"Joy Boy!"
Gion's eyes sharpened the moment Nico Robin spoke the name.
Even within the Marine Headquarters, knowledge of the Will of D and Joy Boy is restricted to the Fleet Admiral alone. Only those who truly stand at the pinnacle of the million-man Marine force are qualified to touch these ancient secrets.
However, as Rosen's adjutant, Gion possesses the authority to access any secret held by Marine Headquarters—privileges usually reserved for the Fleet Admiral himself.
"Indeed."
Rosen nodded slightly, acknowledging his familiarity with both Joy Boy and Nico Robin.
"I have not set foot on Laugh Tale, nor have I deciphered all the Poneglyphs. But after studying the documents from Ohara collected by Dr. Vegapunk, I have unraveled a significant portion of the world's truth."
"The Void Century history revolves entirely around the name Joy Boy."
"This includes the Will of D, the three Ancient Weapons, the Great Kingdom, and a Devil Fruit whose name was forcibly altered—its true identity erased."
Nico Robin wasn't surprised that Rosen knew of Joy Boy. Before its independence, the Marine Headquarters was a direct agency of the World Government. Once one reaches the top of the Marines, secrets like these are no longer absolute.
"Joy Boy's three Ancient Weapons are his tools," Rosen continued, his voice steady. "The Giant Kingdom was his nation. And that Devil Fruit with the altered name? It is his power. Currently known as the Gomu Gomu no Mi, its true name is the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Nika."
"That is to say… the Sun God."
Rosen's gaze remained cold and analytical as he spoke the next revelation.
"Furthermore, Dr. Vegapunk's research on an ancient steel robot uncovered something extraordinary: the machine contained a Conqueror's Haki that has persisted for over eight hundred years. Analysis confirms that after eight centuries, the Haki has barely diminished. Its potency exceeds the reach of the Four Emperors entirely."
He paused, letting the weight of the statement settle.
"Even the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, cannot compare. It is truly the strongest in history. Cross-referencing the Ohara documents, Dr. Vegapunk and I deduced that this Haki belongs to Joy Boy."
"And yet," Rosen's tone turned icy, "Joy Boy, possessing such a powerful Devil Fruit and unmatched Haki, was defeated by the Celestial Dragons eight hundred years ago."
Nicole Robin recounted the secrets she had deciphered from the Ohara documents without hesitation.
"The Sun God…" Gion's expression shifted drastically.
The truth Robin described was not recorded anywhere in Marine Headquarters. It was difficult to comprehend: a Mythical Zoan bearing the name of a god, backed by three Ancient Weapons and an empire vast enough to rival the world itself. How could such power fall to the Celestial Dragons?
"The Celestial Dragons… are they truly that powerful?"
A shadow crossed Gion's eyes. She had never underestimated the World Nobles, yet Robin's words forced her to realize she had still been too naive. The so-called Sea Trash and parasites of the world had ruled for eight hundred years. Even rotten to the core, their influence remained absolute.
"They surpass the Four Emperors," Rosen stated flatly. "Gol D. Roger is incomparable to them."
"And what of me?"
Rosen, usually indifferent to the history of the Void Century, finally found something worth his attention. He knew Vegapunk had been secretly researching Haki, collecting data on the Haki of the Four Emperors and other powerful figures. Rosen had even allowed Vegapunk access to his own data.
In this world, only Vegapunk could possibly determine whether Rosen was stronger or weaker than Joy Boy, a figure dead for eight hundred years.
"You are not among the candidates for comparison."
Nico Robin rolled her eyes at Rosen, her expression shifting to one of utter disbelief.
"According to Dr. Vegapunk's analysis, the Conqueror's Haki you displayed during the Emperor Slayer event has already surpassed the known upper limits. It is even more potent than the Haki sealed within the giant robot. If Joy Boy is the strongest in history, and Gol D. Roger the strongest of the modern era… then you, Admiral Rosen, are the strongest across all ages."
As she spoke, Robin's voice carried undisguised shock.
She finally understood why Rosen was indifferent to the Ancient Weapons—why he allowed, even protected, her freedom despite her knowledge of their locations. It was because Rosen possessed a strength that made even the legendary Ancient Weapons unnecessary.
"Unrivaled in history."
