Chapter 69: Arrival in the South Blue

"Hmph, most likely another ambitious fellow..."

Akainu snorted coldly, casually tossing Caesar's photo aside.

"Well... I don't think there's anything wrong with pursuing power," Kuzan scratched his head, his tone seemingly implying something. "We all know what kind of sorrow the weak experience on this vast sea. If anything, isn't our Navy the largest institution of violence?"

Akainu shot a sideways glance, and Kuzan returned it with a calm gaze. Their eyes met, and an invisible clash of swords seemed to occur between them.

"Enough, now is not the time to discuss this," Sengoku turned to Garp. "Garp, what's your take on Caesar?"

"My take?"

Garp thought for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahahaha! I'm not sure what he's like now, but back then, he didn't seem like a bad guy. Probably?"

Beside him, Vice Admiral Tsuru interlocked her fingers and rested her chin on them, sighing softly. "Forget it, Sengoku. Asking him is useless. This guy can't even keep an eye on his own son, let alone a kid he only met once."

Garp's face fell. "Hey, hey, Tsuru, that's not fair, is it?"

Tsuru ignored him, closing her eyes and speaking calmly. "The fact that he approached Garp was clearly to deal with those Fishman Pirates. This shows that he has a sense of justice and is level-headed enough not to rush into a suicidal mission."

"From what he said to Garp, it's not hard to see that he doesn't hold the Navy in high regard. Of course, this has a lot to do with the corruption in the branch offices across the seas, or perhaps... some deeper reasons."

"Deeper reasons..."

Sengoku frowned, understanding what Tsuru meant.

Any Navy officer with a sense of justice would inevitably begin to question their own ideals upon reaching a certain rank.

And the reason for this, needless to say, was the Celestial Dragons, who were like a cancerous tumor.

It was like a test of obedience. Officers at this stage would witness the ugliness of the Celestial Dragons and the corruption that came with their lofty status.

This would shatter the sense of justice in many officers, and some would even become corrupted, colluding with the Celestial Dragons.

Others would choose to leave the Navy, like Dragon.

Most, however, would choose to remain silent after recognizing the harsh reality of their powerlessness, striving to uphold their sense of justice within the confines of the rules.

"Ah!"

Garp suddenly exclaimed, slapping his forehead and startling everyone.

Sengoku's face darkened. "What now, Garp?"

"I just remembered, I once invited that kid to join the Navy, but he refused."

Garp snorted, steam puffing from his nostrils. "That damn brat! I kindly invited him, and he said he didn't want to be a dog for the Celestial Dragons!"

Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply. "He said that?"

Garp nodded straightforwardly. "Yeah, I thought about it and couldn't figure out how to refute him, so I just told him to get lost. Hahahaha!"

"You..."

Sengoku felt his vision darken. Was this really something to say in front of so many people?

Kuzan shook his head with a hint of amusement, while Kizaru wore a playful expression, muttering "Ara ara." Only Akainu's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, resembling a suppressed volcano.

"It seems there's a more fundamental reason…"

Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed helplessly, "Now we can basically confirm the other party's stance. Given their strength, I propose we offer them the position of Royal Shichibukai. Even if the recruitment fails, we shouldn't rush to issue a bounty based solely on their identity before their stance is clear."

"Additionally, considering Bartholomew Kuma's involvement, their next destination is likely the South Blue. Let's withdraw our people from the Sorbet Kingdom first. Honestly, I've always said we shouldn't interfere in those countries' internal affairs…"

"Then it's settled. As for who will make contact, Garp, you—"

Sengoku turned to Garp, only to find him picking his nose and glancing sideways at him. He let out a heavy sigh.

"Forget it. Tsuru, you and Kuzan handle it."

...

Somewhere in the New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

"Pops! Look! There's news about Caesar!"

Marco waved the newspaper excitedly.

"That guy fought Kaidou to a draw! He actually did it!"

"Gurararara…"

Whitebeard took the newspaper, looking at the images of the two men, and laughed heartily.

"Has his Mythical Zoan awakened? That bat brat moves fast… What about Izo and the others? Were they affected?"

"Shouldn't be. We just spoke to them yesterday. This news is from two days ago."

