The Forces Gather! The Calm Before the Storm at God Valley

News of God Valley spread across the entire sea as if it had grown wings. Lin Yuan was not the only one watching; everyone was. The great powers entrenched in the New World were opening their eyes, one by one.

Two

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Sengoku stood in the Fleet Admiral's Office, a thick document spread out before him. Its cover bore the words: God Valley · Celestial Dragon Hunting Operation.

"We have to clean up their mess again." Sengoku rubbed his temples.

Tsuru sat on a nearby sofa, holding a cup of tea.

"This year's event is larger than any before. Several Celestial Dragon families will be taking part, and there aren't enough guards. The World Government has asked the Marines to send troops."

"How many?"

"At least two Vice Admirals, several Rear Admirals, and two thousand soldiers." Tsuru set down her cup. "Also, Garp has to go."

Sengoku looked up at Garp, who was munching on rice crackers in the corner.

"Garp, are you going?"

Garp chewed his crackers and mumbled, "What for? To watch that bunch of trash kill people?"

"Intelligence indicates that the Roger Pirates will be there," Tsuru said.

Garp's hand paused.

"Roger?"

"Yes. Roger said it himself. His targets are the Celestial Dragons." Tsuru's tone was calm. "You know what he's like. He does what he says."

Garp was silent for a long time. Roger was a rival he had pursued for years. They had fought countless times at sea, and neither had ever truly defeated the other. Garp never said it aloud, but he knew Roger was the pirate he respected most.

"I'm going." Garp dropped his bag of rice crackers on the table. "Not for the Celestial Dragons. For Roger."

Sengoku glanced at him but did not expose him.

Three

Whole Cake Island.

Charlotte Linlin sat in the castle's great hall, surrounded by desserts. She ate as she listened to a report from her eldest son, Perospero.

"Mama, Captain Rocks has ordered all officers to gather at Pirate Island. The target is God Valley."

Linlin licked the cream from the corner of her mouth.

"Mamamamama... Rocks is finally making his move?"

"Yes. Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Ochoku, Silver Axe, and Captain John are all going."

"Then we're going too." Linlin rose to her feet. "Mamamamama... God Valley. I hear there are several Mythical Zoan Fruits there. I'm just in need of a few good fruits for my children."

Perospero lowered his head and made a note on a sheet of paper.

"Mama, the Marines will be mobilizing too. Garp and Sengoku are both going."

"Garp?" Linlin narrowed her eyes. "That lunatic who keeps chasing Roger?"

"Yes."

"Mamamamama... interesting. That'll make things even livelier."

Four

Pirate Island, Hachinosu.

Rocks' massive ship lay in the harbor, the skull flag on its sail snapping in the sea breeze. The cabin was packed with people.

Rocks sat at the head of the room, a nautical chart before him. God Valley's location was marked on it, with several circles drawn around it in red ink.

On his left, Golden Lion Shiki sat with his legs crossed and a cigar in his mouth, his long golden hair falling over his shoulders. He looked wild and unruly. On his right, Whitebeard Newgate held a bowl of liquor. His chin was smooth and beardless, but his gaze was steady as a mountain.

Farther over, Charlotte Linlin had just sat down, a piece of cake still in her hand. Ochoku sat with his arms crossed, a long, forked tongue hanging from the corner of his mouth. Silver Axe and Captain John sat at the far end, their faces expressionless.

"Everyone's here." Rocks swept his gaze over the group. "God Valley is where the Celestial Dragons hold their hunt every three years. This year, they're bringing a batch of precious Devil Fruits as prizes."

"What fruits?" Golden Lion asked.

"Azure Dragon, Phoenix, Buddha, Tremor-Tremor... all Mythical Zoans and top-tier Paramecias." A cold smile curled Rocks' lips. "Those things are wasted in the Celestial Dragons' hands. We're taking them."

"Just steal them." Golden Lion blew out a mouthful of smoke. "What's with all the pointless talk?"

"No rush," Rocks said. "Let the Celestial Dragons play first. Once they bring out the fruits, we'll make our move."

"What about the Marines?" Newgate asked.

"Garp and Sengoku will be there. But they're Roger's problem." Rocks glanced at him. "Roger's going too."

"Roger?" Newgate set down his bowl. "That reckless kid?"

"That's him."

Newgate fell silent for a moment, then laughed.

"Gurararara... interesting. Now I really have to go see."

Five

Somewhere in the New World.

The Roger Pirates' ship was sailing at full speed. Roger stood at the bow, the sea breeze blowing his long black hair into a mess. He grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Captain, I hear the Rocks Pirates have mobilized too." Rayleigh walked up beside him, an intelligence report in hand.

"All of them?"

"All of them. Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Ochoku... they're all going."

Roger's eyes lit up.

"Even better!"

"What's so good about it?" Rayleigh frowned. "With that many monsters gathering in one place, something big is going to happen."

"That's the best part." Roger laughed. "Hahahaha... I love a lively scene."

Rayleigh shook his head helplessly.

"Gaban, a little faster!"

"Got it!" Gaban shouted from the helm.

Six

Hachinosu.

Ginny piled the latest intelligence in front of Lin Yuan, a thick stack of reports.

"The entire Rocks Pirates crew is mobilizing. Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Ochoku, Silver Axe, Captain John... they're all going."

Lin Yuan flipped through the documents.

"What about the Marines?"

"Garp and Sengoku are leading them. Garp is going because of Roger."

"Roger's going too?"

"Yes. The Roger Pirates have already set sail."

Lin Yuan's fingers paused.

Roger. The future Pirate King was still just a lunatic who charged ahead laughing. But Lin Yuan knew this lunatic was more dangerous than anyone.

"Who else?"

"And... Golden Lion Shiki. He's one of Rocks' officers, and he's going too."

Lin Yuan was silent for a long time.

Everyone was heading for God Valley. The Marines, Rocks, Roger... and CP0 and the Holy Knights.

"Good. They're all coming."

"You seem happy?" Ginny looked at him.

"It's not happiness." Lin Yuan stood up. "It's an opportunity. A chance to fish in troubled waters."

Seven

Ginny took out another document and handed it to Lin Yuan.

"This is the prize list for God Valley. The Celestial Dragons have spared no expense this time, but exactly which fruits they'll have hasn't been fully confirmed. The intelligence mentions a few."

Lin Yuan took it and read through it line by line.

Prize list (partial, compiled from informant reports):

· Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form

· Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Phoenix Form

· Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Buddha Form

· Paramecia, Tremor-Tremor Fruit

· Paramecia, Press-Press Fruit (rumored, unconfirmed)

· ...

Lin Yuan closed the list.

"These fruits will be distributed as prizes for the Hunting Game to the Celestial Dragons who perform best."

"Right," Ginny said. "But they won't care if someone steals them along the way. It's not as if they're short of money."

"We'll steal them."

"All of them?"

"All of them."

Ginny nodded and made an entry in the ledger.

Eight

That night, Lin Yuan sat on the terrace, gazing at the starry sky.

Kaido came up, a piece of meat in his hand.

"I hear God Valley has the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon?"

"It does."

"Wororororo..." Kaido laughed. "That's mine."

"Only if you can steal it."

"If I can't, I'll tear the island apart."

Lin Yuan glanced at him.

"Don't do anything reckless."

"Don't worry." Kaido took a bite of meat. "I know my limits."

Kaido left.

Lin Yuan continued gazing at the starry sky.

The waves beat against the rocks, again and again.

Everyone was heading for God Valley. The Marines, Rocks, Roger... and him.

(End of Chapter 32)