"Admiral Akainu, we..." one of the officers began hesitantly.
"Ignore him! We're going after the Red Hair Pirates!" Akainu's voice thundered with frustration.
The admiral's temper flared, the sting of Edie's taunt still fresh in his mind. He needed a way to release his pent-up fury, and Shanks' crew seemed like the perfect target. With a sharp command, the warship's sails were hoisted, and they navigated swiftly out of Water 7's port.
Once inside the cabin, Akainu's expression darkened. He sat at his desk, frowning in deep contemplation. Reporting the incident weighed heavily on his pride, but the events of the night could not simply be swept under the rug. The entire city had witnessed what transpired, and by now, news was likely already spreading.
Reluctantly, Akainu reached for the transponder snail and initiated contact with Marine Fleet Admiral Kong. Keeping the report terse, he recounted the key events of the previous night, choosing his words carefully. He highlighted the strange and unpredictable powers that Edie had displayed. Of course, he omitted the humiliating details about being toyed with like an experimental subject, brushing over his personal failings with tactical omissions.
The message was clear: It's not that I couldn't catch him, it's that I had a more pressing mission to deal with. I'll leave the matter in your hands, Fleet Admiral.
On the other end of the line, Kong sighed, rubbing his temples. Edie had once again stirred up trouble, but this time in the heart of Paradise. What on earth was he doing there? Vacationing? No one would believe such an absurd excuse.
Kong knew that ignoring the situation wasn't an option. A figure as dangerous and unpredictable as Edie couldn't simply roam around the Grand Line unchecked. Summoning the senior officers, he quickly convened a high-level meeting to address the growing threat.
Akainu's fury may have been redirected for now, but Edie's presence in Paradise had sent waves through the Marine leadership—another puzzle to solve in the midst of their already chaotic mission to maintain control over the seas.
Marineford, High-Level Conference Room.
"...And that's the situation. What are your thoughts?" Kong finished, throwing the matter to the room for discussion.
Sengoku furrowed his brow. "The fact that Edie appeared in Water 7 is concerning, but even more alarming are the abilities mentioned in Akainu's report." He paused, considering the implications. "An invisible barrier that can suppress Devil Fruit powers? A black flash from his fingertips that appears to be an advanced form of Armament Haki, devastatingly powerful? And then there's the Red flash... even stronger. Not to mention his apparent ability to fly."
A loud laugh broke the tension. "Hahahaha! Incredible! How did Edie pull all that off?" Garp chuckled. "What is it, some form of Haki? Can Haki make you fly?"
"Garp!" Kong's face darkened, his patience thinning. "You have the nerve to laugh? It was you who initially reported that Edie's abilities were space-based!"
Sengoku, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. "Let's not dwell on that. I would have preferred to get Tsuru's perspective on this, but she's currently in North Blue, dealing with the Donquixote Family criminals."
As the room settled, a Rear Admiral acting as Tsuru's stand-in hesitantly raised his hand. "There's more, sir. Just before this meeting, we received intel from yesterday. Around noon, a government warship was attacked by the scientist Edie."
"Why wasn't this reported earlier?" Kong demanded, his voice sharp.
"My apologies, sir. I received the news just before this meeting," the Rear Admiral stammered, sweat gathering on his brow. "At the time, the warship was en route to a mission. Edie destroyed it. The only survivor was a young man named Rob Lucci."
"Rob Lucci?" The room erupted into murmurs.
"I've heard of him," one of the Vice Admirals interjected. "He's been hailed as the strongest genius in 800 years."
"At thirteen, he's already mastered Rokushiki. It's unheard of," another added.
"Is he alive?" Sengoku pressed.
"Just barely," the Rear Admiral replied. "He was gravely injured, on the brink of death. He's still receiving treatment in the hospital. But before he lost consciousness, he mentioned the warship being attacked suddenly. Everyone else died."
The room fell silent. Even the veterans of the Marines were unsettled by the unpredictable nature of Edie's powers.
