The impact of the Great Event was still brewing.
Germa Kingdom.
"Hahahaha!" Judge, wearing a metal helmet and sporting long golden hair, laughed heartily. "I can already sense Lord Apophis calling for me!"
Reiju, who had grown considerably at the age of twelve, asked worriedly, "We are, after all, an affiliated nation of the World Government. Would joining Lord Apophis's faction like this make us too conspicuous?"
Judge was clearly in an excellent mood, and he rarely explained himself as he did now. "In this world, weakness is the Original Sin, while strength needs no reason or explanation."
"Take Jinbe of the Shichibukai, for example. He's practically become Whitebeard's son. Then there's Doflamingo, who's secretly trading weapons with Kaido. As for Hawk Eyes, his relationship with Red-Haired is clearly far from ordinary."
"But under the deterrence of those sea emperors, as long as they don't go too far or break the balance, even the World Government won't interfere. Compared to those Shichibukai, we're nowhere near conspicuous."
"Oh! Is that so?" Reiju nodded, still looking somewhat confused.
"Once we reach the New World and gain Lord Apophis's protection, my research and inventions will finally no longer be restricted!"
East Blue, Windmill Village.
A little boy with freckles on both cheeks and a dagger hanging from his waist sat cross-legged on a reef by the sea.
"Gum-Gum Pistol!"
The little boy turned his head to the side and caught the fist flying down from above his shoulder with his right hand. "Luffy, your sneak attack was way too obvious."
"You're just too strong, Ace!" The little boy whose head was completely buried beneath his Straw Hat jumped onto the reef and came over to ask, "Ace, what are you looking at?"
"Golden Lion Shiki has died in battle. The legend was