The mysterious background of Shanks, the unique identities of Roger's crew, the sudden appearance of Takero, and Nico Robin's convenient meeting with him… all of these threads seemed to be woven together by an unseen hand. They pointed to a massive conspiracy, one that could threaten the very foundation of the World Government's eight-hundred-year rule.
"We cannot allow this to continue!" Saint Jaygarcia Saturn slammed his hand on his armrest, his mind made up. "That boy, Takero, and the demon child Nico Robin must be erased from this world immediately! We will strike them down with the force of a thunderclap!"
"Borsalino's report stated that Takero's power is immense," Saint Topman Warcury said in a deep voice. "Sending ordinary Vice Admirals would be sending them to their graves."
A ruthless glint appeared in Saturn's eyes. "Then we will dispatch a *former* Admiral." He spoke a name that, despite being long retired from the front lines, still sent shivers down the spines of pirates across the seas. "Send Zephyr. He's been an instructor for long enough. Tell him this is his chance to eliminate a great future evil."
"Black Arm" Zephyr. He was once one of Marineford's strongest fighters, one of the three legendary Admirals. Though he was now a teacher, his iron fist, said to be capable of crushing anything, was still a legendary threat looming over the world of piracy.
"To ensure there is no possibility of failure," Saturn's gaze fell upon Spandine, who was still kneeling on the floor, hardly daring to breathe. "Spandine, you will also go to Ambri Island personally. I am giving you the authority to mobilize every member of CP9 for this operation. You will coordinate with the Marine forces led by Zephyr!"
Saint Warcury added, "If the situation requires it, you have my permission to use *that*. You must bury Nico Robin and Takero, along with any secrets they might uncover, deep beneath the seas of the North Blue!"
"Yes! Of course! I will carry out your orders without fail, esteemed sirs!" Spandine trembled, not from fear, but from pure excitement. This was a golden opportunity, a chance to earn incredible merits in the eyes of the Five Elders. After swearing his loyalty, he scrambled out of the Room of Authority to begin his preparations.
Once he was gone, Saint Marcus Mars spoke. "Should we... report this matter to Lord Imu?"
The room fell deathly silent. After a long moment, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro finally spoke. "There is no need to trouble Lord Imu with such a trivial matter. Once the boy and Nico Robin are eliminated, the problem will solve itself."
The other Elders murmured their assent.
As the secret order from Mary Geoise was transmitted, the CP9 agents on Ambri Island, having just completed their report, went silent. Like perfect hunters, they melted into the shadows of the city, concealing their presence and quietly waiting for the main force to arrive. A great net was slowly closing around the island.
---
Back in the villa, Takero was completely unaware of the storm gathering around him. He had just received detailed coordinates and information about the Germa Kingdom from Robin.
"Alright, I'm heading out," he announced, standing up and stretching with a look of eager anticipation. "I'm leaving the house to you guys. Keep doing what you're doing and gather whatever intel you can."
After giving his simple instructions, he prepared to leave for the so-called Germa Kingdom. He had heard their "Evil Army," Germa 66, was supposed to be pretty strong. "I just hope they don't make this trip a waste of my time."
---
Somewhere in the North Blue, a nation as large as a moving continent sailed across the boundless ocean. Dozens of colossal, brightly colored snail ships were linked together by steel bridges, forming a massive floating city of steel. Castles, towers, and training grounds were packed together in neat rows, and flags bearing a skull and the number "66" fluttered in the wind. This was the Germa Kingdom, a maritime nation famous for its science and warfare.
In the central castle, inside a laboratory that smelled of disinfectant, Vinsmoke Judge, the supreme ruler of Germa, listened to a report from his adjutant with a blank expression.
"Where is that Sanji now?" he asked suddenly.
The adjutant bowed. "Reporting, Your Majesty, Prince Sanji... appears to have gone to visit Queen Sora again. Should I retrieve him at once?"