Holy Land Mariejois, within the hallowed halls of the Five Elders, a similar conversation unfolded.
"Why has that man resurfaced?" one Elder snarled, his fists clenched.
"In Water 7, no less," another mused grimly. "Could he be after the design plans? He's a scientist—no doubt he'd covet such technology."
"The Ancient Weapons are critical," a third spoke firmly. "We cannot allow them to fall into the hands of someone like him."
"Agreed. We can't sit idly by," the fifth Elder chimed in. "Send agents to investigate Beehive Island immediately."
Without hesitation, the decision was made. Within hours, CP7 operatives were dispatched to begin their reconnaissance, marking the beginning of a new pursuit—one with world-altering stakes.
Beehive Island.
Edie returned the same day, his mind buzzing with the fruits of his recent endeavors. His trip had cost him a considerable amount of gold, but the knowledge he gained far outweighed the expense. He had unraveled the mysteries of Haki and ascended to a new level of power. With this newfound understanding, he had developed five groundbreaking techniques based on two core principles he had deduced.
The first was [Black Flash]—a devastating enhancement of Armament Haki that created an intense surge of energy from his fingertips.
The second, [Red Flash], was an even more powerful version that took his control of Haki to a level that could shatter any defense.
The third, [Invisibility from Observation Haki], allowed him to render himself invisible to even the most perceptive Haki users.
The fourth, [Flying], enabled him to soar through the skies with ease, manipulating Haki in ways previously thought impossible.
And finally, the fifth and most complex: [The Territory of Overlord], a name he coined casually for an ability that was the pinnacle of his Haki mastery.
Unlike the others, the Overlord's Territory was a fully automatic defense mechanism. It would activate even while he was unconscious or asleep, shielding him from danger by instinct alone. Its power would continue to grow as his energy levels increased, making it a true manifestation of Haki's deepest secrets.
The five abilities he developed weren't all equally difficult to master. He could arrange them in a hierarchy based on their complexity:
[Novice Difficulty]: Basic Observation Haki, Basic Armament, Basic Conqueror's Haki.
[Easy Difficulty]: Armament Haki · Hardening, Armament Haki · Infusion, Armament Haki · Internal Destruction, Observation Haki · Predicting the Future.
[Hard Difficulty]: Conqueror's Infusion, Observation Haki · Killing.
[Hell Difficulty]: Armament Haki · Black Flash, Conqueror's · Red Flash.
[Nightmare Difficulty]: Invisibility from Haki, Haki Flying.
As for Overlord's Territory, it was beyond even the most difficult categories. Unless someone could unlock the mysteries of the soul, understand microscopic particles, and grasp the nature of P particles—all while mastering soul-related abilities—it would remain unattainable. Even understanding it was a challenge.
Edie mused over this as he walked through the halls of Beehive Island. "Most abilities below Hard Difficulty could be learned by anyone with enough training... even a monkey." He smirked. "But those beyond that level? Entirely different beasts."
He paused, considering the potential of his subordinates. "I could try teaching Black Flash and Red Flash to the Earthly Branches... though I doubt many will grasp it." His expectations were tempered, but there was no harm in trying.
And if they could master even a fraction of what he had discovered, his forces would become far more formidable.
Hive Research Institute, Living Room.
Edie sat at the head of the long table, his four Earthly Branches—Chenlong, Wuma, Weiyang, and Shenhou—standing respectfully behind him. Across from him sat Charlotte Linlin, her imposing figure filling the room.
But something was different.
"Why has this woman gained so much weight?" Edie wondered aloud, his curiosity getting the better of him. "The last time I saw her, she was much thinner."
Weiyang, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "Reporting to Heavenly Father, she devoured several tons of sweets in one night. That's how she ended up like this."
"Several tons?" Edie raised an eyebrow. "Is that measurement correct?" He marveled at the sheer scale of it. The once-beautiful Charlotte Linlin was now bloated, almost unrecognizable, resembling the hulking figure of Queen from Kaido's crew.
