Marine Headquarters - Marineford.
In the central command room, Sengoku, Tsuru, Shuvi, and Riku sat silently, watching Greenfield, who had entered alongside Hiroshi.
"Are you telling the truth?" Sengoku asked in a grave tone, staring at Greenfield, who was happily munching on Garp's doughnuts while seated on the sofa.
"Are you sure you're not responsible for this world becoming so corrupt and filled with evil?"
"Mmm-hmm," Greenfield replied, swallowing a mouthful of doughnut with a contented smile. She nodded confidently.
"Of course not! I'm just a tree. Whether you humans are good or bad has nothing to do with me.
"And just because I'm a demon doesn't mean I need resentment or dark energy. I don't use any of that stuff. My favorite thing is to root myself in the ground, bask in the sun, and nap quietly.
"As for why eating Devil Fruits fills you with demonic energy, that's simply your own doing."
Relaxed after learning from Hiroshi that she wouldn't die and hearing news about her homeworld, Greenfield now seemed entirely at ease.
Waving her hand dismissively at Sengoku's scrutiny, Greenfield grabbed a demonic shadow that emerged from Sengoku's body.
Kneading the shadow like dough with her small hands, Greenfield explained sternly, "Listen up. The fruits I originally created carried only a fragment of my demonic power. They had no will or consciousness—just pure, simple energy.
"At most, the fruits had a slight inclination toward their respective powers. But look at this now."
Shaking the now-crumpled shadow in her hands with distaste, Greenfield continued, "This thing grew after being consumed by the beings of this world, nourished by their malice, desires, and resentment, and eventually gained reincarnation power.
"Originally, these powers would return to me upon the host's death, aiding my recovery. But your world's people are incomprehensible!
"Think about it. The fruits I sent out almost never returned, and over time, not a single one came back!"
Swinging her legs angrily, Greenfield stomped on the floor, glaring at Sengoku, who looked increasingly awkward.
"Do you know? Now, all the Devil Fruits in your world, aside from the few I occasionally produce anew, are inhabited by these kinds of demons. Even the new ones never come back once they're out!"
"This is the worst business deal I've ever made! If I hadn't been in deep sleep, following my instincts to produce fruits, I would've stopped this long ago."
Crossing her arms, Greenfield glared at Sengoku, her frustration mounting.
"And now you humans blame me for your sins! Demons aren't even as bad as some of you humans!
"Especially those creatures who lived on my head before."
Shuddering in fear, Greenfield hugged herself as if covered in goosebumps.
"Those creatures… You call them Celestial Dragons, right? They're utterly disgusting!
"How could I have such vile offspring? Even demons aren't that revolting and evil!
"Just because their leader obtained a fragment of my memory and power, they've claimed me as their own. It's horrifying!"
Coughing loudly to interrupt Greenfield's rant, Sengoku discreetly glanced at Zhongli, silently pleading for confirmation of Greenfield's claims.
Zhongli, sipping tea, felt Sengoku's gaze and calmly nodded before taking another sip.
With the truth emerging, the group realized that the current state of the pirate world wasn't due to Greenfield. Instead, it was entirely a consequence of the people of this world. Greenfield was merely a bystander who had been caught in the crossfire.
Greenfield, after suffering grievous injuries, had specifically chosen an uncivilized planet to recover. Over time, her influence brought about civilization, and the planet itself gained consciousness.
Reflecting on this, it became evident that all intelligent life in this world owed Greenfield a debt of gratitude. Her power had brought civilization to the planet.
However, her misfortune began when she instinctively sent out fruits to aid her recovery. Instead, none returned, as humans consumed the fruits and abused their power.
During her prolonged slumber, Greenfield's injuries stabilized. She should have awakened peacefully and left the barren planet to return home. But at some point, people discovered her resting place, developed methods to block her senses during her deep sleep, and extracted her power for their use.
She remained dormant until the current era. The new rulers of the world continued the exploitation. This time, their bad luck brought rebellion, leading to Greenfield's violent awakening. Struggling under the threat of death, she forcibly emerged from the planet in her true form.
Recalling the events, Greenfield shivered, nervously glancing at Zhongli and Infinity seated nearby. Quietly, she inched closer to Hiroshi, seeking comfort in the presence of a fellow "compatriot."
Sengoku sighed as he digested Greenfield's story.
"So, it wasn't demonic temptation at all. It was our own desires and malice that led the world to this state."
Standing up, Sengoku bowed to Greenfield.
"We owe you an apology for frightening you without uncovering the truth. On behalf of the Navy, I extend our sincerest apologies."
Lifting his head, Sengoku asked, "What are your plans moving forward? The Navy will do everything in its power to accommodate your wishes."
Tsuru and Riku straightened in their seats, recognizing the importance of this question. With Zhongli and his group eventually departing, a benevolent but unfamiliar divine presence remaining in their world was a matter of concern.
"I'm going back home, of course," Greenfield mumbled through a mouthful of food, rolling her eyes at Sengoku.
"I finally woke up, learned that the old war is over, and found out Heaven and Hell are now at peace. Why would I stay here?"
"Prepare a space to set up a cross-dimensional teleportation array, and…"
Stealing a glance at Zhongli and Infinity, Greenfield added softly, "Normally, I could activate the array myself, but given my current strength and injuries, it'd mean another few centuries of recovery. Could you two help?"
"Of course," Zhongli replied calmly, meeting her nervous gaze. Infinity nodded in agreement.
"Really? That's fantastic!" Greenfield exclaimed, jumping to her feet in excitement.
"Let's get started right away! I've been away for so long—I can't wait to go home!"