Sardo Kingdom, Royal Palace.
Sephiroth sat in a magnificent reception room, one leg crossed over the other on a single-seater sofa. A half-face mask obscured his features, his hair was dyed black, and a shadow of stubble darkened his chin.
Across from him, Tesoro occupied a long sofa, a document in hand as he delivered his report.
"This year, 1510, I finally reached an agreement during the World Conference," Tesoro said. "Through negotiations with several kings in the first half of the Grand Line, we have a deal for the sea train connection…"
"The estimate is ten years. Then we'll connect the major countries in the first half of the Grand Line."
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
A knock sounded at the reception room door. Sephiroth's voice was calm.
"Enter."
The latch clicked. The wide door swung open to admit Gilm, who stood over five meters tall, and a blue-haired young man in a white lab coat. The young man was over two meters tall and wore glasses.
The two stopped before Sephiroth and gave slight bows. Gilm spoke first.
"Boss, this is Ayzac. He requested an audience."
Sephiroth's gaze traveled over Ayzac. "Ah. So you're Ayzac. What do you need?"
As Sephiroth looked him over, Ayzac studied the man in return.
Half a year ago, Gem Island had been attacked by a pirate crew hundreds strong. Ayzac's mother had died in that raid.
While Ayzac was still wrestling with how to find those pirates for revenge, Tesoro appeared. He revealed the truth behind his mother's death—and extended an offer from the Umbrella Corporation.
The World Government had targeted the original moving stone on Gem Island. They hired pirates to attack, deliberately killed his mother to gain control. When Ayzac heard it, his first thought was disbelief.
But then…
Tesoro used the Company's resources to track down that pirate crew. The details, the truth—wrenched from the pirates' own mouths—left Ayzac stunned.
The mastermind was a high-ranking World Government official. The order might have come from the very top, from the Gorosei themselves.
Ayzac killed every pirate with his own hands. It wasn't enough. It didn't touch the hatred.
He wanted more. Revenge against the World Government. Against the Celestial Dragons who ruled the world.
So when Tesoro kept inviting him, Ayzac joined the Umbrella Corporation without a second thought. He would use their power for his vengeance.
With his scientific mind and skill in mechanical engineering, he entered the R&D department as a technical researcher.
Yet a doubt always nagged at him. Was the Umbrella Corporation truly prepared to wage war against the behemoth of the World Government?
Or was the Company just using him?
He asked Tesoro directly. Tesoro was evasive. "That's for the big Boss to consider," he'd said. "I wouldn't know."
Learning Tesoro had a superior Boss had shocked Ayzac to his core.
To the world, Tesoro *was* the Boss of the Umbrella Corporation—a king, a billionaire.
And he was just an employee?
After the shock settled, Ayzac accepted it. He asked to meet this big Boss.
Tesoro directly refused and told him that to meet the big Boss, he would need to make sufficient contributions to the Company and be promoted to senior management first.
During this time, Ayzac threw himself into research. He analyzed the robots Sephiroth brought back from the moon and used them as a blueprint to create new models. These robots had slightly lower intelligence but were fully capable of replacing humans in industrial production.
With these industrial robots, the Umbrella Corporation's manufacturing costs would plummet, carving out a much larger profit margin. Based on this achievement, Ayzac rose to become the second-in-command of the R&D department, second only to Gilm. He entered the Company's senior management and earned the right to be received by the big Boss himself.
Ayzac considered for a moment before speaking.
"Boss, may I ask… what is your goal, exactly?"
"Do you truly intend to make an enemy of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons?"
Sephiroth chuckled. He leaned back into the sofa, rested his right hand on the armrest, and propped up his head.
As he pondered, memories surfaced. He spoke with a tinge of nostalgia.
"My goal… It's always been changing."
"When I was weak, all I wanted was the power to protect myself. To survive in this chaotic world."
"Later, when I had a little power—enough to keep myself safe—I saw the high and mighty Celestial Dragons. I saw their arrogance as they trampled everything underfoot and called themselves gods."
