After listening to Maya's account, Sanji and the others wore mixed expressions. Perhaps because this piece of history was a bit too fantastical, none of them could calm their minds for a long time.
"Zzz Zzz~" A soft snoring sound broke the silence.
Hearing the noise, Zoro and the others turned their eyes, only to find in astonishment that Luffy was already fast asleep on the table!
A line of crystal-clear drool hung from the corner of his mouth; by the looks of it, this foolish captain was sleeping soundly.
"This idiot..."
Everyone didn't know whether to laugh or cry. When it came to being incapable of listening to long-winded explanations, Luffy truly hadn't changed one bit.
"Seriously, the information Maya just shared was so important! When will this foolish captain learn to be a bit more attentive?"
Nami shook her head helplessly, got up to fetch a blanket, and draped it over the dazed captain. Then she turned to the blue-haired girl and asked:
"Maya, does that mean that terrifying weapon is currently in a sealed state right now? Wait, hold on... how exactly did that prince seal it back then? Was it a Devil Fruit ability?"
"I'm not sure about that either."
Maya shook her head: "All I know is that in order to atone for his sins, the prince chose to sacrifice his own life in the end. He also left behind a final testament: 'When the seven stars align and the crimson blood-weeping moon fills the sky once more, the calamitous black flames shall descend upon the mortal realm again...'
"These words were engraved on the stone tablet in front of the prince's tomb, so there are also rumors saying that the Seven Star Sword was sealed inside the prince's mausoleum."
"Eh? Inside a mausoleum?" Usopp suddenly shuddered.
"Then wouldn't taking the Seven Star Sword be equivalent to tomb robbing?! No way, no way! We definitely can't do that, or we'll be haunted by the tomb owner's vengeful spirit!"
"There's no need to worry, Mr. Long-Nose."
Robin looked entirely calm, comforting Usopp: "Although it wasn't for tomb raiding, I've visited ancient tombs a few times before. Don't worry, there are no vengeful spirits inside at all."
"However, there are many dangerous hidden mechanisms and traps. Back then, many people entered the tomb with me, but in the end, very few managed to come out alive."
"Hiss—" Usopp sucked in a breath of cold air, turning completely pale and petrified.
"Is that how you comfort someone, Robin?" Glancing at a certain dark-humored woman, Sherlock gently pushed up his glasses.
Regarding that demon named "Azathoth" and that "God," a certain bespectacled youth harbored sincere doubts.
He even speculated that these two so-called "God" and "Demon" were very likely just two Devil Fruit users from a thousand years ago.
As for that Seven Star Sacred Sword that inherited the demon's power...
Sherlock suddenly recalled the gun that ate the Dog-Dog Fruit held by Mr. 4 of Baroque Works. He had a hunch that the Seven Star Sword was actually the same nature of item as that gun—weapons that had consumed Devil Fruits.
It was just that the difference in power between the two was completely beyond comparison.
(But if it really is a Fruit ability, what kind of Devil Fruit could possess such terrifying power?)
Sherlock felt immensely curious in his heart. He only regretted that he hadn't found a way to get his hands on a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia back then.
(Besides, as far as I remember, letting inanimate objects eat Devil Fruits should be a technology newly developed by the World Government. Would people from a thousand years ago have that kind of black technology?)
A certain bespectacled youth fell into deep thought, but on second thought, people back then could even assemble three "Ancient Weapons" capable of destroying the world. Assembling a Seven Star Sword that could destroy a nation didn't seem out of the question.
(However, based on this information about the Seven Star Sword, some of the previously incomprehensible things can actually make sense now.)
At this moment, Sherlock only felt that on these waters, an unimaginably massive "whirlpool" was slowly forming, and their Straw Hat Pirates were right at the very center of this vortex!
(Yaros the Son of the Penguin, the participating pirates, the Marines observing in secret, the Lost Island, the Seven Star Sword...)
After pondering for a moment, a certain bespectacled youth clapped his hands, drawing the attention of all his companions.
"Alright, everyone. Next, let's discuss our upcoming plan."
Hearing this, except for Luffy who was still snoring loudly, everyone else turned their eyes toward this strategist in glasses.
"First, we must clarify one point." Sherlock narrowed his eyes slightly, a strange light gleaming in his deep, black-hole-like eyes.
"This Dead End Race is a trap—a trap targeted at all pirates!"
At the same time, a massive Marine fleet was anchored on the sea. Under the cover of night, these fully armed warships resembled crouching giant beasts, instilling awe and fear.
Inside the flagship's captain's cabin:
"Nearly ten thousand pirates?"
The fingers of the blonde, naturally wavy Marine who was fiddling with a Turtle Compass paused slightly. A flash of surprise passed through his unmotivated, dead-fish eyes.
"So many pirates registered this time, huh."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Hisoka."
Zoro's childhood friend and current Marine Lieutenant Commander Saga nodded respectfully. Toward the seemingly unreliable Marine Vice Admiral in front of him, he didn't dare show the slightest bit of disrespect.
"Heh heh, the Oswald Family really went big on this one," Hisoka smiled slightly, setting the Turtle Compass in his hand onto the table.
Just today, Vice Admiral Hisoka had received further instructions from Marine Headquarters and had also come to understand the whole story behind this special operation.
Registered pirate crews with paid Penguin Memberships were exempt from Marine pursuit, though this was limited to the Oswald Family's territory. Even so, this made many radical Marine officers deeply displeased.
The Oswald Family possessed immense power and influence as loyal dogs of the World Government. Strictly speaking, the Oswald Family and the Marines held an equal status, both taking orders from the World Government. No matter how unhappy the Marines were, there was nothing they could do about it.
But now, the Oswald Family was in a bind.
According to the latest intelligence from the New World, the Oswald Family was currently being utterly suppressed by its arch-nemesis, the "Silver-Haired Pirates." Out of desperation, they had no choice but to seek help from the Marines—and the Marines would definitely not help them for nothing.
Thus, the ten-thousand-plus participating pirates became the "sacrifices" offered by the Oswald Family to enlist the Marines this time.
(I really wonder how those pirates will feel when they realize they've been screwed over by the Penguin,) Vice Admiral Hisoka thought with malicious humor.
Just then, the cabin door opened, and a white-haired Marine chomping on two cigars strode right in.
"Something happened. Take a look at this." Smoker blew a smoke ring and handed two intelligence reports to Hisoka and Saga respectively.
The two took the reports and looked closely; the expressions on their faces instantly became extraordinarily dramatic.
"Fire Fist Ace invaded G-2 Branch? Just to deliver a letter to a little girl???"
Saga grew so agitated that his mechanical right arm almost shredded the report in his hand.
"When did a big-time pirate of the New World like him become so bored?"
"Who knows..." Thinking of the man in Alabasta who claimed to be Luffy's older brother, Smoker shook his head silently and continued:
"However, compared to G-2 Branch, the G-8 Fortress is far, far livelier..."
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