Year 1505 of the Sea Circle Calendar — Spring
After resting and overseeing the gradual development of Dressrosa for some time, Grimm felt genuinely pleased with how the city was growing.
Early one morning, he walked out to the flower fields, where he found Hancock and her sisters, along with Violet.
"I plan to travel abroad for a while," he said with a gentle smile.
"Would you all like to come along?"
"Where are you going?" asked Hancock, whose beauty had already begun to blossom fully.
"I need to seek out reliable allies and powerful warriors, and expand our territory. Besides… it's time to officially begin my grand plan." Grimm spoke thoughtfully.
"Big Brother, you go ahead," Violet said sweetly and sensibly.
"I'll stay here in Dressrosa to help Father and Uncle Planck. Besides… I love little Rebecca too much — I just can't bear to leave her behind."
Grimm patted her head affectionately, and the little girl beamed with happiness.
Rebecca, of course, was the daughter of Cyrus and Scarlet. Seeing the two of them finally united — without the tragic fate they suffered in the original timeline — filled Grimm's heart with genuine joy.
"And what about you three?" Grimm turned his gaze to Hancock and her sisters.
"Lord Grimm… I wish to return to Amazon Lily with Sandersonia and Mary to train and grow stronger!" Hancock clenched her fists tightly.
Grimm paused in his step and looked back, meeting her eyes — which burned with unwavering determination.
"I know I am still weak and cannot be of much help to you yet," she said earnestly.
"I lack strength in battle, and unlike Sister Violet, I have no talent for trade or reconnaissance. Right now… I am useless to you."
"Then do exactly as your heart tells you," Grimm replied. He turned his back to her and began walking away toward the horizon.
"But remember this, Hancock… I believe that one day, you will become one of the people I trust most in this entire world."
At those words, the tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally spilled over. "Lord Grimm… I promise you… I will work hard and become strong!"
Watching Grimm's figure fade into the distance, Mary whispered to Hancock, "Sister… leaving Lord Grimm… I… I don't think I'm ready for this…"
Sandersonia felt exactly the same way. To them, Grimm was like family — perhaps even closer than their own people back on Amazon Lily.
"We cannot hold him back," Hancock said, brushing her hair back with a gesture that already carried seventy percent of the grace and dignity of the Pirate Empress she would one day become.
"I am going back to Amazon Lily… and I will become its Queen!"
"Wait… but there is one problem," Sandersonia suddenly said, her expression turning into a pained grimace.
"Do you… actually remember the way back to the island? How exactly are we going to get there?"
"..."
West Coast of Dressrosa
When Grimm boarded his flagship Sovereign of the Seas alone, the entire shore was packed with people there to see him off.
At the forefront stood Planck, Yasuo, and Jaina.
Behind them were King Riku, Cyrus and his family, and Violet.
Further back, nearly two hundred thousand citizens of Dressrosa waved their hands and cheered, bidding farewell to their "Emperor" as he set sail on his great expedition.
"Farewell, everyone! I go now to welcome yet another new era!"
---
Three Days Later — Somewhere in the New World
Opening the newspaper that morning, Grimm noticed there was still no mention of his meeting with Charlotte Linlin and Kaido.
How much time has passed since then?
They clearly knew what happened, yet deliberately concealed it.
Were they trying to prevent future events that they could no longer stop, simply to preserve the World Government's dignity?
In the original history, the era of the Four Emperors was still at least eight, perhaps even ten years away.
But with his interference, that timeline had been drastically shortened.
Still, nothing in this world was absolute. Grimm knew well that fate was fickle, and many things were destined to happen regardless.
For instance: Cyrus and Scarlet's daughter was still named Rebecca. Logically speaking, even a difference of one second in timing — like in that game where even a tiny change alters everything — should have resulted in a completely different child being born.
Yet here she was, exactly as before. Was there really such a thing as coincidence in this world?
After leaving Dressrosa, his next targets were already clear.
A war was raging between two nations in the New World — Ragna and Refal.
Both kingdoms were located within the territories Grimm had already claimed on his map.
He traveled alone because he already had a complete and flawless plan to conquer them.
These two nations were currently locked in all‑out war.
Honestly speaking, in this world of islands and oceans, a "kingdom" — even a large one — was only about the size of a mid‑sized city from his past life.
Even Dressrosa itself wasn't much bigger than that.
The standing army of such nations usually numbered around twenty thousand soldiers. To him, their battles were nothing more than massive street brawls.
As for why he hadn't made a move yet on Shiki the Golden Lion, who was currently locked away in Level 6 of Impel Down…
Grimm simply wouldn't act unless he was absolutely certain of victory.
He had time. There was no rush.
---
Unlike the continent of Lulusia, where Grimm had intervened in the past, Ragna and Refal were neighboring island nations, separated only by a strait roughly ten kilometers wide.
As a result, their battles were fought entirely at sea.
His old strategy — waiting for both sides to engage, then stepping in to wipe out both armies — simply wouldn't work here.
Naval battles meant ships sinking and bodies falling into the deep waters.
Without access to "revival tokens" or souls from the dead, Grimm wouldn't be able to gain anything from the slaughter. It would be a total waste.
So this time, he would do things much more directly — conquer them one by one.
His first target was Refal. Why start here? Simple — it was closer.
Their military camp was set up as a temporary fortress along the coastline.
---
One Week Later — The Empire of Refal
That morning's newspaper reported that Charlotte Katakuri — the second son of Charlotte Linlin — had led his crew to conquer yet another nation.
"That old woman is certainly fast…" Grimm muttered, tossing the paper into the sea as he landed on the island.
He activated Holy Insight to scan the area.
The main military camp was located on the northwest coast, while he had landed on the southwest side — quite a distance away.
However, patrol units were everywhere, sentries watching for enemy movements and guarding the rear flank.
"How troublesome… I might as well treat this as sightseeing while I eliminate them one by one."
Against such enemies, he wouldn't even bother drawing his weapon. His fists and abilities would be more than enough.
---
Five Minutes Later…
A patrol squad of about twenty soldiers, dressed in Refal's golden military uniforms, heard a sudden sound and immediately went on high alert.
BAM!
A flash of golden light erupted. In an instant, one soldier's head was pierced clean through by a golden spear.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Golden lances flew continuously, impaling the members of the patrol one after another.
"Take cover! Everyone take cover!" shouted the squad leader.
The remaining dozen or so soldiers scrambled behind trees and rocks.
SWISH!
But the assault didn't stop. The golden spears pierced effortlessly through their makeshift defenses — wood or stone, it made no difference — striking vital points with deadly accuracy.
Every shot was fatal.
"I‑Impossible… how…?!"
Grimacing in rage and disbelief, the squad leader grabbed his rifle and fired wildly in the direction of the attack.
But in the very next second…
SWISH!
His head was also pierced through.
Grimm slowly descended from the air and landed before the bodies.
"One week ago, I sent a message to your King ordering him to cease all war and wait for my arrival. He chose to ignore me… so I suppose I'll just have to do this myself."
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