Another Shichibukai… dead?
The remaining four Elders all turned grim.
The long-bearded, white-haired Gorosei, Marcus Mars, distributed the latest intel. After the others finished reading, the conference room fell into silence again.
After a long pause, Saint Ju Peter finally spoke with a heavy expression:
"No matter what, the Shichibukai System must not be shaken. Our top priority is filling the vacancy."
Saint V. Nusjuro, narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Your idea is?"
"Instead of letting him continue creating chaos… we should attempt to recruit him."
Saint Ju Peter closed the file.
"The Shichibukai System was established to stabilize the balance of power across the seas."
"Since he managed to defeat Crocodile and even Hanafuda back-to-back, it proves his strength is among the highest even within the Shichibukai. If we can bring him into the system, he'll be an extremely useful piece."
"That guy isn't someone who bows easily."
Saint Saturn frowned.
"In just over a month he's committed numerous crimes. Clearly an ambitious, uncontrollable maniac. For most pirates, receiving a Shichibukai invitation is a dream, but for him, it probably holds little appeal."
"Precisely because of that… he must be restrained."
Saint V. Nusjuro pushed up his glasses.
"I agree with Saturn. The New World is growing tense, and we need an Admiral ready at any moment. Enies Lobby is still being rebuilt and requires a large garrison."
"Marine Headquarters can't go all-out to hunt him in the short term. But if we let him roam freely, the situation will spiral further out of control. Making him a Shichibukai would at least temporarily stabilize matters."
"And if he refuses outright?" Saturn asked coldly.
"Then we dispatch CP0 to fill the vacant task force and assist the cleansing operation."
Saint V. Nusjuro said calmly:
"Even if we can't capture him, we must at least push him into the New World. We can't let him keep running wild in Paradise. Hanafuda was Kaido's close friend, the moment Kaido hears he's entered the New World, the Beast Pirates will never let him go."
"That is reasonable. I approve."
"I approve."
"Approved."
"Once we finalize the Shichibukai contract, who should deliver the letter?"
"Let that one go…"
The lantern light flickered in the room.
The five spoke one sentence after another , and soon reached a silent consensus.
Meanwhile… Alabasta Kingdom, Side Palace
"Uncle Cobra, thank you for the warm hospitality tonight."
"It was only a banquet. It is we who should be thanking you."
King Cobra leaned against the headboard, his voice weak, but his gaze sincere as he looked at Shanu:
"If not for all of you, the tragedy at the Sandora River mouth would have been unavoidable. Those merchants and the civilians along the banks were saved… and the royal family's dignity preserved."
"And besides that… we must thank you as well for the matter of Crocodile."
Cobra gave a bitter smile.
"That man was plotting to overthrow the throne, and yet I never realized it…"
"Hm?"
Shanu blinked.
"Uncle, you already know?"
He hadn't even explained yet.
Before arriving in Alabasta, the Curtainfall had stopped overnight at Nanohana, partly to return the sea turtle that Robin rented from the travel agency, and partly because Robin had a secret safehouse there storing Crocodile's communication records. Those documents were originally going to be handed to the royal family as proof.
But apparently… Cobra already knew.
"Yes, Lord Shanu."
Cobra nodded softly, looking complicated.
"In the past two days, the guards searched the capital and the areas around Rainbase where Crocodile once operated. They found multiple hidden bases. The evidence inside… was terrifying."
"If he had not fallen to your hand, Alabasta from top to bottom would've remained blind to his schemes."
Oh.
Makes sense.
The Royal Army moved faster than expected.
Then again, in this timeline the rebellion and civil war hadn't even begun, Cobra's control over the kingdom was at its peak.
Of course, if Crocodile were still alive, the guards would never have found those bases. He'd have cleaned up everything long ago. And Cobra, trusting in his "national hero," wouldn't have ordered a search.
But Crocodile died, suddenly, thinking his ambush at Whisky Peak would be easy.
He never returned, leaving behind mountains of evidence.
"So Lord Shanu… you saved this country twice!"
"This grace, I will remember forever. From now on, you and your companions are eternal friends of Alabasta."
Cobra placed his hand over his chest and bowed deeply.
"No matter when, if you need aid, all of Alabasta will help."
"You're too polite, Uncle."
Shanu smiled.
"Actually… I do have something I want to discuss."
"Please speak," Cobra said hurriedly.
Shanu continued openly:
"Before Crocodile died, in order to beg for his life, he told me many things, including the secret your royal family protects."
"The Poneglyph."
"His true goal wasn't just overthrowing the kingdom, he wanted the information on the Pluton hidden within that stone."
Cobra stiffened.
His eyes rose, meeting the boy's calm gaze. Finally he sighed softly:
"It is true. Though… I cannot lead you to the ancient weapon itself. That Poneglyph records only the location. The actual Pluton is actually not, "
"Not in Alabasta, but in Wano, under Kaido's control. Right?"
"…Yes, "
Cobra suddenly froze.
"Wait, how do you know?!"
