...…
No sooner had Luffy and the other two left Marineford than the large main force of the Navy, which had been out on missions, hurriedly rushed back.
However, they were ultimately too late. They could only stare blankly at the empty inner harbor and the messy plaza.
Luffy, Rayleigh, and Jinbe had already vanished without a trace, using their familiarity with the terrain and an unexpected route of action.
The Navy higher-ups felt extreme fury toward Luffy's actions.
This wasn't just a simple intrusion—it was a blatant, in-the-face-of-the-whole-world provocation against the Navy's prestige!
Coming and going so freely at the rebuilding headquarters under the lenses of countless media was a resounding slap that left the entire Navy utterly humiliated.
Soon, an emergency military meeting was convened inside a temporarily set-up command post.
Brannew, the intelligence analysis officer, stood in front of a map and reported his analysis to the assembled officers:
"Based on the intelligence we have and customs from around the world, if it were simply to announce a death or express mourning, usually only two bell tolls are needed.
However… the Straw Hat kid Luffy rang it a full sixteen times!"
Brannew pushed up his glasses, his tone grave as he reached his conclusion: "I believe this was absolutely not a simple act of mourning.
These sixteen tolls are more like a declaration—or rather, a… declaration of war aimed at the future!
The Straw Hat kid is proclaiming his return to the world, and it's as if he's issuing a challenge to our Navy!"
While the Navy heatedly debated Luffy's intentions…
The scene on the light curtain suddenly shifted. The chaotic Marineford switched to an extremely solemn and luxurious hall.
Holy Land Mary Geoise, the Room of Authority!
When those five old men in black suits, exuding dignified auras, appeared on the light curtain, everyone in God Valley—whether pirates or Marines—couldn't help but be startled.
This wasn't out of fear of power itself, but from the shock and suspicion brought by a straightforward, common-sense-defying discovery!
Saint Saturn looked at his future self on the light curtain. On the surface, his expression remained calm and unruffled, but the fleeting surprise in his eyes didn't escape the top-tier powerhouses present.
"Hey! You old bastard over there!"
Golden Lion Shiki shouted without any restraint, pointing directly at Saint Saturn with an extremely rude tone and attitude.
"Why do you look not a day older?! Decades have passed—how the hell are you still looking like this?!"
Though Shiki's words were crude, they voiced the huge question in everyone's mind.
The light curtain was showing future scenes, and the time span was clearly significant.
Look at the others: Roger went from prime to sickly and executed,
Kaido and Big Mom went from youthful vigor to middle-aged emperors.
Whitebeard went from peak to old age, Gloriosa went from stunning beauty to a short old woman, and even the recently appeared elderly Rayleigh had a head full of white hair…
Time had left clear marks on almost everyone.
Yet the only exception was one of the Five Elders on the light curtain—Saint Saturn. His appearance and physique were exactly the same as the one in God Valley right now, without the slightest difference!
As if decades of time had meant nothing to him!
Countless gazes of inquiry, suspicion, and shock instantly focused on Saint Saturn, as if trying to see right through him from the inside out.
Feeling these stares, Saint Saturn's brows furrowed tightly, a surge of anger rising in his heart.
He was about to lash out, but after glancing at the light curtain in the sky—emitting a soft glow yet containing absolute rules—he forcibly swallowed the rebuke on the tip of his tongue.
Throwing a tantrum here would only make him the one to suffer.
"Hey, you over there!"
Roger spoke up at this point, his gaze sharp as a blade, fixed tightly on Saint Saturn.
"Are you even still human? Why aren't you saying anything—cat got your tongue?"
His question was even more direct, carrying a doubt at the level of species.
By common sense, Saint Saturn already looked quite old now—how could he show no signs of aging at all decades later?
"Hmph! A bunch of ignorant, disgusting ants!"
Saint Saturn squeezed the words out through gritted teeth, his face so dark it could drip water.
"The world is vast and full of wonders—what do you know of its secrets?!"
He knew arguing with these lawless pirates was pointless and would only lower his own status, so he simply adopted a cold attitude of neither explaining nor answering, saving himself the breath.
