Ohara

Leon charged out of Marineford like a madman, only returning days later, utterly dejected.

The sky, the sea, nameless deserted islands...

Every place he investigated was saturated with nuclear contamination, with the Calm Belt being the most severely polluted...

"Damn it!"

"I should have seen this coming."

Leon's solitary figure crossed paths with a column of Marines rushing past, making him seem utterly out of place.

Leon paid no mind to Marineford's unusually tense atmosphere.

Scenes from his past kept surfacing in his mind, eventually linking together to sketch out the truth of this world for him.

The nuclear reactor beneath the holy land of Mary Geoise, and Garp, who showed no discomfort despite prolonged contact with Leon's intense nuclear radiation...

It wasn't because Garp's physique was too strong, but because the people of this world had long adapted to the existence of nuclear radiation...

And for creatures that could live normally in such a world, nuclear radiation might even accelerate their evolution...

Though a few days only allowed Leon to roughly survey the seas around Marineford.

He could be certain that nuclear contamination had already covered the entire world...

Perhaps only the "holy land" of Mary Geoise atop the Red Line and the Skypiea in the sky could escape the harm of nuclear radiation.

The holy land?

A scornful smile curled at the corner of Leon's mouth.

Who would have thought that the so-called "holy land" might just be a refuge for the Celestial Dragons?

These world nobles who had buried history—was their distinctive attire really just about not breathing the same air as commoners?

Burdened with heavy thoughts, Leon pushed open the gate to Garp's courtyard.

Inside, a haggard Rosinante was anxiously questioning Garp.

"Mr. Garp! Leon hasn't been heard from for days—are you sure nothing's happened to him!?"

"Who knows." Garp picked his nose nonchalantly. "That kid Leon probably just wanted to go out and play for a couple of days..."

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

"But!"

Just as Rosinante was about to say more, Garp spotted the gate opening and pointed directly at the figure striding in, bare-chested. "See? There he is, back already."

"Leon's back!?"

Rosinante turned around in surprise.

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

"Huh?"

Rosinante halted his rush. Was this really Leon?

Why wasn't he wrapped in bandages...

"Sorry, Rosinante, for making you worry."

Only when he heard Leon's familiar voice did Rosinante confirm that the black-haired youth before him was indeed his good brother Leon.

"Leon!"

"You... this..."

"What's wrong, Rosinante? Can't recognize me after just a few days?"

Facing Rosinante, Leon suppressed his churning thoughts.

Rosinante's eyes went wide.

No buck teeth, no thick lips...

The bare-faced Leon he'd schemed so hard to glimpse just days ago now appeared before him so naturally.

"Leon... as long as you're okay, I've got things to do, so I'll be off."

Rosinante struggled to keep his composure, then quickly walked out of Garp's courtyard.

Though there'd been some twists, the "exposure plan" had succeeded in an unexpected way. Rosinante had to share this good news with his comrades first.

"What the hell..."

Leon couldn't figure out Rosinante's train of thought, so he just let him go.

"Old man Garp..."

Leon wanted to ask Garp, as a Hero of the Marines, if he knew more about the truth of this world.

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

"Huh?"

"Who are you..."

"Leon?"

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

"Are you here to see Garp?"

"No."

Kuzan's expression turned serious.

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

"I want you to come with me on a mission."

"?"

Leon looked confused.

What kind of mission would make Kuzan seek him out personally...

Just as Leon was about to refuse, Kuzan continued.

"Leon, you haven't heard yet."

"Sauro... has defected."

"This mission might involve him."

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

"Please."

Kuzan bowed directly, pleading with Leon.

Sauro defected... the Ohara incident, huh...

Leon slowly nodded.

"I understand. Let's set out now, Kuzan."

Ohara Island in the West Blue was a renowned archaeological sanctuary, home to historians capable of deciphering the Poneglyphs.

The World Government had discovered the archaeologists' research into the Poneglyphs and dispatched CP9's commander, Spandam, to Ohara Island for investigation.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku had already entrusted Spandam with the Golden Den Den Mushi that could activate the Buster Call.

Though it was called an investigation, it was more of a formality. The Marine forces for the Buster Call had already assembled and were en route to the West Blue.