Chapter 174

[Wano, Flower Capital; December 28th, 1522]

"...An unpredictable turn. A result that... none of us ever expected."

In one particular room of the 'Orochi Castle' within the Flower Capital, one man with a white mask muttered in disbelief. Right next to his left ear was a mini Den Den Mushi, where he was receiving the report from.

"Grimheart... defeated two Emperors simultaneously and emerged as the most prominent threat to the world."

"Yes, indeed." A masculine voice was heard from the Den Den Mushi.

"But listen well, Maha. Wano is an isolated country; they, unlike the rest of the world, are unaware of Kaidou's death. Grimheart's victory isn't what you should be focusing on."

The voice momentarily paused, before stating stoically,

"There has been an order from the above."

The agent named Maha quickly looked to his left and right. The other agents who stood nearby nodded, signalling that there is no eavesdropper.

"Do speak."

"Somewhere within Wano lies... the ancient weapon, Pluton. From here on, your team is tasked with its acquisition; failure is not acceptable."

All the agents froze, unable to believe what they just heard.

"...Are you certain?" Maha, with a trembling tone, asked.

"Are you questioning the sky, Cipher Pol?"

Maha unconsciously placed his shaky hand on his mask. The original purpose of coming to Wano was a direct arms trade, due to Doflamingo's absence. And now, he was about to begin the most spectacular mission he ever received.

Maha exchanged looks with the other agents, before replying firmly,

"...No. We will get onto it immediately."

However, before they ended the call, there was one more question for him to ask,

"What of the Road Poneglyph that Kaidou is speculated to be in possession of?"

"Do not heed any attention in that matter. It is likely to be located in the Onigashima under tight security."

The answer was immediate,

"Poneglyph isn't something that can easily be retrieved in this scenario. Although its existence in Wano is concerning, we were tasked to prioritize the attainment of Pluton—do not stray away from the mission, Maha."

"Understood."

___________

[Cocoyasi, East Blue]

"We surely took our time here, eh granny?"

From atop the small ship, Job exclaimed as he looked at the small village that lied ahead.

"Well, what else did you expect, Job?!" Sob barked out of annoyance, "You—"

"My name is Sebastian, for god's sake!!!"

"—almost made us end up in the Marine base out of all possibilities!!!"

Job immediately retorted comically, "And you literally had us sail within a Sea King's stomach for almost a month!!!!!"

"Uh... grandma, Job," Then, Mob called the two out, "this island is a little weird, I think..."

Sob and Job turned back to the sight of Cocoyasi village, after having heard Mob. Upon focusing their naturally far eyesight onto the village,

"...Huh?" Sob found herself muttering out of confusion, "What is the Revolutionary Army's flag doing there?"

Cocoyashi seemed quite different from what it used to be 4 years ago.

The average civilians, who used to cower under Arlong's terror,

*Click*

were now holding their weapons against Sob, Job, and Mob daringly.

One man who stood in the middle was an elderly figure wearing a bandanna and sunglasses: Dr. Nako.

"You've now entered the East Blue Branch of the Revolutionary Army; any suspicious action will result in a gruesome consequence."

'Revolutionary Army's base, out in the open like this?' Sob found herself amazed, 'They usually work undercover, but the fact that they are blatantly identifying themselves as the Revolutionary Army... it indicates only one possibility: the complete take over of the East Blue.'

Behind the group of people, there were two cages. They contained the two Fish-men, Hatchan and Kuroobi; their pleas weren't enough to convince the villagers—or the warriors of the Cocoyasi.

Dr. Nako's sunglasses flashed with his arms crossed,

"Identify yourselves."

Sob and Job stared at the scene in front of them with squinted eyes, before facing each other.

"...Didn't Bob say that his village is peaceful and meek?" Sob whispered in confusion.

"...Maybe his standard is different." Job whispered back.

"Hi guys."

Mob, on the other hand, waved at the hostile people in front of them with a blank expression, "My name is Youchiha Mob. My blood type is F. I ate Lift Lift fruit. I am 155cm tall, and—"

Job, with a hand on his forehead, sighed as Mob ceased to produce anymore sound,

"Seriously, Davis..."

"Hold on." Dr. Nako placed his hand on his chin,

"Youchiha?"

___________

[Baltigo, New World]

"...The situation in Vertruce has been resolved. However,"

Dragon was seen to be sitting alone at the round table,

"The kingdom of Gramanton. Sabo and Belo Betty are having a hard time against the enemies there. Lindbergh, on the other hand, is still crossing the calm belt, due to many civilians from the South Blue on board."

