In a certain stretch of sea, a narrow path of frost stretched across the water.
"Arara... what is the Navy thinking? Zephyr-sensei has been slapped with a bounty!" Kuzan sat perched on his bicycle, which had come to a halt on the ice path. He stared in bewilderment at the wanted poster in his hand.
Behind the bicycle, a penguin wearing a backpack looked up at Kuzan with curiosity.
Kuzan scratched his head, a look of utter confusion on his face. He muttered to himself, "Colluding with the Revolutionary Army? Did something massive happen?"
He racked his brain, but aside from the Chris Pirates' recent war of conquest, he couldn't think of any other major incidents. A billion-Berry bounty was a statement, it represented the absolute fury of the World Government.
"Seems I'll have to contact some old friends, or find Zephyr-sensei himself to find out the truth." Kuzan folded the bounty poster, tucked it into his coat pocket, and began pedaling again.
"Let's go, Camel!"
…
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 70.
Inside a luxurious five-star hotel.
"I heard you had an arm chopped off by that man, and Ryūkawa is dead. You really made a mess of things, didn't you?"
A gold-and-white Den Den Mushi sat on a glass coffee table. Its mouth moved in sync with an arrogant voice coming through the receiver.
Malha sat on a plush sofa, quietly listening to the voice. A mocking sneer touched his pale, bloodless face.
Once the speaker finished, Malha retorted without a shred of politeness: "It was simply a lack of strength on my part. But don't think for a second that just because you have the Vigor-Vigor Fruit, you can contend with that monster. Just because Ramorphy Moinsvar became the 'Undying King' doesn't mean you can!"
He paused, his voice dripping with contempt. "My dear Saint Aldrich Gustav, just as Whitebeard made the Tremor-Tremor Fruit famous, Shiki made the Float-Float Fruit, and Aeridar made the Impact-Impact Fruit... it is the man who makes the power, not the power that makes the man!"
This barrage of mockery left Saint Aldrich Gustav, far away in Mariejois, momentarily stunned. He never expected that someone would dare speak to him, a person of his noble status, with such insolence.
A second later, Gustav erupted in rage. "You bastard! Do you have any idea who you are talking to?!"
"A prestigious Celestial Dragon! A World Noble! A descendant of the Creators!" Malha's lips curled into a smirk as he asked dismissively, "And? Can you wipe out the Chris Pirates?"
"Hmph... enough talk. I will personally eradicate those filthy pirates!" Gustav declared proudly.
"Then I shall wait and see," Malha said flatly.
"Fine. This operation was a disaster, but I assume there were other gains?" Gustav grunted, dropping the argument.
"The island hovering over the capital, Nakor, was attacked by a joint force of the Revolutionary Army and the Neo Marines. The damage seems significant," Malha reported, his tone turning serious.
"So that's why. I was wondering why Zephyr was suddenly branded a criminal. He really did side with the Revolutionaries!" Gustav muttered in realization. "Cipher Pol has gone mad. They've deployed over half of CP0. It seems their priority is finding the Revolutionaries and Black Arm Zephyr."
"There's no other way. As a former Admiral and a core figure in the Navy's high command, Zephyr knows too many secrets of the World Government and the Navy. If those secrets leak, the Government will be backed into a corner," Malha said, his eyes narrowing.
"Tsk, how troublesome. I originally wanted to help them out by causing trouble for the Chris Pirates, but now it seems I have to help the Chris Pirates finish off Zephyr as quickly as possible!"
"How irritating!" Gustav spat.
As one of the few "awake" members among the Celestial Dragons, he knew that the World Government and the Navy were the umbrellas that protected their status. If those pillars were shaken, the life of the Celestial Dragons would become very difficult.
"Yaaa-wn—do as you please. Anyway, I need to disappear for a while. Don't bother me," Malha said with a long yawn, acting as if he didn't care.
His forces had suffered heavy losses in the Bivins Kingdom, and he himself had been severely wounded by 'Golden Ring' Aeridar, losing an arm. His strength had plummeted. Knowing the true power of that monster, he had no intention of looking for trouble until he recovered.
"I understand. Your arm... I'll see if I can get Vegapunk to fit you with a superior prosthetic," Gustav replied, not objecting to Malha's withdrawal.
"Hmph... I'll leave that to you then." At the mention of Vegapunk, a flicker of hope appeared in Malha's eyes.
…
Grove 13. Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
Creak— Ting-a-ling…
The door opened, and the bell chimed.
"Oh? You're back already? Where's little Monkey?" Shakky, sitting behind the bar, looked up. A look of surprise crossed her face when she saw the man at the door.
"He's finished learning all the basics of Haki. Now he's out there honing his strength and mastering them," Rayleigh said with a smile, adjusting his glasses. "Six months left. I'm looking forward to the day I see him again."
"Is that so? I'm looking forward to it too," Shakky said with a squinting smile.
"Ahhh—" Rayleigh stretched his arms and laughed. "It's been a while since I hit the casino. My palms are itching!"
"Honestly, I knew it." Shakky rolled her eyes, her "I told you so" expression clear. "I'm not giving you any money!"
"Well, that's a problem. Should I find a job? Or go sell myself again? It's a tough choice!" Rayleigh scratched his head, looking genuinely conflicted.
…
New World, Clifford Kingdom.
Three kilometers outside the capital, Nakor. The Chris Grand Prison.
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the entire facility. Thick flames and black smoke billowed into the sky.
Waaa—Waaa—Waaa—
Red lights flashed as piercing alarms blared incessantly.
"What happened? Where was the explosion?"
"The East Wing! The perimeter wall has been breached!"
"It's a jailbreak! The prisoners are rioting!"
"Guards! Guards!"
The prison descended into chaos. Inmates began to riot, charging the defensive lines and snatching weapons from the guards. Simultaneously, a group of mysterious armed militants appeared from both inside and outside the prison, flanking the guards.
The guards, caught off guard by the combined assault of rioting prisoners and mysterious attackers, were cut off into isolated pockets across the North, South, East, and West sectors.
"Hurry! Have we reached them yet?"
"They're here!"
"We found Koala!"
"Hack-sensei is over here!"
"Len-sama, we've come to rescue you!"
"Move fast! The Leader sent us to get you out. After this, we need to disappear for a while!"
The prison corridors were littered with bodies. The militants threw open cell after cell, releasing one prisoner after another.
In the woods a few hundred meters from the prison, a squad of dozens waited. Every one of them was clad in a black Offensive Exoskeleton Combat Suit.
"The prison is under attack. They've arrived," Gin said, watching the smoke rising from the facility.
"Move out. Remember, kill mercilessly, but do not kill everyone. Especially those specific targets, they must stay alive!" Sriya said in a low, heavy voice. "If you ruin the plan, the Captain won't forgive you."
"Understood!" The men felt a chill run down their spines as they responded.
In the next instant, the dozens of figures charged out of the woods like a pack of starving wolves, sprinting toward the prison slaughter.