A few days later, Robin stood in the main hall of the ancient castle on Arderay. She gave a slight bow and said, "You've finally returned, Master."
"Ah, I'm actually a bit surprised you didn't go back to the Straw Hat," Alucard remarked, sitting lazily upon his throne.
"Please, stop joking like that." Robin lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Heh, my apologies."
Alucard's smile faded, and his eyes sharpened. "I called you here because I have an important question. Where is the nearest Royal Domain to Spring Queen Island?"
Robin closed her eyes, searching her memory for a few seconds before opening them. "The ten original Royal Domain locations have already been compromised. After you disappeared, the Government placed them all under secret, heavy military guard. The closest one should be Ancient Island in the New World, rumored to be a habitat for prehistoric insects. However..."
Robin paused for a moment before continuing, "If we count Mariejois, which you once laid waste to, as the 21st Royal Domain... then Mariejois would actually be the closest."
The current Alucard had obtained the power of Schrödinger's Cat, but in doing so, he had slaughtered every life within himself—Zephyr, Shanks, Dragon, and countless others.
While Alucard usually didn't care about those lives, losing them entirely still felt like a nuisance. If he could take them back, he intended to do so.
If those lives hadn't ascended to the afterlife, they would have been re-absorbed by the Ryumyaku. Logic dictated they would be drawn to the Royal Domain nearest to where Alucard had "fallen," Spring Queen Island.
"Does Alucard-sama intend to attack a Spring again?" Robin speculated.
A year and a half ago, it was precisely because of the Spring that Alucard had entered a total war with the Government, leading to his disappearance for nearly two years.
Now that he had just returned, he should be resting and managing the pirate crew to stabilize their morale, not blindly rushing back into battle.
Even if they were to fight again, they should slowly target the Government's outlying forces. How could they strike directly at the Holy Land in one fell swoop?
"Robin, go and deliver my orders to all the cadres..."
Robin listened silently to Alucard's command. Her expression shifted drastically, but seeing that Alucard didn't look like he was joking, she could only bow and withdraw.
…
Several hours later, Robin arrived at the scientific research division within Arderay. Currently in charge here was Dr. Indigo.
"Connect me to the Den Den Mushi of all cadre and captain-level members."
Robin ignored Dr. Indigo's usual mime routine and stated her purpose directly. To ensure he didn't waste time with chatter, she added, "This is an emergency order from the Captain."
Hearing this, Dr. Indigo didn't dare waste a second. He quickly linked the equipment, activating the Visual Den Den Mushis for all the crew's top brass.
The faces of Hancock, Fallon, Ivalis, Dr. Vegapunk, Law, and others gradually appeared on the screens.
"What's this? A class reunion?" Fallon asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Arara... I'm in the middle of a trip. If the Captain is back, I'm all for throwing a welcome party." The person speaking in that lazy, nonchalant tone was Kuzan.
"Black Thorn, Aokiji, shut it. If she's contacting us all like this, it must be important," Ivalis said coldly.
"Tch!" Fallon scoffed.
"So serious, Acting Captain," Kuzan remarked, pouting slightly.
Once Robin finished relaying Alucard's orders, every face on the screen changed. Even someone like Dr. Vegapunk couldn't help but twitch an eyebrow. "Hey, hey... is it really okay to do this immediately after returning?"
"I don't know, but Master seems very confident," Robin replied.
After his initial shock, Fallon grew excited. "It doesn't matter. It was going to happen sooner or later anyway, and I've been itching for some payback."
"Ivalis-san, what do you think?" Law asked, seeking Ivalis's opinion.
"..." Ivalis remained silent for a moment. "Well... I don't believe the Captain is the type of man to go out of his way to lose." He chose to obey, and the others followed suit, expressing their agreement one by one.
"Master said that once the orders are relayed, everyone is to set out immediately," Robin dropped another bombshell.
"That fast?"
"Is there really a need to be this impatient for revenge?"
Everyone was stunned once again.
…
A week later, at the Marine Headquarters, which had moved from Marineford to the New World's Navy Branch G-1, Sengoku received a report.
Almost the entire fleet under the Immortal Pirates' banner was heading toward Mariejois. The units already identified included the Kuja Pirates, the Golden Hair Pirates, the Iron Arm Pirates... and main combatants like Aokiji Kuzan and Sanjuan Wolf had also been spotted.
Sengoku was horrified. "What's going on? Are they trying to avenge their captain?"
From Sengoku's reaction, it was clear he was still unaware of the blond Gorosei's "dream."
After the battle at Spring Queen Island, it seemed the Government's trust in the Navy hadn't improved. In fact, due to Admiral Fujitora's betrayal, they had grown more distant, and there were even suspicions that the Government was beginning to weaken the Navy's influence.
The Immortal Pirates' movement was anything but subtle. They were sailing toward Mariejois with full fanfare. Never mind the Navy's superior intelligence network; anyone along their path who wasn't blind could see them.
The news sent shockwaves across the seas.
Are Boa Hancock and the others seeking revenge for Alucard?Has Alucard's death finally been confirmed?
Many believed this to be the case.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what do you believe the Navy should do?"
Momonga, who had been drafted from the Government's forces and exceptionally promoted to Admiral, asked Sengoku.
"The Government possesses a National Treasure. They cannot lose," Sengoku stated firmly, but then he hesitated. "However, from the Navy's standpoint, if we simply stand by and watch, it will invite criticism."
After thinking for a long while, Sengoku made his decision. "Momonga, you and Ryokugyu take three Vice Admirals from Headquarters to monitor the battle and prevent any wider riots."
"Yes, sir!" Momonga stood at attention.
"Arara, Sengoku-san... I'd advise you not to meddle in this particular mess."
Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted in from the windowsill. Sengoku, Momonga, and the others whipped around, their voices low and heavy. "Kuzan!"
"Our Captain is quite determined to get what he wants this time."