Sakazuki let out a faint chuckle:
"Don't just say Kong. I don't intend to keep those few at Headquarters either."
"Plans are the most uncontrollable thing of all."
"Right now, we don't even know what cards the Government is holding."
"We can only make the most foolproof plan."
Vegapunk smiled and said:
"Truly decisive."
"And what about replenishing combat power?"
"If you kill them all, won't the gap be huge?"
Sakazuki shook his head:
"It doesn't matter. As long as we have Bullet, it's enough."
"When the time is right, we'll give him the More-More Fruit."
"With his Haki and physique, all his abilities will be multiplied a hundredfold."
"Forget Garp."
"Even I might struggle to defeat him."
"He will stand as the immovable mountain suppressing the world, one no one can climb over."
"The rest will depend on you."
"Science is the number one productive force."
"Arm the Navy at the fastest speed possible, and crush the entire world."
"Shatter this rotten system that has lingered for thousands of years."
There's no helping it—this is not a world controlled by ordinary people.
This is a world of extraordinary power.
Looking far back into the history of the Pirate King's world, the destroyed Tree of Knowledge already had over five thousand years of age.
Just Alabasta alone has a history of four thousand years.
And yet it still exists.
A monarchy has stood for more than four millennia without collapsing.
Technology hasn't advanced, the system hasn't changed. Four thousand years ago it was one way, and now it's still the same.
Unscientific elements have obstructed the flow of history.
At the summit of the world stand individuals who can destroy islands, shatter mountains, and split seas.
They severely restrict progress.
In such a backdrop, to talk about realizing equality among all is nothing but a joke.
For ordinary people, those pirates who ate Devil Fruits or possessed monstrous physiques are like gods.
And not even hidden gods—ones flaunting it openly.
Pirates and Devil Fruits must be eradicated and brought under control.
As for those so-called gods, royalty, nobles, systems, and so on—
Once that small handful of people is dealt with, the rest won't be a problem.
The entire world will be cleansed under the crushing firepower of the future Navy...
The next day.
Just after waking, Law couldn't wait to find Rosinante.
He wanted to go back to Research Institute No. 3.
Rosinante dragged himself out of bed, two massive dark circles under his eyes, looking full of regret.
Yesterday, he had stayed up with Law and the research team until past midnight.
He hadn't even slept five hours, and it was already morning.
How was this kid still so full of energy!!!
Rosinante cursed in his heart, face twisted.
On his face, though, he muttered weakly:
"Law, isn't it too early?"
"Those researchers probably aren't even awake yet."
Law said confidently:
"They're already working!"
"I asked yesterday—since there's nothing else to do on the island, they usually only sleep four hours."
Rosinante slapped his palm over his face, utterly lifeless...
"Fine... I'll wash my face."
He turned toward the bathroom.
At the door, Law nodded excitedly:
"Mm! Hurry, hurry!"
Rosinante bared his teeth and shouted back:
"You're so annoying!!!"
...
By noon.
Enel, with nothing else to do, finally strolled lazily into Research Institute No. 3.
He looked at Rosinante, his face marked with two giant black circles:
"Yo, morning."
"Huh, is that a new makeup style?"
"This isn't an undercover mission, you don't need a disguise anymore."
"Hahahahaha!"
Rosinante almost collapsed:
"I'm just tired!!!"
"Don't tell me you just woke up! Damn it!!!"
Enel stretched with a yawn:
"Haaah~"
"Of course not."
"I just gave your brother an electrotherapy session."
"Then threw him back into the nutrient pod to lie down again."
Rosinante sighed lightly.
Enel rolled his eyes:
"No need to pity him—he's got plenty of confidence."
"He must know some secret."
"The Government doesn't dare touch him right now, so at most they'll just keep him locked away until he dies of old age."
"If he doesn't collect some interest now, he won't get the chance later."
"Who'd want to spend every day rotting in prison?"
"Better live your own life well."
"And that kid?"
Rosinante glanced toward a nearby lab.
Through the glass, you could see the little brat—barely tall enough to reach an adult's leg—running about, asking endless questions:
"There he is."
"Who knows where he gets all that boundless energy."
"He dragged me over here at the crack of dawn."
Enel smiled as he watched:
"Just like me back then."
"He's got a future."
Rosinante clicked his tongue:
"Then how about tossing him into Punk Hazard?"
"Let him study for a few years, and he'll be a world-class doctor."
Enel rubbed his forehead, exasperated:
"Me..."
"Do you ever think before you speak?"
"Throw him on Punk Hazard? You want him dead early?"
"This isn't like Navy Headquarters."
"Aside from researchers, there are Navy soldiers everywhere."
"And plenty of CP agents too. Most of those soldiers are Government-trained."
"And that Devil Fruit—you snatched it from the Government."
"For all you know, the moment you leave, that kid mysteriously disappears."
"Better keep him at Navy Headquarters for a few years. Once he grows, then send him out."
"At least no one dares openly snatch someone from Navy Headquarters."
"The last guy who went wild there—"
"That was Golden Lion."
"And Sakazuki-san already twisted his head off."
Rosinante forced a dry smile:
"I see..."
Enel sighed:
"Honestly... you were pretty stupid as a kid."
"But still tolerable."
"Now that you've grown up, I realize..."
"You're not stupid... you just never grew a brain..."
"Your ditziness and idiocy are getting worse."
"I think we'd better have Vegapunk-sensei replace your brain with a mechanical one."
"At least then, we won't have to worry about errors."
He said this while staring at Rosinante with a chilling look.
Rosinante flinched and shook his head in panic.
...
A few days later...
On the warship sailing away from Punk Hazard.
Holding the transfer order in hand, Sakazuki set course back to Headquarters.
This was because the Reverī was about to convene.
Headquarters had issued a summons, recalling all generals who weren't currently on assignments or whose tasks weren't critical.
They would begin escorting the ships carrying the kings of various nations to Mary Geoise.
After all, every Reverī saw some crazed pirates lurking along the path to Mary Geoise.
All hoping to ambush, raise their bounty, and stroke their vanity...
As Punk Hazard gradually disappeared from sight.
Sakazuki returned to his cabin.
He pulled out the device and the box-shaped audio recorder that looked like screws, sighing softly:
"Fifteen years..."
He shook his head and called outside:
"Karol!"
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg. 414 chapters in total