In the main hall of the Kuja Pirates' ship,
Galahad Anne, the Empress of the Kuja, sat on her luxurious throne with the diminutive Elder Nyon standing at her side.
Across from them was a large, thick, soft tiger-striped cushion, and Yemu was seated on it.
After dismissing the female warriors crowding around the windows to watch, Elder Nyon looked at the two of them, who were already making eyes at each other, and couldn't help coughing lightly. Once Yemu turned to look at her, she cleared her throat and said,
"Captain Yemu, we already know why you've come. Although Anne has agreed to your request and brought the Kuja warriors here, dragging Amazon Lily into the conflict between you and the World Government... isn't that putting us in far too much danger?"
Yemu had not hidden the identities of the people aboard the warships behind him, so Elder Nyon understood perfectly well how serious the situation was.
If the Marines and the World Government learned that the Kuja were connected to the Pirate King's bloodline...
Then even with the Calm Belt as a natural barrier, whether Amazon Lily could truly withstand an assault from the Marines and the World Government was still impossible to say.
Especially now that they had already developed the technology to sail through the Calm Belt.
"I understand that, of course."
Yemu showed no displeasure at Elder Nyon's words.
"But right now, Anne and all of you are the only ones I can rely on."
Hearing Yemu call her by name so intimately, a bright, crystalline gleam flashed through Anne's eyes.
"There are more than five thousand women and infants on those two warships alone, and most of them are pregnant. I can't save them and then just leave them to fend for themselves."
Elder Nyon frowned. She wanted to ask why Yemu had to meddle in something like this, but when it came to saving people, she really couldn't blame him. Besides, things had already reached this point.
"Then, Captain Yemu, what are you planning to do next?"
"I'm going to take them somewhere safe. But that place is in the New World, and with how intensely the Marines and the World Government are hunting me right now, Fish-Man Island is clearly no longer an option. The Red Port route is even less possible. So I can only find another way."
As he spoke, Yemu looked at Anne.
"That's also why I asked you to come. Aside from needing your help to take care of these people for a while, I also need Anne to do me a favor."
"Back on Rusukaina Island, I promised Anne that as thanks for accompanying me in my training, I would find her a powerful Devil Fruit."
Elder Nyon froze for a moment and looked at Anne, only to find that Anne's eyes were fixed entirely on Yemu.
"I originally planned to find her a Mythical Zoan. After all, among the three major types, the only one rarer than the Logia I possess is the Mythical Zoan, and Mythical Zoans are extremely powerful in their own right. But now, I have another choice. I wonder if you've ever heard the name Shiki?"
"!!!"
Elder Nyon was stunned. Of course she had heard that name.
Something seemed to occur to her, and she asked uncertainly,
"Captain Yemu, are you talking about the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi that belonged to the great pirate Shiki?"
"That's right. In my view, the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi suits Anne even better than a Mythical Zoan. If Anne can obtain that Devil Fruit, then with the strength she already has, her mastery of it won't be any worse than Shiki's. And by then, Elder Nyon, the thing you're most worried about, Amazon Lily's safety, will no longer be a problem. With the power of that fruit, Anne could move your entire nation and fly it anywhere. Even without the Calm Belt as protection, you wouldn't have to worry about the Marines or the World Government finding you..."
Elder Nyon was completely dumbfounded.
That was a path she had never imagined before.
But...
"I heard Shiki isn't dead yet. Wasn't he imprisoned in Impel Down? Then that Fuwa Fuwa no Mi..."
"Mm."
Yemu nodded.
"That's the other reason I need your help. Next, I'm going to Impel Down to take that Devil Fruit from Shiki. So while I'm gone, I'll need the Kuja warriors here to help look after everything..."
Elder Nyon stared at Yemu in shock.
Although she had gathered quite a bit of information on him, her sources were simply too limited, and many crucial details would never appear in the newspapers.
At that moment, she could clearly hear from Yemu's words that there was far more going on than she had realized.
She wanted to ask more, but after thinking it over, she chose not to pry. Instead, she frowned, considered it for a moment, and tried to persuade him.
"Captain Yemu, I'm grateful for what you feel for Anne, but going into Impel Down... that's simply too dangerous..."
Just then, Anne, seated on the throne, suddenly spoke.
"I'm going with you!"
Yemu's eyes lit up, while Elder Nyon immediately panicked.
"Have you lost your mind, Anne? Do you know what kind of place Impel Down is? It's where the Marines and the World Government imprison the most vicious criminals in the world. It's unbelievably dangerous."
Anne paid Elder Nyon no mind. She only looked at Yemu with bright, unwavering eyes and said,
"I trust him. If he's made a decision like this, then he must already be prepared."
At that moment, Yemu felt an immense sense of joy. Being understood like this felt wonderful.
"That's right, Elder Nyon. Don't worry. I'm very confident I can pull it off. But for convenience's sake, I can't take too many people with me. Anne, stay here and help me protect everyone else. Just wait for me to come back. And you don't need to worry too much. Before coming here, I already contacted Miss Shakky. If all goes well, Mr. Rayleigh should be here in a few days."
Anne looked at Yemu.
"I understand. I'll wait here for you."
...
Three days later, the Calm Belt.
Not far from Impel Down, on the massive whirlpool current linking Marineford and the Gate of Justice at Impel Down, three warships sped across the sea.
On deck, Kadaru, a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral with short golden hair and a golden longsword at his waist, frowned as he looked at his colleague, a man named Gasparde who also had a head of blond hair.
"Gasparde, why did you suddenly request a transfer to the North Blue? Do you know how many Marines would do anything to get into Headquarters and never get the chance?"
With a cigar clenched between his teeth, Gasparde glanced at his colleague and asked in return,
"When do you think this game of the Navy chasing pirates is ever going to end?"