58. East Blue Past

"Admiral? I don't need it and don't have the time."

"Kuzan has left the Marines, Dylan!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku decided to step down and stopped dyeing his hair. On the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku looked at him with gray hair: "Sakazuki's appointment will be in two months. Before Kuzan left the Marines, we recommended you to succeed him."

"Everyone else thinks you're a good fit, too."

"Others?" Dylan sneered. "Then if others think I don't need to live, should I commit suicide?"

"Dylan... I know..."

"You know nothing!" Dylan interrupted Sengoku rudely, picking up the receiver and speaking into the Den Den Mushi. "Aren't you planning a global conscription? Then go ahead. I'll still be my G-5 branch leader. If one day I want to be promoted to Admiral, I'll tell you!"

After speaking, Dylan hung up and looked at CP0 standing in front of the desk.

"Is this also what the Five Elders mean?"

"Yes..."

CP0 nodded. "The Five Elders said that even if you are promoted to Admiral, you only need to sit in Marineford and handle special tasks. You won't..."

"Humph..." Dylan snorted, interrupting CP0 with a glance.

"Being an Admiral means cleaning up the Celestial Dragons' messes. Maybe I'd be sent to Mariejois to garrison, something like that. Do you think I'd do it?"

How the hell do I know!? CP0 screamed in his heart but nodded honestly.

"It's really not your style."

Dylan took a puff of smoke and stretched out his hand toward CP0.

"?"

"Den Den Mushi, the one in front is broken."

CP0 said with some doubt, "The azure Den Den Mushi is very difficult to cultivate...and I heard you crushed it yourself..."

Dylan glanced at him and sneered. "Then let me borrow yours and you can hit it."

It was still the blond Five Elder who answered.

"Adams Dylan?"

"It's me. Admiral, I won't do it. You know why. If I handle some things, it will only make things messier."

"It was already expected, so what happened this time?"

"About 'Poseidon'," Dylan raised his head and smiled maliciously at CP0.

"I have confirmed that 'Poseidon' is..."

Bang!!

CP0, who was standing in front of Dylan's desk, disappeared without a trace. Only the door was still shaking slightly.

"Did an accident happen?"

"Well...a rat escaped... Let's get down to business. 'Poseidon' is the mermaid princess of this generation—Shirahoshi."

There was silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, as if the receiver was blocked.

Dylan was not in a hurry and smoked leisurely.

Shirahoshi is "Poseidon," and Im knows it.

Nowadays, times have changed, and I also need to secure my privileges in advance, otherwise...some things will be difficult to do.

Being able to control the Sea Kings is truly amazing.

But even if the World Government already knew Shirahoshi's identity, they might not dare to attack her easily.

After all, considering the location of Fish-Man Island, if Shirahoshi were to break down emotionally, no one in this world would be able to escape from there.

And what would be the consequences of directly eliminating Shirahoshi? Would the Sea Kings of the entire ocean go berserk?

No one knows, and no one dares to find out.

"Very good! This information is very important," said the blond Five Elders, hanging up the Den Den Mushi.

······

Mariejois - On the Throne of the Void.

"I know, give him a reward."

An ethereal voice came from the throne.

"What kind of reward..."

The person on the throne held their head with one hand and lightly tapped the armrest with the other.

"You just have to figure it out, but make sure he's satisfied."

After the Five Elders respectfully exited, the person on the throne smiled.

"Cunning."

······

Although the Marines defeated the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard's last words, "ONE PIECE exists!" caused global turmoil.

The pressure on the Marines and the Army seems to have reverted to the beginning of the Great Pirate Era more than 20 years ago.

All Marine branches and CP organization strongholds frequently reported to their respective headquarters, asking for assistance.

Of course, Marine's victory and Dylan's speech also inspired many people with dreams and strength, leading to a surge in new recruits.

The two largest forces in the world began to clash intensely.

No one can survive alone.

"Branch 85 is asking for help! The number of pirates has surged and cannot be contained! Please increase the number of combatants!!"

"Branch 216 has destroyed the 'Black Goat' pirate group!"

"Non-franchised countries are requesting help; pirates have already reached the gates of their capitals!"

"A new pirate with a bounty over 100 million has appeared!"

"The Kingdom of Kusia has been destroyed!"

······

East Blue.

Kingdom of Girona.

On the watchtower at the highest point of the palace, a slender woman stood facing the wind.

She folded her hands together and looked towards the Grand Line, as if expecting someone to arrive.

"It's windy season, Your Majesty. It's not good for your health."

"Bamond..."

The woman didn't turn around when she heard the sound from the stairs, still looking into the distance.

"When...can I see him again."

The old Bamond walked behind the woman, placing a wind-blocking cloak on her, then held the fence with his hands and looked at the royal capital below.

"He's always been with us, hasn't he?"

······

Time goes back 15 years to Sea Circle Calendar 1507.

Kingdom of Girona.

This once great country in the East Blue has now become a run-down kingdom, removed from the World Government membership due to its inability to pay the heavenly tribute.

Pirates raging, bandits swarming, the royal family still immersed in the fantasy of their ancestors' glory, and the civilians who have lost their vitality all make up the current state of the country.

Although it has vast territory and fertile arable land, the common people are all sallow and thin, their eyes dull.

"Fight in!!"

"No matter how poor, you are still a king!!"

"Maybe there will be a beautiful princess, hahaha!!!"

"Let me also taste the life of a princess~~"

The palace has long lost its former glory, and all the gold ornaments, famous paintings, jewelry, and even silver candlesticks have been sold off.

"Protect Your Majesty, protect the princess!!"

Dozens of final guards defended the broken palace doors.

"Your Highness..."

Bamond, whose hair had begun to turn gray, hugged the shivering Camilla tightly.

"Has it come to this point?"

Under the huge portrait of his ancestors, the king lay half-slumped on a worn-out chair, turning a bottle of wine upside down in his hand.

"There's no more wine..."

"Huh...huh...huh..."

Bamond looked at the king, who was already sleeping soundly, and closed his eyes in despair.

As the shouts of war grew closer, Bamond's hands began to tremble.

"Your Highness Camilla, let me escort you on your last journey."

The young Camilla raised her head, her once sapphire blue pupils looking dull due to year-round hunger.

Her floral skirt was patched but still barely fit. The care put into the patches was evident; if you didn't look closely, you wouldn't even notice.

"Bamond, are we going to die?"

"If you die... you won't be hungry, right?"

Camilla, who had suffered greatly at a young age, suddenly had a glimmer of light in her eyes.

"Will I be able to see my mother soon?"

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