Black learned of Akainu's promotion from the newspaper the next day.
From the perspective of the Celestial Dragons, Sakazuki was already the most suitable candidate for the World Government.
The Marine's slogan of justice had infected and influenced many people.
So when these people faced tasks that were not so just, they would be confused and slack off.
Some even openly rebelled, like Monkey D. Dragon.
Only Sakazuki would execute orders meticulously.
You just need him to strike at pirates, and he will listen to you on everything else...
After breakfast, Black returned to his room alone, preparing to organize the ability cards he had recently acquired.
Currently, seven of the ten slots in the System Space's card storage area were empty.
The remaining three were: adult stage Shiki, adult stage Red Earl, and elderly Akainu.
Black could already defeat them now, but he wanted to wait until his strength improved further, until he could deal with them relatively easily before challenging them.
During these months of sailing, Black had also accumulated several ability cards—
Physical fitness
Swordsman Level Swordsmanship * 2
Master Swordsman Level Swordsmanship
Zoan-type, Bug-Bug Fruit, Scorpion Form
Black thought for a moment and applied the Physical Fitness and Master Swordsman Level Swordsmanship to himself.
Even if Mandy used another Master Swordsman Level Swordsmanship ability card, she wouldn't be able to elevate her swordsmanship to the Great Swordsman level.
Koala had greater talent in martial arts compared to swordsmanship.
Black didn't plan to cultivate her into a copy of Kizaru, but rather intended for Koala to follow Aokiji's path of combining martial arts with Devil Fruit abilities.
As for those two Swordsman ability cards, applying them to anyone wouldn't provide much improvement anymore.
Black planned to give them to Stella and Rami another day, so they would have a little self-preservation ability.
Just then, Stella outside knocked on the door:
"Your Highness, the CP people are here."
"Hmm?"
Black was a little surprised, but still walked out of the room.
Arriving in the hall, he saw two CP agents, each carrying a person, waiting.
Seeing Black, both immediately saluted.
Black waved his hand:
"What's going on with these two people?"
The older agent handed the person he was carrying to the younger agent, then stepped forward and knelt on one knee:
"Saint Black, the Zoan-type, Bird-Bird Fruit, Peregrine Falcon Form ability user, and the Zoan-type, Turtle-Turtle Fruit, Tortoise Form ability user that you ordered us to find have been located."
"Oh?"
Only then did Black remember the task he had given to CP.
It had only been a few months, from finding the people to defeating them and bringing them back to the Holy Land; CP's efficiency was quite high.
Indeed, as long as he didn't rely on them to deal with great pirates, handing other minor tasks to CP was quite hassle-free.
He cast his gaze upon the two people the younger agent was carrying.
Their clothes were tattered, their heads hung low, and their consciousness was blurry.
They wore Sea Stone handcuffs on their wrists and a collar around their necks.
"You've done well."
Black casually praised them, and the two CP agents became incredibly excited, as if they had received some great reward.
This made Black once again lament that the World Government's eight hundred years had not been in vain; at least their brainwashing methods were truly impressive.
He waved for the Slaves to come and lock these two people in the prison first, then gestured for the CP agents to leave.
Black then instructed Stella not to let anyone disturb him, and hurried into the prison.
There were only three people in the prison: two Zoan-types and one Awakened one.
Black didn't waste any more words this time; after unlocking their handcuffs, he directly slapped the two corresponding ability cards onto them...
By the time Black left the prison, his face was filled with excitement.
Indeed, just as he had guessed, the ability cards had a very high chance of awakening Devil Fruit abilities.
Although there were only three cases, it could basically be confirmed that identical ability cards could awaken an ability user.
Black couldn't help but think of the several Devil Fruits he currently had stored.
Invisible Fruit, Ghost-Ghost Fruit (Devil Fruit), Mera Mera no Mi, Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and Vampire Fruit.
Black, of course, preferred the Vampire Fruit.
Not only was it a Mythical Zoan, providing enhancements in various aspects, but it also granted the ability of longevity.
However, he didn't plan to eat a Devil Fruit right now.
At least not until the card space dropped a Vampire Fruit ability card.
"Next, I need to figure out what results three ability cards can produce."
Black also didn't kill the two people; he planned to take them out for experiments again when he had another Tortoise Fruit or Peregrine Falcon Fruit ability card.
Returning to the courtyard, Black saw Mandy practicing her sword and walked over.
Mandy noticed his arrival, and her movements became slightly distorted.
Ever since yesterday's events, Mandy had become a bit strange.
She still maintained her expressionless demeanor, but occasionally she would fall into her own thoughts.
Black found it amusing and couldn't help but tease:
"Mandy, come to my room tonight."
Mandy's face flushed, her longsword almost slipped from her hand, and she lowered her head slightly, softly uttering a "Mm."
Time gradually arrived at the year 1502 of the Sea Calendar.
On this day, Black received a piece of news—
Rosward had been turned into a woman in West Blue!!!
"Puhahaha..."
Upon hearing this news, Black couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He had thought Rosward would be beaten up by Dragon, after all, father beats father, son beats son, Oda's favorite inheritance of will.
He had also thought that the other party would be sent flying by Kuma, or even killed by the Revolutionary Army.
But he never expected Ivan to be so creative.
What should he be called from now on?
Rosward Palace? Roseward Palace? Rosswarty Palace?
"Hahahahaha..."
Thinking of these things, Black laughed heartily again.
Not only that, but every time Rosward was mentioned in the future, it would remind the World Government of the Revolutionary Army.
This time, the Gorosei couldn't possibly forget, could they?
...On the other side, the Marine, however, couldn't laugh at all.
No, at least Garp was laughing.
But everyone else's expressions were very solemn.
Sengoku's veins bulged on his forehead:
"Garp! Shut up! He's the son you taught!"
"Hahaha... Isn't this great?"
Garp said, eating senbei:
"Anyway, Celestial Dragons usually dress like comedians!"
Sengoku ignored this stubborn man and instead took out a photo and slapped it on the table.
At this, everyone else also looked like they were trying to suppress their laughter.
In the photo, a feminized Rosward was trying on a dress in front of a mirror.
Sengoku's eye twitched, and he pressed his hand on the photo, saying:
"The World Government demands that we Marines respond immediately!"
"Arrest all those saboteurs who call themselves the Revolutionary Army, and at the same time, bring Rosward... Palace... Saint back!"
Borsalino sat in his chair, spreading his hands:
"It's so troublesome~ That adult seems quite pleased with his new look~"
Tsuru added from the side:
"This is a blasphemy against the identity of the Creator's descendants. The Gorosei demand that we 'handle it discreetly'."
"Oh dear..."
Kuzan scratched his head:
"So, quietly bring the person back and then pretend nothing happened?"
"That's certainly not allowed either!"
Sengoku looked at Akainu, who had only been promoted to Admiral a few days ago:
"The World Government demands that the Admiral immediately mobilize to completely destroy Monkey D. Dragon's group."
"If the news leaks, the World Government will declare to the outside world that the Celestial Dragon voluntarily participated in a fashion experiment."
Garp suddenly raised his hand:
"Can I apply to watch? I want to see how Akainu coaxes 'her' to wear the bubble headgear again."
An exasperated Sengoku punched Garp flying:
"Meeting adjourned!"