Chapter 647: A Changing World, Naval Operations!
In an instant, both sides had laid their cards on the table.
Ryuunosuke did not doubt what they wanted. Their motives were too obvious, too aligned.
And yet…
Something still felt off.
"Fine," Ryuunosuke said at last. "We head for the intersection of the Red Line and the Calm Belt first…"
Boom!
A heavy impact rolled up from the sea, like a cannon fired underwater.
Kun surfaced, carrying Shirahoshi. Water poured off the Sea Kings back in sheets as it rose high enough for everyone on the beach to see them clearly.
"Captain!"
Shirahoshi landed lightly, then hurried forward, her brows tightly knit.
"There's nothing down there."
"Not other creatures, not even Sea Kings."
She took a breath, then asked the question that refused to leave her face.
"Is this… really the Calm Belt?"
After all, the Calm Belt had another name.
The Sea Kings Nest.
In any calm sea around the world, you could practically trip over super sized Sea Kings. For Shirahoshi, that was not a danger. It was support. It was an army that answered her voice.
But this stretch of sea was dead.
No life. No presence. No heartbeat in the water.
Ryuunosuke was still processing it when the First Generation spoke from the side, tone flat as if he were reciting the weather.
"All the life force here was eaten by the Divine Death Guards."
"Even Sea Kings and other marine life can't survive in this sea."
"The trees on that island were planted by people."
"I think you already noticed that, didn't you?"
Shirahoshi's lips pressed together.
She nodded once.
Then she walked to Ryuunosuke's side and fell silent, eyes lowered, as if the ocean itself had become something unfamiliar.
Ryuunosuke looked at the three figures in front of him.
Jin.
Vegapunk.
Lilith.
Then he smiled slightly, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"Good."
"Then I'm going to start asking questions."
He lifted a finger, pointing casually, but his pressure was unmistakable.
"Jin, you're sure you'll tell me everything, right?"
"And Mr. Vegapunk, Ms. Lilith."
"The questions I'm about to ask might be… uncomfortable."
…
Meanwhile, on Morbig Island.
Contact had been severed.
Beneath the towering Adam Tree, a young man sat on the ground, back against the trunk, looking almost lazy as he took another bite of an apple.
"I can't reach my clone anymore," he said, sounding more annoyed than alarmed.
"I don't know what method Ryuunosuke used, but the connection is gone."
A woman beside him spoke softly, eyes narrowing.
"He can sever your link to a clone?"
"Then should I establish contact with the projection now?"
This woman was not Lilith.
She was Lilith's projection.
Adam shook his head immediately.
"No."
"If we establish contact now, with Ryuunosuke's strength, he'll detect it."
"And then all our earlier arrangements become meaningless."
He tossed the apple core aside, and the languid, decadent look in his eyes flickered, revealing something sharp underneath.
"Keep going."
"With that man involved, we don't need to do much."
"We will get the Seed of God."
As he spoke, he pulled another apple from somewhere and bit into it, juice running down his fingers as if the world were nothing more than a snack.
"Fine."
Lilith's projection did not hide her disgust.
"I'm leaving."
"And remember, once you get what you want, you'd better not show your face in front of me again."
The projection vanished.
Adam laughed quietly, apple juice still clinging to the corner of his mouth.
A moment later, a woman stepped out from behind the tree.
Her eyes held worry that did not match the calm of the place.
"Adam…"
"Eve, don't worry," Adam said, voice steady now, almost reverent in its certainty.
"This time, nothing will go wrong."
"When it's done, you'll have your own body, your own origin."
"Nothing will stop me."
"Not even a god."
Eve nodded.
She said nothing more.
…
Back with Ryuunosuke and the others.
Ryuunosuke inhaled slowly, then asked his first question with no theatrics at all.
"First, tell me your name."
Jin froze, as if he had been struck somewhere he did not expect.
Then, after a brief pause, he gave a single word.
"Jay."
"Jay…"
Ryuunosuke repeated it once, as if testing the sound.
Then he gestured outward.
"Good."
"Lead the way."
"I'm guessing you know this place better than anyone, don't you?"
…
While Ryuunosuke and his group began to move, far away in the New World…
Naval Headquarters.
A messenger burst into Sakazuki's office, breathing hard.
"The Red Line has experienced tremors."
"At the same time, reports are coming in from multiple seas. Super large sea monsters are attacking ships."
"Fleet Admiral, should we notify Captain Ryuunosuke of the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
"I remember Princess Shirahoshi can communicate with Sea Kings."
"Colossal Sea Kings…"
"The Red Line shaking…"
Sakazuki's eyes narrowed, mind already turning.
"Even Ryuunosuke might not know about this," he said slowly.
"Any other clues?"
The messenger stiffened.
"No, Admiral."
Then he added quickly, because it mattered.
"The Dragon Hunter Pirates disappeared after taking Wano under control."
"There are handyman squad members active, but none of the core members are visible."
Sakazuki's gaze hardened.
Their movements always moved the seas, whether they intended it or not.
"Send admirals to handle the Sea Kings first," Sakazuki ordered.
"As for the Red Line…"
He paused.
Then a calm, steady voice entered the room.
"We'll go."
Sakazuki looked up.
Three figures stepped inside.
The Advisors of the Navy.
"You…"
Sakazuki hesitated.
They were absolutely capable. If anyone could step into an unknown shift like this and return with answers, it was them.
But unknown changes carried unknown risks.
If this was tied to those things, then even these three could be in danger.
And losing them would be a wound the Navy could not afford.
Sengoku spoke before Sakazuki could finish.
"Rather than letting the new generation carry this kind of burden, let us do it."
Tsuru's eyes were sharp, unreadable.
"There are some matters better handled by those who remember the old world."
Garp crossed his arms, expression unusually serious.
"Alright," Sakazuki said at last.
"I leave it to the three advisors."
"If anything becomes uncontrollable, withdraw immediately."
"And keep communications open at all times, if possible."
"Understood," Sengoku replied.
"We'll prepare and depart."
Garp leaned forward slightly, voice dropping.
"Sakazuki."
"Keep an eye on the World Government's movements too."
"I've got a bad feeling they're stirring something up."
"A Celestial Dragon…"
Sakazuki nodded once.
"I understand."
He turned to the messenger immediately.
"Pass the order."
"Watch the Celestial Dragons closely."
"And provide the three advisors with full support. Anything they request."
"Understood, Fleet Admiral!"
The messenger rushed out.
Sengoku, Tsuru, and Garp turned to leave.
After they were gone, Sakazuki returned to his desk, jaw tight.
Truthfully, compared to the old days, his workload was lighter now.
He no longer had to weigh every decision against the World Government's approval.
The seas were calmer thanks to the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
The slave trade was gone, and with it, most of the worst class oppression. The economy had begun to recover and even accelerate.
By all logic, this should have been an era of rebuilding.
But the Guardians and the Evictors…
They were a shadow that did not care how well the Navy was doing.
Sakazuki stared at the reports on his desk, expression grim.
The Navy was thriving.
And yet…
It still was not enough to face what was coming.
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]