Transforming the environment?
That description was accurate enough, but only because Cyrus could use the Woods-Woods Fruit without caring about seawater.
Ultimately, though, it did not matter much.
"That's taken care of. Let's keep moving. We should start receiving more reports soon."
The Rose Hunter continued onward.
Over the next several days, they cleared another two islands and encountered several groups of Hunters carrying out the Guild's orders to eliminate the demons.
Crocodile's latest report soon arrived as well.
"Chairman, we followed your instructions and finished clearing the priority zones. We've established a containment boundary. From here, we'll gradually push forward until every affected area has been completely purged."
"What about the World Government and the Marines?"
Cyrus nodded before asking.
"The World Government hasn't made any significant moves. Your previous attack probably disrupted their command structure, or they simply haven't had enough time to recover."
Crocodile paused, his tone becoming slightly strange.
"As for the Marines… they're fighting among themselves."
"One faction consists of Marines who previously fought against the allied forces and the Guild. They're probably still following orders from the World Government."
"But another Marine force has begun actively hunting them down."
"Looks like the assassination attempt finally forced Sengoku to make up his mind."
Cyrus offered his conclusion.
"I can understand the Fleet Admiral's position."
Crocodile's voice became more serious.
"The Marines are in an extremely difficult situation right now, but if they want to become one of the organizations responsible for maintaining order after this war, they need to make their position clear."
"So you've already decided we're going to win."
Cyrus laughed.
A glass of sweet-and-sour fruit juice was placed in front of him.
He gave Hancock a small nod of thanks before continuing.
"Crocodile, the situation has reached a stalemate now, and our side has begun pushing back, correct?"
"Yes."
Crocodile sounded somewhat confused.
Hadn't he just reported that?
"Chairman, do you want us to accelerate the counterattack?"
He assumed Cyrus was dissatisfied with their current pace.
"No. A stalemate is fine. There's no need to rush."
Cyrus rubbed his brow.
"Especially since that bird-brain Morgans decided to publish what happened in Mary Geoise."
Crocodile saw nothing wrong with that.
"There was no reason to hide it. If you hadn't personally intervened, Chairman, we wouldn't have stabilized the situation this quickly."
Publishing such a major victory was perfectly normal.
The article had immediately boosted morale.
Several kingdoms that had previously remained neutral or undecided joined the rebellion against the World Government after reading it.
The anti-government coalition had grown even larger.
How could that possibly be a bad thing?
"The pressure on Imu is already high enough." Cyrus spoke quietly.
"Chairman."
Crocodile's voice grew serious.
"You've already done more than enough. There are things everyone else needs to accomplish themselves. That's necessary."
"Are you lecturing me?"
Cyrus's tone turned odd.
"Of course not. I'm only giving you my opinion."
Crocodile hesitated, apparently considering how much he should say.
After a moment, he continued.
"I think I've figured out part of what you're worried about."
"Even if a disaster eventually spreads across the world—something severe enough to potentially destroy it—the responsibility wouldn't belong to you."
"The person in Mary Geoise is the one who created this situation."
"Oh? You're not as stupid as you look."
Cyrus laughed.
"If I were an idiot, you wouldn't have chosen me to help build the Hunter Guild."
Crocodile's voice remained calm.
"So do whatever you believe needs to be done, Chairman."
"If you truly wanted to, I suspect you could end all of this very quickly."
"You have that much faith in me?"
"The Five Elders ruled the world for centuries, yet they were as helpless as infants in your hands."
Crocodile answered without hesitation.
"I honestly can't imagine what else could stand in your way."
"That's fair."
Cyrus smiled faintly.
"But I have my own plans. Just focus on your responsibilities."
"Understood."
Crocodile had voiced his opinion, but once Cyrus gave an order, he accepted it immediately.
The call ended.
"He's changed quite a bit."
Cyrus placed the Den Den Mushi on the table and smiled.
"After everything he's experienced, it would be stranger if he hadn't."
Robin did not find it surprising.
"All of us have changed quite a lot. You simply haven't noticed."
"Is that somehow my fault?"
Cyrus raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not."
Robin sat down beside him.
"You simply treat those changes as something natural."
"It seems we may not have much time left together."
"That's not necessarily true."
Cyrus spoke quietly, his voice filled with confidence.
"No one knows when the passage will appear. If it takes too long, then like that Sand Crocodile said, I can always pay a price and deal with Imu another way."
"By isolating and clearing specific regions, like Crocodile just described?"
Robin smiled.
"There isn't a much better option."
Cyrus shook his head.
Imu's ability was troublesome even for him.
For everyone else, it was far worse.
Perhaps stronger Conqueror's Haki could suppress her power, but Cyrus had no idea how far his Haki would need to advance before that became possible.
Then there was Vegapunk's giant robot…
Cyrus fell into thought.
"Where is Vegapunk now?"
"He's still on Sky Island."
Robin answered immediately.
"The Revolutionary Army has begun mobilizing, but Vegapunk didn't leave with them."
At the mention of Vegapunk, Robin rolled her eyes with obvious exasperation.
"That guy knows quite a few secrets…"
Cyrus stopped halfway through the sentence.
Forget it.
At this point, those secrets no longer mattered much to him.
Or rather, they had little practical value.
He was neither Nika nor some inheritor of Nika's will—assuming such a concept truly existed.
Whatever remained from that history could be left to the people of this world.
"What secrets?"
Robin's eyes immediately lit up.
"If you're curious, ask Vegapunk yourself."
Cyrus waved dismissively.
"I don't know much either. Probably something involving the Ancient Kingdom and the Void Century."
"He knows about that?"
Robin immediately stood.
Then she hurried away, clearly intending to contact Vegapunk at once.
Apparently, she had never forgotten her old passion for archaeology.
"Cyrus."
Once Robin was gone, Kuina sat down in the seat she had just vacated and turned toward him.
"Zoro and I want to travel on our own."
Cyrus had not expected that.
"If we stay by your side, we'll never truly grow."
He looked at Kuina, then toward Zoro standing nearby.
Zoro awkwardly avoided his gaze.
"If it were anything else, I might agree."
Cyrus shook his head immediately.
"But not this."
"You've already seen what those creatures can do."
"If either of you gets infected, even I won't be able to save you."
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator