Ohara

Leon charged out of Marineford like a madman and returned several days and nights later, looking utterly distraught.

The sky, the ocean, an uncharted deserted island...

Every place he investigated was rife with nuclear contamination. The Calm Belt was the worst of all...

"Damn it!"

"I should have realized sooner."

Leon's solitary figure crossed paths with lines of Marines rushing past, looking completely out of place.

Leon had no mind to pay attention to the unusual tension hanging over Marineford.

Scene after scene from his past flashed through his mind, eventually coming together to sketch out the truth of this world.

The nuclear reactor beneath the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, and Garp, who had spent so long around Leon—who radiated intense nuclear radiation—without suffering any discomfort...

So it wasn't because Garp was exceptionally tough. The people of this world had long since adapted to the presence of nuclear radiation...

The radiation might even help the creatures that could live normally in such a world evolve...

A few days had only been enough for Leon to make a rough survey of the waters around Marineford.

But he was certain that nuclear contamination had spread across the entire world...

Perhaps only the "Holy Land" of Mary Geoise, high atop the Red Line, and the sky islands above could escape the dangers of nuclear radiation.

The Holy Land?

Leon's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Who would have guessed that the so-called "Holy Land" might simply be a refuge for the Celestial Dragons?

Could the World Nobles, who had buried history, really dress so differently just because they refused to breathe the same air as commoners?

Burdened by a host of worries, Leon pushed open the gate to Garp's courtyard.

Inside, a haggard Rosinante was anxiously questioning Garp.

"Mr. Garp! Leon's been missing for days. Are you sure nothing's happened to him?"

"Who knows?" Garp said indifferently, picking his nose. "Maybe that brat Leon just wanted to go out and have some fun for a couple of days..."

"I used to do that all the time when I was young, hahaha!"

"But—!"

Rosinante was about to say something else when Garp saw the gate swing open. He pointed straight at the bare-chested figure striding inside and said, "See? He's back."

"Leon's back!?"

Rosinante turned around in delight.

"Leon! You have no idea how worried I've been these past few days..."

"Huh?"

Rosinante stopped in his tracks. Was this really Leon?

Why wasn't he wrapped in bandages?

"Sorry for making you worry, Rosinante."

It wasn't until he heard Leon's familiar voice that Rosinante was sure the black-haired boy standing before him was his good friend.

"Leon!"

"You... What..."

"What's wrong, Rosinante? It's only been a few days. Have you already forgotten what I look like?"

Facing Rosinante, Leon suppressed the thoughts churning inside him.

Rosinante's eyes widened.

No buckteeth, no thick lips...

The bare-faced Leon he'd tried so hard to catch a glimpse of just days ago was now standing right before him, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Leon... I'm just glad you're okay. I have something to do, so I'll be going."

Rosinante tried his best to stay calm, then hurried out of Garp's courtyard.

Despite a few twists and turns, the "reveal plan" had succeeded in an unexpected way. This was such wonderful news that I, Rosinante, had to share it with my companions first.

"What was that about...?"

Leon couldn't make sense of Rosinante's thought process, so he let him go.

"Old man Garp..."

Leon had meant to ask Garp, the Hero of the Marines, whether he knew more about the truth of this world.

But when he turned his head, he saw that Garp had fallen asleep standing up again...

"Hm?"

"Are you..."

"Leon?"

Kuzan's voice came from behind him. Leon turned and nodded. "It's me, Kuzan."

"Did you come to see Teacher Garp?"

"No."

Kuzan's expression was serious.

"I came to see you, Leon. Good thing you're back..."

"I'd like you to come to sea with me on a mission."

"?"

Leon looked puzzled.

What kind of mission would make Kuzan come all the way to find him...

Leon was about to refuse when Kuzan continued.

"Leon, you haven't heard, have you?"

"Sauro... has defected."

"This mission may well involve Sauro."

"You and I are both his friends. I hope you'll come with me to face him..."

"Please."

Kuzan bowed deeply as he asked Leon.

Sauro had defected. The Ohara Incident...

Leon slowly nodded.

"I understand. Then let's leave now, Kuzan."

Ohara Island in the West Blue was a renowned center of archaeology. Its historians had the ability to decipher the Poneglyphs.

The World Government had discovered that the archaeologists were studying the Poneglyphs and had sent Spandam, the head of CP9, to investigate Ohara Island.

Admiral Sengoku had handed Spandam the Golden Den Den Mushi, which could be used to launch a Buster Call.

Though they called it an investigation, it was mostly a formality. The Marines assigned to carry out the Buster Call had already assembled and were on their way to the West Blue.