BOOM!
In the end, with the cooperation of Rosse and Sakazuki, Impel Down underwent a massive transformation in three days.
From the original island radius of about 3,000 meters, it became a super-large island with a radius of 4,500 meters.
It looked like the radius had increased by only 1,500 meters, but the actual area increased by 2.25 times, and because the underground rock layers were now thicker, they could even dig down several more levels.
From the usable area perspective, Impel Down was now perfectly capable of functioning as a normal prison for a million people.
After the island expansion was complete, Rosse personally crushed a few remaining A-rank strongmen who were still barely holding on in the seawater, granting them final release.
After doing that, he waved his hand to withdraw the seawater from inside Impel Down, and left directly with Vanessa.
"All units, begin cleanup!", Sakazuki waited until Rosse had left before ordering the Marines to go in and collect the bodies.
His fruit ability was perfectly suited for cleaning up the aftermath.
Seeing those criminal corpses consumed by magma only filled him with unparalleled excitement.
———
On the other side.
After Rosse returned to the Holy Land, he went straight to the World Government building.
This time his arrival had not been announced to anyone.
As the gate of the Flower Hall opened, Rosse stepped into this holy place of the World Government for the first time.
"You're here...", A long, gender-ambiguous, ethereal voice came from the highest point of the Flower Hall.
A shadow draped in a black robe stood before the throne at the top of the stairs, as if looking down on all below.
"You anticipated this day a long time ago, didn't you, my charming ancestor," Rosse smiled and climbed the steps one by one until he reached the same height as the other.
From the build, Imu looked much frailer than him.
But because the robe covered the entire body, the true appearance could not be seen.
Rosse had no interest in what she looked like anyway.
Now that his power was greater, it was time for the other to step down.
"Hmph! Conqueror's Haki is the reflection of everyone's heart. From the day our Conqueror's Haki intersected, I knew you would come here. You just came much earlier than I predicted," Imu's strange red eyes stared unblinking at Rosse.
Over countless ages, Imu had seen many exceptionally talented people.
The strongest and most unreasonable of them was the old Joy Boy.
But even Joy Boy didn't compare to Rosse by half.
The aura Rosse now gave off had already surpassed Joy Boy's from back then.
At Imu's level, one glance was enough to tell whether someone could be defeated.
In front of Rosse, Imu had almost no chance of winning.
Fortunately, this latecomer wasn't the reincarnation of Nika, he belonged to their side.
"Come earlier and you could enjoy life earlier. What are your plans? Shall I provide for your retirement, or would you rather meet the other ancestors?"
For his own kind, Rosse was still willing to offer a decent arrangement.
But if the other did not want a dignified exit, that was fine too, he could make them exit with dignity by force.
"I will move into the Nerona family's tower, and I will help you deal with the remaining families. In exchange, you marry Vanessa," Imu said calmly.
"No, no, no. You can move into the tower, but I'll handle those families in my own time. I already have plans for Vanessa, no need for your arrangements. You don't seem like the sort to arrange your own descendants, anyway," Rosse smiled playfully and refused Imu's proposal outright.
He wanted Imu off the throne simply because she looked in the way up high.
Those Celestial Dragons who had already behaved weren't in a hurry to be removed.
Their combined strength was greater than that of the two NEW Marines; such powerful forces were not something to waste when restructuring the world.
Before the new generation grew, these people were a solid pillar of the World Government.
When the new generation rose, those people could step aside.
As for how they would fare afterward, that would depend on how hard they worked in these years.
"Do as you wish," Imu looked at Rosse deeply and then took the initiative to walk down the steps.
The transfer of power completed, just like that.
He could afford to lose, and he could let go. Eternal life meant eternal time.
He had all the time he needed to wait.
Eras rose and fell, but he would remain immortal.
This retreat now was only temporary.
If Rosse failed, he would hide in the shadows and ultimately reshape the World Government.
If Rosse could keep the World Government prospering, he would be glad that there was no successor.
Rosse might win, but Imu could never truly be defeated forever.
Imu's figure slowly left the Flower Hall, and this hall that symbolized the World Government's supreme power finally belonged solely to Rosse.
———
Three days later, Rosse summoned the Five Elders and his most trusted people to the Flower Hall.
Plans cannot keep up with changes.
He had to temporarily finish everything on the pirate-world front so he could confidently pursue the chance to break into SSS rank.
Having reached the SS limit, he could roughly sense what lay beyond.
He still belonged to this world; SS rank was theoretically the world's pinnacle.
To transcend it and have a lifespan truly as long as heaven and earth, he would either have to devour the core of this world and become its will, or find another world and completely consume it.
Either method would mean true transcendence, and both were highly tempting to Rosse.
Of course, Rosse's domestic arrangements would continue.
The grand play set for sixteen years later had been long planned.
But such a long wait needed diversions.
Using this time to achieve transcendence would be a fine choice.
"Saint Rosse?"
Before Saint Mars and Saint Nusjuro and the other Five Elders entered the Flower Hall, they already had suspicions.
After all, it was Rosse who had Saturn summon them here.
Even if Rosse didn't know everything, Saturn surely understood the balance of power.
Being summoned into the Flower Hall already said a lot.
Either Rosse had reached an agreement with the one in the Flower Hall, or Rosse now stood above that being.
Either way, that was not good news for them.
Though the Flower Hall occupant had always been above them, they lived in vastly different times and had little interaction; that occupant did not manage World Government affairs.
Rosse was different.
By age, Rosse was much younger than they were.
If Rosse completely took control of the World Government, they could imagine how miserable their future lives would be.
But finally, when they saw the figure sitting on the throne at the very top of the Flower Hall turn into Rosse, they let go of every last hope.
The scenario they had feared most had actually come true.
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