In the Room of Authority atop the Red Line in Mary Geoise for the first time, every one of the Five Elders wore a grim expression.
Saint Nusjuro's grip on the hilt of his sword tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"He noticed our intentions so the operation failed."
Saturn continued,
"The members of the God's Knights involved in the operation, including Rulina Palace, have already been held accountable."
Saint Warcury slowly shook his head.
"That's not the important part the important part is that he realized something was wrong."
"From now on, his real body will likely appear less and less and besides two more members of the Donquixote family have died."
The members of the God's Knights were fundamentally different from ordinary Celestial Dragons.
Their status and importance were worlds apart.
The so-called accountability was little more than a formality.
What truly mattered was that the Revolutionary Army's mysterious figure had set his sights on the place where Lord Imu resided.
That was the real issue.
"We had no choice."
Marcus Mars spoke.
"Once he leaves Mary Geoise, finding him becomes extremely difficult."
"With that teleportation ability and the power to change his appearance we still don't even know his true identity."
Peter Saint leaned back in his chair.
"And now there's another ability."
"Shadow clones."
"Neither of the clones that infiltrated Mary Geoise was particularly powerful but that's precisely what gives him the confidence to act without fear."
Bang.
Nusjuro slammed the sheath of his sword against the floor.
"The matter has reached the point where Lord Imu himself is involved we cannot escape responsibility mobilize every available resource."
"Investigate the Revolutionary Army with our full strength."
"Force him to reveal himself."
Saturn glanced at him.
"The CP organizations have never stopped investigating the Revolutionary Army."
"The Marines are doing the same."
"But ever since the Revolution of the Five Nations it's as if they've stopped expanding."
"They've hidden themselves in the sewers."
The Five Elders fell silent.
After a long pause, Warcury finally spoke.
"It isn't that we have no leads."
"It's just that every captured Revolutionary is the same."
"Their convictions seem to be drawn toward something far greater than themselves."
"When they know they'll be captured with no hope of escape they choose suicide."
"Those still capable of fighting are even willing to die together with our CP agents and before dying they shout slogans that strengthen the resolve of everyone around them."
Warcury let out a slow breath.
"The balance of the world is beginning to shift Roger's execution ushered in the Great Age of Pirates countless ambitious people sailed to sea in pursuit of the so-called One Piece."
"That is one force."
"But there is another a far more steadfast will we can now be certain that it belongs to the Revolutionary Army."
Saturn looked over.
"So they haven't stopped developing after all?"
Warcury nodded slightly.
"I'm afraid that's the case for eight hundred years there have always been those who resisted."
"But an organization capable of uniting people's hearts and causing us this much trouble has appeared only once."
Nusjuro frowned.
"Ever since Saint Samit was killed at Sabaody the authority the Celestial Dragons have maintained over the world for eight hundred years has begun to crack."
"The news was suppressed."
"But the Revolutionary Army undoubtedly spread it within their own ranks."
"The moment the masses realize that even gods can be killed by mere insects those worms begin to find the courage to resist no matter what the Cloaked Man must be found."
"And executed."
No one objected to the aggressive proposal.
The problem was actually finding the elusive enemy who had escaped them time and again.
Marcus Mars looked toward Saturn.
"How is Vinsmoke's modified soldier project progressing?"
"The progress is slow."
Saturn replied,
"Germa had already begun researching exoskeletons while they were still in the North Blue."
"But the clone soldiers we've accelerated into production possess only average combat ability."
"They're simply fearless because they don't fear death."
"As for creating warriors like those depicted in the comic books circulating throughout the North Blue that still requires the time it takes for a human to grow."
"At the very least fifteen years."
Marcus Mars let out a sigh.
Too slow.
At this pace, it would take far too long before enough top-tier combat power could be cultivated to restore the balance of the seas.
Fortunately they still had their own trump cards.
No matter what, they could afford to wait.
Even if the Revolutionary Army succeeded in overthrowing numerous governments, it meant little to them.
Right now, the Revolutionaries didn't dare reveal themselves.
The moment they surfaced, they would be struck down or simply annihilated.
To those living atop Mary Geoise an island.
A kingdom.
They were nothing more than an anthill.
Destroy it.
That was enough.
Just as the Celestial Dragons' triennial "field trip" before God Valley, where slaughtering every inhabitant of an island had been treated as nothing out of the ordinary.
"The mechanical soldier that climbed Mary Geoise two hundred years ago..."
Peter Saint spoke, drawing the attention of the other four Elders.
"If Laboratory No. 03 still can't make any progress perhaps we should let Vinsmoke Judge have a try."
Before anyone else could answer, he continued,
"I remember we discussed letting Vegapunk reverse-engineer it from the very beginning."
