A Name for Number Two

You can choose for yourself.

Bonney wiped away her tears and stood beside the Little Bear.

"Numbers given to you by others don't count."

The Control Body held up half of its faceplate, the Solar Crown Pattern on its chest flashing lightly.

"You choose?"

Vegapunk flipped through the documents quickly.

Its language modules are disorganized; don't give it overly complex words.

Lumi poked her head out from the Scrap Platform and was grabbed by Dr. Eve's clothes.

"Sister, can we call it Lumi's friend?"

"Dr. Eve said in a low voice."

"Lumi, don't get too close to the screen."

Lumi was still looking at the Sky Screen.

"It asked my name just the same way it did when I woke up."

Bonney nodded.

"I know."

The bear was still being pulled along by the Red Mark in the black space, and the sound came from the Sky Screen.

"Let it hear its own voice first."

Robin asked.

"Sky Screen, can you allow the Number Two residual personality to answer directly?"

[Short-term self-service Q&A can be enabled.]

[Risk: The Throne Backdoor may attempt to override the answer.]

Akainu opened his mouth.

"Initiated, with Marine Headquarters providing record-keeping witness."

"Dragon said."

"The Revolutionary Army also witnessed it."

Ka Mi Er lay on Parker's back, her face pale.

"The Old Archive Gatekeeper also testified."

Golden Light descended from the Sky Screen.

[Self-service Q&A enabled.]

[Object: Composite victim evidence from the Old Vault No. 2. ]

[Question: Do you accept the number Number Two given by the Throne?]

The Control Body's throat emitted a noise.

"Number Two, clean up, obey."

Bonney shouted.

"That wasn't you; they wrote it in."

The Little Bear chimed in.

"It wasn't you."

The Control Body's fingers twitched, and the Solar Crown Pattern on its chest flashed even more rapidly.

"Number, Pain, Door, Cleaning."

The bear looked up in the darkness.

You can refuse.

The sounds coming from under the door immediately intensified.

"Refusal invalid."

Luffy shouted at the Sky Screen.

"Who says it's invalid! It's its own word that counts!"

The patterns on the Straw Hat 'Inner Compartment lit up, Luffy gritted his teeth, and his shoulders slumped down.

Nami asked urgently.

"Luffy!"

Luffy raised his hand, gesturing for her not to touch the Straw Hat.

"I'm fine."

Shanks gripped the metal plate tightly.

"Luffy, don't take it all, I'll divide it up."

Benn Beckman pressed down on Shanks' shoulder.

Your hand is bleeding.

Shanks did not let go.

"Captain Roger picked me up once, I should at least pave a part of the way for him."

Sky Screen notice.

[Enhanced Old Days Index validation.]

[Throne Backdoor coverage reduced.]

The Control Body opened its mouth again.

"I do not accept it."

The Golden Light in the Sky Screen immediately locked on.

[Answer valid.]

[Number Two has lost its unique identification effect.]

Horne's sword was blocked by Sabo, and after hearing the warning, anger finally showed on his face.

"Weier, Taluo, sabotage the Sky Screen stabilizer."

Weier turned in the direction Ka Mi Er was.

Parker handed Ka Mi Er to the marine beside him and raised his gun.

"Target approaching, fire!"

Weier swung his blade to deflect the bullets and rushed into the passageway outside the Old Archive.

Tashigi's voice came from the other side of the Sky Screen.

"Captain Parker, we're still in the left lane!"

The next moment, Tashigi rushed out from the old supply route branch with two marines, her blade blocking Weier's short sword.

Weier frowned.

"A mere navy soldier dares to block my way?"

Tashigi gritted her teeth.

"For witness protection duties, military rank is not important."

Koby behind and punched Weier in the side.

"Captain Parker, take Mr. Ka Mi Er and back off!"

Parker responded.

"Receive!"

Ka Mi Er was being carried out, but he didn't forget to shout.

"Don't lose my keybook!"

Koby he had a spare moment.

"It's already been handed over to Sky Screen Backup!"

Ka Mi Er breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's fine."

Old Archive, Taluo tried to go around the bear, but Bonney drew her dagger and blocked his way.

"Don't even think about going there."

Taluo looked down at her.

You can't stop it.

Bonney raised her hand.

"How about trying to become an old man before you fight?"

Taluo didn't waste any more words and swung his arm down.

Sabo wanted to go back to help, Horne stopped him.

Your opponent is here.

Sabo's flames swept across the ground.

"I never said I was the only one."

Although Xiong was being held back by Red Mark, he still raised his other hand, and the Pressure Cannon grazed Taluo's shoulder, slamming him against the wall.

Bonney seized the opportunity to retreat back to the Little Bear's side.

"Dad can still fight!"

The bear whispered in the darkness.

"It's still possible."

Vegapunk stamped his feet in frustration.

"Don't get distracted! You're still stuck in the False Verification!"

The bear peered through the crack in the door.

"The door is listening."

Robin asked immediately.

"What did the door hear?"

