Even now, whenever Yamato recalled that night, her body would tremble. The story the four people told her about Bonney's parents was so tragic and horrifying that it made her break out in a cold sweat. The fear she felt surpassed what she had experienced as a child, when she thought her own father might actually kill her.
She had already seen how disgusting the World Nobles—the so-called Celestial Dragons—were back on the Sabaody Archipelago. But only now did she truly understand the depths of their evil. It was a terrifying realization that made her feel a strange sense of fear towards these physically weak individuals.
It wasn't a fear of their strength, but a psychological fear of humanity's ultimate capacity for evil. Their wickedness was like a bottomless, black pit. Yamato had only brushed against its edge, yet the feeling clung to her soul like a parasite, dragging her down into a darkness she couldn't escape.
Yamato was strong, but her strength was physical. Mentally, she had been sheltered by Kaido's power, leaving her as naive as a child. Her world had been Wano Country, and she simply couldn't imagine that people could be so cruel. Compared to the actions of the Celestial Dragons, everything Kaido had done to her, and even to Wano, seemed almost ordinary. From what the four people told her, she learned that most countries outside the World Government were suffering just like Sorbet Kingdom and Wano.
This was why the people of Sorbet Kingdom didn't fight back anymore. They had grown used to their suffering.
Just as the four had explained to her, "It's not that we're unwilling to resist; we've all resisted before. Bonney's father, Kuma, even became the king of Sorbet Kingdom because he led a revolution. But even then, what happened? You saw it yourself, Captain Yamato. Kuma became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, but King Bekori just came back with the World Government's support and took the throne again. Nothing changed."
At that moment, Yamato felt a crushing sense of powerlessness. But then, the four people exchanged a look before one of them spoke the words they had carefully prepared.
"Captain Yamato, this might sound embarrassing to ask, but… there might be a way to solve this."
Yamato looked at them, confused.
"On the Grand Line," the man continued, "there are four pirate flags that can make even the World Government and the Marines hesitate. Flags that could protect Sorbet Kingdom."
Yamato's entire body tensed. She wasn't a fool. Seeing their hesitant expressions and hearing them mention those four flags, she instantly understood why they had sought her out alone in the middle of the night.
Ever since she had set out to sea, Yamato had tried desperately to escape the shadow of her father's name. But it was impossible to shake off. If it weren't for that name, she probably would have died back on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Seeing the troubled look on her face, the four men felt awkward and quickly apologized. "Sorry, Captain Yamato. We know this is a difficult thing to ask of you!"
But Yamato suddenly interrupted them with a question. "Why aren't you afraid? They're pirates."
She didn't have to say the name. The four men knew exactly who she was talking about. They looked at each other and replied with a helpless sigh.
"Of course we're afraid of pirates. We know that if we fly their flag, life might not get any better. But honestly, how much worse can it get? Besides, with you here, Captain Yamato…"
Their meaning was clear. Yamato understood, but her expression darkened as she spoke softly. "I have already cut all ties with that old man."
In the end, Yamato still liberated Sorbet Kingdom. Although the country didn't officially receive the protection of the Beasts Pirates, the news that Yamato was the daughter of an Emperor of the New World, Kaido of the Beasts, spread like wildfire.
Yamato could never forget the look in the people's eyes when they learned who she was. A light had returned to them, and their passion for resistance had been reignited. She couldn't understand it. Why was her father, a demon in her eyes, suddenly a savior in theirs?
This was the source of her confusion. In just over a month, her entire worldview had been turned upside down.
Suddenly, Bonney's panicked voice called out from behind her, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Yamato turned to see Bonney and the others running toward her, their faces filled with anxiety. Bonney was holding a newspaper.
Yamato was startled. "What's wrong?"
As soon as Bonney reached her, she thrust the newspaper into Yamato's hands. "This is bad, Yamato! Your friend, Fire Fist Ace… he… he's going to be publicly executed by the Marines!"
Yamato's pupils contracted as she snatched the paper. On the cover was a photo of a man she knew all too well. He was covered in wounds and bound in chains. Thinking quickly, Yamato pulled a piece of paper from inside her kimono. It was Ace's Vivre Card. She had originally come to the first half of the Grand Line to find him, but after the incident at Sabaody Archipelago, the World Government's spies had been hunting her. She had been forced to put her search on hold and hide out in the South Blue. She never expected this.
When she looked down at Ace's Vivre Card, her whole body shook. The paper, once the size of her palm, had burned away until less than a quarter of it remained.
"Big news! This is big news!"
High in the sky, a ship shaped like a teapot flew through the air, carried by a flock of seagulls. Inside, excited shouts could be heard. This was the headquarters of the World Economic Journal, the organization that controlled the flow of information across the seas.
The one shouting was the president himself, "Big News" Morgans, a user of the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Albatross. If Yamato had been there, she would have seen that the report Morgans just received was about her liberation of Sorbet Kingdom. In his hand, he held three photographs. One was a clear, frontal shot of Yamato from the battle, perfectly capturing her heroic appearance. The other two were of Fire Fist Ace and Straw Hat Luffy.
Morgans stared at the photos, his face alight with excitement. "Kaido's daughter, Dragon's son, and Roger's son. Interesting, very interesting! Who will shape the future?"
His desire to publish a massive story was becoming unbearable. Compared to the average person, Morgans's access to information was unparalleled; he often knew things even before the Marines or the World Government did. However, he knew he had to be patient. The new era hadn't truly begun yet.
Just then, a male editor stood up from his desk, holding a Den Den Mushi, and yelled, "President! President, big news! Red-Haired Shanks and Kaido of the Beasts have started a battle in the New World!"
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse