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Early Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1513.
Mary Geoise, The Holy Land.
Inside the magnificent palace, the Five Elders were gathered. Some stood, some sat, but all wore expressions of deep irritation as they reviewed the latest intelligence report.
Not only had the CP9 squad they dispatched met with utter defeat, but they were reportedly crushed by Shirahoshi.
It was nearly impossible to believe. Elite agents trained for over a decade in the arts of espionage and assassination had been routed by a girl who was barely seven years old.
"It is not entirely unprecedented," Saint Shepherd Ju Peter remarked, his fists clenched beneath his chin. "Decades ago, the child trafficker Mother Carmel encountered a similar monster—the girl who eventually became one of the Four Emperors, Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin."
"We miscalculated CP9's combat effectiveness, and we underestimated the Mermaid Princess. We assumed that aside from summoning Sea Kings, Poseidon possessed no inherent combat ability."
"The real issue is how to find another opening. After this assassination attempt, the Thunder God Pirates will surely be on high alert. A second chance will not come easily."
"The Poseidon is growing. Once she reaches maturity, she will pose an unprecedented threat to the World Government..."
The mood was so heavy it felt as if the room itself were darkening. They were not yet prepared for an all-out war with the Thunder Emperor, while the Revolutionary Army was blooming across the four seas. Insurrections were intensifying; over a dozen member nations had already withdrawn from the World Government.
Their excuse? Discontent with the Celestial Dragons.
"They join for protection and leave when it suits them? Perhaps we should send CP0 to execute a few kings to serve as a warning. We can then install officials more... sympathetic to our cause."
"The lust for power often blinds the rational. I believe this approach is worth a trial."
"Do they truly believe the Revolutionary Army, a group with such a short history, can shake the eight-hundred-year foundation of this Government? Delusional."
As they sneered at the thought of "equality," a frantic intelligence officer burst into the hall. He was breathless and pale.
"Elders! Sirs! Something terrible has happened!"
"Hmph. Have we been so lenient that you've forgotten protocol?" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro barked, his face turning livid. "Get out and reflect on your insolence!"
"My apologies, but... Admiral Zephyr! His fleet was intercepted in the New World. His arm was severed by a pirate calling himself Whitebeard Jr.! Of all the recruits on the warship, only two survived. THE REST... WERE SLAUGHTERED!"
"What?? Whitebeard Jr?" The Elders stood up in unison. "Is he one of Whitebeard's sons? To be able to defeat Zephyr..."
"Edward Weevil! We haven't confirmed a biological link to Newgate yet, but Admiral Aokiji, who arrived at the scene, said the man possesses... a crushing power reminiscent of a young Whitebeard!"
"The entire G-5 Branch fleet was blown away!"
BANG!!
Saint Topman Warcury slammed his fist onto the table. "These monsters... one after another! Where do they keep coming from??"
...............
The New World, Thunder God Territory.
On the throne of the Thunder God Temple, Arthur sat with his head resting on his hand. In his other palm, he idly tossed a golden, glittering Devil Fruit.
"Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit? Where did this turn up?"
It had been years since Borsalino's death, yet this top-tier Logia had remained hidden—until today.
Between mid-1512 and early 1513, Arthur had been busy. Inside his underground lab, he had consumed a staggering array of fruits:
Paramecia: The Barrier-Barrier Fruit, Arms-Arms Fruit, Heal-Heal Fruit, and Cube-Cube Fruit.
Zoan: Salamander (Axolotl), Ox-Ox (Giraffe), and Bug-Bug (Rhinoceros Beetle).
As more abilities accumulated within him, his physical constitution seemed to strengthen without limit. More interestingly, he noticed a synergy appearing between the Paramecia abilities—they were beginning to complement and even fuse with one another.
He theorized that if he could consume every fruit in existence, all abilities would eventually merge into a single, unified power. He would be able to use any ability at will, or all of them simultaneously. He would be truly Omnipotent—a God.
"It was brought back by Sai, the 13th leader of the Happo Navy. He found it during the struggle," Stussy reported softly. She looked at Arthur with reverence; his presence was becoming increasingly suffocating. He no longer looked like a man, but like a divine being descended to earth.
"Sai?"
Sai had joined Arthur's fleet as a teenager alongside his grandfather. After years of growth in the New World, the twenty-something warrior had finally surpassed the legendary "Drill."
"Why have you come personally?" Arthur stood up and descended the golden stairs. Stussy usually contacted him via Transponder Snail. Her physical presence meant something significant had happened.
"I want to protect someone," Stussy said, her eyes meeting his.
"No! Absolutely not!!" Hancock shouted, storming into the hall to face her rival. "Lord Arthur, that girl almost assassinated Shirahoshi!"
"Enough," Arthur said, cutting off the impending argument. If he didn't stop them, Hancock would inevitably lose the verbal sparring and resort to a physical brawl.
Hancock shifted instantly from a fuming lioness to a docile kitten at Arthur's word.
"The girl outside?" Arthur asked.
"Yes. Her name is Kalifa. She's a member of CP9 and a genius secretary," Stussy explained, glancing at the quieted Hancock.
"Decide for yourself. I don't care about such trivialities," Arthur said dismissively. He paused. "But you didn't come here just for a secretary, did you?"
"No," Stussy replied. "During the fight for the Glint-Glint Fruit... Don Chinjao was killed."
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