Chapter 250: Prelude
Sea Calendar 1517, Terra.
In the sunflower fields, Louis stood holding a newspaper, letting the oncoming wind lift his dazzling golden hair. He looked at the boy with short black hair, a smattering of freckles, and a wanton smile on his face, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"The Spade Pirates... Fire Fist Ace."
"Warlord of the Sea - Hanafuda, defeated..."
"Before I knew it, has it already come to this time?" Louis gazed at the sky and thought to himself.
Roger's posthumous son, Ace, had already set out to sea, and not long after his debut, he had defeated the not-so-weak Hanafuda. This meant that there were still three years until Luffy set out to sea, and it also meant that Hanafuda was about to die at the hands of the enemies he had provoked. And Louis had already sensed, with his Observation Haki, that the brother and sister, Ulti and Page One, had hurriedly taken a ship from the port. It was clear that after learning the news, they had directly followed their Vivre Cards to their father's location.
Just then, a Mist Ship cut through the sky and landed in an open space in the sunflower fields. Immediately after, Yelena, who looked more and more mature, her long white hair tied up in a bun, and Uta, crossed the flower field and came directly to his side.
"Little Ulti and Page One took a ship from the port. They said they were going to pick up their father," Yelena said, stopping. She stood in the sea of flowers, her gaze on the distant port. "They didn't even ask for my help," she said distantly.
To this, Louis said thoughtfully, "Perhaps they think their father is a member of the Beasts Pirates, and that we are in different camps. So they want to handle this as their own private matter."
Hearing this, Yelena's already not-so-good-looking face became even grimmer. "Those two little brats who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth... they think they can do whatever they want just because their strength has increased— They've really grown up, haven't they."
"That's right! They've grown up!" Uta, who had come with Yelena, nodded with great seriousness.
Louis glanced at Yelena, who seemed to be complaining but was actually seeking his permission, and said casually, "In that case, then send someone over. When the time is about right, just catch them and bring them back. Tell them not to even think about becoming executives anymore. Let them be apprentices for ten years first!"
And Yelena, having received permission, did not hesitate. She directly took out her Den Den Mushi, dialed a certain person who was currently overseas, and relayed Louis's instructions.
While Yelena was relaying the instructions, Louis turned to Uta and asked, "Has anything special happened with Shirahoshi and Fukaboshi?"
Uta heard him, and a hint of reminiscence flashed in her amethyst-like eyes. She then waved her hand and replied in a casual posture, "Ever since those pirates from the Fish-Man District attacked during Fukaboshi's and Shirahoshi's speech and were all wiped out by Natural Water, Fish-Man Island has been much more stable. And now, apart from the occasional attack by assassins of unknown origin and the stationing of some World Government and Marine personnel, nothing special has happened. On the contrary, the citizens of Fish-Man Island have become more and more supportive of the move because of Shirahoshi's sincere speech!"
Uta crossed one arm and slightly lowered her head, stroking her chin with the other hand in a thoughtful pose. "Shirahoshi did mention that after Jinbe heard the news, he also temporarily gave up on his affairs in the East Blue and returned to Fish-Man Island."
Louis heard her and nodded, indicating he understood.
Ever since that night's banquet, after Fukaboshi had, with Shyarly, informed Louis of certain matters and had returned to Fish-Man Island, a great disturbance had soon broken out there. All sorts of voices had been heard. Some were in favor, some were skeptical of the pirates, and some were strongly opposed.
For many of the residents of Fish-Man Island, this incident was far more dangerous than the call that Queen Otohime had launched before her death. At that time, she had gone to Mary Geoise and had only returned to Fish-Man Island to hold a vote after obtaining the Celestial Dragons' consent. If it had succeeded, the people of Fish-Man Island would have, like the other member nations of the World Government, lived under the sun under the protection of the government and the Marines.
