The Red Line, "Holy Land" Mary Geoise!
This is the headquarters of the World Government, situated between the First and Second Halves of the Grand Line, at the pinnacle of the Red Line. It towers above, overlooking the world, surrounded by swirling clouds.
In this city, a place stands out prominently. It occupies a large central area of the city, with Gothic pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses adorning white buildings.
The Headquarters of the World Government!
The fluttering Government Cross flag atop the spire reaches high into the sky as if it could pierce through the heavens, emanating an aura of invincibility.
At this moment, in a spacious office on the top floor of the City Castle, five elderly figures, each with a distinct appearance, have gathered. Their expressions vary.
"We can issue you the transfer order for the Ark, but you must ensure that nothing disturbs the Kings during the Levely!"
"Understood? Sengoku!!"
"Yes! I promise to complete the mission!"
A clear response came from the Den Den Mushi, followed by a click as the transponder snail vanished in an instant.
After hanging up the phone, a tall and neatly dressed elderly man with long white hair and an extensive mustache looked around at his colleagues. The anger on his face rapidly dissipated, as he didn't pay much heed to Sengoku's report.
However, he remained solemn. After sitting down, he took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Rowen's actions, along with that individual from the Nibelung Family family, are becoming increasingly audacious. Although this has been approved by Im-Sama, allowing them to continue like this may lead to a major crisis."
"The saying 'the wheels of history turn endlessly' exists because history is a circle, repeating itself."
The others fell silent. They dared not speculate on the intentions of Im-sama, but based on their past experiences, they could sense that something was amiss in the current situation.
"Hmph! That brat is definitely the next Garp!"
After a moment of silence, a bald old man in a white Daoist robe couldn't hide his impatience and snorted, "In my opinion, we should bring him to Mary Geoise immediately and keep him under strict surveillance. Otherwise, if another Nox incident occurs, none of us can bear the responsibility!"
"One Roger isn't enough of a headache for you all?"
"Orrick won't agree… that guy is obsessed with unifying the Celestial Dragons' household and reclaiming power! The more Lirisk causes a commotion, the more important his existence becomes. So, this path… won't work."
"So, what do we do now? Just let them continue causing trouble?"
A bald, tall old man with a distinctive mustache asked abruptly.
The tall old man remained silent for a long time before speaking, "Since everyone shares this sentiment, after this incident, we'll restrict Rowen… It's always been Lirisk who plans everything, even though he's never personally intervened."
The others exchanged glances and quickly voted.
"Agreed."
"Seconded."
"Agreed."
"Abstain…"
The long-mustached old man glanced curiously at the old man with curly white hair and a hunched figure leaning on a cane.
But without saying much, he spoke calmly.
"Zero!"
An invisible coercion permeated the room, carrying this calmly spoken word into the distance.
A few moments later…
"Your subordinate is here!"
In the empty hall, Zero emerged from the space of obliteration and knelt respectfully.
"Go inform Sengoku that the matter here is concluded. Tell him to send Rowen to Branch G-10… Also, check if Rowen is facing any trouble. We can't afford to let him die."
'Actually, I think even if I died, he wouldn't.' A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Zero's mouth, but he dared not utter these words and instead bowed respectfully.
"Understood."
…
The world swirled with winds of change due to his decisions, but at this moment, Rowen remained completely unaware.
Currently, he held the information provided by the spy, and his face wore a peculiar expression of disbelief as he glanced at Katakuri, who was nailed to the Cross, looking as if he were dead.
In theory, ordinary steel nails couldn't affect Katakuri at all. His special Paramecia ability, the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, allowed him to change form like a Logia, making it effortless to break free. However, doing so would result in him being subjected to Rowen's merciless electric shocks time and time again.
Unable to escape either way, Katakuri made a wise decision to endure the electric shocks and being nailed to the Cross to conserve his stamina.
"Charlotte Linlin really loves you, Katakuri…"
"Look, 34… oh no, 32 of the ministers mobilized 16, totaling over 1,000,000 troops! It's truly… a staggering sight!"
One pirate could effortlessly summon an army of over 1,000,000, and it wasn't a ragtag force either. There was no possibility for the weak to join under the banner of the BIG·MOM pirate crew! The level of madness in the New World truly left Rowen speechless.