"No need," Judge's tone was ice-cold, as if he were discussing a broken tool. "Let him go. It's not like that woman can do anything."
He had grown disgusted with his third son. In every single one of his rigorous tests, Sanji's performance was pathetic compared to his three "masterpiece" brothers. He was emotional, physically weak, and refused to fight. In Judge's eyes, his own son was a complete failure—an ugly stain on his brilliant scientific legacy. Letting the stain stay out of his sight was the only mercy he was willing to show.
"Enough about him." Judge waved a hand, changing the subject. "What about the supply of slaves? Has Ambri Island given in yet?"
"No, Your Majesty," the adjutant replied, checking his documents. "They remain firm and have banned the entire slave industry on the island. The negotiators we sent... have all gone missing."
A cold, violent light flashed in Judge's eyes. "Hmph! Some little brat dares to be so arrogant! If they refuse to cooperate, then we'll simply wipe them off the map!"
To perfect his clone army, Judge desperately needed a large number of live human subjects for his experiments. Ambri Island had been his most stable source of "materials," and now that the supply line was cut, his research had stalled. While he had mastered replicant technology, the clones had genetic defects and couldn't produce the results he needed. He had to have real humans.
Because Takero kept to himself, Tesoro handled all of the island's affairs. As a result, the outside world believed the young, green-haired man was the new ruler of Ambri Island.
*When the island was controlled by the Donquixote Family, I had to be cautious,* Judge thought. *But now, it's just some brat who came out of nowhere...* He had already investigated; there was no significant power backing this Tesoro. There was no reason to hesitate.
"Assemble a unit," Vinsmoke Judge commanded coldly. "Their objective is Ambri Island. I want them to understand the consequences of defying Germa." His tone was flat, as if he were ordering someone to step on an ant.
---
Far from the central castle, in a cold but luxurious sickroom in a tall tower, the faint smell of medicine hung in the air. On a grand bed lay a beautiful, golden-haired woman. Her face was pale and thin, but it couldn't hide her elegance. This was Vinsmoke Sora, the Queen of Germa. The drug she had taken years ago to protect her children was now eating away at her body, leaving her weaker each day.
But at this moment, she wore a gentle, relieved smile. Her eyes were full of love as she gazed at the small boy beside her bed—her son, Vinsmoke Sanji. He had fresh bruises on his face, gifts from his cruel brothers, but he seemed to forget all the pain as he smiled brightly at his mother.
"Mama, look! I made a new dish today!" Sanji beamed, lifting the lid from a bento box as if presenting a priceless treasure. A wonderful aroma filled the room.
"Is that so? Let Mama see," Sora said, her voice weak but full of warmth. She knew this youngest son was the only one of her children who still had a "heart." He was the only one who understood kindness and love. Because of this, in their cold, power-obsessed kingdom, he was treated as an outcast.
"It looks... really delicious," she smiled, gently stroking Sanji's head. *Was I right to do what I did?* she wondered with a deep sadness. If she hadn't taken that drug to alter their genes, would Sanji still be suffering like this?
The mother and son shared a brief, warm moment. Outside the window, the sky had turned dark, and a fierce storm was raging.
"BOOM—!!!!"
A deafening roar suddenly exploded above them, and the entire castle shook violently. Sora instinctively pulled Sanji into her arms, looking up in terror. A massive, gaping hole had been torn through the ceiling, as if a meteor had just crashed through. Wind, rain, and dust poured into the room.
A dark figure, silhouetted against a flash of lightning, descended from the sky. As the dust settled, Sora and Sanji stared at an unfamiliar young man with spiky black hair and a brown tail swishing behind him.
"Cough, cough!" Takero waved the dust from his face, looking up at the hole he'd made. "Tsk, this landing was a bit off." He'd been aiming for a cool, superhero-style landing but had misjudged the angle.
He then noticed the mother and son on the bed, staring at him with wide, shocked eyes. He broke into a grin.
"Hey, kid. Is this the Germa Kingdom?"
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