The Shocking Revelation

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"Father! What brings you here all the way from the capital?" Farlan exclaimed, surprise evident in his voice.

"So you want us to go with you. Give us a good reason, old man." Benn chimed in, curious and skeptical.

"Ah, so the infamous 'Lord Bogart' wanna hang us for taking down the Basilisk Pirates, does he?" Yasopp added sarcastically.

Taken aback by their assumptions, Fugar quickly denied, "No, no! You've

misunderstood! Lord Bogart is actually grateful for your heroic actions. The Basilisk Pirates have been terrorising our outlying towns for long, and the Lord sees you as protectors of our citizens' lives!"

"I must admit, it caught me off guard too..." Fugar continued, hesitating for a moment before regaining his composure, "But My Lord genuinely cares for his people. He personally expressed his intentions to come here and convey his gratitude to the Red Hair Pirates."

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The room fell into a state of slight confusion, as the unexpected turn of events sank in...

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"But what we've just heard earlier..." Limejuice murmured perplexedly, before The old man interrupted, his voice filled with urgency and worries, "However, my visit today has nothing to do with Lord Bogart. This is a personal request!"

Abruptly, the tall advisor shocked them all by kneeling down, bowing on the floor before anyone could react, "Please, Red Hair Pirates... I beg you! Accompany me into the 'Forbidden Forest' immediately! The lives of those dear to me are at stake!!"

"Woah, woah...Get up, old man! There's no need to go to such lengths. We're listening," Shanks intervened, astonishment palpable in his voice.

"Relax, Father! What has happened to make you so desperate?!" His son worriedly asked while helping his father to his feet and guiding him to a chair...

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As the old man began to calm down, he quietly asked, "Do you remember Flora's teenage sons, Farlan?"

"Of course, Ethan and Lucas. They moved to work in the Capital years ago, and you encouraged them both to assist with the Central Hospital constructions, right? What about them..?"

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"More than a month ago, some incidents had happened and then they went missing. And we haven't found any traces of them since then."

"What?!"

The old man heavily sighed...

'I really have no choice, but to reveal it to the pirates... How ironic!'

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Then he swept his gaze across the Red Hair crew, who all looked a little bewildered before he started...'Hope you'll forgive me, Ashar...'

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"Allow me to begin with the elderly gentleman called 'Ashar the Hermit,' who has lived in isolation within the 'Forbidden Forest' for as far back as my memories serve..."

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Somewhere in the bustling capital city, Trafalgar just arrived, slightly out of breath... He had hurried here, choosing not to use his powers to avoid drawing attention. "Damn, who would've thought all the bookstores in that town would be out of business!" he muttered, recalling the local's suggestion to head to the capital for a wider selection and more up-to- date information...

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"There aren't many young folks in Raduno town anymore. It's like this place is disconnected from the rest of the world. Even the news takes forever to reach here. You should explore the Capital, young man," the local had advised.

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As he walked into the Rinascita Island's central area, the young captain was taken aback by the stark contrast between the two cities. The capital exuded beauty, opulence, and vibrancy. A magnificent Grand Castle stood proudly at the center, symbolising its glory and prosperity...

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However, as he continued to explore the various buildings and establishments, an unexplainable sense of unease washed over him, a nagging feeling he couldn't quite pinpoint...

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Trying to dismiss it, he focused on his purpose and continued his search... .

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Soon enough, the brunet's eyes fell upon a small bookstore tucked away on a street corner. Stepping inside, he was greeted by a friendly shop owner.

"Welcome, sir! How can I assist you today?" the owner asked with a warm smile.

Law wasted no time in getting to the point, "Where can I find the section with magazines and daily newspapers?" he inquired.

Pointing in the right direction, the owner replied, "Right over there, sir." Law made his way to the designated 'Newly Arrivals' section, eyes scanning the rows of stacked newspapers and magazines. His gaze fell upon the first one he picked up; The World Economy News.

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As Law glanced at the Headline, his eyes widened, his heart thumped rapidly within his chest. The bold letters blared the news, sending shockwaves through his entire being...

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"SENGOKU USHERS IN A NEW ERA: APPOINTED AS THE NEW FLEET ADMIRAL, MARKING A PROFOUND SHIFT IN POWER DYNAMICS."

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Law's hand slightly shook as he automatically scanned the date. His blood turned to ice at the self-confirmation...

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'This took place seven years ago...!'

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