West Blue, Cusk Island, midnight.
Lorca looked at Robin, who had fallen asleep on the table, and exhaled quietly. He gently carried her to the bed and pulled the blanket over her.
Then he walked to the table, took the book Industrial Revolution, and tucked it away. Turning around, he left the room. With a few swift movements, he vanished without a trace.
* * *
On a silent hillside, Lorca sat on a giant rock, staring at the scattered lights of the town below.
He connected the line to Sakazuki through a Den Den Mushi. Moments later, a deep voice answered.
"How's it going, Carlo?"
Hearing Sakazuki's voice, Carlo stayed quiet for a few seconds. "Everything is proceeding steadily."
The snail's serious expression shifted as Sakazuki's voice came again. "What is it? Something on your mind?"
Carlo thought of Robin and sighed. "She's only eight."
"Softening your heart already?" Sakazuki asked.
"Yes..." Carlo admitted softly.
There was silence for a while, then Sakazuki said, "When people spend too much time together, feelings are inevitable. I understand. But emotions have no place in what we do. Feelings lead to hesitation, and hesitation brings greater harm.
"Her background is tragic, and her life is pitiful, but we cannot stop. What we are planning goes beyond one family or one nation. Nothing is too great a sacrifice, not even you or me."
Carlo was quiet for a long time before responding, "I understand."
"The darkest hour comes before dawn," Sakazuki's voice continued. "If we are the ones who can achieve this, we must not leave this burden to those who come after us. Let this generation carry the sins alone. Get some rest."
Carlo adjusted his thoughts. "Yes. Good night, Admiral Sakazuki."
Click.
The sound of the line disconnecting echoed, and Carlo closed the Den Den Mushi.
He swept aside the pity and compassion that shouldn't exist. 'Yes... nothing is too great a sacrifice. There's no turning back now.'
* * *
North Blue, aboard the Third Battleship.
In his office, Sakazuki, who was sitting at his desk, hung up the Den Den Mushi.
"Feelings..." he muttered. "Pointless."
He rose, walked outside, and gazed at the ships trailing the fleet, its deck glowing with lights.
The night passed without sleep.
* * *
North Blue, Germa Kingdom.
The only nation in the world without fixed territory. Normally, its dozens of ships operated separately, but when gathered, they formed the kingdom itself. All soldiers were clones, created by Vinsmoke Judge through lineage factor technology; fearless and devoid of emotions.
At the center of the fleet, inside the palace marked by the Germa 66 flag, a two-year-old Reiju stood in the shadows near the hall entrance, lowering her head and clenching her fists as she listened to the argument inside.
* * *
Within the brightly lit palace hall, Queen Sora, wearing loose clothing that showed her heavily pregnant belly, looked at her husband in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
Vinsmoke Judge cast her a cold glance. "Of course."
Shocked, Sora's voice trembled. "Why would you do something so monstrous?"
Judge ignored her question and said calmly, "The surgery is ready."
Sora stepped forward in anger and grabbed him by the collar. "You must not do this to our children! Without a human heart, they won't even be human!"
Judge, indifferent, replied, "Even if they become monsters, it doesn't matter. As long as they win wars, that's all that counts."
Sora's grip loosened. She stumbled back, staring at this man who now felt like a stranger.
Judge spoke without emotion. "To revive the Vinsmoke family that once ruled the North Blue, sacrifices are necessary to achieve this dream. My children must be given the strongest power. Take her away!"
Several doctors in white coats stepped forward, grabbing the queen's arms and dragging her along as Judge headed toward the palace's extended laboratory.
"No! Let me go! That's our child! Don't...!"
Her cries grew weaker until they vanished behind the closed laboratory doors.
Young Reiju watched in terror as the scene unfolded, while the surgery was forcibly carried out.
* * *
A few days later.
Inside the laboratory, Sora stared at the antidote in her hand. She had found it in Judge's lab, but she had no idea what would happen if she drank it.
Her trembling hand clutched the vial. Finally, she made up her mind and closed her eyes. Even if it meant death, she couldn't allow her children to become heartless monsters. If that happened, they would no longer be human.
She opened the vial and drank it all in one gulp. A sharp pain tore through her body, and the already frail Sora collapsed, unconscious, into a pool of blood.
Clang.
The sound of the vial hitting the floor drew the attention of the staff, and their king, Judge.
Judge stormed in and, noticing the vial on the ground, roared, "What are you doing, Sora!!!"
He snatched up the vial. 'Damn it…'
It was a potent drug that could interfere with lineage factor modifications.
"Get her out of here and run a full check! Damn!!!"
* * *
Ten thousand meters under the sea, Fish-Man Island.
Several colossal Sea Kings, each over five thousand meters long, gathered together. Their gentle gazes turned toward the tiny Fish-Man Island as they exchanged words in the language of the Sea Kings.
"It's coming. Five more years and our king will finally be born."
"Another king will also be born in that distant sea."
"The day the two kings meet, the whale will cheer for them."
"This time... it will succeed."
"Yes. It will... definitely."
* * *
North Blue, Flevance.
School had just ended at the local kindergarten, and Law ran impatiently toward the hospital.
"Huff…huff…"
Breathing heavily, he arrived, adjusted his slightly crooked hat, and walked quickly into the building.
With both parents being doctors, Law was treated like a regular visitor. He greeted doctors and nurses as he made his way to his mother's room.
He pushed the door open eagerly. On the bed, his mother smiled. "You came again, Law. Be careful, running too fast is dangerous."
Law nodded hard. "Yeah!!!"
He ran straight to the small crib beside his mother's bed and looked at the tiny baby inside.
A wide grin spread across his face as he poked his sister's soft little cheek, then turned to ask, "Mom, does my sister have a name yet?"
His mother closed the book in her hands and answered gently, "Lami. Trafalgar Lami."
Law turned back to his sleeping sister. "Lami..."
He poked her again.
The baby's brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes cracked open just enough to see the frightening face above her.
She instantly burst into tears. "Wahhh!"
Seeing his sister cry, Law panicked, his mind going blank. "She's crying! What do I do, Mom!!! Ah! This! Don't cry! Please!"
His mother covered her mouth and laughed, watching the flustered Law try desperately to comfort the baby.
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