"The others seem to be hearing Vespera's true purpose for the first time. But when Null approached me, he already made it clear."
Tide, who had been silently watching, observed the subtle confusion spreading through the gathered figures.
"So Crocodile knew all along... that must mean Earth is Crocodile."
He sighed inwardly, realizing he was probably right.
"Null had already set the foundation for Vespera's development back when we were in Alabasta. That means the first to join must have been either Crocodile or me."
Tide's expression hardened as he recalled how Null's miraculous creation — the self-replicating fungi that eliminated hunger — had changed countless lives. His resolve deepened.
Even if it meant walking through fire or climbing a mountain of blades, he would follow Shirogai Yamikuro without hesitation.
From Shirogai, he had seen a new path — one where the people lived free, where nations could flourish.
"However... Shirogai, what an audacious dream."
Tide turned his eyes toward the arrogant Crocodile, then downward to the massive platform beneath him — carved in ancient, unreadable symbols.
Those inscriptions were unmistakable.
They matched the ancient poneglyph sealed deep within his royal tomb in Alabasta.
And not just beneath Crocodile's feet — two more unoccupied platforms were inscribed with the same forbidden text.
Shirogai had chosen to use these hidden poneglyphs — relics of a lost era — as the foundation for Vespera's gatherings.
The symbolism wasn't lost on Tide. It was as though Shirogai intended to tread upon the vanished century itself, rebuilding the world from the ruins of forbidden history.
Whether it was the Void Century or the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons — all of it would be crushed beneath his feet.
"Haah… exhilarating," Tide muttered with a faint smile, rubbing his face. "Perhaps history will truly be rewritten in our time. I only hope I live long enough to see it."
---
Alabasta Kingdom – Alubarna, Royal Palace.
A maid polishing the glass sighed softly.
"The King's health worsens each day. He's lost so much weight…"
"Keep your voice down," another maid whispered nervously. "Don't let Princess Vivi hear. She's already done everything she can to find the best doctors."
"Oh, I hope His Majesty recovers soon. Our country has just begun to prosper again."
"Let's pray to the heavens that the King gets better."
Neither noticed the slim figure standing quietly beyond the doorway — Vivi, her eyes trembling with unshed tears. She bit her lip, staring at the sealed chamber at the end of the hall.
"Shirogai… if you were here, with your abilities, with your brilliance, you could heal Father…"
A single tear fell, glinting in the sunlight.
---
Inside the King's chamber, the frail man slept soundly, his breathing weak but steady.
That man was none other than Nefertari Cobra, the twelfth King of Alabasta.
---
"Absurd!"
Smoker's cold voice cut through Shirogai's declaration like a blade.
"Shirogai, do you even realize what you're saying? Turning the Celestial Dragons' holy land into ruins? Impossible. Slaughtering them? Beyond foolish."
He slammed his fist on the table. "They can summon the full might of the Marines at any time!"
But Smoker failed to realize something — despite being a Marine himself, his first instinct wasn't to report Shirogai to headquarters. Instead, he worried about the safety of the organization.
Deep down, Smoker despised the Celestial Dragons more than he cared to admit.
He had escorted one of those monsters from Mary Geoise to an allied nation once. Had others not restrained him, he might have killed that so-called noble with his own hands.
That "man" had kept a group of young girls as slaves — toys for his sick amusement. He even forced his guards to watch and smile, calling it his "Bride's Game."
The day he ordered Smoker himself to join in, Smoker snapped.
"Do you take me for a beast like you?!"
His jitte was inches from caving the man's skull before other Marines tackled him to the ground.
Had they not stopped him, he would have been branded a traitor and executed.
Shirogai, watching the flicker of rage in Smoker's eyes, smiled faintly.
"Heh. Serpent, you don't address me by that name, You call me Null, Also you're referring to the Celestial Dragons' ability to summon the Admirals, aren't you?"
"Of course," Smoker growled. "Even when they travel, the forces guarding them are more than most pirate crews can handle. Are you planning to assassinate them yourself?"
Smoker knew that if Shirogai truly moved in person, not even an Admiral could stop him. But he doubted the man would risk it — such an act would bring the wrath of the entire world down upon the Straw Hat Pirates.
Even other pirate emperors would chase the bounty that followed.
At that point, the Straw Hats wouldn't last a week.
---
"Vespera's strength isn't something you need to question."
Shirogai's calm voice silenced the murmurs. "Our external operatives are far greater in number and strength than you imagine. Those attending this meeting are merely the core. The rest—" his eyes gleamed, "—simply aren't qualified to sit here."
Some exchanged uneasy glances.
But Shirogai wasn't bluffing.
Through his command of the Brain-Brain Fruit, he had discovered a way to replicate Devil Fruit abilities into artificial users. The process was risky — many test subjects didn't survive — but he was close to perfection.
Given more time, his calculations would make it completely safe.
These synthetic users might not possess the limitless potential of true Devil Fruit wielders, but their power still rivaled them — enough to fight on even ground.
When thousands of Shandians from Sky Island gained those abilities, the world itself would tremble.
Shirogai's forces would surpass even Kaido's Beast Pirates, whose Zoan users fought like mindless soldiers.
Kaido would envy this — a discipl
ined army of awakened powers, all loyal to one man.
And that man, standing at the center of it all, simply smiled.
_____
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