Many days later.
Rear of the New World, Elbaf.
After consultation, everyone decided to temporarily place the frozen Great Hammer Corps in the Celestial Realm of the Tree of War.
The temperature in the Celestial Realm is slightly higher than in the Underworld, but it is still sufficient to properly preserve the frozen giants.
Fang Huo needed to research thoroughly on how to safely unseal the Great Hammer Corps.
If he unsealed them rashly, he didn't know if it would kill these frozen giants.
At the very least, he needed to try on some experimental subjects first.
Although this might sacrifice a few giants, it was a risk that had to be taken.
But as it turned out, Fang Huo had clearly overthought things!
Unsealing an awakened Logia type freezing ability would take a very long time if left to melt at room temperature.
After all, the glaciers created by Aokiji Kuzan when he casually freezes the sea can remain frozen for a week.
Not to mention a specialized seal from an awakened ability.
During the long defrosting process, the giants' biological functions would recover; if they couldn't be rescued in time, they might even starve to death while still thawing.
Therefore, the giants had to be unsealed quickly.
It was best to use high temperatures to melt the ice rapidly without harming the giants.
The awakened Magma-Magma Fruit and Mera Mera no Mi abilities, as well as the Heat Breath of the Azure Dragon Ability, were all good methods to quickly liberate the giants.
With the help of Barbel's Mera Mera no Mi ability, after unsealing a few giants who ended up heavily injured...
Fang Huo found another, more convenient method through experimentation.
No awakened magma or flame abilities were needed, nor was the awakened Azure Dragon's breath.
Instead, he could use precise Conquerors Haki Infusion attacks to directly break the awakened freezing ability.
In the original timeline, Iron Fist Garp could easily break Aokiji Kuzan's freezing ability using Conquerors Haki Infusion.
Thus, the four powerhouses who mastered Conquerors Haki Infusion—Rocks, Harald, Fang Huo, and Newgate—became the key to breaking the seals for the Great Hammer Corps!
Barbel, who lacked awakened abilities, was shooed away; his flame control was indeed a bit subpar, and his imitation of awakened flame clouds was just for show.
While the four worked hard to unseal the Great Hammer Corps...
A World Government warship sailed openly toward the Sacred Ancient Moon Empire.
This World Government warship actually flew both the flags of the World Government and the Sacred Ancient Moon Empire, looking for all the world like a close ally.
The World Government had sent the down payment for inviting Fang Huo to become one of the Gorosei.
The World Government was very satisfied with Fang Huo's proactive negotiations and specifically sent a Mythical Zoan fruit.
This news instantly spread like wildfire through the New World and the Underworld, showing a trend of spiraling out of control.
Gu Yue Fang Huo, the Vice Captain of the Rocks Pirates, had actually made contact with the World Government?
Does Rocks know about this?
Do the other Cadres of the Rocks Pirates know?
Fang Huo is going to become one of the Gorosei? Is it true or false?
Is the World Government going to incorporate the New World Alliance?
Fang Huo left the remaining frozen giants of the Great Hammer Corps to Harald, Rocks, and the others to handle.
He nimbly flew back to Egghead Island to receive this Mythical Zoan kirin fruit that had been delivered to his doorstep!
As for the information spreading frantically in the New World and the Underworld, Fang Huo only gave a cold laugh.
He had seen through the schemes of Imu and the World Government at a single glance.
If Rocks didn't trust Fang Huo so much, this move by the World Government might have actually worked.
But Imu and the Gorosei simply could not understand the unique situation between Fang Huo and Rocks!
---
Inside the palace of the Sacred Ancient Moon Empire.
"Lord Fang Huo! The Gorosei are sincerely awaiting your reply."
A Cipher Pol agent respectfully presented a Devil Fruit chest to Fang Huo, his voice trembling with fear as if he were afraid of offending this 'candidate Gorosei'.
Fang Huo took the Devil Fruit chest and directly pulled out the kirin fruit, a trace of a smile appearing on his lips.
His and Linlin's child now had another candidate for a top-tier Mythical Zoan fruit.
After putting away the kirin fruit, Fang Huo considered whether to turn hostile immediately or continue the deception.
"Go back and tell the Gorosei that I will travel to the Grand Line alone soon to give them a big surprise."
In the end, he decided to keep stalling.
"I will certainly report exactly that!"
"Lord Fang Huo! This is the Gorosei's exclusive transponder snail, please take good care of it."
The slick Cipher Pol agent was all smiles as he immediately presented a special platinum-colored transponder snail.
"You are a brave messenger!"
"I have never been stingy with rewards for the brave!"
"This great grade blade, the Star of Bravery, which I forged myself, is gifted to you!"
"If you ever find you can't stay in the CP organization anymore, then come find me."
Fang Huo took the special transponder snail and, looking at this somewhat unusual Cipher Pol agent, suddenly pulled out a standard-issue alloy longsword to give to him.
Imu sent Fang Huo a kirin fruit while simultaneously trying to drive a wedge between Fang Huo and Rocks.
Fang Huo had to give something in return.
Even if it meant setting up a Cipher Pol agent to die, he would do it.
"Thank you, my Lord!"
The Cipher Pol agent looked happy on the surface, but who knew what he was thinking inside.
Soon, Fang Huo personally saw off the World Government warship.
As for the rumors outside, let them continue to spread.
It was just right for the Rocks Pirates and the World Government to have a period of quiet while these news stories fermented.
As it turned out, before Fang Huo could even return to Elbaf, the Gorosei's call already came through.
"Fang Huo, our sincerity has been delivered!"
"Lord Imu sincerely hopes for your joining."
"Perhaps we can work well together and achieve immortality together."
In their hearts, the Gorosei couldn't wait to screw Fang Huo over and make him break with Rocks.
But on the surface, they were very friendly in recruiting him.
"Lord Imu treats me like a great scholar of the state, and I shall repay him with 'loyal-orange'!"
Since Fang Huo decided to keep stalling, he instantly started speaking in tongues, matching the Gorosei's acting with his own.
"Give me a little time, and I will immediately find a red poneglyph that Queen Lily scattered and present it to the generous Lord Imu!"
"I wonder if you fellow 'Stars' know that the four Road Poneglyphs can find the Final Island, where Joy Boy and Queen Lily left even more hidden trump cards."
Fang Huo seemingly placed himself in the position of a Gorosei, using the term 'fellow Stars' and acting like a good colleague.
"I'll have to trouble you fellow Stars to ask Lord Imu for me: if I continue to contribute more red poneglyphs and other poneglyphs...
...could he perhaps send a few more Devil Fruits over?"
"I can actually reveal the time of Poseidon's reincarnation, the time the Sun God Nika Fruit will appear, the location of the Mother Flame's source..."
Fang Huo was also painting grand pictures, giving the World Government some verbal bait in hopes of tricking them out of a few more top-tier Devil Fruits.
His tone was deliberately laced with greed, making the Gorosei feel there was an opportunity to exploit.
"Can you really deliver a red poneglyph to the Holy Land?"
The Gorosei really didn't expect Gu Yue Fang Huo to be so easy to talk to, even preparing a mountain of gifts and intelligence.
Could it be that Gu Yue Fang Huo really had the intention of defecting to the World Government?
Had they and Imu both misjudged this man?
"Absolutely. My 'loyal-orange' toward Lord Imu is like the Reverse Mountain's upward current—once it starts, there's no stopping it!"