Chapter 162

The next morning, Olivia, Lily, and Saul prepared to set off on their own journey. Little Robin, however, was unconscious; Olivia had drugged her to ensure she wouldn't follow them.

Shakky, with a tinge of worry in her voice, asked, "So, where do you plan to go from here?"

"We'll try to see if any of the scholars managed to sneak out from Ohara in those evacuation ships," Olivia responded, her hope resting on the slim chance that someone might have escaped.

Shakky pulled out the morning newspaper and some bounty posters. "You don't know, do you?" she asked, handing them to Olivia.

Olivia's eyes widened as she checked the three posters:

```

[WANTED]

[NICO OLIVIA]

[DEAD OR ALIVE]

[379,000,000 BELLY]

[WANTED]

[JAGUAR D. SAUL]

[DEAD OR ALIVE]

[502,880,000 BELLY]

[WANTED]

[NICO LILY]

[DEAD OR ALIVE]

[199,000,000 BELLY]

```

What truly shook Olivia was the bounty for Lily. She was just a teenager, and as Olivia had feared, the authorities had mistaken Lily for her daughter. Olivia knew something like this might happen but didn't understand what it had to do with searching for the remnants of the scholars.

"Check the newspaper,' The Demons of Ohara'; that's what they are calling you." Shakky suggested, noting Olivia's confusion.

Hurriedly, Olivia read the newspaper. The entire event of Ohara had been twisted unnaturally, making her blood boil with anger. As she turned the pages, her face grew pale, and tears that had subsided started flowing once more.

"All three evacuation ships were sunk due to an unexpected massive storm at sea," Shakky said. "That's the official report, but we all know what really happened."

"The Marines must have sunk them all to bury everything related to Ohara," added the giant, Saul. "For all we know, you might be the last inhabitants of Ohara."

Olivia realized they had nowhere safe to go. Leaving Robin with us was the right decision.

Seeing Olivia lost, I suggested, "Find Monkey D. Dragon. Maybe you'll find meaning for your lives once more."

This was the most I could do for them. Taking them along would be too much trouble, and I had other matters to attend to.

Olivia looked at her sleeping daughter with a final, longing gaze. "Take care of her! If fate wills it, maybe I'll meet my daughter again." She then boarded the ship we had commandeered.

Under the giant's protection, Olivia and her now-daughter Lily embarked on their new journey.

"Shakky-san, what about you? Will you be joining us?" I asked as I turned to Shakky, who was packing supplies.

"No, I must get back to Amazon Lily. With me deserting my position, the World Government won't take it lying down. They'll retaliate soon, and I need to be there," Shakky replied.

"Have you thought about my offer, Shakky-san?" I inquired, hoping she'd reconsider.

Shakky hesitated, looking up from her bag. "Ross, as much as I owe you, I don't think being a pirate is for me anymore," she said apologetically.

"Fine. In that case, how about you settle down in Dressrosa after you've taken care of matters back home?" I made a concession. As long as Shakky settled down in Dressrosa, it would be a win for me.

Shakky contemplated for a long moment. There was no way she could reopen her bar in Sabaody, and recent news showed how rapidly Dressrosa was growing. Relocating to a flourishing island in the New World seemed like a promising prospect.

"Fine," she agreed with a smirk. "But I need a prime piece of land in Dressrosa, tax-free, to settle down."

"Consider it done, Shakky-san. When you get to Dressrosa, everything will be ready for you. You'll be surprised—we even have fishmen starting to visit Dressrosa. You might have to cater to a larger customer base," I replied, a smile spreading across my face.

Shakky chuckled. "You drive a hard bargain, Ross. Very well, it's a deal."

As the group dispersed to continue their respective journeys, the morning sun cast its first rays over the horizon, signaling new beginnings for all of us.

*****************

Room of Authority, Mary Geoise

"Good riddance! They were a constant thorn. Now, with the whole of Ohara destroyed, there won't be anyone left to decipher the contents of the poneglyphs, even if they find them," Elder Warcury said with a smirk. He had failed to retrieve the road poneglyph from Fishman Island, and the matter of the poneglyphs had been bugging him ever since.