Hearing this, Gion's eyes shone with a fierce pride, as if the title belonged not just to Rosen, but to her as well.
"Then what is there left to fear?" Rosen asked, his expression unchanging.
He revealed the true purpose behind Robin's visit. She hadn't come merely to share the truth about the world or the Celestial Dragons' power. She came because even Joy Boy, the strongest in history, had fallen to them eight hundred years ago.
"Do you know how Joy Boy was defeated?" Robin countered with a question.
"How was he defeated?"
Rosen remained calm, but Gion leaned forward, eager for the answer.
"I read every document from Ohara," Robin said. "There is a single line in it: 'A dragon devours the sun—Ragnarok.'"
She stared directly at Rosen, enunciating each word clearly.
"A dragon devours the sun—Ragnarok?" Gion frowned, completely lost. "What does that mean?"
"You're asking the impossible, Vice Admiral Momousagi," Robin replied with a slight smile. "I studied archaeology, not divination. How could I know the past and the future with certainty?"
She spread her hands in a gesture of helplessness.
"You…" Gion's frustration grew. This wasn't just about Joy Boy—it was about understanding the Celestial Dragons' methods, their hidden power. At the most crucial moment, Robin claimed ignorance.
"Really?" Rosen looked at Robin with a half-smile.
He knew the Devil Child's personality too well. She was elegant on the surface, but cunning beneath. She was teasing them.
Gion realized it at the same moment, glaring at Robin. "You… you're just trying to make me look foolish, aren't you?"
"Merely to see the usually calm Momousagi, potential Admiral candidate, lose her composure," Robin said with amusement. "It seems Admiral Rosen's influence is truly remarkable."
"Hmph!" Gion huffed, though she wasn't truly angry. After Dol's guidance, she had stopped hiding her feelings toward Rosen. It was hardly a secret within headquarters that Momousagi had feelings for a Shinigami; she had already been teased by elders like Tsuru and Garp. Being called out by Robin only made her more determined to stand by Rosen's side.
"Now, tell me," Gion demanded, stepping behind Rosen and wrapping her arms around him in a possessive gesture.
"Of course," Robin said, regaining her serious expression. "In all the Ohara documents, the only useful clue about Joy Boy's battle against the Celestial Dragons is that single sentence. At first, I was completely baffled. I spent a long time analyzing it with Dr. Vegapunk and Stussy, but we couldn't decipher the meaning of 'Celestial Dragon Devours the Sun, Ragnarok'… until I accidentally saw one of Dr. Vegapunk's experimental results."
She paused, then explained: "A bubble gun. A weapon that fires bubbles created using the energy of the ocean. Devil Fruit users who come into contact with these bubbles or are trapped in the bubble shield lose their strength."
"Celestial Dragon Devours the Sun… Ragnarok."
Rosen repeated the phrase, his eyes narrowing as he processed the words. His expression shifted slightly as he connected the dots.
"The Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Nika," he said sharply. "Nika refers to the Sun God. So the 'sun' in 'The Dragon Eats the Sun' also refers to the Sun God."
He paused. "Then what is Ragnarok? Does it mean the death of the Nika user—Joy Boy?"
Gion thought for a moment, then realized the implication. "Assuming this bubble gun is the key… 'The Dragon Eats the Sun, Ragnarok' doesn't mean Joy Boy's defeat. It means he lost the power of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Nika—his divine form. Just as if he were sealed by Seastone."
She frowned. "It's plausible that the Twenty Kings eight hundred years ago could have found Seastone to deal with Joy Boy. But the problem is, they needed to touch him with it first. He possessed Haki surpassing even the Pirate King, the Nika Fruit, and three Ancient Weapons. His companions and subordinates were undoubtedly powerful as well. It's impossible that a single piece of Seastone could defeat him."
"Assuming the Heavenly Dragon devours the sun, and the last 'sun' refers to the Sun God," Robin continued, her tone turning serious, "and Ragnarok refers to Joy Boy losing his divine form and power… then…"
She shook her head, then looked at Rosen with gravity.
"Without your Zanpakutō… what can you do, Admiral Rosen?"
Her words fell like a stone into silence.
The large office went dead still.
Even Borsalino, standing outside the door with his hand raised to knock, froze in place.
—-
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