"After all even after two hundred years it still possessed enough power to climb the ten-thousand-meter Red Line."
"Both its power source and the technology behind it are exactly what we need."
"An energy source"
Compared to everything else that was what they desired most from the ancient mechanical soldier.
If they could obtain it perhaps the conflict that had continued for eight hundred years could finally be brought to an end.
No matter what power or weapon existed none of it would withstand an attack fueled by that energy.
Saturn frowned.
"Our reverse-engineering of its power source has never gone well."
"But Judge's current research is focused on Lineage Factors and clone soldiers we don't want another Germa."
Nusjuro interrupted him.
"What we need after the North Blue operation is a force capable of maintaining the balance of the seas and one that is absolutely loyal."
"That's why we're pushing forward the Seven Warlords system before then and we all know what that energy source truly represents, don't we?"
Saturn remained silent for a moment before nodding.
"I'll have Laboratory No. 03 transfer it to him."
"But afterward judge will also need some pressure."
"His progress has been far too slow."
At that moment the Den Den Mushi inside the Room of Authority began ringing.
After it was answered, a calm voice emerged.
"Five Celestial Dragons have died at the hands of that insect their families have submitted reasonable demands."
"So I have no choice but to inquire about the matter."
It was Saint Figarland Garling.
Although his tone remained calm the Five Elders had no assurances they could offer.
They hadn't been able to capture the intruder even when he infiltrated Mary Geoise.
Now it would be even more difficult.
"I have an idea."
"Please."
Warcury responded.
Garling continued,
"Have the CP agencies and the Marines continue gathering intelligence on the Revolutionary Army."
"But suspend all arrest operations simply monitor every known Revolutionary."
"Dig out members with at least some importance."
"I've reviewed the World Government's operation against him at Sabaody."
"Although it ultimately failed the emergency evacuation of the Kingdom of Olga and the other five nations exposed one of their weaknesses sometimes you need bait before you can catch a fish."
"If we continue arresting every Revolutionary we discover only to fail at extracting any useful intelligence they'll remain hiding in the sewers forever."
Silence filled the room.
The Five Elders exchanged glances.
Finally, Warcury spoke.
"But according to our intelligence the Revolutionary Army's operatives are almost all organized through single-line contact."
Garling replied indifferently,
"Then we'll wait."
"If giving them enough time allows us to expose one of their senior leaders that isn't difficult for us."
"As for the countries they've already influenced if their ideology becomes a problem we'll simply destroy them afterward."
"A few kingdoms filled with insects are insignificant to us the only thing that matters is that the Cloaked Man has become a threat to Mary Geoise itself."
"That is absolutely unacceptable."
With those words the Room of Authority ultimately approved Saint Garling's proposal.
The new strategy targeting the Revolutionary Army was also transmitted to Marine Headquarters.
A week had passed since Rowan's infiltration of Mary Geoise.
After his personnel records were transferred to the list of Admiral Candidates, Rowan had already departed Marine Headquarters for G-5.
At Marineford Sengoku frowned as he read the intelligence report before him.
A disturbance had erupted in Mary Geoise.
Although it had been suppressed in a very short time every slave on the Holy Land had disappeared.
The Marines had very few sources of intelligence inside Mary Geoise.
However the commotion caused by the battle that day had been impossible to conceal.
Another strange development the usually arrogant Celestial Dragons had suddenly become unusually quiet.
Meanwhile, the slave traders operating in the Sabaody Archipelago had been urged repeatedly and even threatened to replenish Mary Geoise's supply of slaves as quickly as possible.
Sengoku rubbed his temples.
Things were becoming more troublesome by the day.
Someone capable of infiltrating Mary Geoise and frightening the Celestial Dragons into staying indoors there was only one person he could think of.
The Revolutionary Army had remained quiet for a long time.
Yet the moment they made a move they struck directly at Mary Geoise.
The Celestial Dragons would undoubtedly be on edge because of it.
On top of that Crocodile's appointment as one of the Seven Warlords had already been approved.
In a few days, he would arrive at Marineford.
After everything that had happened with Rowan the officers at Headquarters probably wouldn't accept another outsider so easily.
Sengoku would have to appear personally to prevent any unnecessary trouble.
Meanwhile on a deserted island near the entrance to the New World.
Rowan and Kuma had already completed their separation.
Those who had chosen to join the Revolutionary Army had departed with Kuma.
Rowan remained behind.
He presented Fisher Tiger with a ship and the two of them set sail toward Fish-Man Island.
Punk Hazard had served as a World Government research facility long before this.
Because of that the Revolutionary Army had never established one of Rowan's Flying Thunder God markers there.
So Rowan would have to visit it himself.
Since the entrance to the New World lay close to Punk Hazard he intended to investigate while passing through.
