BlackRock Island, West Blue
Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army sat in the relatively empty Spider's Cafe as he looked at the city of BlackRock bustling with activity. His trip to the BlackRock has been an eye-opener as he traveled through the islands. He has seen how technology and industrialization have improved the lives of civilians to such a great extent. He plans to implement a few things he had seen in BlackRock in the Revolutionary Army territory.
Sabo had also successfully located the area where their informant was being held captive, all he needed was a chance to cause a jailbreak and contact Nico Robin personally to invite her to join the Revolutionaries. It had been a few days since Sabo had infiltrated the heart of the enemy territory, the Moriarty Mansion with his planning. What caused him to worry was the huge old man sitting before him right now, the marine hero Monkey D. Garp.
"What are you doing here Dragon?" Garp who was dressed in civilian clothes questioned as he tapped his fingers on the table that was filled with empty plates after their lunch. They were in unaffiliated territory so he was not obligated to chase and capture Dragon as his mission was something else.
"How did you find me, Old Man?" Dragon didn't answer but counter-questioned. He was wearing a plain black hoodie and mask he bought from the shopping mall to hide his identity. His usual cloak was too eye-catching in these parts of the world which has modernized even in fashion.
"Brat, do you think I can't find you whenever I want?" Garp said while laughing evilly as he took out a vivre card on which [Stupid Son] was written in bold. "Come back to the Marines Dragon, we can still fight back without making an enemy of the World Government."
"Tch, you and your stupid ideals of Justice. Where was your justice when they declared a buster call on Ohara? What are you doing when countless people continue to suffer under the tyranny of the pirates and Celestial Dragons?" Dragon and Garp have completely different ideologies which has strained their relationship. One had completely lost faith in the Marine's Justice while the other was the pillar/poster boy of the Marines. Garp arrived on BlackRock today with Kuzan and CP5 agents for the diplomatic mission as well as to capture the last survivor of Ohara, Nico Robin. Due to his immense strength and rank as the Vice Admiral, he enjoyed a lot of freedom within the system, even the celestial dragon had to mind their manners in front of him. After their arrival, he split up from the group and found Dragon to have a father-son talk in the Spider's Cafe in this unaffiliated territory.
"I won't stop you from following your own ideals but I won't allow you to recruit the last survivor of Ohara. I know you're here looking for her," Garp said coldly. He knows a few secrets which caused him not actively to fight back against the World Government, revolution always caused unnecessary bloodshed so he chose a different path, a secretive unit in the marines called S.W.O.R.D whose goal will be to take control of the system from within. He wanted to bring his son into the fray but he is too radical and wants swift change which is a pipe dream. Well since that plan failed massively he hopes that his two grandsons to carry on his legacy and bring true Justice in this world.
"I must learn what the World Government is hiding. What big secret can justify wiping out an entire island and its residents who were merely harmless scholars? I won't let the marines take away the last survivor of Ohara." Dragon was not the one to back down, he also replied coldly as the people nearby felt everything shake as they both released a bit of their conqueror's haki.
"Gentlemen, please refrain from causing a fight inside the shop. Here's your Premium Oreo shake." Zala, dressed like a barista brought two large jugs of Oreo Shake for the two huge customers for dessert. She was completely unfazed by the two powerhouses sitting in her cafe.
"Thank you, lady!! It's just a small family dispute," Garp said with an awkward smile as he scratched his head.
"Do your family dispute outside old man, if anything breaks due to dispute you'll have to compensate 10 times more." She said with a pout while pointing to the rules written on the large board. Spider's Cafe was her second home and her passion project, she would defend it with her life if need be. Anyone who had dared to cause trouble here has suffered brutally both financially and physically.
"Bwahaha! Lady have I seen you somewhere before?" Garp asked curiously.
"No, but I have seen you in the newspapers before Marine Hero Garp." Zala who was wearing her civilian clothes said with a sly smirk.
"He'll be paying my bills," Dragon pointed at Garp after he finished his drink and left with a gust of wind.
"Brat, I didn't bring my wallet." Garp wanted to say but the latter had already fled the scene causing the latter to frown in anger.
"That will be 30,000$," Zala said as she handed Garp a long bill while putting her hand on her hips, and demanded the money.
"Heh? Shouldn't it be 3000$?" Garp questioned in confusion.
"He has not paid for the meals for the last three days." Zala pointed out on the bill where Dragon had eaten his three meals in this place for the past few days.
"Hehe, lady how about I make a call and ask someone to bring me the money? In the meantime why don't you give me another bucket of chicken fries and cola?" Garp said while dialing Admiral Kuzan.
Suddenly the screen in the cafe lit up and a devilishly handsome face appeared on the screen wearing a suit and a hat. Everyone on the streets and the town of Blackrock became alert as they looked at the broadcast screens all over the island in rapt attention.
