Chapter 90: Rock's Corpse!

Vice Admiral Tsuru remained calm, her eyes never leaving Edie as she posed her question. "What is your purpose, great scientist?" Though outwardly composed, her mind raced. This man... he just transformed into Gion, even mimicking her voice and form perfectly!

As the chief staff officer of Marine Headquarters, Tsuru had seen ancient Devil Fruit records. It must be a Devil Fruit ability, she thought. It could either be the Clone-Clone Fruit from the Paramecia class, or the Mythical Zoan type, specifically the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tails Fox. With that ability, Edie had brazenly entered the staff headquarters unnoticed.

Tsuru sighed inwardly. She wished she didn't have to make an enemy of someone like Edie. His power and cunning made him a formidable adversary. But she was interrupted by his blunt question.

"I want to know if Rocks D. Xebec's body is in Marine's possession," Edie asked, his tone straightforward. He saw no point in beating around the bush.

"Rocks' body..." Tsuru's eyes flickered, piecing together his intentions. "Your purpose is the bloodline factor."

Tsuru's sharp intellect allowed her to connect the dots immediately. Judging by the Garp clone seen earlier, Edie was still collecting the bloodline factors of powerful figures. She also considered Shiki's presence. Since Shiki was working alongside the Earthly Branches, it was likely that his bloodline factor had also fallen into Edie's hands. If this continued, within a few years, another powerful Earthly Branch could emerge.

"I can answer your question," Tsuru offered, her voice measured. "But in return, you'll need to answer some of mine. Fair exchange, don't you think?"

With deliberate calmness, she picked up a nearby kettle and poured Edie a cup of tea, as though he were a guest rather than a trespasser.

"Very well," Edie agreed, accepting the tea. "For Gion's sake, I'll indulge some of your insignificant questions." He sipped the tea without hesitation, unconcerned about any potential poison. With his abilities—be it from the Phoenix Fruit or the regeneration of the Yamata no Orochi, Edie wasn't worried about toxins. Besides, Tsuru wasn't the type to strike so underhandedly, and she wouldn't have had time to prepare such a tactic.

Tsuru gave a faint smile. "It seems there's a relationship between you and Gion," she remarked, her curiosity piqued. A relationship between the two? Even she found it intriguing.

"Well, let's start with her. How is Gion? Have you imprisoned her in the Hive?" Tsuru's tone was light, but she had a genuine interest in Gion's well-being.

"Is that really the best question you have?" Edie replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"Why not? Consider it a casual conversation," Tsuru responded as she blew gently on her tea, her eyes betraying her concern for Gion.

Edie sighed inwardly. "She's staying in the Hive of her own accord. After what happened, her views on life and the world are a bit... shaken."

After a pause, Edie redirected the conversation back to his primary concern. "Now, it's my turn. Where is Rocks' body? Don't tell me you don't know."

"I do know," Tsuru admitted.

"Where?" Edie pressed.

"That's a second question," Tsuru responded with a knowing smile. Her face turned serious, though. She wasn't about to give up such crucial information easily.

Edie shook his head. "Let's not play games. Let's be honest with each other."

Tsuru leaned forward slightly, her expression softening as she played the emotional card. "You're the stubborn one, great scientist. Why be so rigid with an old woman like me? I've known Gion since she was a child. To me, you might as well be family. I'll tell you what you want to know, but you also need to tell me what I want to know."

Edie cursed internally at the thought. Gion's like a daughter to her, and she's treating me like a son-in-law now? He silently rejected the idea of accepting either Tsuru or Kaido as parental figures, despite his young age. I may be in my twenties, but that's pushing it.

"Fine. Go ahead," Edie relented.

Tsuru's eyes sharpened. "What is your real purpose, Edie? What is your ultimate goal?"

Edie leaned back, his expression casual. "I'm exploring this world, having a bit of fun."

Tsuru raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. She didn't buy the simplicity of his answer, but it wasn't surprising that he'd dance around the truth. He continued, "Of course, having fun tends to piss off the World Government. That's why I need power to protect myself. Hence, the Twelve Earthly Branches."

"And in your pursuit of truth, you're also searching for immortality?" Tsuru asked, already suspecting as much.

Edie didn't deny it, though he didn't elaborate either.

"You don't want to rule the world?" Tsuru pressed. "With the power you've accumulated, you've already surpassed Rocks in his prime. His ambition was to become king of the world, to create a world where he alone was supreme."

"That was his dream," Edie said nonchalantly. "Not mine."

Tsuru was silent for a moment before sighing. "Rocks' body was sent to Punk Hazard over twenty years ago. The World Government used it for various experiments."

"Where is it now?" Edie asked.

"One of the Five Elders, Saint Saturn, was personally involved in the research. I don't know what type of research though exactly."

Edie nodded thoughtfully. "You still haven't answered my question. Where is Rocks' body, or rather, his skeleton, now?"

"This is my last request," Vice Admiral Tsuru replied with a faint smile. "Consider it a favor to an old woman."

Edie smirked. "Don't make it sound like I'm going to kill you. Relax, I'm not some villain. I'm not planning to harm you after getting my answer."

Tsuru's expression softened slightly. "Please take good care of Gion. After leaving the Marines, she's had the chance to see the world from a different perspective. It might not be such a bad thing for her."

With those words, Tsuru stood up from behind her desk and gestured for Edie to follow. "Come with me, great scientist."