"That's what the bear said."

"It is looking for someone willing to offer themselves."

Luffy shouted back.

"No one is willing to offer up the Throne!"

At the exit of Sabaody, the rescued laborers looked up at the Sky Screen.

An elderly man with gray hair suddenly spoke.

"We don't want to."

Shakky looked at him.

The old man leaned against the wall, his voice panting.

"I've been moving stones underground for twenty years, I don't want to."

A boy next to him also shouted.

"I don't want to either!"

Koby turned around and saw more and more people raising their hands.

"We don't want to!"

Don't risk our lives to open the door!

Don't agree on our behalf!

The golden lettering scrolls Sky Screen.

[Access via the collective will of the victims.]

The Throne Sacrifice Clause has been challenged by counter-evidence.

In the dark space, the door was partially sewn shut.

The sounds from behind the door became broken.

"Subjects, offer sacrifices, command."

The bear looks up.

"They are not subjects."

Ka Mi Er shouted from the outer wall of the Old Archive.

"They are witnesses, and they are human beings!"

Luffy shouted along.

"Yes, it's a person!"

Numerous noises emanated from the Control Body's chest.

"People."

"Name."

"Go home."

Bonney approached the Control Body, reaching out her hand but stopping mid-air.

"Did you hear that? Nobody wants you as a tool, and you don't need to eliminate anyone for the Throne."

The Control Body looked at her.

"What's my name?"

Bonney didn't answer immediately; she turned to look at the bear.

The bear spoke in the dark space.

"Let it choose for itself."

Bonney nodded.

"You heard a lot of voices just now, was there one you wanted to keep?"

The Control Body is silenced.

The Sky Screen backdrop once again triggered memories.

In the white room, while the researcher was away, the child used his fingertip to write a crooked word under the bed.

Robin stared at the screen.

"Those are remnants of Ancient Script."

"Vegapunk asked."

"What's the meaning?"

Robin watched for a moment.

It's not a complete word, but rather closer to the first sound of sunrise.

Luffy asked.

"Sunrise?"

"Lumi whispered from the other side of the Sky Screen."

"Li?"

The mechanical sound from the Control Body stopped for a moment.

"Li."

Bonney repeated.

"Li?"

The Solar Crown Pattern on the Control Body's chest turned a soft gold, then was pulled back by the Red Mark.

"I am Li."

Words fall from the Sky Screen.

[Established through self-naming.]

[Temporary name for Old Vault No. 2: Li.]

[Identity updated for composite victim evidence.]

Shanks let out a soft breath.

"Good name."

Luffy smiled.

"Li! Don't listen to the Throne!"

Li's body swayed slightly.

"Luffy, Old Days Index, Laugher."

Nami grabbed Luffy.

"Does it recognize you?"

Robin frowned.

"The Error Index contains Echo of the Straw Hat segment; it can read a portion of it."

Li raised his hand and pointed it at the Sky Screen where Luffy was.

"Laugher, receive, verify."

The Sky Screen alarm sounded again.

[A conflict arose between Lebanon's self-awareness and Error Index.]

[If the conflict fails, the Throne Backdoor will regain control.]

Vegapunk shouted.

"The sealing must be completed now; there can be no further delay!"

Sky Screen notice.

[Two of the three conditions for sealing have been met.]

[Buccaneer contact, Old Days Index verification, established.]

[Remaining condition: The witness to the Old Archive must be within sight of the sealed area.]

Parker looked up.

Within sight?

Ka Mi Er coughed.

It means I need to see the door.

Parker's face tightened.

"There are still knights there."

Ka Mi Er looked at Koby and Tashigi.

"Young man, could you escort me back for one last look?"

Koby didn't hesitate.

"Able."

Tashigi adjusts her glasses.

"I'll clear the way."

Akainu spoke from Marine Headquarters.

"Parker, Koby, Tashigi, escort Ka Mi Er back to within sight. Prioritize her survival."

Ka Mi Er gave a slight smirk.

"Fleet Admiral, I like hearing that."

Upon hearing the command, Horne suddenly plunged his sword into the ground.

Sabo was alert.

What are you planning to do now?

Horne looked up.

"There is more than one Throne Backdoor."

Red Mark on the ground lit up along the walls of the Old Archive, leading directly to the corridor where Ka Mi Er returned.

Sky Screen warning.

[The Old Archive witness passageway has been contaminated.]

[If Ka Mi Er enters, the contamination will prioritize attacking his testimony memory.]

Ka Mi Er looked at the reddened road, and his smile slowly faded.

"In other words, I might have forgotten what I just did?"

Vegapunk answered in a low voice.

"Worse still, they might change your testimony to the Throne version."

Ka Mi Er looked at Parker.

"Then hold on tight."

Parker was stunned.

Are you still going?

Ka Mi Er stared into the depths of the Old Archive.

"I've guarded this door for half my life, and this is the first time I've known there are so many people locked behind it."

He patted Parker on the shoulder.

"Today, I will personally close this door."