The Ancient Truth

The world was about to undergo a new upheaval, and it all began with tonight's adventure—with the earth-shattering truth that had been sealed away for eight hundred years.

Behind them, Aokiji stood on the deck of the Marine warship, gazing at the spot where Moonlight Island had vanished and the direction Lin Ye and the others had gone. His expression remained calm, but a barely perceptible trace of relief flickered in his eyes.

"Some songs are destined to be sung; some roads are destined to be walked to the end," Aokiji murmured. Then he turned and gave the order. "Return to headquarters at full speed. We'll report that the mission failed."

Their ship entered the waters of a remote island, a safe haven Silva had established years ago. Far from the shipping routes, it was well hidden. Half a day had passed since their escape from Moonlight Island. Though they were safe for now, everyone looked unusually grave. They settled into a concealed cave on the island, stocked with basic supplies and communications equipment—enough to let them rest for a few days.

Night fell, and a campfire burned in the center of the cave, casting light across their pensive faces. After a long silence, Ace finally spoke. "It's time we talked about everything we saw inside the Gate of Truth."

All eyes turned to Robin. As an archaeologist, she had the deepest understanding of the Ancient Civilization. She took a deep breath and drew a small notebook from her coat. She had organized her notes aboard the ship.

"The Ancient Kingdom... It wasn't merely a country. It was a civilization far ahead of its time," Robin said evenly. "Through means we can scarcely imagine today, its people discovered the true nature of this world: the entire world is a vast