East Sea, West Luobu Village, late at night.
Jesus Bu was quietly packing his luggage.
Bang!
A sudden spark sound echoed, followed by a lit candle illuminating the room.
Jesus Bu's wife watched her husband pack his bags silently.
Seeing the sorrow on his wife's face, Jesus Bu spoke with some difficulty:
"I'm sorry... I..."
Jesus Bu's wife said softly:
"This day, it has finally come."
"I know you don't belong here."
"I won't stop you."
"But Usopp is still young..."
Silence for a long time... neither of them spoke.
Jesus Bu's wife knew her husband's choice:
"Go... take one last look at Usopp."
His wife turned and left.
Jesus Bu collapsed on the ground, sitting dazedly.
After a moment, he got up and walked into the room, casting a glance at the sleeping Usopp.
He closed his eyes and left with a heavy heart.
He pushed open the door of the house.
The vast starlight illuminated the earth, and his wife handed him a parcel.
It contained Jesus Bu's clothes and the last of their money...
As he took the parcel, his hands instinctively tightened.
He was lost in thought for a long time until a ray of sunlight broke through the horizon.
"I'm sorry..."
Jesus Bu whispered, trembling with guilt.
He walked towards the rising sun.
Inside the house.
His wife, lying on the bed, looked at the sleeping Usopp.
Two lines of tears streamed down her face...
------------
New World, a towering secret realm.
This was the last stronghold of the Golden Lion, a place he had never revealed.
No one would have imagined what kind of scenery lay atop this pillar-like island that pierced the sky.
The scientists in the secret realm, after the Golden Lion was imprisoned, began to plot their escape.
After all, they had all been abducted, and they had their own families, friends, and careers.
Forced to serve the Golden Lion's research here, they could only do so reluctantly.
But after the Golden Lion's imprisonment, everyone, except for Dr. Indigo, became restless.
No one wanted to remain in this isolated, desolate place.
A group of them gathered. Although they were not primarily mechanical scientists,
as accomplished biologists and scientists, their minds were undoubtedly sharper than most.
After two years of stumbling assembly,
a massive glider, designed with biomechanics in mind, was completed.
Using mechanical devices, they pulled the glider to the cliff's edge. The group boarded, gazing at the floating clouds, filled with excitement.
"Finally, we're leaving this godforsaken place!"
"Hahahaha!!!"
"This is great! Lisa! Wait for me!!!"
"I'm coming home right away!"
"Wuwuwuwu!!!"
"I haven't seen my son in four years!"
"He was just born then!"
"He must be able to talk by now."
"Alright! Get ready!"
"Let's go home!!!!"
"Whoa!!!!"
The lead biologist pressed a button in his hand, and the enormous mechanical device began to push the glider towards the cliff's edge.
Roar—
As the ship glided out, the sound of the glider wings meeting the air filled the atmosphere.
At this height of several thousand meters, the glider plunged downwards at high speed.
After the massive glider dove down, Dr. Indigo slowly emerged.
He held a newspaper in his hand.
The headline of the newspaper announced the Golden Lion's shattering of the Marineford prison's myth.
"Hmph, these imbeciles..."
He turned and left.
He had received the newspaper days ago, but Dr. Indigo hadn't told them.
He had even secretly collected all the newspapers and hidden them.
Who wouldn't want to be the boss... in the future research department...
"Kelekelekele..."
A strange laugh echoed on the cliff.
----
On the descending glider.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!"
"We're about to hit the water!"
"Hold on tight!!!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"........"
The glider, descending from thousands of meters high, did not experience the expected impact.
Instead, it landed on the water's surface with surprising stability, leaving even those who had been shouting in surprise momentarily stunned.138 Reading Network
Suddenly, a realization dawned on them.
One by one, they broke out in a cold sweat, slumping to the ground, searching frantically for something.
"Hoo—"
Thick white smoke billowed out.
The Golden Lion sat on the edge of the ship's hull:
"Jiehahahaha."
"You truly have given me a surprise."
"A group of biologists capable of building a ship."
"What are so many of you planning to do?"
"Are you planning to rescue me?"
"Or perhaps..."
"Escape....."
His voice gradually turned cold, and a surge of killing intent pressed down on them.
Everyone slumped to the ground.
The lead biologist swallowed hard, forcing himself to say:
"We... were indeed planning to rescue you."
"Everyone has some connections..." So we thought we could find a way to get you out."
"That's why we built this big ship."
The people around him chimed in:
"Yes, yes!"
"Really!"
"I know a Vice Admiral in the Navy!"
"My family also has some ties with government officials!"
"That's great!"
"You actually got out!"
Looking at this group of biologists, the Golden Lion sneered:
"Then I truly must thank you."
He pushed himself up and leaped from the top of the hull.
Clang!
His twin swords landed on the deck, emitting a metallic ring.
He strode, step by step, towards the lead biologist.
Reaching him, he grabbed his neck and lifted him high:
"I...."
"Was already...."
"The Golden Lion!!!"
"When did I fall to the point where I needed a bunch of losers like you to save me!!!"
Bang!!!
Infinite power erupted from the Golden Lion's palm.
The lead scholar's neck instantly turned into a bloody mist, and his head rolled to the edge of the deck.
"Hehehehehe...."
"I'll give you a chance."
"I only need 10 men."
He then threw a small knife onto the deck.
The dozens of scholars on the ship stared at the knife and swallowed hard.
Finally....
"Get lost!"
"The knife is mine!!!"
"Don't fight me for it!"
"Die!!"
"Ugh...."
"You...."
"Don't force me!!!"
The Golden Lion stood on the deck, watching the scholars slaughter each other.
"Interesting...."
"So very interesting....."
"Jiehahahahaha!!!!"
----
East Sea, a certain branch.
A group of Navy officers were discussing the news of the Golden Lion's escape.
"That's terrifying."
"The so-called impenetrable underwater prison was broken."
"Truly a legendary pirate."
"When will these damned pirates ever stop?"
Beside them, Bell-mère, with her red hair tied up and a cigarette in her mouth, loaded her gun:
"What's there to fear."
"If he dares to come to the East Sea, I'll teach him a lesson."
An officer on the sofa laughed:
"Hahahaha!"
"As expected of Bell-mère, so reliable!"
"That's right, that's right."
----
West Sea, Kuskus Island.
"Hey, hey, did you hear?"
"That Child of the Devil, he's probably headed this way."
"Really?"
"Didn't they say he was on Corien Island last time?"
"Yeah, but the government later said they couldn't find him on the whole island."
"Based on the routes of the supply ships from those days, he's in the vicinity of our islands."
In the distance, Robin, following Rollka, became unconsciously tense.
Rollka turned to look at the dazed Robin:
"What's wrong, Elida."
Robin, under the alias Konny Elida, snapped back to attention:
"N-nothing."
"Mr. Shikal."
----
New World, Libe Island.
Baroque Redfield, known by titles such as the Crimson Earl and Lone Red, had taken refuge here.
On the island's highest peak.
Due to his Kenbunshoku Haki's ability to read minds, in crowded places, Redfield would involuntarily feel killing intent from the chaotic and malevolent human nature.
Therefore, he generally preferred to be alone in scenic mountains or valleys.
Redfield, drinking his coffee, suddenly put down his cup and looked towards the harbor:
"Navy?"