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Chapter 223 - Chapter 223: Targeting the Celestial Dragons, Opening Wano's Borders

The captured Marines had been taken to Wano Country and imprisoned in Udon Prison.

Kizaru and the others were held here. Conditions were better than under Kaido's rule, at least they had food and drink and weren't forced to mine ore.

"The Cross Guild's next target is you. Aren't you worried at all?" Kizaru asked Marco, who was overseeing his imprisonment.

"Not really. We have our ways. Just because they repelled the Marines doesn't mean they can defeat us," Marco replied with a laugh.

"Quite confident. Then again, your current strength is indeed formidable. You might even be able to takedown the Marine Headquarters," Kizaru said.

"Marine Headquarters? Hahaha, maybe. But our goals, our ambitions...are a bit bigger," Marco said, smiling.

"Bigger?"

"What about the Celestial Dragons?!"

"What a bold thought. The Celestial Dragons aren't as simple as you imagine. Even the powers from nine hundred years ago couldn't succeed. Do you really think you can?"

"I don't know. But Big Brother said life's goals are worth trying. If we don't try, we'll never have a chance. We'd be doomed to live forever on the sea, never again seeing a piece of land." Marco said.

"The world might change. I hope you succeed," Kizaru said.

"Hearing such words from a Marine Admiral is quite shocking," Marco remarked.

"Perhaps I've grown tired of war."

Marco got his answer, then left Udon prison.

In Wano's Kuri region, reconstruction was nearly complete. The style remained true to Wano's traditional aesthetics. When Roy returned and saw it, he didn't comment. Whitebeard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin were all there.

"I never thought the four of us would sit together and talk one day," Charlotte Linlin said.

Except for Shanks, three old Yonko were all present. Shanks had become an Emperor six years ago, while Roy had taken Whitebeard's place.

"Nothing's impossible. When I first came to Wano, I was in too much of a rush to meet with you." Roy said.

"Vegapunk is dead. The secret he mentioned, the truth of the Void Century, right? I asked Katakuri. There was indeed an earthquake in Totto Land, and sea levels rose by a meter. Logically, when islands sink, sea levels shouldn't rise," Charlotte Linlin said.

"It's natural for them to rise. The rocks from the sunken islands fall to the seabed, raising the sea level. During the Void Century, several continents were destroyed, so it's normal for sea levels to rise," Roy explained.

"The world will sink, and the Pluton battleship will become our hope?" Kaido said.

"Pluton isn't a warship. Haven't you seen it yet?" Roy asked.

"No." Big Mom shook her head.

"I brought back the Mother Flame that Vegapunk researched. We can try it. Let's open Wano's borders." Roy said.

"I asked Momonosuke. He said it's not yet time." Whitebeard said.

"There's no need to wait for him. We can open Wano ourselves." Roy said firmly.

Whitebeard glanced at Roy. For some reason, he felt Roy had changed, more impatient, more urgent.

"Time is almost up. One day sooner or later doesn't matter. Familiarizing ourselves with Pluton in advance is more important."

"We should still discuss it with Momonosuke," Whitebeard insisted.

"Fine."

Roy nodded. After all, it was someone else's country. It couldn't hurt to ask, even if the answer was already decided.

"Do you have the remaining Poneglyphs?" Kaido asked.

"The one that was on Fish-Man Island disappeared over a decade ago. I initially thought you took it, but it seems it was taken by a man with burn scars. Someone saw a red Poneglyph on his ship," Charlotte Linlin said.

"Yes, he took the Poneglyph from Fish-Man Island," Whitebeard confirmed.

"Why did you let him take it? Wasn't Fish-Man Island your territory?" Kaido asked.

"Because we had already obtained a copy of it. It's just a stone. If he wanted it, he could take it," Whitebeard said.

"So, you already have all four Poneglyphs," Charlotte Linlin said.

"Yes, we've known their locations since thirty years ago," Roy nodded.

"Dammit! Then why didn't you go to Laugh Tale?" Charlotte Linlin said angrily. "Why didn't you take the great treasure? Why leave it for Roger?"

"We've answered that a dozen times. You saw what happened to Roger's crew. A man like him wouldn't live long. Whether he went or not didn't matter. We wanted to live longer, not die. You really think there's some treasure on Laugh Tale? Ancient weapons, you already know what they are. You don't think just having them will change the world, do you?

"The so-called Ancient Weapons are just propaganda spread by the World Government to fool people. The idea that they can destroy the world, it's only in the World Government's hands that they become tools of destruction."

"I don't want to discuss this anymore. The Cross Guild is coming. Our main task is to eliminate them. Then, we can prepare to move against the Celestial Dragons," Roy said.

"Your target is the Celestial Dragons?" Kaido asked.

"As a member of the Oni Tribe, which is tied to the ancient giants lineage, you were once enslaved by the Celestial Dragons. During the first great upheaval, almost all ancient giant bloodlines disappeared. The remaining bloodlines were diluted, like the giants of Elbaf or the Oni Tribe."

"Too many races have been oppressed. It's time to erase the Celestial Dragons, drag them off their thrones." Roy said.

"How?" Kaido asked.

"Strength!!!!"

"Wororororo!!!" Kaido burst into laughter.

"Mamamamama, I knew you weren't just cunning, you've got some spirit too," Charlotte Linlin laughed heartily.

Roy's words struck their hearts. In this world, strength was everything.

If you want to seize the world, only strength can prove you deserve to rule it.

Whitebeard watched the three of them. They were all battle-hungry. Charlotte Linlin wanted to return to the glorious days of the past, while Kaido sought to unleash a great war.

Both were dissatisfied with the world and had long wanted to tear it down.

They too had been oppressed by the World Government and hated the Celestial Dragons. Dragging those self-proclaimed "gods" down from their pedestals was a dream come true.

"I'll go talk to Momonosuke. It's time to open Wano's borders."

Roy stood up and walked out. Behind him, a pair of terrifying eyes emerged from his shadow. The three present had the illusion that the shadow was staring at them, drooling.

.....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

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