If the ancient mechanical soldier was there he would take it away.
If it wasn't he would simply leave a Flying Thunder God marker behind making future investigations much more convenient.
As long as Flying Thunder God could be used at that location everything else would be easy.
Vinsmoke Judge's status was nowhere near that of the Celestial Dragons.
There was a high probability the operation would proceed without complications.
On the small vessel two Fish-Men handled the helm and sails.
Meanwhile, Rowan and Tiger chatted.
"If you're going to Fish-Man Island, Sir we'll need to coat the ship normally we could return directly but with you aboard..."
Rowan waved his hand dismissively.
"There's no need when we reach Punk Hazard, you can continue on without me."
"By the time you arrive at Fish-Man Island I'll already be there."
Tiger blinked in surprise.
Then he remembered the teleportation ability described on Rowan's bounty poster.
"That really is convenient, Sir in that case, there shouldn't be any problems."
"But when you arrive will you appear right beside me?"
"That would be ideal."
Rowan smiled at him.
"So that I can be surrounded and beaten up by a crowd of Fish-Men?"
(°口°)!
"Of course not!"
Tiger scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"With your strength, Sir the people from Fish-Man District certainly wouldn't be a match for you."
"But Princess Otohime is working hard to change the fate of Fish-Man Island."
"If a conflict breaks out that wouldn't be good."
Princess Otohime.
The mermaid queen who, through nothing more than her unwavering sincerity had managed to change beliefs that had been deeply rooted even within the hearts of the Celestial Dragons.
She possessed another extraordinary form of Observation Haki and she was also the mother of the Ancient Weapon, Poseidon.
At this point in time Shirahoshi had already been born.
And Rowan himself was curious about Queen Otohime.
Come to think of it she was very much like Lady Toki of Wano.
Before her death she entrusted Shirahoshi's older brothers with protecting their little sister.
She also declared that, one day in the future someone would appear to guide the power capable of calling the Sea Kings onto the right path.
Lady Toki, before her death, had likewise declared that Wano would open its borders twenty years later to aid the one who would lead the world.
"I'll appear directly beside you."
Rowan's answer finally put Tiger at ease.
After all, although Rowan was their benefactor Fish-Man Island's attitude toward humans was anything but friendly.
Still what exactly did Rowan intend to do on Fish-Man Island?
Seeing Tiger hesitate to speak, Rowan glanced at him.
"Do you want to see Queen Otohime's dream come true?"
Queen Otohime's dream?
Tiger froze for a moment.
He immediately thought of how, over the years, Queen Otohime had tirelessly worked toward peaceful coexistence with humans on the surface.
She had traveled throughout the kingdom, giving speeches in the plaza asking every citizen to sign her petition.
Living beneath the sunlight on the surface that was the dream of every Fish-Man and Mermaid.
But although Tiger respected Otohime's unwavering determination and admired her efforts to persuade the people the human world simply wasn't safe yet.
As long as the Celestial Dragons still ruled from Mary Geoise and as long as the slave traders of the Sabaody Archipelago remained active.
If they discovered Fish-Men and Mermaids living openly on the surface they would be overjoyed.
"Not yet, Tiger."
"It's still too early."
Rowan gazed toward the distant horizon.
"I know exactly what kind of darkness Fish-Men and Mermaids would face if they tried to live on the surface right now."
"But according to the Revolutionary Army's ideals every intelligent lifeform is equal."
"Whether it's your people or any other race there is no difference."
"I know quite a few of Fish-Man Island's secrets so I want to visit."
"I want to speak with Queen Otohime and meet Princess Shirahoshi."
"Oh, right and Shyarly from Fish-Man District that girl can see the future, can't she?"
"I already believe this world will eventually become the one I envision."
"But I'd still like to hear what changes my existence might bring to the future she sees."
Tiger's eyes widened.
Although Rowan claimed he had never been to Fish-Man Island how did he know so much about it?
The queen Princess Shirahoshi, who had only recently turned one year old.
Even young Shyarly yet it was equally obvious that Rowan understood the difficulties surrounding Fish-Man Island far better than Queen Otohime herself.
The problem was never as simple as gathering signatures.
"Sir after I return to Fish-Man Island and report to King Neptune I'd like to undergo the Revolutionary Army's entrance examination."
Rowan looked back at him.
"Before this you didn't intend to join so is it because you want to see everything with your own eyes first understand it fully and then report back to Neptune?"
Seeing that Rowan had seen straight through his thoughts, Tiger answered honestly.
"Yes."
"After all the Revolutionary Army's ideals are admirable."
"But the World Government has ruled this world for eight hundred years."
"No rebellion has ever succeeded against them."
----------
Advance Chapters: patreon .com/OneFic