Grand Line, Kergashi Island.
Once an island rich because of its dense forests and abundant resources. After Roger led a massacre that wiped out more than five thousand soldiers, that former prosperity never returned.
Although his bloodline was later cut off and revenge was taken, and more than twenty years were spent trying to heal the wounds...
Many children grew up without the authority and guidance of their fathers.
Under their mothers' fearful and overprotective love, afraid of losing them again, many of the younger generation on the island became delinquents.
They wandered all day with nothing to do, formed gangs, and fighting became a common sight.
Stone Town.
The place where Sakazuki and Roger once fought.
Inside a broken wooden shack on the edge of town.
"You can't do this, Isaac!!!"
A young woman tightly grabbed a slightly older man whose face looked somewhat like hers.
Isaac roughly shook her off. "Get away!"
The young woman was thrown aside.
"Aria, you're already married. Everything in this house belongs to me now. You have no right to tell me what to do!"
Tears streamed down Aria's face as she shouted, "That money is the living allowance the country gives mom! You're even going to take that?! Are you still human?!"
On the bed beside them sat an old woman with a vacant expression, endlessly muttering the word "revenge."
She was one of those who had followed the king to the South Blue to seek revenge back then.
After that day of revenge, many people lost their minds after extreme grief and joy.
Thankfully, the king took responsibility and used nearly half of the national treasury to support these citizens. That was also why Kergashi Island never recovered its economy.
Isaac roared in anger, "Let her die for all I care! She's the one who ran off to the South Blue for revenge! If she hadn't, she wouldn't be like this now! Stupid all day long. Better off dead!!!
"Revenge! Revenge! Revenge! Pirates can never be killed off! So what if that Sakazuki declared war on pirates! It's just empty words from powerful people!
"Have there been fewer pirates all these years?! Why did he save this island back then! If he hadn't saved it, would so many people still be living in hell here!!!"
Slap!
Aria's hand struck Isaac's face hard.
"He saved you! He saved me! He saved mom! He saved this island!!!"
Isaac clenched his fists. His face twisted as he slowly turned his head.
"Who asked him to save us…?"
Growing up in suffering, he had thought more than once...
If everyone had died back then, maybe they would not have suffered so much.
Crash!
Items from a drawer spilled onto the floor.
At some point, their senile mother had walked to the cabinet and pulled the drawer open, digging inside.
She took out a small box, opened it, and walked over.
Inside were scattered Berries. There was not much money.
Judging by the age, it had been there for more than ten years. It must have been saved before going to the South Blue for revenge.
The siblings froze, not knowing how to react.
Seeing they did not take it, their mother stuffed the box into Isaac's hands.
"Revenge... revenge… money... give... Mister Sakazuki… kill... pirates… revenge… revenge..."
She was actually a little older than Sakazuki. Yet she still used an honorific for him, her benefactor.
As if she regained clarity for just a moment, her mouth soon returned to endlessly muttering revenge.
Isaac's whole body trembled. His eyes turned red.
"Revenge for what! Go to hell!!!"
Bang!
He smashed the box of scattered Berries onto the ground.
Then he ran out.
But when he rushed into town...
People were celebrating everywhere. They celebrated Sakazuki's promotion to Fleet Admiral. They celebrated the coming extinction of pirates.
Countless people carried money and goods, walking toward the Marine base.
Just like his senile mother.
Isaac stood frozen. His clenched fists shook as he shouted.
"Crazy... crazy! Everyone's gone mad!!!"
All of his strength seemed to be drained after that.
Thud.
He dropped to his knees and cried out loud.
* * *
Five days later.
Sabaody Archipelago.
A dark and massive ship docked at the shore.
The one who arrived was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gecko Moria.
Moria stepped out and muttered, "Finally here. Damn marines. What a hassle, issuing some stupid summons. Perona, go check the island again. See if there's any news about Absalom."
Dressed like a creepy doll, Perona floated out.
"Okay. Horohorohoro...."
Moria nodded and walked alone toward the Marine base.
Following Absalom's disappearance, there had been no news for a long time. Only then did Moria realize something was wrong.
He immediately brought Perona to look for information.
Hogback was holding down the base, so there was no need to worry there.
After Moria left, Perona floated aimlessly around the archipelago.
"Ah… Where should I look? Honestly… that—"
Pop!
Like a shattered illusion, Perona's ghostly body instantly broke apart and vanished.
On the dark massive ship.
Carlo pulled out the sword that had pierced Perona's heart and flicked it lightly.
Then he put away the Devil Fruit recovery device.
"That was unexpectedly easy..."
Perona's ghost was actually her soul. When her soul left her body, the body became like an unconscious puppet, unable to do anything.
That was why she liked collecting dolls. No one would think she even had a real body, let alone imagine it hidden among the dolls.
Unfortunately...
Whoosh!
Carlo vanished.
All that remained were struggling zombies scattered across the ground, and Perona's headless corpse.
* * *
Marine base.
There was still some time before the meeting began.
Yet only three Warlords were present in the hall. Jinbe, Crocodile, and the representative of Amazon Lily, Elder Nyon.
Moria had never dealt with Sakazuki, so he did not think much of it.
As for Kuma, he simply decided to arrive right on time.
Whoosh!
As the time approached, Kuma suddenly appeared inside the conference room.
Jinbe and Crocodile's eyes tightened slightly. That ability...
Nyon looked indifferent. Whether strong or not no longer mattered to Amazon Lily.
Sakazuki rolled his neck and said, "Put the shackles on him. The World Government will send someone to take you away later."
Two soldiers walked over with cuffs.
Sakazuki's casual tone surprised Kuma a little.
After a brief silence, he still extended his hands.
His title as king had not yet been stripped, and the final result would come after judgment. After hesitating, he gave up resisting.
The two soldiers stepped forward and locked the cuffs on him.
A wave of weakness surged through his body.
Seastone...
That thought had just crossed his mind, seeing the seastone cuffs in place, Sakazuki nodded.
"Hellhound."
Pshh!
The sound of flesh being pierced echoed.
Sitting at the head seat, Sakazuki's arm had turned into flowing, scorching magma at some point and instantly punched through Kuma's chest.
He shook his arm, turning it back into flesh.
Then he stood up and walked in front of Kuma, whose chest had been burned through.
"Idiot."
That broad chest now had a hole nearly half its size burned away. His breathing was shallow, life slipping fast.
The expressionless face was filled with shock and disbelief.
How dare he...
Sakazuki gestured to Carlo, who had returned at some point.
"Send him to Egghead Island for modification."
Carlo smiled and nodded, calling two soldiers to carry him away.
The Paw-Paw Fruit was secured.
Sakazuki never planned to send him there alive. An ability like this was better kept under his own control.
He glanced at Jinbe and Crocodile, who were sweating and on guard.
"What are you panicking about? You're still useful. You won't die."
His dark gaze then shifted toward the figure walking in from outside the base.
As for that useless fellow…
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