Marco marveled, "I heard Wano Country has changed drastically. Besides the polluted land being restored, many new buildings have been constructed. That guy didn't lie to Izo—the people of Wano can now eat their fill. He really changed Wano!"

Whitebeard gazed at the photo of the massive Azure Dragon, deep in thought.

"What's changed… might not just be Wano."

...

In the New World, Whole Cake Island.

"Kaidou? Son-in-law? Alliance? Mamamama…"

In a dimly lit room, a massive figure held a small newspaper, letting out a witch-like cackle.

"That Morgans, he dares to report anything. Eighteen years old and fighting Kaidou? Does he even hear himself?"

Perospero, the eldest son, frowned beside her, full of doubt about the news's authenticity.

"Mamamama… Knowing that old bird, this news is probably true."

Big Mom scanned the photo of the two, her eyes lingering on the bloodstain on the dragon's chest. "And that Kaidou brat might've taken a big hit. Mythical Zoan awakening? What a monstrous kid…"

"But… an alliance? This isn't good news. Perospero, which of your sisters do you think would be a better match for this brat?"

"A match…"

Perospero paused, knowing his mother was considering another marriage alliance.

Glancing at Caesar's photo in the newspaper, he hesitated for a moment before carefully suggesting, "In terms of age, Chiffon and Lola would be suitable, as well as Mable, Myukuru, Maple…"

Perospero listed off the names of his sisters of appropriate age, one by one.

Big Mom listened, her brow furrowing deeper.

If it were an ordinary force, she might not take it too seriously and would just marry off one of her daughters casually.

But this was someone who could stand against Kaidou, and he was also quite handsome.

Although she was now severely deformed and obese, she had once been a stunning beauty who outshone the seas, so she naturally understood the tastes of men.

As for Chiffon, Lola, and Maple, these daughters of hers indeed didn't align with mainstream aesthetic standards...

If she were to propose a marriage alliance based on this, it would be hard to say whether it would result in a union or enmity. This left her in a dilemma, as Caesar's strength was clearly not something she could easily manipulate.

"Let's contact that boy first, bring along photos of your sisters..."

After some hesitation, Big Mom came up with a compromise. She looked at the tall figure sitting in the corner of the room and gave a loving smile: "Mamamama... Katakuri, you go and make the trip. Even if it doesn't work out, don't let things get too tense."

"Okay, Mother..."

...

East Blue, Loguetown.

Next to the Navy branch, in a quiet manor.

"Boss! There's news about Mr. Caesar again!"

A thug-like guy rushed into the manor, waving today's newspaper.

In the courtyard of the manor, a green-haired guy with a rooster comb turned around sharply, revealing a mouth full of sharp shark-like teeth: "What what? Let me see!"

He snatched the newspaper and scanned it quickly, his eyes widening in shock.

"What? Fighting against the Four Emperors?!!"

After a moment of stunned silence, he suddenly grinned: "Forget it, let's not worry about that for now. Sir should be coming back soon! Tell everyone below to behave, especially in those newly conquered towns! If anyone offends Sir, I'll cut off their dick and feed it to the fish!"

"Understood!"

...

East Blue, Cocoyasi Village.

In the village bookstore, an orange-haired girl lay on the counter, propping her smooth chin with her hand, frowning as she read today's newspaper.

"Caesar..."

"The Caesar Group..."

"Pirates, Four Emperors, alliance..."

Her eyes lingered on the figure surrounded by red Flame Clouds in the newspaper, filled with confusion: "What's going on with this appearance?"

"Probably a Devil Fruit ability?"

A voice beside her startled her, and she turned to see a blue-haired girl smiling at her.

"Nojiko!"

"Still brooding over that guy, huh? Nami~" Nojiko teased with a grin.

"Just a little concerned, that's all."

Nami sighed softly: "Ever since this bookstore fell into my hands, no one has cared about it anymore. Can you understand my pain?"

"Is it that painful?"

"Yeah, the pain of not daring to embezzle the funds..."

Nojiko was speechless. She glanced at the newspaper on the table, her eyebrows slightly raised.

"A pirate? He went out to sea as a pirate?"

"Apparently, he was captured by the Four Emperors Kaidou, but now... it seems they've formed a pirate alliance?"

