The Marines were searching for Aokiji across the entire world, determined to eliminate him before he could truly become a threat.
But it wasn't just the Marines; even the World Government was involved.
"What the hell was he thinking, wanting to join the Whitebeard Pirates?!" Saint Saturn seethed, barely containing his fury.
"The Marines are already mobilizing. With current manpower shortages, Sengoku has suggested promoting Gion and Tokikake as the new admirals, "Saint Mars said.
"Didn't Sakazuki oppose that?" said Saint Warcury.
"Very strongly. Both candidates are Sengoku's loyalists. He wants fresh blood through the conscription system, not remnants of the old guard," Saint Nusjuro added.
"Gion and Tokikake do have issues. Their ties to Sengoku run too deep," Saint Shepherd agreed.
"Let Sakazuki proceed. The Navy is far more compliant under him than it ever was under Sengoku," Saint Warcury nodded.
"As for Kuzan… he must be captured. Even if we have to imprison him in Impel Down, we cannot let him become a pirate and turn into our enemy."
"He was one of the Marines' strongest combatants. We can't let that power become a threat."
"If necessary… eliminate him."
A chilling silence fell over the Room of Authority.
.....
Meanwhile, on Sabaody, Roy was… bullying people again.
"Are rookies these days trying to get themselves killed?"
Since their ship needed coating, Roy's crew had to stay docked for a while. During this time, many reckless pirates came to challenge him, hoping to make a name for themselves by taking down a member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Is the coating done yet?" Roy asked Namur.
"Almost. We can set off today," Namur replied.
"Good. We need to move fast, or we'll have problems." Roy warned.
"What kind of problems?"
"You'll see once we reach Fishman Island."
"Big Bro, you always do this, never telling us what's coming next."
Once the Moby Dick was fully coated, it set off from Sabaody.
"Seriously… hidden in plain sight. And you just snuck aboard like this," Roy muttered coldly.
"I had no choice. You exposed me. I had to come to you for help," a voice answered.
"Who?!"
Namur and the others jerked around, only to find a tall man in a long coat standing behind them, an icy aura radiating from his presence.
"Relax. Once we reach the New World, even the World Government will struggle to find you," Roy said casually.
"I hope so," Kuzan replied.
"Wait… you're-"
"Aokiji?! When did you get here?!"
"Big bro, you…?"
"Yeah, I let him aboard," Roy nodded casually.
Roy hadn't expected Aokiji to be hiding in Sabaody, nor that he'd come looking for help.
With no better choice, Roy smuggled him toward the New World, the one place where the World Government's influence was the weakest.
"You exposed me to the Marines and got me into huge trouble. Now it's not just the Navy after me, the World Government wants my head. If they find me, I might not survive," Kuzan said.
"Well, yeah. You're a traitor. Of course, they'd want to eliminate you," Roy said with a grin.
"All because of you."
"Hahaha. Come on, it's funny, isn't it? The most dangerous place is often the safest. They'd never expect you to hide with me."
"Which is exactly why I came to you."
"Let's go to the New World together. I'm curious to see what you'll become."
"You turned down my request, yet you're still pushing me onto the pirate path. What's your angle?" Kuzan asked.
"Nothing really. I just want to see what you'll do next. You can't join the Whitebeard Pirates, but maybe you'll join another crew. Or start your own," Roy said with a smirk.
"You're a twisted bastard. Not just shameless, you've got a cruel sense of humor," Kuzan muttered.
"Glad you noticed."
"What was your real reason for coming to the first half of the Grand Line?"
"Can't tell you."
"You visited Amazon Lily. Someone like you never moves without a reason."
"Of course, I had a reason, but I just wasn't there.
"Then what was it?"
"Didn't I just say? Not telling."
"You're so boring."
It was Kuzan's first time going under the sea, and his first time seeing Fishman Island.
"Incredible… Like a crystal orb. So this is Fishman Island?" Kuzan said, gazing on it.
"That was my first thought, too. A place like this… exists." Roy grinned. "Enjoy the view. As a Marine, you'd never walk this path. It's a pirate's road."
"Why is there a massive hole at 10,000 meters under the sea? And why does Fishman Island exist here?"
"How should I know? Go ask an explorer. I'm just a pirate."
"You're supposed to be well-read, aren't you? Don't you know?"
"No one knows everything. But I did read some old records, books about ancient races."
"Ancient races?" Kuzan looked at Roy curiously.
As the Moby Dick descended toward Fishman Island, the ship grew quiet, only Roy's voice remained.
"You've noticed it too, right? This world has many different races: Ancient Giants, modern Giants, Humans, Longarm tribe, Longleg tribe, Tontatta, Fishmen, Oni, Mink, Snakeneck tribe, three-eyed tribe… and much more."
"Think about it, what happens when so many races live in the same world?"
"War," Kuzan answered seriously.
"Exactly. Stronger races demand more resources. As populations grow, expansion is inevitable, and so is conflict."
"The Fishmen lost. So, they leveraged their one advantage, retreating to the sea. That was likely their best choice. While the great races slaughtered each other, weak humans caught a break."
"Humans grew stronger over thousands of years, eventually replacing those ancient races. They launched their own attacks... until they came out victorious."
"I found this in some ancient records, passed down by civilizations so old they predate written language, passed only through cave paintings. Maybe it was back then that the fishmen discovered this place and migrated here, giving birth to what we now know as Fishman Island."
"Races. Resources. War. Some things are just unavoidable," Kuzan said.
"As long as people live, they'll need food, water, and shelter. The hungrier you get, the more you take. And the best resources? Already claimed. War was inevitable."
"And if Fishman Island ever becomes 'worth taking'… the World Government won't hesitate to act."
"Weakness is the only sin."
....
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