Fortunately, each Yonko had their own thoughts, so they never joined forces. Otherwise, any two of them combined would possess enough strength to rival the current Marine.
With three of them, they'd have the upper hand!
Four… and Marine would have to request assistance from the government.
Because they would definitely be outmatched!
Katakuri remained silent upon hearing Rowen's words. The scorching sun had left his mouth parched and cracked, and even speaking took a toll on his stamina.
But Rowen didn't expect a response to this jest. Suddenly, a smirk appeared on his lips, and he curiously asked, "What if I were to offer your life in exchange for the life of your younger brother or younger sister? Would BIG·MOM agree to that?"
Upon hearing this, Katakuri finally opened his eyes.
"Impossible!"
"The Charlotte Family, except for our mother, is not irreplaceable. If I were to die, someone else would step up to fill my position. Mother is well aware of this."
"Oh?"
Rowen glanced at him, his lips curling into a faint smile. He calmly said, "I thought you might say, 'Come at me but don't harm my younger brothers and sisters'… Right, good older brother of the Charlotte Family, Katakuri."
Katakuri's pupils contracted, feeling a hint of nervousness within.
Rowen's understanding of him ran deeper than he had imagined!
Is it the Marine's information network?
"I'm curious, knowing that your mother is a 'Monster' without a sense of familial bonds, how did she raise someone like you, who values family above all else… Just because of Brûlée's relationship with you that led to her face being scarred back then?"
Brûlée…
That was a thorn in Katakuri's heart!
"Shut up!"
Katakuri's eyes turned bloodshot, and the authority of his Haoshoku Haki caused the Cross to tremble wildly. With just a bit more force, Katakuri would break free from his restraints.
"Alright, alright, I'll shut up. Don't be so impulsive. You're injured right now…"
Rowen raised his hands in surrender, then sneered the next moment. "After all, if you were to die now, what leverage would I have against Charlotte Linlin?"
"Asshole!!"
Katakuri practically squeezed out these two words from between his teeth, asking with frustration, "Why go after the Charlotte Family? Aren't you afraid of starting a war with us?!"
"Naturally… I am." Rowen answered truthfully.
If Marines weren't afraid to go to war with the Yonko, the balance of power wouldn't be as stable as it is now.
"Then why do it?!" Katakuri felt insulted and roared in anger.
"Do you think you, alone, can take on our massive army?!"
"Naturally… Yes."
Rowen stated plainly, leaving Katakuri wide-eyed with disbelief, unable to utter a word.
"Forgive my bluntness, but I'm not targeting just you. I'm saying the entire Charlotte Family is trash!"
"You…!!"
Anger couldn't change the truth. Katakuri's humiliating defeat only proved Big Mom's foresight. She had anticipated that Rowen would grow to be as formidable as Kizaru, nearly impossible to restrain, while also posing a threat to the entire world.
Is there really no such thing as a weak Devil Fruit, only a weak person?
For the first time in his life, Katakuri began to doubt this truth.
As the last glimmers of twilight faded, on the distant horizon of the sea, the colossal fleet that Rowen had been waiting for finally appeared.
"By the way… the enemy has arrived, but my reinforcements haven't. Is Vegapunk playing tricks on me?!"
Rowen grumbled, though his expression was extremely solemn.
He sensed it— behind that massive fleet, a scorching bloodthirstiness akin to the sun. They were separated by several kilometers, seemingly trying to conceal their presence in the cover of night. However, in the face of Rowen's Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), the enemy's presence couldn't escape detection.
The last time he felt an aura of this magnitude was during their battle with "Hundred Beasts" Kaido, emanating from Kaido himself.
The figure representing the approaching party was none other than the Yonko, BIG·MOM!
"To actually draw out Charlotte Linlin herself… I must have really hit a nerve!"
Rowen couldn't help but be speechless for a moment.
As an Emperor, personally leading the charge, she was truly making a grand entrance.
Katakuri fixed his gaze on the familiar style of the fleet in the distance. Suddenly, he pulled his arm out from the Cross, clenched his fist, and with a swift motion, a cylindrical black mochi rapidly spun, hurtling towards Rowen.
"Square Mochi!!"
He had waited for five whole days, and now, the time to strike had finally come!
(End of this chapter)
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