[Citizen of BlackRock!!...]
***
Three days ago:
*Blink* *Blink*
"Where am I?" Sabo slowly opened his eyes as he slowly woke up from the effects of anesthesia. The sight that greeted him was a pair of beady eyes curiously staring back at him, he was in a well-decorated room wearing clean patient clothes and his wounds were all treated with medicine and bandages.
*Blink* *Blink*
"Hello, I am Bepo Moriarty!! You are currently in the Moriarty Mansion." The polar bear said cutely. Behind him stood Law Moriarty(alias), the surgeon of Death himself.
"T..Thank you for treating my injuries," Sabo said hesitantly. He was on his first infiltration mission in enemy territory. He must locate Miss Nico Robin and secretly pass on the Revolutionary Army's message.
"What's your name? Where are you from?" Trafalgar Law asked suspiciously as he played with a scalpel in his hands. He could feel this boy was suspicious, his hands were rough which could only mean he had either trained a lot or done hard manual labor which is unnatural.
"My name is Sabo and I am not from this island. I am sorry but I have lost all my memories of my childhood. All I remember is that I was a chore boy on a hellish pirate ship that rescued me from the seas. I fled when the ship docked at the BlackRock port and I found an opening." Sabo decided to narrate his made-up story of how he fled from a group of bloodthirsty pirates who treated him like a slave and in that process he was injured before he 'accidentally' hit Victor's car in the convoy.
"What??? You forgot your memories?" Bepo looked at Sabo tearfully as he pulled him into a tight bear hug. "Don't worry Sabo, my brother is the best doctor on this island he will treat you later."
"Umm thanks, Bepo!" Sabo said awkwardly when he noticed Law didn't trust his words a bit and looked at him with a blank stare.
"Well, whatever, follow me to the dining room for dinner. Father will meet you there." Law said while picking up his cap and sword.
Bepo who had been teary eyes instantly brightened up when he heard the words 'dinner' and 'father'. He immediately cheered up as he started pulling Sabo by his arm.
"Let's go, Sabo... Uncle Tesoro will be also coming later with his family," Bepo said with excitement as the three of them walked out of the infirmary. "Sabo, don't be afraid when you meet Papa. He may seem scary but he probably won't hurt kids unless they are a spy. Ohh, also be careful around Sensei's boiled egg, he is very grumpy and can kill without batting an eye...."
Bepo continued to gossip and warn Sabo on how to act later in the dining table causing the latter to feel a chill down his spine. 'Brother, why is your every word so murderous? What about your cute image on the television broadcast?'
Meanwhile in Victor's office:
Sofia and Victor sat in utmost seriousness and there was a briefcase on the table.
"Can you clone other devil fruits?" Sofia asked as she looked into Victor's eyes.
"Yes, the only cost is the huge amount of energy needed to stabilize the process while cloning," Victor replied with a nod.
"It's unbelievable, straight out of fantasy," Sofia said in disbelief.
"It's the magic of science Sofia. It wasn't possible before, but with the discovery of the lineage factor, the so-called 'Blueprints of life' itself unlocks limitless possibilities. We can research various stuff that will seem like a fantasy including bio-enhancements, cybernetics, and cloning of living beings. According to my knowledge, the MADS scientists were also pursuing the same path and they have partially cloned Kaido's devil fruit Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu and living beings too." Victor dropped another truth bomb. "But the missing component in successful cloning of devil fruits is not the lineage factor, it's the 'soul of all things'. Using lineage factor will only create failed Zoans, that wouldn't explain why paramecia and logia devil fruit exist. My cloning powers allow me to create clones of abstract concepts so I can speedrun the process."
"Can we mass produce these cloned devil fruits?" Sophia asked after a moment of thought. This would be a massive boost in their strength if true.
Victor only nodded in response causing Sofia to turn more solemn.
"I am planning to head out into the seas, I need you to take care of the Syndicate. I'll leave my clone for any emergencies but I hope I won't have to act personally."
"What about BlackRock? Are you going to abandon your position as the mayor?"
"I think I have done enough by now Sofia, I'll let someone more worthy to take over. West Blue has become too small for my personal growth in strength plus our developments are starting to draw unnecessary attention." Victor said as he looked into the horizon where the city lights were lit up and the Gran Tesoro still anchored at a distance.
"I also need to build a new personal base in the Grand Line away from prying eyes to pursue my own strength and advanced science," Victor muttered slowly after a moment of silence. He has realized he was a little negligent in his own training, he should at least gain an admiral level of strength if he wants to protect his wife and family.
"Okay, don't worry. We can handle the Syndicate. Go do your thing, Victor." Sofia assured with a sad smile that went unnoticed by Victor.
AN: Happy New Year guys!! Hope you'll have an amazing year ahead.