As they walked, Tsuru explained, "After the World Government learned that you had mastered cloning technology, they moved Rocks' body from Punk Hazard. That was two years ago. Now, it's kept at Marineford."

"Rocks' body... in the naval headquarters?" Edie thought, surprised. He had expected the body to be hidden at Mariejois. But then he hesitated, processing Tsuru's words.

"Wait. Corpse? Not bones?" Edie's thoughts quickened. The World Government has preserved Rocks' body all this time? No decay?

As they passed by an unconscious Marine staff officer, Edie discreetly touched the man's face, transforming into a Marine soldier. Now disguised, he followed Tsuru out of the office. Outside, the chaos of battle raged on, with roars and alarms blaring through the air.

But the war outside didn't distract them. The corridor was bustling with Marines, yet each soldier stopped to salute when they saw Tsuru and Edie. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, Colonel Scar! The headquarters is under attack. Please evacuate to a safe location," one of them urged.

"Where is safe? This entire island is within Shiki's attack range," Tsuru replied as she moved forward with determined steps, heading toward the evacuation area for the Marine families.

"Yes, ma'am!" the Marine responded, immediately following orders.

As they walked, Edie mused. Marineford is not just a fortress; it's a town where Marine families live. During the war in the original story, the families had been evacuated to the nearby Sabaody Archipelago. But this time, with Golden Lion Shiki's sudden assault, there was no time for an evacuation.

Following Tsuru, they descended deeper into Marineford, down a long staircase, through a thick iron gate, and into the underground fortress.

"Don't be too nervous," Edie commented casually as they walked. "I never gave the Earthly Branches orders to attack ordinary people. And while Shiki's insane, he'd rather focus on the Admirals and stronger opponents."

"Still, these massive attacks may harm the civilians," Tsuru countered.

"True," Edie admitted. "If they continue, this island could be reduced to rubble."

"So after you get what you came for, leave immediately." Tsuru sighed, her concern evident.

Soon, they reached the depths of the underground cave. Unlike the orderly structures above, the cave had a natural, untouched quality, with only one entrance and exit. It was here that Edie saw his objective.

Rocks D. Xebec's body, encased in a massive block of ice.

He wasn't a decayed skeleton, as Edie had expected. Instead, Rocks looked just as he had before death—his body still intact, though covered in solidified wounds, and missing an arm.

"Aokiji froze him?" Edie asked, surprised.

"No," Tsuru replied, shaking her head. "It was like this when it was delivered to us."

Edie carefully approached the frozen body. He tapped the ice, examining the preserved form. He had never met Rocks and only had a vague idea of his appearance from the unreliable shadowy figure in the manga. Still, something about the figure before him felt strangely familiar.

"It looks like... someone," Edie muttered, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he recalled someone from his previous life, before he had entered the world of One Piece. "Does he have children?"

"No," Tsuru answered firmly.

Before Edie could process her response, he felt a sudden touch on his back. Tsuru's hand.

"You have a very unique ability," Tsuru said calmly. "An invisible armor forms around you when attacked. It's an advanced application of Haki, isn't it? A technique only you have mastered."

Edie didn't respond, but Tsuru continued. "So I can touch you, as long as it's not considered an attack, correct?"

In an instant, Tsuru activated her Devil Fruit ability—Paramecia: Wash-Wash Fruit. Edie's body suddenly transformed, becoming as thin as a piece of laundry that had been washed and hung out to dry. His muscles lost their strength, and even his soul felt as if it were being purified.

"Um?" Tsuru's eyes widened in surprise. Edie, now reduced to a thin figure, remained standing, defying the usual effects of her ability. "Why didn't you fall down? My ability worked perfectly!"

Edie slowly turned to face her, his movements light and eerie, as though he were floating. "A sneak attack while I'm distracted? A good strategy, but unfortunately..."

Before Tsuru could react, Edie's body flickered with red electric light. His Haki surged, and in the blink of an eye, he returned to his original form. Red lightning crackled around his eyes, and his body floated several meters above the ground.

"Unfortunately, the gap between us is too wide."

Tsuru broke out into a cold sweat. Her ability had hit him directly—yet Edie had recovered instantly! "How...?"

"My ability can wash away the evil in a person's heart," Tsuru said, struggling to understand. "Even if your Haki is strong enough to remove my ability, the evil thoughts I washed away shouldn't return so quickly..."

She suddenly froze, realizing the answer on her own.

"Thank you, Vice Admiral Tsuru," Edie said with a calm smile. "This is the first time my [Overlord's Territory] has been bypassed. You didn't attack me, nor did you harbor any ill will. Even touching me was done with good intentions, which means my system didn't register it as a threat. But now... it won't happen again."

In that moment, a divine clarity filled Edie's eyes. His Overlord's Territory had evolved. From now on, any ability user who activated their power against him would trigger the expansion of his domain—regardless of intent. Only he could consciously shut it down.

As he finished speaking, Edie disappeared from Tsuru's sight, moving with such speed that she couldn't track him.

Tsuru's body trembled, overwhelmed. I couldn't see him move at all! Worse yet, her Observation Haki was useless against him.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"You washed away my 'evil,' but the truth is... I never had any to begin with," Edie whispered.

Tsuru collapsed to her knees, her strength drained and disbelief filling her eyes. "What did you do to me?"

"My Devil Fruit ability... it's gone!?"