Chapter 158: Unexpected Surprise! The Trail of the Wood-Wood Fruit
"Olvia, how have these ten years been for you?"
"I heard the Shadow Organization has developed quite well—it hasn't disappointed my expectations. I just didn't expect you to actually find your way to Wano Country."
Lotte looked at the silver-haired woman in front of him and smiled calmly.
At the same time, he removed the mask from his face.
Revealing the exact same appearance as before.
This made Olvia stare in a daze, feeling somewhat unreal.
Ten years had passed.
Mr. Lotte still hadn't changed at all.
When he asked about the past ten years, the bitterness and hardship Olvia had endured surged up like a tide. She couldn't help but throw herself into his arms.
Burying her fair neck against his chest, she let out soft, choked sobs like a small animal.
Only she knew the hardships of these ten years.
Perhaps for Lotte it was just a fleeting moment, but for Olvia it had been a full decade of waiting and guarding.
From a young girl yearning for the outside world.
To now the leader of a major organization that even in the New World could be considered large-scale.
How many things she had experienced in between—Lotte could guess some of it.
This caused a trace of pity to appear in his blood-red eyes. He reached out and gently stroked the same smooth silver-white long hair as before.
Letting her tears soak his clothes.
"There, there. Why are you crying even more than you did ten years ago?"
"I'm back now, aren't I?"
Lotte sighed helplessly with a smile.
To be honest.
He truly had no resistance to this side of Olvia.
Hearing Lotte say this.
Olvia slowly lifted her head with red eyes. Crystal-clear tears welled up in her sockets as she choked out.
"I… I know."
"Mr. Lotte… where exactly have you been these ten years?"
After all, when Lotte disappeared, Olvia had been utterly shocked.
According to the information she obtained from Whitebeard and Roger.
Lotte's strength back then was already comparable to the top Admirals.
Logically speaking, no one should have been able to kill Lotte in a one-on-one fight.
Even the full-power Rocks probably couldn't have done it. What exactly had caused Lotte to vanish without a trace for ten years?
Hearing her question.
Lotte took a deep breath.
"This is something I need to tell you. Our future actions must be cautious."
"This world isn't as simple as it appears on the surface."
Then.
Lotte began recounting what happened ten years ago when he encountered Imu.
He glossed over the ten-year time travel part, but it was enough for Olvia to understand the secrets behind the World Government.
"An existence that can reverse time… the shadowy mastermind of the entire World Government?!"
"There really is such a being in this world!"
Listening to Lotte's story.
Olvia's eyes widened in his arms.
Though she hadn't personally faced such an existence, Imu—as someone who had lived since 800 years ago—was terrifying in every aspect imaginable!
Thinking that Lotte had actually confronted such a frightening being.
Her heart filled with lingering fear.
Thankfully Mr. Lotte possessed some mysterious ability—otherwise, it probably wouldn't have just been a ten-year disappearance.
Lotte also noticed something off during his narration. Olvia's astonishingly soft body was pressed against him.
This caused Lotte to have a certain physiological reaction for a moment.
After all, he was still in a youthful body. Having someone press against him like this would naturally cause some reaction.
But logically, it was so obvious.
Olvia should have noticed.
Lotte's Sharingan carefully examined Olvia's expression.
Only then did he notice the blush on her cheeks. Yet despite this, she showed no intention of getting off him.
This made Lotte clear his throat lightly.
"Ahem, Olvia."
"It's about time to get down. I still have some things to tell you."
Seeing her attack had no effect, a hint of disappointment flashed in Olvia's gem-like eyes.
But she obediently jumped down from Lotte's body.
She sat on the chair beside him.
"Go ahead and say it, Mr. Lotte!"
"I also have a surprise prepared for you~"
A smile appeared at the corner of Olvia's mouth.
After all, these ten years hadn't been wasted. She had never forgotten the task Lotte entrusted to her. Through ten years of investigation, she had also obtained some key information.
Lotte glanced at Olvia curiously upon hearing this.
Seeing she wasn't ready to reveal the surprise yet, he cleared his throat.
"I plan to establish the highest positions in the Shadow Organization next."
"The Shadow Organization is no longer the small group it once was. It's time to make some changes."
Olvia nodded in agreement.
Over these ten years, she had also felt that as the Shadow Organization grew.
Even she found it hard to fully control everything.
"The highest leader of the Shadow Organization will be divided into the Five Kage: Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, and Wind."
"Dividing the organization into five departments."
"With the Hokage as the supreme leader, and the other four Kage below."
"What do you think?"
After speaking, Lotte glanced at Olvia beside him.
Olvia nodded without hesitation.
"Good!"
For her, the Shadow Organization had been built solely to repay Mr. Lotte.
Since he wanted to reform the current organization, how could she possibly refuse?
After all, she had long felt exhausted managing such a massive organization!
Seeing Olvia agree so readily.
Lotte felt a bit guilty in his heart.
She had worked so hard for ten years to reach this point, only for him to return and take the highest leadership.
He'd have to find a way to make it up to her later.
But that could wait until after these matters were settled.
Lotte cleared his throat.
"The Hokage position will be held by me for now. As for Olvia, you can choose any one of the other four Kage positions. The remaining three will stay vacant for now."
"I already have suitable candidates in mind."
"By the way, what exactly is this surprise you mentioned?"
He couldn't help but ask curiously.
Olvia's lips curved into a slight smile.
"Mr. Lotte, do you remember the Wood-Wood Fruit?"
"I've found its trail!"