Charlotte Linlin, however, wasn't one to mince words. "So, you're the master of this hive, Edie?" she grinned menacingly. "Your people caused quite the ruckus on my Cake Island."
Edie smiled, resting his chin on his hand. "Before we discuss business... Hancock, could you make us some coffee?"
"Yes, Lord Edie." Hancock, who had been standing by like a maid, quickly obeyed, her eyes filled with admiration for Edie. After living with him for the past two or three years, she had grown deeply attached to him.
In no time, a fragrant cup of coffee was placed in front of Edie. Charlotte Linlin, not one to be left out, narrowed her eyes.
"And where's mine?" she asked sharply.
Hancock crossed her arms, scoffing. "Hmph, I only make coffee for Master Edie."
Charlotte Linlin's face twisted in anger. She was a guest, yet treated like a subordinate. Not only had she been dragged here against her will, but they also refused to serve her the simplest of courtesies. Still, she bit back her frustration, knowing full well she couldn't win against Edie, not with the intimidating presence of the four Earthly Branches looming behind him.
"Mama~mama This little girl is really not cute," Charlotte Linlin chuckled darkly, though her irritation was clear.
Edie took an elegant sip of his coffee, his eyes locking onto hers. "Now, Charlotte Linlin, let's get to the point. Kaido has sponsored me with 200 billion berries, and Whitebeard has done the same. They've each entrusted me with research projects. Since one of the Three Emperors is still missing from this equation, I assume you have something in mind too?"
"Are the rumors true?" Linlin asked, raising an eyebrow. She had heard whispers of both Kaido and Whitebeard owing vast sums to Edie's Hive.
"Whitebeard is interested in increasing food production, while Kaido wants me to artificially produce Zoan Devil Fruits. We're working quite well together." Edie smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes, a "core-kind" expression that concealed his true intentions. "Now, what about you? Tell me what you desire."
Charlotte Linlin's heart sank. She knew this was going to cost her. There was no way Edie would let her leave without emptying her pockets. Still, she maintained her composure.
"Do I need to give you a moment to think?"
Charlotte Linlin hesitated for a beat, then spoke. "I want a child from the Lunarian clan."
Edie's disdain was palpable, though he masked it behind a polite smile. "Still chasing after that dream, huh?" He thought to himself. "This woman is insatiable."
He leaned back, crossing his arms. "The Lunarians are pure-blooded and keep their bloodline close. It's unlikely you'll get what you want. Let's move on."
"Mama~mama Do you take me for a fool?" Linlin sneered. "My dream is to create a country where all races live equally. There are still some special races missing. And what I want most right now... is for you to complete the human gigantism experiment. That's what I'm here for. If you want my sponsorship, that's my price."
Edie considered this for a moment. "Giants, huh? You could just catch a few from Elbaf or Little Garden. I happen to know the location of two lone giants there."
He chuckled, imagining Charlotte Linlin with the giants from Little Garden. "Though I'm not sure if even you could "handle" them."
But Linlin was unmoved. "No. What I need is combat power."
"Ah," Edie nodded. "So, you want to bolster the strength of your pirate crew. Like Kaido." He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "In that case, I can help."
"Can you really do it?" Charlotte Linlin's suspicion was clear. Was Edie just trying to swindle her out of 200 billion berries? But she knew of his scientific prowess. If anyone could pull off human gigantism, it was him.
"200 billion berries," Edie replied, holding up two fingers. "20 billion per year for ten years."
"And if you fail?" Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes, more focused on success than the money.
"Failure is part of the scientific process," Edie shrugged with a smile. "But I'll give it my best shot."
Linlin's irritation flared at his nonchalant response, but she bit back her anger, stuffing a piece of cake from the table into her mouth. She couldn't deny Edie's talent. If anyone could pull off such an experiment, it was him. And 200 billion berries was nothing compared to what she stood to gain.
"Fine," she said between bites. "You have a deal. I'll sponsor you."
Edie raised his cup of coffee in a mock toast. "A pleasure doing business with you."