Nami's expression was complicated. Her attitude towards pirates was undoubtedly one of hatred.

But this person was called Caesar...

A few years ago, Cocoyasi Village fell under the rule of the Fishman Pirate Arlong. Her adoptive mother, Bellemere, was killed by him, and due to her exceptional talent in navigation, she was forced to draw nautical charts for him under the threat of the villagers' lives.

Just as her life was plunged into despair, a monstrous old Navy man appeared out of nowhere, shattered Arlong's pirate dreams with a single punch, and then grinned broadly, saying, "If you want to thank anyone, thank that kid Caesar."

Before she could figure out who Caesar was, a spiky-haired man named Bartolomeo showed up at her door, hiring her, who was barely over ten years old, as the manager of this bookstore. He left a box of Berries and then disappeared.

After that, the bookstore was left unattended...

Nami wanted to find out more about Caesar, but she didn't get any useful information.

It wasn't until the beginning of last year that she finally read about Caesar in the newspaper.

He had become a hotshot resource tycoon in the East Blue business circle, with nearly half of the construction industry in the East Blue having business dealings with him.

And in the photo, standing behind Caesar, was none other than Bartolomeo, the man who had hired her as the bookstore manager!

She couldn't quite understand what had happened back then.

She didn't remember ever having any interaction with Caesar, nor could she figure out why he had helped her or how he had learned about her situation.

What kind of intentions did he have with this favor?

"Ara, that's really bad."

Nojiko pointed at the text in the newspaper, looking serious: "This guy actually got married! And to the daughter of one of the Four Emperors! So, Nami, doesn't that mean you have no chance?"

Nami's face darkened: "Who said I was pursuing him?!"

"Hahaha, don't get so worked up..."

Nojiko covered her mouth and chuckled: "The news in the papers isn't always reliable. You don't need to be so anxious."

Nami pursed her lips: "I'm just worried that he might be like Arlong, interested in my talent for navigation..."

"That probably isn't the case, right? Nami, you're so beautiful. Maybe he fell in love with you at first sight back then?"

"That would be even worse. I was only ten years old at the time!"

"Anyway!"

Nojiko unceremoniously placed a lunchbox in front of Nami: "Eat first. No matter what, we won't let something like what happened with Arlong happen again!"

"Mm..."

Nami nodded, but in her heart, she had made up her mind. When Caesar returned to the East Blue, she would definitely ask him face-to-face about what had happened back then.

If it was just a casual act of kindness, then she would properly thank him.

But if he was someone like Arlong...

Probably not, right? He's quite handsome, and no matter what, he did help me. As long as he doesn't become a pirate...

...

Meanwhile, in the South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.

Caesar descended from the sky, landing directly in front of a small church in the southern part of the kingdom.

Kuma, pushing the air with his hands, made a series of "peng peng peng" sounds as he followed closely behind.

"Phew... finally here!"

Caesar stretched his shoulders and neck, letting out a long breath. Because he was in a hurry, Caesar had been slapped over by Kuma, spending most of the time trapped in that Paw-Paw Bubble.

"Your ability is really torturous. If it weren't for my ample life reserves, I might have starved to death..."

"Sorry, I can't control it."

Kuma smiled helplessly, "Anyone who gets slapped away will fly for three days and three nights, no matter where they land, unless they use Haki to break free midway like we did."

"That's good. With this ability, at least we don't have to worry about everyone's safety."

Caesar chuckled, "Later, I'll take you to Skypiea. If we ever encounter any danger, we can just slap people there."

Kuma was surprised, "Skypiea? You've been to Skypiea?"

"No, but I know its location!"

Caesar smiled proudly, "Also, the legendary City of Gold is on Skypiea, carried up by the Knock-Up Stream…"

"Is that so?"

Kuma didn't doubt Caesar's words at all, his face full of smiles, "That's great! Bonney has always wanted to travel to Skypiea! I once promised her we'd go together!"

"Next year, after we deal with that King Banali…"

"It's King Beckley."

"Alright, after we deal with that guy, we'll head back to the East Blue to recruit some people. Leave the rescue to me, and that king is all yours."

The two of them walked leisurely towards the direction of the kingdom, the crimson Blood Mist gradually enveloping the entire kingdom…

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