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What appeared before everyone was a massive depression the size of ten football fields, with clear distinctions of ice and fire along the edges, proving that this was the aftermath of a great battle.
In the center of the depression, countless corpses were piled together like broken sacks, filling more than half of the pit.
The cold wind froze some of the bodies, making their faces visible as they were before death; the scorching flames licked at the corpses, turning white bones to ash.
A graveyard?
No, this is a natural processing plant!
Utilizing the residual effects of Akainu and Aokiji's fight to alter the terrain, the bodies were concentrated for processing.
This was not unlike Hell; it was Hell!
"That's why I decided to escape here, because not to mention pirates, even Marines are accustomed to avoiding this place; it's the safest option."
Caesar, wearing a mask, said, "Most of the bodies here are from the Whitebeard Pirates who fell during the Marineford War. The extreme faction within the Marines believes that throwing these pirates' bodies into the sea is a desecration of the ocean, so they found a place to process them."
Looking at the Straw Hat Pirates, who had fallen silent, Caesar shook his head.
"You guys are really lucky, Straw Hat crew."
"To provoke Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) and still be alive... this might be related to the fact that you chose to save me, showing that humanity still exists within you."
"I know that guy; he hopes to see such brilliance, so even pirates can be allowed to exist to some extent."
"But just this protection won't last long. If you continue down this path, one day you will touch the Marine's reverse scale."
Kā Chā!
Sanji, with trembling hands, silently lit a cigarette and asked, "So, does that mean those who died here are all bad people?"
"Not exactly... only the most heavily charged pirates qualify to be imprisoned in Impel Down. Most of those here are just half-baked individuals who couldn't make it."
"They were clearly lacking the strength, yet they tried to imitate others by burning, killing, and plundering. For such people, being imprisoned in Impel Down is meaningless; they are generally treated with the death penalty."
So the powerless are instead thrown here?
"What a cruel reality!"
Sanji took a puff on his cigarette.
"I'm very curious, Caesar San."
Robin took a deep breath to calm herself. "To make you choose to escape here, what exactly did you do?"
"With your importance, why would the World Government choose to hunt you down?"
"You'd better not know…"
In response, Caesar shook his head and did not answer.
"I'm only telling you this because you saved me. Just drop me off at the next inhabited island."
At this point, Caesar let out a bitter laugh.
"Ha ha, perhaps we won't have that chance... because the mistake I made is so great that it could very well attract that guy."
That guy?
Upon hearing this, the others froze.
Indeed, given Caesar's importance, the World Government would definitely send the strongest pursuit force to search for him.
And among the known forces of the World Government, who is most qualified to take on this heavy responsibility?
CP0?
"Hmm?!"
Suddenly, Usopp seemed to sense something and looked up, spotting a figure flash by at the edge of the ice.
"Hey, everyone, is there someone over there?"
"Is there really someone in this cursed place? It can't be a ghost, right?"
"Eh!!! A ghost? Save me, Luffy!"
Chopper, frightened, runs behind Luffy to hide, only to accidentally hide in the wrong place.
"Did you see wrong, Usopp? This island can't even grow plants; there shouldn't be anyone here, right?" Nami asked, puzzled.
However, Caesar also saw it, and his expression changed instantly.
"Not good. It's an Information officer from the Assassination Force! When did they follow us here?!"
The distinctive double-barreled telescope and sniper guns were all too familiar to him.
After all, the various standard equipment of the Assassination Force all came from his hands.
Even the Seastone darts tied to Rowen and Dante were the same; the others were no exception.
"We can't let him send out the information; otherwise, we'll all die!"
"So you ultimately brought back a troublemaker, curly brow!" Zoro couldn't help but retort, drawing his sword.
"Tch!"
Perhaps due to the shock of the graveyard before him, Sanji unusually did not retort, merely silently holding his cigarette with a heavy gaze.
"It might be too late... Straw Hat, hurry and leave! Before the Marine forces catch up, we must get out of here quickly!"
"No! The Log Pose isn't fully charged; if we leave now, we won't be able to go to the next island."
"What?"
Caesar looked at him in disbelief: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I brought you here to tell you how dangerous it is ahead, and you still want to continue forward?!"
"Naturally!"
Luffy grinned widely: "I'm going to become... the King of the Sea! How can I stop here?!"
Everyone: "... Please, don't say that line again!"
"But…"
Sanji took out his cigarette, shrugging helplessly. "Give it up; once that guy decides something, no one can change it."
"You'll die! Admiral Soryu will come!"
Caesar looked at the seemingly resigned group in confusion. "Do you even understand what's happening?!"
"Compared to before when we didn't even know who the enemy was, now that we have clear information about the enemy, it's actually much easier." Zoro said calmly, glancing at Usopp.
"No way, the air currents are too turbulent; aiming is useless."
"Yosh, then it's decided!"
Luffy grinned as he pressed down his straw hat: "We'll just wait for him, that... thunderous old man!"
"It's Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)!" Caesar shouted in exasperation, then slowly retreated to the outskirts of the group.
"This is hopeless... these guys... are completely unreliable!"
"Since they came here by ship, why not…"
"Why not what?"
"Why not steal their ship and escape? I just barely escaped a disaster; I can't die here. Sorry, Straw Hat, Shurorororor!"
Thinking of his wicked plan, Caesar began to laugh excitedly.
"Ah? Am I talking to myself?"
"Sorry, it's not!"
Bang!!!
With a dull thud, Caesar fell to the ground, murmuring in disbelief.
"It's impossible, this woman... is she a monster?"
Dragging Caesar with one hand, Nami waved: "Sanji, could you please go back to the battleship and bring me a pair of Seastone handcuffs?"
"Hai, Nami~~~"
...
Grand Line, New World.
"Oh? Thunder God Island? Are you sure?" On the Qilin, Rowen moved a chair and sat down comfortably in the center of the deck.
"Yes, absolutely."
There were occasional Marine patrols near Thunder God Island, as it lay on the direct line between G-1 and G-5, part of the Marine's ironclad defense circle.
So under normal circumstances, one would have to be insane to escape there.
But due to its unique nature, Thunder God Island cleverly became a blind spot for the Marines.
"The most dangerous place is the safest; Caesar has some brains!"
As Rowen was reflecting, suddenly, a scream came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi. The reporting officer seemed to have encountered some accident, and his voice was filled with terror.
"Puh... what is this?"
"Not good, this is... it's... wū wa!!!"
Poi...
The voice abruptly cut off, and the Den Den Mushi emitted a strange sound, falling into silence.
Rowen: "…"
"Can you clarify what's happening before you die?!"
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
Rowen was going crazy.
Damn it, what's going on?!
"It seems it's time to strengthen our defenses on that island; so many things are happening that I'm unaware of."
Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, Rowen adjusted his mindset.
"Koby, notify the target: Thunder God Island!"
"Yes, Master!"
Upon hearing this, Koby stood at attention and saluted, then jogged off.
(End of Chapter)