This novel is finished, and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395
With Wano Country already plundered, neither Kaido nor Orrick had any choice but to grit their teeth and abandon it.
Question: When is a beast at its most dangerous?
Answer: When it's cornered!
Rowen was absolutely certain the news of Kaido disbanding his pirate crew was true. That fact sent Orrick a clear message…
They had no way out anymore!
The war had started with his own kidnapping, shifted course with the Wano Country incident, and in less than two months had already passed the boiling point. Now it was rushing toward the final decisive battle, something no one had anticipated.
Bang!
The underground chamber doors were kicked open. Sugar gripped a dagger and shrieked: "Don't come closer, you asshole!"
"Cut the nonsense. You're coming with me!"
Rowen flashed forward, lifting her effortlessly. "For the sake of your sister's friendship with Ain, I won't kill you. But don't push your luck!"
"Huh? Sister?" Sugar froze, staring at him. "Monet Nee San? Didn't you people kill her?"
Her eyes burned with fury. "Don't think you can fool me, I'm not a child!"
Rowen didn't answer. Instead, Koby walked up, holding a Den Den Mushi.
"Su…gar?"
The familiar voice coming from the Den Den Mushi made Sugar bite down on her lip hard, her eyes trembling.
"Elder sister?"
"It's me. What are you doing in Wano Country? I thought you were killed in the Dressrosa explosion."
"That's what I should be asking! I thought you were blasted to death by those wicked Marines… but, thank goodness, you're alive."
"We can catch up later. For now, you're coming with me!" Rowen brusquely cut off their emotional reunion, hauling Sugar out.
"Wait! We can't just leave like this!" Sugar kicked and flailed. "That way… that's Lord Orrick's secret chamber. There might be something important inside!"
"Oh? Something like that, huh?"
Rowen signaled Koby to open the door, then glanced curiously at Sugar. "You're betraying Orrick this easily? Was he really that bad to you?"
"Hmph! He only wanted me for my Devil Fruit ability. Whether he treated me good or bad, it's all the same."
Sugar crossed her arms haughtily, though being carried by her collar ruined any shred of dignity.
Because of her unique ability, anyone who kept Sugar had to pamper her, no scaring, no hurting, no rough treatment. Otherwise, if she fainted, all the toys she had turned people into would revert, undoing everything.
Glaring at Rowen, she muttered indignantly: "And besides… despicable Marine! You captured my sister on purpose, didn't you? If I didn't show some value, the two of us would never have survived in your hands."
"That's not true! Master has never mistreated Miss Monet." Koby quickly interjected, only to be met with Sugar's scornful look.
"You're calling him 'Master' already, and you expect me to believe you?"
Koby: "…"
He silently broke the lock and walked into the chamber, ignoring the sharp-tongued girl.
"For the record, I only guarded this room for Orrick. I don't know anything else, so don't bother asking. Fine by me. I never expected you to give me anything useful anyway."
Just then, Koby came running back, his face pale, clutching a bundle of documents.
"Master, look at this, quickly!"
"Oh?"
Given Koby's current experience, anything that rattled him this much had to be extraordinary.
Rowen frowned and took the papers.
After only a glance, BOOM!!!
A terrifying surge of Haoshoku burst out, shaking the entire underground chamber. The walls cracked apart with sharp ka-cha sounds, splitting with jagged scars. Koby and Sugar stared wide-eyed, trembling as Rowen's gaze burned with raw killing intent. He was like an enraged old tiger, his violent aura flooding outward.
"So it was him… I see!" Rowen paused, then stormed off with Sugar in hand, leaving only a single command: "Leave two squads to garrison Wano Country. Everyone else, set off immediately!"
"Yes, sir!" Koby instinctively stood at attention and saluted, but then remembered: "Master, the food and water supplies still aren't replenished, "
"As long as no one dies, that's enough! Send word to the New World branch to deliver more along the way."