But Fukaboshi's plan was to lead everyone to a pirate-occupied island. The people of Fish-Man Island did not know how they would be treated by the Archangel or other pirates after they arrived. If Fukaboshi were to be deceived by the pirates, leading to the five million fish-men being enslaved, it would be an unacceptable matter for them. Not only that, but by living on that land called Terra, the fish-men would very likely be branded as a pirate race by the World Government, and would be hunted down by the Marines.
Therefore, at the beginning, the fish-men were quite resistant to this matter. Especially with the meddling of World Government agents and some fish-men from the Fish-Man District, the voices, demands, and so on became abnormally chaotic.
This situation lasted until Shirahoshi herself mustered the courage to step forward and, like her mother, won the recognition of the citizens with her voice. And on that day, Hody Jones of the Fish-Man District had attacked Shirahoshi and Fukaboshi and was captured by Natural Water. Shirahoshi had recognized his identity and had also revealed that her mother had not been killed by a human.
Within a year, the number of fish-men and merfolk who had objections to the move to Fish-Man Island grew smaller and smaller. The comings and goings of World Government personnel also became more frequent. Fukaboshi had been threatened by high-ranking World Government officials more than once. Later, the World Government and the Marines had also sent people to be stationed on Fish-Man Island.
"..."
After a moment, Louis came back to his senses.
"Yelena, take the main force and board Avant Heim. Head for the sea near the entrance to the New World first," he said in a deep voice, his gaze on her.
Currently, the World Government and the Marines already had people stationed on Fish-Man Island. Given the distance between Marine Headquarters, Mary Geoise, and Fish-Man Island, it would not take them much time to dispatch a fleet there. Therefore, Louis felt it was more appropriate to deploy his main forces near the battlefield. In this way, when the World Government decided to make a move, the Archangel Pirates could also react quickly and intervene.
Yelena heard him and nodded. "Alright." She had no objections to his arrangements, nor was she worried that deploying the main force would lead to chaos on Terra, because Louis was still here. If a change occurred on the battlefield near Fish-Man Island, he could also quickly rush there through Avant Heim's ability.
Nearby, Uta looked at their conversation. After some thought, she asked with some hesitation, "Do you need me to go over?"
Yelena heard her and fell into thought, as if she were considering Uta's question.
"You go too," Louis said after a moment of contemplation. "If things get out of hand and Fish-Man Island falls into chaos, you can directly control the situation to calm it down and have them leave and board the Noah."
"Alright. It's been a while since I've made a move~" Uta stretched and said, her voice trailing off.
Then, Yelena turned and went back the way she had come. And Uta, seeing this, after waving goodbye to Louis, also followed with light steps.
Soon, the two of them boarded a Mist Ship, slowly floated up, and disappeared into the sunflower fields.
In the vast sunflower fields, only Louis was left. In the gentle breeze, he once again picked up the newspaper in his hand and flipped to the next page. Just then, the Den Den Mushi on his body opened its eyes and rang with its iconic ringtone.
Brrring~ Brrring~ Brrring~
Click. Louis did not hesitate. He directly took out the Den Den Mushi and answered it. The next moment, the Den Den Mushi mimicked the blond man and spoke in a voice that was familiar to Louis.
"Hey, Louis! Your brats came to my territory to cause trouble again! They messed up my Hachinosu and then just took off!" At this moment, the Den Den Mushi vividly mimicked the Golden Lion, who was far away on Hachinosu, showing an extremely annoyed expression.
However, before Louis could answer, the Den Den Mushi changed its appearance again and began to argue with Shiki. "Hey! Don't get it wrong, Shiki! This is my Hachinosu!!"
"What's the difference? We're both equal now anyway!" Shiki snatched back the control of the Den Den Mushi and said casually. Then, he ignored Ochoku's dissatisfaction and grumbled into the phone, "Although it's very un-adult-like to say so, I really want to personally teach your two brats a lesson!"
Louis heard him and became thoughtful, understanding that Raphael and Jibril had gone to Hachinosu again. So he casually asked, "What? Did they cause you a lot of damage?"