"You seem to have forgotten there are still two people from Ohara alive out there," Elder Ju Peter interjected. "We shouldn't have let the Marines handle the matter. Each time, they prove how incompetent they are." Olivia and her daughter were still at large, and as long as their threat wasn't neutralized, the possibility of the poneglyphs' contents resurfacing remained.

"We cannot possibly blame the Marines this time around. It was that Donquixote brat who decided to involve himself in government matters. It seems like even two admiral-level candidates are not enough to hold him back anymore," Elder Saturn said, defending the Marines in a rare instance.

"Yes, and we cannot forget that these mistakes wouldn't have come to pass if that pirate Shakuyaku didn't betray us. It seems she has forgotten what the World Government truly stands for. We need to teach her and every Shichibukai who joins us in the future that betrayal comes with consequences," Elder Nusjuro, sharp and calculating, added to the discussion.

"Yes, we need to make an example of her. Let's raze Amazon Lily to the ground," Elder Mars suggested, and the reactions from the other elders showed they were in favor of the decision.

"What about Garp's son? He has just declared the formation of the so-called revolutionaries.

They have already aided a country's rebellion in fighting against its rightful monarch recognized by the World Government," Elder Nusjuro continued, shifting the topic to the new headache the Elders had to deal with. This matter was much more dangerous than any they had faced in recent centuries.

"Do we really have to give so much importance to a brat who hasn't even grown up? If it was someone like Garp, I would be worried, but Dragon isn't there yet. Let him play his pirate game," Elder Mars said with a chuckle, not considering Dragon a true threat to their authority. Dragon and his group were just playing mercenaries, and the World Government could reclaim the kingdom whenever they felt like it.

Elder Saturn's tone turned grave. "You are disregarding such a dangerous matter? Do you know how dangerous an idea can be? Especially an idea like revolution? Remember this: once the idea of revolution is born, it's like an undying fire. You can kill a revolutionary, but you can never kill a revolution. Have you already forgotten what happened four centuries ago? Or have you forgotten how you got some of those scars?" Elder Saturn's words made the Elders turn gloomy.

Their history flashed before them; this wasn't the first time they had dealt with such revolutions. The most devastating one had been four centuries ago, when they had allowed things to fester and finally had to personally intervene, ripping everything out by the root to deal with the matter for good.

Elder Warcury, trying to lighten the mood, said, "Very well, let us not underestimate these threats. We need to deal with both Shakuyaku and Dragon swiftly and decisively. Amazon Lily will be a message to anyone who dares betray us."

Elder Ju Peter nodded in agreement. "And we must keep a close eye on Dragon and his revolutionaries. Crush them before they can gain any more traction. We cannot allow another incident like the one four centuries ago."

Elder Saturn, satisfied with the resolve of his peers, added, "Good. We will handle these matters personally if necessary. The stability of the world and our rule depend on it."

"What about the Donquixote brat? He seems to be crossing the line more frequently. This time, not only did he end up killing a Shichibukai, but he also directly interfered with a Buster Call," Elder Ju Peter interjected, his voice filled with frustration.

"We should have dealt with them after the matter of Impel Down. Even though Imu-sama has directly asked us not to impede the younger brother's growth, I don't think Imu-sama's orders extend to the elder one as well. How about we take out Doflamingo to teach the little one a lesson?"

Rosinante had been growing too strong, too fast, and unchecked, and as for Doflamingo, they did not even have a proper estimate of his current strength. The alarming rate at which they were growing was a cause for concern, and their industry had once again come to monopolize the weapons market. Even the Elders were tempted to approach the brothers to make a deal regarding their latest weapons, which were generations ahead of what other sources could produce.

"No, we cannot deal with the Donquixote brothers in such a way. We have already tried to kill them once and failed. If we fail a second time, it would cause catastrophic damage, especially if the young one deploys hit-and-run tactics," Elder Saturn cautioned.

"None of us here can confidently say we can catch up to his speed. There was a reason why we searched for the Rumble Fruit for centuries. I have another way of dealing with these brothers. Although it might not remove the hostility, it will create a temporary truce."

Elder Saturn's mind raced with calculations. He knew how the two brothers thought to a certain extent, especially the elder one. As much as he hated to admit it, Doflamingo would have made a perfect Celestial Dragon. He could have even been groomed to become one of the Elders, a ruler of the world in the future.

