opened her mouth, unsure how to answer.
'Sakazuki', sitting in his swivel chair, suddenly shook his head, his indifferent voice ringing out:
"This old man was wrong."
"There is nothing to deny."
"Nor is there anything to justify."
"Hundreds of thousands of lives, more than all the pirates this old man has killed combined..."
"Moreover..."
"A price was paid, wasn't it..."
Looking at 'Sakazuki''s self-talk, Robin was stunned and subconsciously replied,
"A price?"
'Sakazuki' chuckled, and said faintly,
"No remains."
"How about that?"
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly:
"Karma, it's nothing more than this."
His tone was so casual, as if he didn't take such a tragedy as the complete annihilation of his remains to heart...
But a trace of sadness flashed in Carroll's eyes next to Robin, and he turned his head away...
Robin looked at Sakazuki with a complex expression and was silent for a long time:
"Do you have no regrets?"
To destroy all darkness in the world, yet to perish with the darkness...
'Sakazuki' shook his head, his indifferent yet slightly smiling voice rang out:
"This old man broke the barrier that shrouded this world, ending thousands of years of darkness."
"This old man has leveled the source of suffering in this world."
"This old man has saved billions of future citizens."
"Such a great undertaking..."
"Why would there be regret?"
As his voice fell, he didn't pause.
'Sakazuki' pulled out a page from the stack of monitoring documents on the table, slapped it onto the table, and stood up to walk out:
"There's no need to keep monitoring this guy anymore."
"Slave Island?"
"From now on, there will be no more slavery in this world."
"Let's start with him."
Carroll, sitting on the sofa, also stood up and looked at the departing 'Sakazuki':
"Yes."