World Government, Holy Land Mariejois.
The Five Elders gathered once more for a meeting.
Because of Figo’s existence, this generation of Five Elders held the most meetings, and the atmosphere was always somewhat oppressive.
This time, it was especially oppressive!
After a long silence, a Saint slammed the table angrily, “I knew that guy wouldn’t settle down completely and die slowly in Impel Down! But how dare he? We’ve already made huge concessions to the navy!
Does he think we really can’t disband the current Marine Headquarters and rebuild it? The family has been gone for over ten years, and he thinks we can’t kill him? Damn it!”
Can’t we have a peaceful term? The other four elders were equally frustrated. One of them said, “The most important thing now is to find out where he went and what he intends to do.”
“What did Kong say?”
“He said he doesn’t know. He just said Gaston Figo refused to let him follow this time, and his battleship couldn’t catch or stop him.”
“Hmph, that guy is Douglas’ grandson. He’s become rebellious under Gaston Figo’s guidance these years. Of course, he wouldn’t stop him.”
“Damn it, one rebellious person after another. Mendes Ben Saint is now peacefully retired, waiting for death. Who’s going to clean up the mess? We should’ve taken the risk back then, asked Lord Im to take action, and killed all those guys!”
What’s the use of saying that now? Laio La Saint saw through the others’ empty words, not wanting to take responsibility. After all, Impel Down and Gaston Figo were under his ‘management,’ and he had to come up with a solution.
He took a deep breath, calming himself, “He probably won’t cause too much trouble. If he really wanted to do something, he’d at least visit Marine Headquarters to see Mia.”
The others looked at him. That made sense.
Go on.
Laio La Saint’s eye twitched, “He’s not a low-profile man. Even without Kong following him, he should catch some pirates on the way. If he sends them to nearby Marine branches, we can locate him!”
The others nodded. Once located, then what?
“…Let’s see where he’s headed first. It might not all be bad,” Laio La Saint said after a pause. “No matter what, that guy was from the navy and rarely showed mercy to pirates. Even though he built a city within a city in Impel Down, treating some pirates well, he’s never let anyone leave Impel Down!
If he goes to the New World, find a way to make him encounter the Rocks Pirates. Maybe…”
“Yes, it’s best if he fights the Rocks Pirates!” The other four, who had long sensed the Rocks Pirates’ threat, immediately agreed.
…
Five days later, the Five Elders gathered again.
The one managing the intelligence department, Neilboro Saint, said, “Gentlemen, I have good news and bad news. Gaston Figo did appear in the New World, but the location is Maruti Island.”
Laio La Saint: “Hmm? Now? How so quickly? Could it be…”
“In just five days, from Loguetown in East Blue to the New World, he must have run all the way across the Calm Belt on the sea’s surface.” Another elder added, “His strength, at least his technique, is stronger than 25 years ago. It’s harder to contain him. That’s the bad news, right?”
Neilboro Saint hesitated, “No, Maruti Island is where Linlin got lost.”
“……”
The room fell silent. The other four glared at him. How could you hide such crucial information?!
“Was his target that girl?”
“Damn it! Kong must have leaked the information to him, claiming he didn’t know!”
“Does he want to take Linlin back to Impel Down and train her as his successor?”
“No way! We must stop him!”
Since the Figo incident 25 years ago, the World Government had been eager for high-level forces outside of Marine Headquarters. If the government had another top combat force back then, the outcome could have been entirely different.
The Holy Knights were stationed in special locations and usually not mobilized. CP0 to CP9’s strength had surged in the past 25 years, especially CP0, which had several vice-admiral-level fighters. But cultivating top combat power was still a long way off.
Hence, Charlotte Linlin was highly valued!
Not only that, but seeing Linlin’s extraordinary talent, the Five Elders hoped to have someone like Figo under their control to strengthen the government’s rule!
Thus, since Linlin was brought to the World Government at five, she underwent the most rigorous training for five years.
If not for special circumstances, Linlin wouldn’t have been sent out. Who would’ve thought something would go wrong on her first mission?
“Damn, we should’ve focused more on developing Linlin’s mind.”
“How’s the arrangement at Pleasure Street?”
“Absolutely bring Linlin back before Gaston Figo finds her!”
“No, what if… I suggest mobilizing Silver Foot Chacamos to the vicinity first…”
The Five Elders discussed countermeasures.
…
Elsewhere, a few hundred kilometers from Maruti Island, in a small island town, a girl concealed by a heavy cloak was happily licking a giant lollipop.
Beside her, a petite blonde girl was anxiously jumping.
“Listen, Linlin, we can’t go to Pleasure Street’s food festival. It’s obviously a trap.” She urged, “Think about your life before. Constant training, controlled food portions. Now, you can eat whatever you want. Which is better?”
Linlin lowered her head, “Now.”
“See? Would sister lie to you? If we go to that festival, the World Government will catch us. Understand?!”
“But, this…”
Linlin pulled out a flyer for the food festival, depicting various delicious foods, hesitating, “I really want to eat.”
The blonde girl’s eyes flashed with a shadow but quickly forced a smile, “You’ve already spent all sister’s money these days. I need to find more money to buy you food. Linlin, if we join the Rocks Pirates… you know the Rocks Pirates, right?
The strongest pirate crew in the New World! Join them, and you can eat whatever you want. If we can’t buy it, we can steal it!”
Charlotte Linlin looked conflicted, licking her lollipop again, her nose twitching, her big eyes lighting up as she quickly walked out of the alley.
“Huh? Linlin, where are you going?”
“Such a delicious smell, sister.”
The blonde girl sniffed, faintly smelling meat, and sighed, “Linlin, sister has no money…”
Huh? It’s not for sale?
She stopped speaking, seeing Charlotte Linlin standing by the source of the aroma.
It was a large skewer of unknown roasted meat, golden and oily, perfectly cooked, sprinkled with cumin and chili, emitting an irresistible aroma, making even her swallow involuntarily.
The next moment, she became wary, observing the man holding the skewer. Black hair and eyes, tall and strong, appearing about fifty years old but not looking aged, rather exuding mature charm, with a touch of appealing ruggedness, suggesting his true age was more than fifty.
More concerning was the handcuff hanging from his wrist.
An escapee? A pirate?
Unlike her, Charlotte Linlin’s attention was entirely on the roasted meat, drooling profusely.
“Little girl, want some?”
Linlin nodded eagerly, “Can I?”
“Here, eat up.”
Figo smiled.
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