This was a secret of the Nefertari line passed down for 800 years!
Even Robin turned her head, startled.
Shanu shrugged:
"Oh, Pluton's real body was found by Kaido long ago. Why else would he set his headquarters right next to it and refuse to move?"
"Before he died, Hanafuda told me, he lived in Wano with Kaido for years, after all."
A blatant lie, but a dead men tell no tales.
Cobra went pale instantly.
Pluton's true form had been found… then what meaning did their centuries of guardianship still hold?
Shanu sighed:
"Reality is reality. The question now is, how long can you continue guarding this secret? As long as the Poneglyph remains here, it will attract danger."
"Why not remove the source of trouble entirely, and hand it to me?"
"Hm?"
Cobra stared blankly.
To someone like Crocodile, the Poneglyph's body meant nothing, only the Pluton info mattered.
But Shanu already knew everything.
So why want the stone itself?
"Because I don't care about Pluton at all. What I want, is the stone itself."
Shanu laughed.
"Uncle, don't you think something that can't be destroyed even after centuries… is perfect training equipment?"
"Training… equipment?"
Cobra was stunned.
But thinking again… it did make sense.
For someone of Shanu's overwhelming level, even the thickest steel plates would be useless as training material.
He lowered his head, pondered briefly, then looked up solemnly:
"I understand."
"If it will truly help you grow stronger, then please take it. Though it cannot repay your kindness, this is all I can offer. If it strengthens you… that is Alabasta's honor."
A monster who had slain two Shichibukais already , if he wished, he could simply take it. The capital had no power to resist him.
That he chose to speak openly… proved his character.
Cobra even felt a childish hope. If only more strong ones like Shanu existed in this chaotic age… the world might be a little brighter.
Thirty Minutes Later, Royal Catacombs
The underground chamber was dark and cold.
A massive, square Poneglyph stood silently in the center, its ancient text shimmering faintly in the torchlight.
Robin traced the glyphs with her fingertips.
Words she had seen in countless Ohara texts were now before her in reality, a dream she thought she'd never reach.
"The Poneglyph…"
Her voice drifted through the chamber. Ten years of longing , and here it was.
Even if she already knew the rough contents from earlier conversations…
this was the genuine article.
She turned silently toward Shanu.
Shanu placed his palm on the stone's surface. Smooth. Cold. Dense beyond anything he had ever touched. Perfect.
He stepped back, inhaled, then coated his fist in Armament Haki, advanced internal destruction included, and struck.
BOOM!
The chamber shook violently. Dust fell like rain.
The Poneglyph… didn't budge. Not even a scratch.
"Oh?"
Even prepared as he was, Shanu couldn't help but grin in surprise.
That punch was enough to shatter ship armor from the inside out, yet the stone swallowed all the Haki like a bottomless void.
"Good stuff!"
Worth the entire trip.
Hanafuda in dinosaur form had been an excellent punching bag… but compared to the Poneglyph, he was nothing.
This stone could support his growth for years. Breaking it was impossible, even Imu couldn't. Otherwise the World Government would've destroyed all Poneglyphs long ago.
But the day he could leave even a dent on it… would mark his evolution to a terrifying new level.
"Tch…" Shanu rubbed his chin.
"How has no one ever used these things properly before?"
Forget training, imagine the possibilities in battle.
If someone like Shiki the Golden Lion carried three or four Poneglyphs floating around him… who on earth could break through that armor?
Even Garp and Sengoku teaming up would struggle.
Shanu smirked.
If one day he could grip it easily, leaving handholds with his bare fingers, he could swing it like a meteor hammer.
Absolutely devastating.
But that was for the future.
For now, the priority was getting this thing back to the Curtainfall.
He bent down, grabbed the bottom edge, and,
"Up!"
The enormous Poneglyph rose cleanly from the ground , lifted onto his shoulder like a simple cargo crate.
Not even as heavy as Hanafuda.
From the capital to the river mouth was over a hundred kilometers, but for Shanu, it was nothing.
"Let's go, Robin!"
Robin stared at his back… then at the empty pedestal.
She couldn't help but laugh quietly.
When Shanu first invited her aboard on that sea turtle, he said he was "very interested" in Poneglyphs too.
She thought it was a lie meant to comfort her. Yet here he was, genuinely interested… just in a slightly ridiculous, very Shanu kind of way.
Next Dawn
The Curtainfall departed the capital under King Cobra's personal farewell, sailing toward the southern estuary.
Both sides waved.
Vivi and Nami cried hardest, waving until their faces were streaked.
"Nami! Don't forget to call!"
"I won't! You take care too!"
The two girls shouted across the river, their voices scattering with the morning wind.
Shanu glanced over.
These two must've talked for hours last night, becoming instant best friends after less than two days, exchanging transponder snail numbers and promising to stay in touch.
Meanwhile, Shanu, their idol of yesterday, was completely forgotten. Which suited him just fine.
Before the farewell even ended, he happily took the cup of coffee Robin brewed and disappeared into the training room with his new "toy."