After Fang Huo and Newgate left the Lost World,
the others quickly explored this pocket dimension—after all, they only had two or three hours before the outside world might reach Enies Lobby.
Outside, it might already be Enies Lobby!
"Lost World? This is a gold world!"
Rocks complained. He'd wanted to pry up a few gold floor tiles, but with Stussy and Charlotte Linlin eyeing him, he gave up.
Still, the Gibeck's Sword held plenty of gold.
Rather than hauling it out, better to leave it in this space.
If he ever needed gold, Fang Huo surely wouldn't refuse him.
Right—Fang Huo's treasure was basically his treasure.
That thought soothed Rocks's heart—a little.
Kiel Bastard and Maron dashed to the far side of the wall, where the common quarters and Rocks Pirates' supply zone lay.
They saw their allotted gold and treasure.
"I'll build my own treasure tower right here!"
Kiel Bastard relocated his gold, boasting proudly.
If they weren't pressed for time, he'd have started construction himself.
"From now on, every coin in my room goes into the first mate's pocket dimension."
Sanbel's trust in Fang Huo had turned blind.
He believed Fang Huo would never covet his loot.
"Then claim a room here!"
Babel saw the apprentices and Shimotsuki servants already housed, so he quickly snatched a room for his own gold.
Stussy and Charlotte Linlin carted their shares straight into the Golden Castle—they intended to live inside it.
Rocks likewise claimed the Golden Castle as his third residence, no questions asked.
"Why don't we ask the first mate for a suite in the castle..."
Kiel Bastard and Maron pulled Babel, Sanbel and the rest into a huddle.
The thought of a glittering, gold-filled castle made them drool.
Given the choice, they'd never stay on this messy side.
Broken ships and debris everywhere—hardly comfortable.
"Deal! We'll petition the first mate later."
They were already scheming, picturing how they'd brag to Golden Lion Shiki and Silver Axe.
Maybe while they lounged in the Golden Castle, Shiki and company would be stuck here.
That was the perk of siding with first mate Fang Huo.
Shimotsuki Furiko, seeing Stussy and Charlotte Linlin settle in the castle, declared herself Fang Huo's retainer and likewise claimed a room there.
Stussy seemed to read Furiko's mind; sparks of a love-rival battlefield flickered between them.
Charlotte Linlin, meanwhile, was delighted with her gold-pillar and gold-bell Homies.
She even poured more of her soul reserves into turning the entire Golden Castle into a castle Homie.
If soul power ran short, they could always raid Enies Lobby.
Rumor put tens of thousands of enforcers, judges, and Marines there—Fang Huo would drink the blood, she'd harvest souls and lifespans... perfect.
— Aboard the Gibeck's Sword in the outside world —
They had reached the waters of Water 7.
In this era, rival shipyards often bled over contracts.
The island was as chaotic and lawless as any pirate stronghold.
No Sea Train yet, no Iceburg-consolidated Galley-La—just seven violent yards fighting for work.
Tom's future Sea Train would bring more trade and curb the violence.
Later, Iceburg would merge the seven into Galley-La, become mayor, and secure huge World Government & Marine contracts, reviving Water 7's shipwright glory.
Only then would the island regain its title of Shipbuilding Isle.
Fang Huo stopped by Water 7 to gather intel.
Right now, Fishman Tom was a nobody.
Hours of asking around turned up nothing.
Fang Huo couldn't even confirm whether Tom had arrived on Water 7.
If he had, he'd still be a rookie—who knew when he'd obtain the Pluton blueprints.
Fang Huo shelved the search and set sail for Enies Lobby.
He'd find Tom once the Fishman became famous.
—'I wonder if the Giant Warrior Pirates' Kashi and Oimo have been tricked by the World Government into guarding Enies Lobby...'
'Fifty years after the crew disbanded, they left Elbaf to find Dorry and Brogy. The Government lied, saying the pair had been captured; to free them, the two must guard the gate for a century.'
'Counting back, that's 52 years before the main storyline...'
'They shouldn't be fooled yet.'
As Enies Lobby neared, Fang Huo mused: if the giants were there, he could send them to Small Garden to talk Dorry and Brogy into returning.
But most likely they hadn't even set out—this was, after all, 53 years pre-canon.
Also, if they were to destroy Enies Lobby, the rookies Shimotsuki Furiko and Shimotsuki Kōzaburō shouldn't take part.
The two still clung to peaceful hearts.
Once he brought Rocks and company out, he'd leave the pair in the Lost World for now.
"Fang Huo! Targeting Enies Lobby—are you hitting back at the World Government or just hiking your bounty?"
Newgate's tone was grave; the three Government strongholds struck fear across the seas.
Enies Lobby, the 'Island Without Night,' had never fallen in 800 years.
The Tarai Current links Enies Lobby, Marineford, and Impel Down; assault one, and Marine elites would soon swarm in.
Previously, Rocks had split the Gates of Justice—but hadn't actually invaded the island.
Did that count as breaching Enies Lobby?
"Both!"
"Your bounty's already two hundred million above mine."
"Time to repay the Gorosei and the Gods Knights for their ambush!"
Fang Huo steered the upgraded Gibeck's Sword above Enies Lobby, activated its Ark Cloud-Maker, then began pulling Rocks and the others from the Lost World.
Under the Ark Cloud-Maker, storm clouds gathered, darkening the sky over Enies Lobby.
Crackle—
Lightning danced within the black clouds!
"Fang Huo! This is amazing—Zeus loves these storm clouds!"
Charlotte Linlin, reappearing, thrilled at the tempest above.
Her powers meshed perfectly with Fang Huo's devices.
He wanted blood, she wanted souls; his thunderclouds were hers to wield.
With the Soul-Soul Fruit, she could give the lightning sentience, turning it into homing bolts.
"Today, just sit back and watch my show!"
While forging Raigo, Fang Huo sensed meteors—today he'd perform a duet of thunder orb and meteor, showing the world Fang Huo's island-destroying might!
—