At the gates of Orrick's mansion, Rowen bared his teeth in a fierce grin, white fangs gleaming.
"Why must you always stand in my way… you all…"
Seeing Rowen's murderous aura boiling sky-high, Sugar shrank back behind Koby, whispering nervously.
"Where are we going next?"
Koby shivered, his answer stiff and wooden.
"To kill."
"Huh???"
…
Red Line, Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Inside the intensive care ward of the Holy Land hospital, a gathering of individuals so weighty that even a glance would make anyone hold their breath had assembled.
Doctors and nurses scarcely dared to breathe, taking detours whenever possible. If they absolutely had to pass by, they quickened their pace, moving furtively as if sneaking through forbidden ground.
The reason was simple, inside the ward were Tsuru, Aokiji… and the very men who, in name, ruled the world: the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars).
"From what you've said, there really is a problem with Princess Shirahoshi."
After hearing Aokiji's account, Tsuru's brows furrowed tightly, and she let out a long sigh.
"Ah… I fear Akainu and the others don't know. They might suffer a terrible loss."
"The Fleet Admiral… them?" Aokiji turned curiously. "Who else?"
"Kizaru, and two of CP0's strongest operatives. You were unconscious too long, I'll explain everything in detail."
But just then, the one tending to him, Dr. Kureha, cut in.
"That's enough. Visiting hours are over. Whatever you need to discuss can wait until tomorrow. My patient needs rest."
"You dare?! Do you think you have the right to speak here?" The baldest and most hot-tempered of the Gorōsei snapped, his eyes narrowing.
"Chi-chi-chi… little brat, are you sure you want to speak to me like that?" Kureha swigged from her flask, flicked her wrist, and a knife shot through the air.
She had just attacked a Gorōsei!
But no one panicked, for they could see the blade wasn't aimed at his body.
Thunk!
The knife whistled over his head and embedded itself in the wall. The bald Gorōsei felt the chill on his scalp, hand instinctively rising to his gleaming head as his eyes widened in disbelief.
"You dare…!"
"I'm the doctor. When it comes to my patient's condition, I decide."
"Enough. Stop this nonsense." The long-mustached Gorōsei stepped forward, blocking their gazes. "Dr. Kureha is right. Aokiji's injuries are still grave. Rushing him is useless, and he cannot return to the battlefield yet."
"And besides, the real issue here isn't this, is it?"
Tsuru's eyes widened in surprise.
So… the Gorōsei knew this doctor from the Sakura Kingdom? Seeing the bald one fume but hold his tongue, she exhaled in relief.
"Then, we'll leave things to you, Dr. Kureha. We'll take our leave."
"Go on, then. I won't see you out. Honestly, you lot never change! So old and still wasting time every day…"
Under Tsuru's astonished gaze, the Gorōsei's faces twitched, but none of them snapped back. As they stepped out of the ward, Tsuru couldn't contain her curiosity. She turned back and asked quietly:
"She…"
"Don't ask. You're not authorized to know." The long-mustached Gorōsei cut her off, then looked at his colleagues.
"You all heard what Aokiji said. It seems… Orrick really has found that place."
That place?
Where?
It felt as though some enormous secret was about to be unveiled.
Taking a steadying breath, Tsuru forced down her racing heartbeat as her mind spun furiously.
"Report!"
A CP0 operative hurried over, saluted, and said: "Elders, the completed Pacifista units have been delivered to the Holy Land. Commander-in-Chief Kong is overseeing Dr. Vegapunk's final adjustments."
"That's good news indeed." The long-mustached Gorōsei stroked his beard. "The completed Pacifistas are formidable, and they can be mass-produced. Since they're ready, why don't we all take a look?"
"Hmph. Not me. Go if you want."
Still fuming, the bald Gorōsei waved his hand dismissively and stalked away.
The others exchanged helpless glances, shrugged, and followed along.
(End of Chapter)