"Don't make a scene."
Ian said, "I'm planning to give the World Government a surprise. Don't expose anything too early."
"I understand, Lord Ian!"
Naturally, Shiryu had no doubts.
Gathering all these monsters from the sea and one day striking the World Government together was a top-secret plan. The World Government absolutely couldn't find out ahead of time.
"When are we going to attack the World Government?"
World just stared blankly and shouted his question at Ian.
Shiryu immediately broke into a cold sweat.
This thick-headed idiot!
"Soon."
Ian wasn't angry at all. In fact, having someone so straightforward was even better.
He didn't need to think. When the final war against the World Government arrived, all he had to do was give everything he had.
"Just wait a little longer."
"Then don't make me wait too lo—"
Before World could even finish, Shiryu rushed forward and clamped a hand over his mouth.
Sweat was already gathering on his forehead.
"It won't take much longer."
Ian let out a light chuckle.
With the current progress, Dr. Vegapunk really was close to developing an energy source capable of powering the Ancient Weapons.
It truly wouldn't be long now.
"Alright! Everything here is finished, right?"
Uta, on the other hand, was growing impatient. "So are we now…?"
"Let's go. The sooner we wrap up things here, the better."
Ian said with a smile.
"Lord Ian!"
Shiryu slapped his chest confidently. "Who are we striking next? Let me redeem myself!"
"No need."
Ian smiled faintly. "Just handle the matters with Cross Guild properly."
"And also—"
Ian's lips lifted slightly as he looked toward Perona, who was collapsed beside Moria's corpse, silently crying. "Give Moria a proper burial. And take good care of that girl."
Redfield pressed his lips together, ultimately saying nothing.
"Yes! I understand, Lord Ian!"
Shiryu remained full of determination. "Leave everything to me!"
"Hey, I'll definitely take good care of Perona!"
Perona finally turned around, glaring at Ian with hatred.
She already understood—there was nothing she could do now.
But that didn't stop her from loathing him.
Ian didn't even bother to spare her another glance.
"Let's go. On to the next destination."
He turned to Redfield. "Red, from here on out, you'll be acting with me."
Redfield didn't respond.
At this point, what was there left to say?
Without lingering any longer, the group once again shot into the sky under Kuma's ability—this time with Redfield added to their ranks—heading straight toward a certain place in the West Blue.
Below them, on a platform of the old castle, Shiryu waved cheerfully toward the sky. Only when the rapidly drifting bubble vanished completely beyond the horizon did he finally lower his hand.
His hand rested on the hilt at his waist.
"Pfft."
Out of nowhere, he burst into laughter. "Hahahahaha! Hehehehehe! Now, it's time to gather all the executives for a little talk!"
"I'm really looking forward to it. Just what kind of reaction will they have?"
Perona, who had been left here as a hostage, lowered her gaze. Her face was pale and lifeless.
Even Redfield had been taken away by force. She had nothing left.
High above, a massive bubble soared through the sky, heading toward some distant point in the West Blue.
On Uta's face, visible tension tightened her expression.
Mihawk quietly shook his head.
She always claimed to hate that red‑haired bastard, yet now that they were actually going to meet, she couldn't help but feel anticipation—impatient, even.
"Is there someone in the West Blue worth you going personally?"
Redfield, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke. Though furious, he couldn't deny his curiosity.
"Seriously now… all these years in the West Blue, and you never noticed?"
Ian found it a little amusing. "Redfield, don't underestimate the young people sailing this sea."
Redfield's lips twitched.
In front of a monster like you, who would dare look down on the young?
"The one we're going to find next is the Pirate King's successor."
Ian smiled. "If I didn't exist, he might be the man closest to the title of Pirate King in the entire world."
That brat?
Big Mom snorted coldly in her heart.
She didn't like Ian praising that red‑haired boy so highly.
"You mean that red‑haired kid?"
Redfield was stunned. When it came to the Pirate King's successor, it could only be the captain of the Red‑Hair Pirates—Shanks.
By now, it was no secret that he had once been an apprentice on Roger's ship.
And for an old veteran like Redfield, that iconic hat on Shanks' head was even more familiar.
"You're saying that without you, he would surpass even Whitebeard and Kaido?"
Big Mom clenched her teeth.
That damn Redfield—was she not worthy of being mentioned alongside Kaido and Whitebeard?
She suddenly felt the urge to cut someone down.
Ian just smiled and didn't answer further.
The reason was simple: the answer would hurt the teacher-student bond between him and Kaido.
No need to mention Whitebeard; he had no interest in the position of Pirate King.
As for Kaido-senseido, in the original story, his strength wasn't necessarily greater than Red-Haired Shanks. After all, according to tradition, the later a character shows their power, the stronger they tend to be.
Even if it wasn't about strength, Kaido was merely a step for the protagonist's growth.
But Red-Haired Shanks was the mentor and the one who embarked Lufy on the sea. Not to mention he knew the locations of all Road Poneglyphs.
That guy was even skilled in walking the line between black and white—he had connections with the World Government on one hand, and good relations with the Giant Kingdom on the other.
What did Kaido-sensei have to compare with him?
"…"
Redfield fell into silence.
The era had indeed completely changed.
But, in the end, it didn't matter.
No matter how brilliant that Shanks was, his light was destined to be overshadowed.
Even if he shone like a star, in front of Ian, the sun, his brilliance could only appear dim.
"Ah-choo!"
On an island in the West Blue, a man with red hair wearing a straw hat suddenly sneezed.
He scratched the back of his head in confusion. "Could it be… someone's thinking of me?"
Why did his back suddenly feel chilly? Something didn't feel right.
**********
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