The situation was quite devastating for the Revolutionary Army.

"The World Government's full-blown assaults onto many kingdoms that Revolutionary Army is operating on, coupled with Germa 66's terrors from left and right..."

And the thing is, Dragon speculated that the situation will progressively worsen as time went by.

"The Marine. Although they are currently suffering from the disaster in the South Blue, soon enough, they will join the hands to push the Revolutionary Army out of the New World."

The Marine, who ultimately wasn't able to escape from World Government's hands, will soon be forced to participate in this war.

"Heh..." Dragon, whose eyes were shadowed due to him lowering his head, chuckled, "and this is just how frightened they are... Rowan. Look what you managed to do to them."

The World Government realized that there is no time to waste. With the balance of the world having been broken in an instant, the foe whom they must defeat as quick as possible was none other than Rowan. After all, with Kaidou, Linlin, Shanks, and Teach having died simultaneously, he was the only remaining conqueror of the sea.

The first step in stopping Rowan was to suppress the Revolutionary Army—who will without a doubt support the Grimheart pirates—as quick as possible.

"Although the situation is concerning… it isn't a bad sign. It is an indication that they've gotten desperate, and just by stalling, the situation will turn in our favour."

Then,

"...Hm?"

Dragon found his eyes wavering as he perked up all of a sudden. He felt a certain presence—a very familiar one—entering the hidden island of Baltigo.

"Father. So you've finally decided."

Dragon grinned as he stood up from his seat.

Then, his body has become surrounded by an intense swirl of air that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, before he flew out of the room,

*BOOM*

breaking few ceilings here and there while doing so. It seemed that Dragon too was a part of the 'Monkey D.' family, after all.

"Dragon!!!!!"

From the edge of the island, Garp screamed at his lungs.

"Father—"

Dragon, in return, initially grinned as he quickly approached Garp and three men—Zoro, Sanji and Bartolomeo—behind the latter. However, his joy quickly died down,

as he saw the four men's concerned expressions.

___________

[Delta]

"Dear Rowan,"

Rowan muttered as he read the letter that he was holding,

"congratulations on your victory. You've accomplished something that everyone believed to be impossible. Although we've met only once, you have no idea how relieved I am to hear such news."

Rowan, at the current moment, was seen to have his whole body wrapped around with a bandage—except for his eyes.

"Now, as the world has begun to move in an unpredictable direction, I have one proposition to you—something I believe that only you are able to achieve at the current moment."

In front of Rowan lied all the members of the Grimheart pirates, who were sitting within comfortable seats of their own.

After the busy days, they've finally returned to Prominence for the purpose of taking a rest.

"Rowan, become the King of the Pirates—"

Rowan, who was casually reading Dragon's letter, couldn't help but stop upon seeing such.

"...What?"

"Huh." Carina, from Rowan's side, stated in amusement, "That escalated quickly."

All members of the Grimheart pirates stopped whatever they were doing, for they too were dumbfounded by the absurdity of the letter.

Nonetheless, Rowan continued reading.

"The World Government is more active than ever. The Revolutionary Army is currently under a full-blown attack, and my son, Monkey D. Luffy, has been found out to be suffering under their hands—what the hell."

There, Rowan couldn't help but frown.

"Luffy?" Dan spoke up knowingly, "Those funny dudes back in Spriggins?"

The world was in turmoil unlike any other.

"I am out of options right now. I am now involved in this detrimental matter personally, and I will act according to my desire. However, trust me. My action isn't based on my desire alone, for I believe that right now, right at this moment, is our sole chance to end the World Government once and for all.

With the Marine hero, Monkey D. Garp's aid—"

"""HUH?!!"""

Dan, Cavendish, and Urouge jumped up in surprise.

"—we will stall the frontline as much as possible. Rowan, if my assumption isn't wrong… One Piece, the treasure greater than any other, is the key to the World Nobles' defeat.

Find the four Road Poneglyphs, and reach the final island. Attain the One Piece. Will I be able to trust you on this?"

And that was the end of the letter.

Placing the paper down, Rowan closed his eyes in thought.

'Luffy, for sure, was the protagonist in the manga. The fact that he's been caught by the supposed "final boss" of the story…'

<Joyboy will fail.>

That's when his eyes were opened wide.

'The tablet stone that king Cobra showed…'

Perhaps it was prophesizing this situation.

