As the core figure of this island, such an important event could not tolerate any mistakes.
Immediately, he began his search.
Every passing second felt like an eternity. Beads of sweat formed on the forehead of the new Pope—not due to the temperature inside the secret chamber, but because no matter how thoroughly he searched, he couldn't find the Tensei no Mi (Rebirth Angel Fruit) that the old Pope had described.
Logically speaking, a Zoan Mythical Fruit of such significance should have been easy to spot.
"Ah... I must be too nervous. I'll look again!"
Muttering under his breath, the new Pope, filled with doubt, convinced himself that he had simply overlooked it.
So, he searched again.
And again.
And again.
Three times in a row, he examined every fruit meticulously. He studied each one carefully, but the result remained the same.
Then, an ominous thought surfaced in his mind.
"The Angel Fruit has been taken!"
His expression darkened as he scanned the fruits before him. There was no denying it now.
If not for the old Pope's words, he would have sworn that the fruit had to be here, within this very chamber.
With no other choice, he had to consider alternative means of retrieving it.
He turned and left the chamber.
"Your Majesty, what's the matter?"
The paladin standing guard at the door immediately stepped forward, concern evident in his tone.
To the paladins, their sole purpose was to protect the Pope.
"Hah... I couldn't find it."
The Pope's face remained impassive, yet the weight in his voice betrayed his frustration.
"You couldn't find it?"
"Then... does that mean the succession ceremony is incomplete? What should we do next?"
The two paladins flanking him exchanged uneasy glances, their concern barely concealed.
What should they do?
The new Pope was asking himself the same question.
The last two successions had gone smoothly. He could not allow his own to be marred by such an event.
"Hm..."
"Seal off the entire island. No one leaves until the fruit is found!"
He suddenly raised his head, recalling the old Pope's words—if the fruit did not appear in the secret chamber, it might have respawned elsewhere nearby.
There was precedent for this.
A past Pope had also failed to find the Tensei no Mi in the chamber, only for it to be discovered somewhere else on the island.
With this in mind, he decided to expand the search.
"Understood! I will immediately organize a search team!"
One of the paladins saluted and hurried away to carry out the order.
Another paladin remained by his side, ensuring his safety.
"I just hope... it's still on this island."
After issuing his orders, the new Pope murmured weakly.
The followers had no idea where the Pope's divine power came from. But he understood it all too well.
The Tensei no Mi did not always reappear in the same place—it could regenerate anywhere.
The old Pope had warned that some of the missing fruits in the past had only been recovered with the help of the World Government.
That meant the fruit could have appeared outside the island.
If that was the case...
There was only one option left.
They had to notify the World Government.
Within hours, St. Angel Island was under lockdown. No one was permitted to leave.
The paladins, devoted believers, and church officials scoured every corner of the island.
Nothing.
The next day:
"Your Holiness, could this be the fruit you seek?"
"...No. This is just a Sakyamuni Fruit."
The paladins returned in frustration, shaking their heads bitterly.
Days passed.
The entire island had been turned upside down. Not a single stone was left unturned.
Yet the Tensei no Mi was nowhere to be found.
At last, the Pope had to face reality—the fruit had already left the island.
His fists clenched in frustration, only to slowly loosen again.
This sense of helplessness was crushing.
With no other choice, he abandoned the search and returned to the grand cathedral. Without hesitation, he contacted the World Government.
Bli bli bli bli—
In a certain office within Mary Geoise, the Den Den Mushi rang.
"Hello, this is the World Government Office."
"…"
"Oh, Your Holiness! Congratulations on your ascension."
"What? …Hmm. I see. Understood, I will report this immediately."
As an island under the jurisdiction of the World Government, Pope Island held a status higher than some kingdoms.
All because of the Tensei no Mi, a Zoan-type Mythical Fruit.
Now that the new Pope had failed to inherit it, the World Government could not turn a blind eye.
The Pope's goal was clear—to use the government's vast resources to locate the fruit.
Before long, Marine Headquarters received an urgent directive.
They understood the gravity of the situation.
"Spread the word immediately! All Marine branches worldwide must assist in the search!"
In his office, Fleet Admiral Kong slammed his fist on the desk in frustration.
The seas were already in turmoil—losing the Tensei no Mi was one thing, but if it fell into the hands of an ambitious figure, it would become an even greater disaster for the Navy.
This fruit was no less powerful than Sengoku's Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu—and perhaps even surpassed it!
"Yes, sir!"
A Marine officer saluted sharply before hurrying out.
---
Meanwhile, far from Pope Island—
"Ah... Ahh-choo!"
Flying high above the sea, Caesar suddenly sneezed.
Of course, he had no idea what had happened after he left Pope Island. Right now, he was still basking in the joy of obtaining the Tensei no Mi.
His flight speed was extraordinary—he had covered nearly 3.97 million kilometers in mere hours.
Barely a few hours after leaving, he had already crossed the Red Line and returned to the New World.
Guided by a Vivre Card, he would never lose his way.
Meanwhile, aboard the Rex, the crew sailed leisurely across the blue waves, awaiting Caesar's return.
"Vice-Captain, I'm bored! Come train with me!"
Barrett, uninterested in the peaceful voyage, turned to Gnali, eager for a fight.
"Can't you just stay quiet?"
"Look at Brad, he's training by himself."
"Yeah! And if you fight on the ship, you'll break it!"
Lily scolded him angrily.
"I swear, you guys only ever think about fighting!"
"Exactly! Wouldn't it be better to just enjoy some delicious food in peace?"
The three women clinked their glasses together, exchanging annoyed glances at Barrett.
Right now, they had no interest in combat. It was far more enjoyable to relax in the sun with the desserts Yaxi had prepared.
"Hey! Don't eat everything—leave some for us!"
At that moment, Caesar, soaring through the sky, finally spotted the Rex. His face lit up as he quickly descended.
A black shadow fell from above, startling the crew.
"What's going on?!"
As they looked up, they saw it was Caesar. Their expressions instantly turned to joy as they rushed toward him.
"It's the Captain!"
"Boss, you're finally back!"
"Caesar..."
However, as Caesar's gaze landed on Lily, Veena, and Regina, his expression froze.
His cold composure shattered in an instant.
Their lower abdomens...
They were visibly swollen.
Caesar was stunned.
This wasn't weight gain from overindulging in Yaxi's cooking.
No—this was something else entirely.
The next second, he extended his Kenbunshoku Haki.
He immediately sensed several faint, new life forces growing within them.
They were pregnant.
A rare flicker of emotion crossed Caesar's face.
Shocked.
And utterly speechless.
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