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Although Caesar himself possesses the powers of the Gas-Gas Fruit, making him a Logia user, he is primarily a scientist, not a fighter. His combat strength is rather unremarkable.
Moreover, the experimental subject had begun rampaging uncontrollably, causing destruction that would inevitably draw attention. Keeping it a secret was no longer an option.
Faced with this dire situation, Caesar made a reckless decision!
He knew that once the truth came to light, no matter the circumstances, the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) would undoubtedly want him dead.
So, he did something unthinkable.
Feigning the need for Pure Gold to "stabilize" the experiment, Caesar snatched the ring containing the legendary material right in front of Vegapunk and... fled without looking back!
"Just wait, Vegapunk! I'll admit I can't surpass you now, but that will change!"
The surveillance Den Den Mushi recorded Caesar's parting words, his voice laced with manic laughter. His wild gaze gleamed with ambition as he sneered at Vegapunk's back.
"Human potential has limits, Vegapunk."
"The deeper we delve into the mysteries of the world, the easier it is to lose ourselves… unless we surpass our human constraints."
"Lifespans are too short. Far too short to unravel all the truths of this world. That's why people look up to you, a scientist 500 years ahead of his time!"
"But now… the tides will change. Shurorororo!"
With a twisted grin, Caesar slipped the Pure Gold ring onto his finger, his voice trembling with self-assured arrogance.
"I will become the true master of the next 500 years! The world's greatest scientist will be me, M. Caesar Clown!"
Then, without hesitation, he vanished.
After listening to the recording, Rowen remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.
"So, Caesar's plan is to use the immortality granted by Pure Gold to outlive Vegapunk… and win through time alone, huh?"
"What an absurdly bold move."
But, to be fair, it wasn't entirely foolish.
No matter how brilliant Vegapunk was, he was still mortal. Time was a foe even he could not outsmart.
Choosing longevity as a strategy?
A twisted but undeniably clever tactic.
"None of that matters now. The real issue is that he stole Pure Gold!"
The long-mustached Gorōsei slammed his fist on the table, his voice trembling with rage.
"Find him, Rowen! Recover Pure Gold at all costs!"
"Understood."
Rowen grinned slightly, but then he deliberately added, "But what about the experimental accident?"
The question hung in the air.
Caesar had undoubtedly tampered with the surveillance Den Den Mushi around the Celestial Dragons to conduct his twisted experiments. And then, instead of alerting anyone, he prioritized stealing Pure Gold, further delaying the response. His escape left no one aware of the full extent of the disaster.
In short…
"It's all gone," The long-mustached Gorōsei admitted bitterly, taking a deep breath.
But his moment of vulnerability quickly faded, and his gaze hardened.
"That's why finding Pure Gold is even more crucial!"
"The World Government cannot function without the Gorōsei. We cannot die!"
Boom!
A sudden roar of thunder echoed through the heavens. The dark clouds above twisted as silver lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the churning storm.
Rowen, still holding the Den Den Mushi, tilted his head, momentarily stunned by the dramatic change in weather.
Then, the corner of his mouth curved into a sly grin.
"Is that so? My condolences..."
Crack! Kacha!
The brilliant flash of lightning illuminated his face, highlighting the faint amusement in his eyes.
"Consider it done."
"I'm counting on you, Rowen!"
…
As the first light of dawn painted the horizon, a Marine battleship sailed steadily into the harbor.
Clang! Whoosh!
After confirming the ship's identity, the port's massive windbreak wall lowered, allowing the vessel to dock.
Smoker stood at the stone steps of the port, the salty breeze tugging at his coat. Despite his lingering injuries, evident from the bandages beneath his jacket, he stubbornly clamped two cigars between his teeth, exhaling a steady stream of smoke.
The moment a group of figures emerged on the deck, Smoker's steely gaze hardened. A cold sneer twisted his lips.
"So, they finally brought them back, huh? Those bastards."
"Let go! Let me go! I can walk on my own!"
"Oi! Be gentle with the young lord! Are you alright, my boy?"