"That's when I developed an extreme thirst for power and influence…"
"What was I thinking back then?"
"No matter how I dressed it up, it came down to this:"
"Are kings, marquises, generals, and ministers born that way? I could replace them, too!"
"Things like that. I hated the Celestial Dragons… but I envied their power."
"So, I founded the Umbrella Corporation."
"Without really noticing, after all these years of development, the Company has become a behemoth. An invisible empire with the strength to crush most countries in this world."
"Honestly, having come this far, my original wish is fulfilled. I feel satisfied, as if I have nothing left to pursue."
"However!"
"A while ago, I came into contact with a broader world… the endless starry sea."
"My ambition, which had nearly reached its limit, began to swell again. I want to embark on a new journey. A new adventure. To explore more unknowns."
"Hmm… To describe my current state of mind, I'd borrow the words of someone I greatly admire: 'A man's dreams never end!'"
"Before I embark on that interstellar journey, I need a stable environment for development. A solid rear base."
"As for the World Government… I can only say…"
"Sorry. It's in the way."
*Gulp.*
*Gulp.*
*Gulp.*
Tesoro, Gilm, and Ayzac swallowed in unison, their hearts shaken.
The man before them could smile and speak such incredibly arrogant words in such a light tone.
But…
None of the three thought he was joking.
Especially Tesoro and Gilm, the earliest founding members who had followed Sephiroth from the start. They knew their Boss's character. He always decided the most significant matters in a lighthearted, almost joking manner.
Back when Tesoro and Sephiroth were first establishing the Umbrella Corporation, he had smiled and said he wanted to get into military industry, pharmaceuticals, heavy industry, entertainment, intelligence trading… to make the Company bigger, stronger, and known throughout the world.
At the time, Tesoro thought it all sounded completely unreliable. That joking tone didn't sound like someone discussing serious business at all…
Now, Tesoro suddenly looked back and realized that everything Sephiroth had said back then had actually come true!
Sephiroth's smile faded as he sat up straight on the sofa, his expression turning serious. He looked at Ayzac.
"Well? Are you satisfied with my answer?"
"Are you still willing to work diligently for me?"
Ayzac had heard too much to walk away now. Refusal would only lead to a miserable end.
He raised his head, his face earnest.
"As long as you stand against the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, Boss, I will work my life for you."
*Burururu~! Burururu~! Burururu~!*
The den den mushi in Sephiroth's jacket rang. He pulled out the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Left hand broken."
The line went dead.
"Who was that, Boss?"
"Why just 'left hand broken' and then hang up?" Tesoro asked, bewildered.
A faint, knowing smile touched Sephiroth's lips.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Just a gambler who bet the left hand he uses to hold a knife."
"Left hand broken… so he lost?" Tesoro ventured.
Sephiroth's smile deepened.
"Maybe."
"We'll find out when the answer is revealed."
He turned back to Ayzac, drew his butcher knife, and produced a box from his personal space. Setting it on the table, he opened the lid. Inside lay a grayish-brown Devil Fruit.
"Young man. Do you want greater power?"
"Eat this. The Rhinoceros Beetle Fruit will grant you the strength to break past your natural limits."
Ayzac had become warden of Prison Island through world conscription, relying on martial skill and technology. His strength was considerable—elite Vice Admiral level, perhaps nearing Admiral. A Zoan fruit could push that potential further, edging him closer to the top tier.
As for why he wasn't given the Shadow Fruit…
Sephiroth didn't fully trust him yet. Ayzac was a tool, and his loyalty remained in question. Such a powerful fruit wasn't for him.
"Thank you, Boss."
Ayzac gave a firm nod. Without hesitation, he lifted the Rhinoceros Beetle Fruit from the table and swallowed it in rough, urgent bites.
He needed power now.
Technology, martial arts—anything.
As long as it could increase his strength and help him get revenge on the World Government, he would accept everything.