The new era was turbulent with rising winds and surging clouds.
The appearance of White King Silas had opened the prelude to a new era.
But could anyone truly stand atop the clouds forever?
"The clamor of ants. A remnant nearly abandoned by the old era dares claim to have opened a new era. Truly absurd."
"No need to pay attention. He is ultimately just a mortal."
"Give the Marines something to do. This world needs balance."
"What about the Pure Gold matter?"
"Have the CP organization continue collecting intelligence. Since White Wolf Silas wants to cultivate new people, let us 'send' him some outstanding talent."
"Agreed!"
"Acceptable!"
On a new day, in a simple conference hall, those who controlled the world's highest authority still calmly made their decisions.
Silas had become a force to reckon with.
Even the World Government's highest authority, the Five Elders, had to acknowledge this.
The cost of trying to eliminate Silas now was too great.
But throughout the long centuries past, these seas had no shortage of brilliant existences, and they already had their own methods for dealing with such beings.
Simply outlive them.
No matter how powerful an ant, it was still an ant.
They would get sick and grow old.
Moreover, these ants were not strong enough to necessitate paying a price. Letting the Marines maintain balance was sufficient.
Only one thing mattered.
Pure Gold!
The legendary metal that could grant immortality.
Only the Five Elders knew this was not legend. Pure Gold truly existed and could indeed dramatically extend lifespans.
But existence that defied nature inevitably brought calamity.
Whenever Pure Gold appeared, it would attract certain giant Sea Kings.
The Five Elders only suspected Silas possessed Pure Gold.
Because where Silas appeared, there were no traces of giant Sea Kings.
But it was a fact that Silas had become younger due to some substance.
The Five Elders did not fear the strong.
But they held absolute vigilance against powerful beings with long lifespans.
History would forget.
But living people would not!
Silas had not expected news of him possessing Pure Gold to spread outside.
But there was a saying:
If certain people think you have something, you had better actually have it.
And Silas truly had news of Pure Gold!
"That is the situation. Pure Gold is real, but it is not currently in my possession. I just learned of Pure Gold's location through certain channels."
Before the White Wolf Pirates' veteran crew members, Silas did not hide much.
He had not spoken before because the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
But now that he had genuine news of Pure Gold, preparations could begin.
"150 years ago, Pure Gold appeared in a place called Alchemi. A father, to save his daughter suffering from an incurable disease, created Pure Gold."
"In the end, Pure Gold was created, but it also brought disaster. A giant Sea King lanternfish swallowed Alchemi, then disappeared without a trace."
"And I have the location of that giant Sea King."
The last time Silas investigated this giant lanternfish was a month ago, when it was in the Calm Belt seafloor adjacent to the East Blue.
Now...
Pure Gold is located in the middle section of the Grand Line, 9,000 meters below Sabaody Archipelago, moving toward Fish-Man Island.
Still deep sea, but near the Sabaody Archipelago was better than in the Calm Belt. Moreover, Fish-Man Island was their shipwright Dean's hometown. Silas and company could rest and refit at Fish-Man Island before capturing the lanternfish.
They had been back at Sphinx for a month.
Though Silas now seemed to be developing Sphinx as his headquarters, both he and other White Wolf Pirates members clearly understood that Sphinx really was not a good location.
Geographically remote, lacking natural defenses, easy to attack but hard to defend.
Due to Silas's strength, the World Government temporarily had no plans to trouble the White Wolf Pirates, but once they threatened the World Government, the World Government would go all out.
So Sphinx could be the White Wolf Pirates' public headquarters, but for future development, they definitely could not rely entirely on Sphinx.
Silas now had several places he wanted to control.
First: Wano Country.
Rich in mineral resources, with natural barriers isolating inside from outside, plus numerous powerful samurai with strong martial virtue internally.
Second: Fish-Man Island.
Located 10,000 meters deep below the Sabaody Archipelago, the World Government could only conquer Fish-Man Island by sending elite invasions and would have to worry about fish-men and mermaids abandoning the island. Then those few elites might all end up as fish food.
Moreover, Fish-Man Island was a transportation hub connecting the Grand Line's front and back sections, the necessary route for pirates from the first half to reach the New World.
Whether controlling Fish-Man Island or building good relations with its fish-men would benefit Silas's power development.
Finally: Sky Island.
But compared to the previous two locations, Silas had no immediate plans to visit Sky Island.
Going to Wano Country could bring Kozuki Toki along.
Going to Fish-Man Island was for Pure Gold.
Silas decided to go to Fish-Man Island first, because Wano Country could be visited anytime, but his old comrades were aging constantly.
Current Roya could at least retain 70% of his peak combat power.
In two more years, he probably would not even have 50% left.
Rocks and Newgate's talents were evident. Even for Ripley, who was slightly inferior, surpassing the White Wolf Pirates' veteran crew members was just a matter of time.
Not to mention Linlin, that strongest talent monster.
New and old White Wolf Pirates crew members were transitioning. Ripley and Rocks clearly had the momentum to replace Roya and Lily as the White Wolf Pirates' new combat core.
Perhaps in two more years, when facing World Government Admiral-level fighters, Silas would no longer be isolated but have people to share the pressure.
"Dean, go prepare."
Silas had only come to Sphinx to show his face. Naturally he would not stay long. The White Wolf Pirates, forever sailing the seas, were the ones that could make the World Government wary.
If tigers did not show their claws, they would just be big cats.
"Toki, interested in experiencing Fish-Man Island's splendor with me?"
"Does this humble woman have other choices?"
Kozuki Toki looked at Silas resentfully but harbored no real complaint. The time until the prophecy's fulfillment was still long. If she could follow Silas to see more people and things, it would definitely benefit her journey to the future.
Moreover, did she really need to continue time traveling?
Perhaps change had already begun, and she was witnessing it firsthand.
Kozuki Toki had not made up her mind yet.
But regarding continuing to stay with the White Wolf Pirates, staying by Silas's side, she was not opposed.
October
The White Wolf Pirates prepared to depart for Fish-Man Island.