In a place far from the Red Soil Continent, a giant Falcon soared through the air, glancing back at the two people riding on its back.
"Nicholas, are you okay?" Dragon couldn't help but ask when he saw Nicholas's serious injuries.
"I'm fine. What about the others?" Nicholas responded.
"Don't worry, they've mostly safely evacuated, but some slaves didn't make it..." Dragon trailed off.
Nicholas had expected this outcome, considering the extensive torment they endured in Mary Geoise. Many were already at death's door, unable to escape due to their weakened bodies.
But compared to the inhuman existence in Mary Geoise, death might be considered a release.
Shaking off these thoughts, Nicholas looked down at the severe wound on his abdomen. Although he had used his life return and Celestial gold to control the injury, it still looked gruesome. The missing portion revealed his internal organs, even some vertebrae. If it weren't for his timely electromagnetic field displacement, he might have been split in two.
Furrowing his brow at the gruesome wound, it was the first time Nicholas had been injured so severely. Even with his Celestial gold ability, if it were anyone else sustaining such a horrific injury without prompt professional treatment, death would be inevitable.
In another part of the New World, in a relatively safe area of the sea, numerous ships bearing the emblem of the World Government were anchored on the surface.
They were the group led by Ivancov, who had escaped from Red Port.
Suddenly, a flock of crows flew in from the horizon, landing on the deck and revealing Tiger's figure from within the flock.
"Tiger, your arm..." Seeing Tiger appear, Jimbei's face lit up with joy, but when he saw Tiger's condition, his expression turned dumbfounded.
Tiger stood on the deck, covered in scars, with his right arm missing. Though the wound had been roughly treated, blood still oozed from the stump.
"Oh, that arm? I wagered it on the future of Fish-Man Island!" Tiger explained, reflecting on how he had protected the island's future by killing Hazlitt, a terrifying Fish-Man. Otherwise, under Jones's leadership, Fish-Man Island might have fallen to the World Government.
"Wake up, Jimbei, what are you standing there foolishly for? Do you want to watch him die?" Ivancov, now in a female form, scolded Jimbei upon seeing Tiger's condition.
As Ivancov spoke, Tiger finally collapsed onto the deck.
"Tiger!"...
When Tiger woke up a day later, he found himself surrounded by Ivancov, Dragon, and others at a sickbed.
Lying on the bed was Nicholas, enduring the pain as Ivancov treated him.
Under the gaze of Jimbei, Dragon, and Karasu, Ivancov proceeded to treat the missing portion on Nicholas's abdomen.
After Ivancov's treatment, the gruesome wound became more bearable to look at. However, the blood seeping through the bandages indicated that the injury was still severe.
"Nicholas, according to your request, I've removed some of the necrotic tissue. But are you sure your injuries will be okay like this?"
After completing the treatment, Ivancov asked somewhat worriedly.
Knowing the severity of Nicholas's injuries, if not treated promptly, the consequences could be severe.
"It's okay. I already have a rough idea for treating the injuries," Nicholas reassured.
He wasn't particularly concerned about the injuries since he had Celestial gold to prevent them from worsening. As for complete healing, he would have to visit Green Bit.
Seeing Nicholas so confident, Dragon breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then let's all lay low for now. After causing such a big commotion, the World Government will surely be on our tails. Plus, the targets of those slaves are too significant," Nicholas said, looking at Dragon.
Dragon, being adept at such matters, quickly made arrangements. Soon, numerous slave ships began sailing towards different destinations, many of which were islands deemed safe by the Revolutionary Army or areas with weak World Government influence.
Once everything was arranged, Dragon found Nicholas. After all, they were about to embark on a trip to Green Bit.
"Nicholas, was the one who severely injured you the person at the heart of the Holy Land?" Dragon asked Nicholas.
As Dragon spoke, Nicholas was immersed in memories. When he realized the attack, he instinctively began elementalizing. However, he noticed that even after elementalizing, upon contact with the attack, his body had reversed the process.
It seemed that the attack had an absolute restraint on Devil Fruit abilities. If he hadn't already altered the trajectory of the attack with his surroundings, he would likely have been defeated.
Nevertheless, the attack had blasted off half of his waist. He even suspected that if the attack had been aimed at Dragon, Dragon would have met his end in the Holy Land.
Placing his hand on his empty abdomen, Nicholas gazed towards Mary Geoise, recalling the overwhelming aura he had sensed within Pangaea Castle.
If that overpowering presence had personally intervened rather than attacking from a distance, he and Dragon would have undoubtedly suffered a crushing defeat.
"Hahaha! cough... Dragon, that guy is a Toilet King!" Nicholas suddenly exclaimed excitedly.
Hearing Nicholas's words, Dragon paused, clearly not understanding what Nicholas meant by "Toilet King."
...
Pangaea Castle, Chamber of Kings.
The figure seated atop the throne glanced towards the entrance as footsteps approached.
Tap, tap...
As the footsteps echoed, the highest echelons of the World Government, the Five Elders, stood before the steps, then knelt in a posture of apology before the figure on the throne.
"My Lord Imu..."
"To bother you with such trivial matters..."
The Five Elders knelt, their heads bowed in reverence, before the towering figure on the throne, now bowed down as well.
On the throne.
The figure addressed as Lord Imu remained silent, gazing down at the Five Elders bowing before him.
After a moment, she spoke a few words.
And the Five Elders expressed their commitment to spare no effort in searching the seas for that Devil Fruit.
[AN- Guess what fruit it is? 😈😉]