"What do I know?!"
Roger was provoked by his attitude, his voice rising several notches: "I'll eventually find that Laugh Tale and learn about that Joy Boy!
Let's see if you can still put on this act with me then! What the hell are you acting all high and mighty for?!
Roger stepped forward, his presence overwhelming: "You lost control of your emotions earlier and turned into that monstrous form precisely because you heard the name Joy Boy, right?
I'm actually really curious now—what kind of person, what kind of truth, could make you self-proclaimed gods, the lofty leaders of the world, lose your composure like that?!"
Hearing Roger mention that taboo name again, a nearly uncontrollable killing intent flashed through Saint Saturn's eyes in an instant.
The air around his body seemed to freeze. Just as he was on the verge of erupting, Saint Garling hurriedly stepped forward and quietly dissuaded him.
With that eerie light curtain hanging overhead, any move carrying killing intent was tantamount to seeking death.
On the other side, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin looked at Saint Saturn's unchanging face, her huge eyes blinking as if she wanted to ask if he had some secret to preserving youth.
After all, eternal youth (or extremely slow aging) was far too tempting for a woman.
But the moment she opened her mouth, Kaido shot her a stern look to stop her.
Kaido felt that asking such a question to an old man—and an enemy at that—was simply too undignified.
In truth, Kaido himself was filled with confusion inside. He had originally guessed that the other party might be relying on some special "Devil Fruit" ability to slow aging—after all, Saint Saturn's earlier non-human monstrous form was most reasonably explained by a Devil Fruit.
He himself had eaten the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, an Mythical Zoan type, and could also transform into a powerful creature…
But his own appearance still showed signs of aging over time, unlike Saint Saturn, who seemed as if time had completely stopped for him.
This difference left Kaido utterly baffled.
Just as everyone in God Valley was filled with immense curiosity about Saint Saturn's ageless appearance, with all kinds of speculations flying…
On the light curtain, the Five Elders were engaged in an intense discussion inside the Room of Authority.
However, the focus of their discussion was not the one who had just caused chaos at Marineford—Luffy.
Environment Warrior God Marcus Mars Saint: "Due to the successive removals of Jinbe and Gecko Moria from the Seven Warlords of the Sea, vacancies have appeared.
We need to fill the positions as soon as possible to maintain the balance of the three great powers."
Science and Defense Warrior God Jaygarcia Saturn Saint (future), leaning on his cane, spoke in a low voice: "Agreed. After replenishing the Seven Warlords, regarding the movements in the New World, we should temporarily… observe and wait."
At that moment, Finance Warrior God Izoubaron V. Nusjuro Saint (future) stopped wiping his beloved sword, lifting his eyelids.
A cold gleam flashed through his narrow eyes as he spoke in a chilling tone: "The troublesome ones… are always the 'D's."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over his four colleagues, his voice carrying a deep loathing and vigilance:
"At this point, that name… seems to have become a bit too eye-catching, hasn't it!"
Agriculture Warrior God Shepherd Ju Peter Saint (future) crossed his arms and said gravely: "Indeed. Marshall D. Teach, Monkey D. Luffy, and the already deceased Gol D. Ace…
Lately, the ones causing massive waves around the world and bringing us endless trouble—all have that damned D in their names!"
Justice Warrior God Topman Warcury Saint (future) also nodded in agreement, his tone heavy: "This cursed name—every time it appears, it seems to herald turmoil and unrest.
We must closely monitor all people and matters related to D."
The Five Elders' conversation clearly echoed throughout God Valley. Their unmasked wariness and disgust toward the name "D."
Caused everyone who heard these words to once again turn their gazes toward several people in the field.
Gol D. Roger, Rocks D. Xebec, Monkey D. Garp, Monkey D. Dragon…
The Will of D seemed like an invisible thread!
Linking past, present, and future, becoming an unremovable thorn in the hearts of the World Government's highest authorities.
Inside and outside the light curtain, the fate and struggle surrounding "D" seemed to have only just begun to reveal the tip of the iceberg.
...…