Kin'emon, struggling against his restraints, growled at the Marines holding him. Despite the bonds restricting his movements, his concern for his companions remained undiminished.
The surrounding soldiers responsible for escorting them remained expressionless. A small commander stepped forward and said,
"Don't move!"
"According to Marine regulations, you are currently under detention. Any act of resistance will increase your charges."
At this, the small commander grinned coldly.
"However, I actually hope you resist, because that would give us a legitimate reason to eliminate you."
"You've stirred up Admiral Soryu; prepare to die, scum!"
The last sentence revealed the truth, and seeing the hostile gazes of the surrounding soldiers, Kin'emon opened his mouth, wanting to argue.
"I..."
But recalling the horrifying scene he had witnessed in the underground chamber, a shiver ran down his spine, silencing him.
Indeed, it was something beyond explanation, and now even a Marine Admiral was involved.
If they had resisted or shown any intent to fight back, their fate would undoubtedly be far worse than it was now.
Moreover...
"Kin'emon San, I told you..." Smoker stepped onto the deck, facing him. "Please do not act recklessly, or we might witness something none of us want to see."
Kin'emon lowered his head, acknowledging his mistake.
"I'm very sorry, Vice Admiral Smoker!"
"It's all my fault. These two companions were misled by me, so please, let them go!"
"I have a reason I must leave no matter what!"
"Lying is not the way of the samurai, Foxfire Kin'emon!"
Smoker's eyes narrowed as he responded, his tone cold.
"In fact, I believe we may have a reason to cooperate. After all... we have a common enemy."
"Right, Kozuki Momonosuke?"
Momonosuke, held tightly under the arms of a Marine soldier, turned his head in shock.
"So, you already know?"
"Ah, yes."
Smoker removed the cigar from his mouth with his bandaged fingers and nodded.
"I've known for a long time; I just didn't want to believe it."
...
While leaving the Wano group's situation to Smoker, Rowen was meeting another group of visitors in his quarters.
"Reporting, sir. This is what the commander asked us to deliver!"
A middle-aged Marine, plain-looking and clad in the standard short-sleeve uniform, knelt on one knee and respectfully presented a wooden box.
Despite his unremarkable appearance, the man was, in fact, a member of the Assassination Force.
The unsettling truth was that within the Assassination Force, no one could ever be sure who their allies were. Even among their own ranks, fear lingered.
But for Rowen, this was advantageous.
Opening the wooden box, he revealed three Devil Fruits nestled in straw.
The most striking one was a bright orange fruit, its spiral patterns swirling with a mix of blue and red. Its stem resembled a twisting whirlpool, flames flickering at the edges — the Mera Mera no Mi.
"Mm, well done."
After confirming everything was in order, Rowen closed the wooden box and asked,
"By the way, did you come across Caesar Clown on your way here?"
"Caesar Clown, the scientist?"
The middle-aged man blinked, his mind racing. After a moment of thought, he shook his head.
"Apologies, sir. I did not see him."
His mission had been singular: deliver the Devil Fruits safely to Rowen. He had paid little attention to the ships they passed, so long as they posed no threat.
"I see. It was just a passing thought. No need to worry. You're dismissed. I'll contact your commander to ensure your efforts are recognized."
"Thank you, sir!"
Recognition within the Assassination Force was valuable. Those who performed well could request nearly anything, so long as it did not cross certain boundaries.
This particular mission, classified as "A" level, had earned considerable envy. The man had simply been fortunate to catch a return ship to G-11, earning the assignment by luck.
After the man departed, Rowen leaned back on his sofa, rubbing his temples.
"This is a mess."
"An incident of this scale can't be handled lightly. I can't just rely on the Assassination Force's resources. Should I involve CP0?"
Recalling his conversation with Akainu the previous night, Rowen exhaled sharply.
"Good fortune never comes in pairs; misfortune seldom comes alone. The ancients weren't wrong."
(End of Chapter)
PS-"For every 100 power stones, I'll release one bonus chapter (Current-0)!"