"What do you think, Rowan?"

Carina asked him with a knowing grin.

"Pirate King, huh." Rowan turned to Carina and chuckled.

They really have come a long way—from the very beginning where he sailed out with Carina and Prominence.

"Well, if the world's greatest treasure now lies right in front of us,"

Rowan stood up from his seat and walked up to the table, where two devil fruits were seen to be resting.

Fish Fish Fruit, model: Azure Dragon, and Soul Soul fruit.

"there is no reason for us to miss it out."

The orb of 'memory' granted Rowan the knowledge regarding Joyboy's weapon, which he believed to be the One Piece itself.

'As for the ship...'

"Prominence."

"Hahaha, finallyyy!!!!"

In response to Rowan's call, a vivid spirit has emerged from the wooden floor, much to Urouge's fear.

Then, it gently took the fruit from Rowan's hand, before,

engulfing it whole.

'...the sturdiest out of all is here to carry us to the final island.'

Rowan's vice captain was none other than Carina, one of the best navigators that could be found.

The world-class cook, Carmen. The intelligent doctor, Dan. The capable swordsman, Cavendish. The well-rounded butler, Alfred. The formidable horse, Farul. The sole archaeologist with the ability to interpret the ancient language, Robin. The experienced helmsman, Urouge—

—within Rowan's hands lied everything that's needed to reach the final island of the Grand Line.

And now, Rowan declared with firm eyes,

"I plan on becoming the Pirate King."

It was ironic. Out of all pirates who set out with a dream to attain One Piece, it was Rowan, who had no desire for such, to have One Piece right before his grasp.

"We will seek for the four Road Poneglyphs. We will uncover the road to the Laughtale, before seizing the One Piece for ourselves."

Rowan turned around and grinned, though it was hidden under the bandages,

"An exciting adventure—more amazing than any other—awaits for us."

___________

[New Marineford]

*BOOM*

"F*** it all!!!"

Sakazuki roared in fury as he slammed his table down.

"*Huff*, *Huff*..."

Sakazuki's fists trembled unconsciously, unable to believe what he just heard.

"First, Tokikake, and now, Gion! The Marine's reputation has fallen down the drain..."

The World Government's decision to cluster their force back to Mariejois was a good opportunity for the Marine to demonstrate their trustworthiness. Yet, contrary to Sakazuki's vision, the Marine has now lost the trust of the civilians.

"That damn Morgans!!!!!"

Sakazuki then turned his head to the board that lied on the wall, where one particular newspaper was pinned.

On its title page, a miraculous victory against Rowan and his alliance was written. On the page after... the World Economy Newspaper accentuated the Marine Admiral's failure, that Gion got herself and her whole platoon got caught up in a war between Blackbeard and Red Hair, before ultimately getting wiped out.

South Blue was now lawless without an owner; the sea has now gained a nickname from the common folks: 'The Sea of the Dead.'

The Marine was at its worst time at the current moment. After the gruesome Marineford war, Borsalino, Tokikake, and Gion died, Kuzan quit, Garp wasn't contactable. Along with Rowan's feats in the New World, Sakazuki began to dread the future.

"Purururu, purururu,"

Then, one particular Den Den Mushi rang—the special one that the Five Elders contacted Sakazuki through.

"...Those hysteric old men... what a pain!!!"

Sakazuki, gritting his teeth as he suppressed his anger down, lifted up the dial.

"Haa... you old folks, what now—"

Sakazuki, for some reason, couldn't continue his words. An enigmatic sense of chill entered his spine, and he felt as if the room has abruptly become cold.

"You are to choose from two possibilities, red dog." A soft yet frightening voice was heard, "Are you the obedient one, or the one who goes against its owner?"

Sakazuki, for the first time, found his voice shaking, "Who... are you..."

"Shh..." The voice silenced Sakazuki, "I haven't given you permission to talk."

Sakazuki's mouth shut with cold sweat on his back.

"Retrieve the dispatched marines from all areas back to your New Marineford. Immediately following... attack the New World. Suffocate and exterminate the entirety of the Revolutionary Army."

The voice then whispered cruelly,

"If this isn't done within a month... the Marine shall be no more."

And that was the end of the call.

*Thud*

Sakazuki felt that his legs lost the strength to keep him up. Without any power, Sakazuki collapsed on the floor as he sweated profusely.

"*Huff*... *Huff*... Who is that man...?"

Nothing seemed to be going in his way.