Hearing this, Shiki glared. "Damage? They didn't cause much damage— but those two brats beat up all my subordinates! Where am I supposed to put my face?!"
Not long ago, Louis's two brats had come to his door again, directly challenging all the executives of the Flying Pirates. And the ferocious pirates, seeing this, naturally would not let the two of them run rampant on Hachinosu. One after another, the powerful executives who were famous on the seas all made a move, wanting to teach the two a lesson.
However, the fantasy was beautiful, but the reality was very tragic. Every named pirate in the Flying Pirates was beaten to the ground by the two girls with rare hair colors. This scene had directly made Shiki and Ochoku unable to hold back.
"..."
Hearing this, a muscle in Louis's jaw twitched. He was a little speechless. He had never thought that the Golden Lion would call him because of such a thing.
After a brief silence, he replied casually, "You'd have even less face if you made a move yourself. So, what do you want?" Then, Louis put down the newspaper and sat down at the edge of the sunflower field. He didn't believe that a person like Shiki would personally call him just to vent his frustrations over such a small incident.
Just as he had expected, after hearing his words, the Golden Lion let out his iconic, terrifying laugh. "Shishishishi— You're as sharp as ever, aren't you, Louis—"
The Golden Lion, with a wanton smile, said meaningfully, "Let's make a deal, Louis!"
Shiki's voice, through the Den Den Mushi, clearly reached his ears.
Louis heard him, and a subtle change came over his expression. "What deal—"
"The technology you used to create those brats." Shiki's voice sounded again. "I believe they are your children, but I don't believe they were born naturally!"
After seeing the abilities those brats had displayed again, Shiki was certain they were Louis's offspring. But from their age and their monster-like abilities, they could not possibly have been born naturally.
After witnessing the astonishing power displayed by these brats, a bold idea had appeared in Shiki's mind. To obtain this technology and create a batch of monsters loyal to himself. Louis's bloodline was excellent, that was true, but his own was not bad either. Back then, he had also been an existence who was given the name of a monster at a young age.
This idea quickly took root in his mind and prompted him to extend an invitation of a deal to Louis.
Louis heard him, and a flash of understanding crossed his eyes. He knew that Shiki's purpose could not be as simple as just venting his frustrations. However, Louis simply did not have any technology that he could trade with Shiki. The birth of the Flügel was from his Devil Fruit ability and his "I think, therefore I am" power, not any kind of technology.
After a brief moment of thought, Louis replied casually, "Although their birth was special, it's not any kind of special technology. Of course, if you really want a batch of such 'offspring,' as long as you can afford the price, this deal is not impossible. It's just that your 'offspring' might not necessarily listen to you."
"..."
Shiki heard him, and his brow furrowed slightly. He had never expected to get such an answer from Louis.
Seeing that he did not speak, Louis continued, "Instead of this, you might as well have the scientists under your command use your Lineage Factor to create something. Or recruit more promising supernovas." With that, Louis directly hung up, returned to the castle.
Hachinosu, in the conference room of the Flying Pirates.
Shiki heard Louis's words and fell into thought. After a moment, a chilling smile curled on his lips. "Shishishishi— That's right! I have scientists under my command too!"
On a sofa on the other side, Ochoku looked at the neurotic-like Shiki and sighed in his heart.
"But... accepting promising supernovas?" Ochoku picked up the newspaper on the table, and his expression changed slightly.
Holy Land - deep within Mary Geoise, in a secret room filled with beautiful flowers.
The God of Justice, Topman Warcury, half-knelt on the ground, his head lowered. He respectfully presented a stack of documents and photos to the slender dark figure in front of him.
"Lord Imu. Fish-Man Island intends to break away from the World Government and defect to the power established by the last remnants of the Lunarians."
The being known as Lord Imu did not speak. They slowly extended a hand and took the documents and photos. With their back to the light, their body was hidden in shadow. Their scarlet eyes swept over the documents and photos.
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