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Time trickled by as Arthur convalesced.
One month later—
Arthur lay on the great bed in the Thunder God Palace, reading a newspaper. Tubes snaked from his body to a collection of medical instruments that beeped in a steady, rhythmic cadence, constantly recording the changes in his condition.
A full month of rest, and his injuries hadn't improved in the slightest. In fact, they showed signs of getting worse.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
A violent cough echoed through the sickroom. Arthur raised a weak hand to wipe the blood from his lips, but his eyes remained fixed on the paper.
This edition featured three headlines, each one capable of shaking the entire world.
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OHARA DESTROYED BY BUSTER CALL.
Scholars Accused of Plotting to Revive Ancient Weapons.
'DEVIL CHILD' NICO ROBIN, AGE 8, SOLE SURVIVOR.
Bounty of 79,000,000 Berries Issued for Her Capture.
WORLD GOVERNMENT DECREE.
Any Who Study the Void Century Will Be Executed Without Exception.
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"Heh... cough, cough!" A cold laugh escaped Arthur's lips, but it was cut short as a flush of crimson rose to his cheeks. He quickly covered his mouth, but blood still seeped through his fingers.
The coughing fit lasted a long time. When it finally subsided, he skillfully took a silk cloth and wiped his chin.
The World Government, terrified of a public backlash, had saddled Ohara with a trumped-up charge—accusing them of trying to revive the Ancient Weapons.
Any intelligent person could see it was a lie. If Ohara truly possessed that kind of power, would a Buster Call have been enough to destroy them? But the sea was never short on fools. Most would take the news at face value.
There were thirty Poneglyphs scattered across the world, nine of which held key information. Four of them were the crimson Road Poneglyphs, which, when brought together, revealed the coordinates of the final island, Laugh Tale.
One Road Poneglyph was missing. Another was on Zou, the giant elephant that had once been part of Roger's territory, now home to the Mink Tribe. The other two were in the hands of Kaido and Big Mom.
Arthur had already taken most of Roger's territory, which meant Zou was now technically within his sphere of influence. When he had the time, he would pay the great elephant a visit and move that red stone to Raijin Island.
How many sleepless nights would the World Government have if they knew the Thunder God Pirates were also collecting those forbidden relics?
The thought of causing them trouble brought a faint smile to his lips.
A chaotic world was a more exciting world. Those who relied on others, who lived at the mercy of the powerful—they had no one to blame but themselves for their lack of strength to change things.
Arthur slowly sat up, his eyes moving down the page.
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THE MOST EVIL BLOODLINE—SON OF THE PIRATE KING, BORN!
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Roger's lover, Portgas D. Rouge.
To protect the Pirate King's bloodline from the Marines who were hunting for it, she had, through sheer force of will, carried Ace for a full twenty months. She gave birth to him on the island of Baterilla in the South Blue, and then, her strength finally spent, she died.
She was a truly great woman.
With most of the Navy's top brass occupied with the Ohara Buster Call, the duty had fallen to the Marine Hero, Garp, who had only just recovered enough strength to fight.
He had "volunteered" to lead the mission to the South Blue.
They had turned the entire sea upside down, but of course, had found nothing. The Marines had only discovered the body of Portgas D. Rouge. Her child had vanished without a trace. Many assumed the infant, born into such sin, had died as well.
Perhaps only Arthur knew the truth. Before his execution, Roger had entrusted his unborn son to the one man he trusted most—Garp.
With Garp in charge, the Marines on that mission could have searched until they died and they never would have found Ace.
Just as expected, immediately after the "failed" mission, Garp had taken a leave of absence, using the excuse of returning to the East Blue to rest. In reality, he had taken the newborn Ace back to his own hometown, a strange and peaceful place—Foosha Village.
If the first two stories had managed to capture Arthur's attention, it was the third that truly piqued his interest.
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IMPEL DOWN BREACHED AGAIN!
'Golden Lion' Shiki Becomes Second Man to Escape the Impenetrable Fortress.
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With the Navy's top powers all occupied, the great emperor, who had been imprisoned for nearly two years, had finally escaped from the great underwater prison.
However, the Golden Lion had paid a heavy price. He had been forced to cut off his own legs, replacing them with his own beloved swords.
To be ruthless with your enemies is one thing, but to be even more ruthless with yourself... that is the mark of a true emperor.
Reading this, Arthur couldn't help but respect the Golden Lion's resilience. The man had taken hit after hit—the ship's wheel lodged in his skull, now his legs gone—yet he kept getting back up.
His story was pure tragedy.
It was like the universe had it out for him.
If the man had had a little more luck, if his mind had been a little sharper, perhaps he would not have fallen to such a state.
What a pity. Even if he had escaped, it was useless. The Golden Lion had been a broken man ever since Roger's death. He would never regain his former glory.
Arthur sighed. It seemed that none of the great emperors who had once ruled the seas were destined for a good end.
"Rather than let you prepare for twenty years, only to be defeated in such a pathetic, meaningless way—why don't I arrange a grand funeral for you myself, Golden Lion?" Arthur's voice was a low whisper.
He could not bear to see such a king, a man who had once conquered the seas, meet such an ignominious end.
It had nothing to do with fame or fortune.
It didn't matter if the Golden Lion himself would agree.
In the future, Arthur would personally give the former emperor of the seas a grand funeral, a final journey worthy of his life, under the watchful eyes of the entire world.
None of them were granted a good end, but Arthur could at least make their ending a little more spectacular. It would, perhaps, soothe a small regret in his own heart.
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"Thunder Emperor! The Commanders have returned!" a voice called from outside the palace, filled with the utmost reverence.
A moment later, several maids in nurse's uniforms entered the room. They carefully began to remove the tubes from Arthur's body, then reached out to help him up.
"I can still walk," Arthur said, his brow furrowed. He waved them away.
He was not yet so injured that he couldn't even move. If a battle were to break out now, he could at least take a few enemies down with him. He hated these nurses who treated him like an invalid.
He slowly got out of bed. Surrounded by a crowd of subordinates, he walked through the wide, bright corridors and entered the main hall of the Thunder God Palace.
Inside, all the key members of the Thunder God Pirates were gathered.
Vegapunk, Shiryu, Don Chinjao, Byrnndi World, Naguri, Avalo Pizarro, Catarina Devon, and Vasco Shot were all there.
The Colossal Battleship, Sanjuan Wolf, was waiting outside due to his immense size.
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