The younger one, Rosinante, was an enigma. Sometimes he acted like a saint, and other times his actions were worse than the vilest of criminals. But one thing was certain: if Rosinante had been on their side, he could have become the strongest sword and shield for Imu-sama, perhaps even surpassing their own levels in the future.

"We must tread carefully," Elder Saturn continued. "We cannot afford to create more enemies, especially ones as cunning and resourceful as the Donquixote brothers. If we approach them with the right offer, we might be able to secure a temporary alliance."

Elder Warcury frowned. "What kind of offer would they accept? They are ambitious and prideful."

"Leverage their need for vengeance," Elder Saturn suggested. "Offer them something they desire greatly. Doflamingo craves to punish everyone who was involved in his capture the last time around. Rosinante, despite being complex in nature, has one constant, and that is his elder brother. We can manipulate these desires to our advantage, and I have the perfect scapegoat in mind to appease their angers for the time being."

"There is one other matter that needs our attention," Elder Saturn interjected, his tone grave. He had taken personal charge of the Donquixote brothers, and the rest of the Elders respected his decision. Now, their curiosity was piqued, wondering what other issue could demand such urgency.

"Garp! Where is Monkey D. Garp?" Elder Saturn's eyes narrowed. "Although Kong said that he was on an extended vacation due to the matter of the Shichibukai, it doesn't match his character. Even if he were on a vacation, he would do it blatantly, not like this. The Government agents have been unable to locate Garp, and this is cause for concern."

The other Elders leaned forward, their interest fully captured. Elder Warcury spoke first, his voice laced with unease. "Garp is like a ferocious tiger. Only when he is within our sight can we be at ease. We wouldn't want such a predator against us, especially not in a time like this. We need to find him. My instinct says that man is up to something—something so significant that he chose to vanish from everyone's eyes."

Elder Saturn nodded. "Exactly. Since the incident at Marineford where his protégé was ambushed, Garp's attitude towards the Marines has been changing subtly. Roger's execution seemed to have dealt another blow, and the matter of the Shichibukai is something the Marine Hero must have taken as a personal insult. There are many reasons we tolerate Garp, but the most important one is because he is dangerous—dangerous to a degree where he could threaten us."

The room fell silent as Saturn's words sank in. They knew Garp's reputation, but hearing it articulated so starkly reminded them of the precarious balance they maintained.

Elder Nusjuro broke the silence, his voice thoughtful. "Even Whitebeard is not held in the same regard as Garp. We have centuries of knowledge on our side, and Garp stands out among all the powerhouses we've known throughout our long lifetimes. And to make matters worse, he is from the D clan. Making such a dangerous man our enemy would be suicidal."

The Elders exchanged somber glances, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. They knew the significance of the D clan, and Garp's lineage only added to his threat level. Elder Ju Peter, usually the most pragmatic of the group, spoke up. "Our strategy to deal with Garp has always been simple: let the man grow old and die on his own. Unlike us, Garp cannot best the cycle of life."

Elder Saturn sighed, his mind racing with the implications. "But we cannot rely solely on time. Garp is a wild card. His strength and will are unmatched, and if he has chosen to disappear, it means he is preparing for something. We must locate him and understand his intentions before he becomes an even greater threat."

The Elders nodded in agreement, the gravity of the situation clear. They had faced many challenges over the centuries, but Garp represented a unique danger—one that combined physical prowess, a powerful legacy, and a personal vendetta against the system they upheld.

Elder Mars added, his tone measured, "We should deploy our most trusted agents to track him down. And perhaps, we should also reach out to those within the Marines who might still hold loyalty to us, subtly ensuring they are on the lookout for any sign of Garp."

"Indeed," Elder Saturn agreed. "We must be vigilant. Garp's movements could reshape the balance of power in ways we cannot yet foresee. His disappearance is not just a tactical concern but a potential harbinger of greater upheavals. So let's have the remaining Shichibukai deployed to the four blues. I am sure these dogs would be able to sniff Garp out. "

As the Elders finalized their plans, the room was thick with tension. They were acutely aware that their control over the world was being challenged on multiple fronts, and the specter of Monkey D. Garp loomed large in their calculations. They knew that the next steps they took would be critical in maintaining their dominance—or in facing unprecedented threats.

******

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