Cadre Meeting

That was a year ago, when Maron, the "Mafia Boss" in charge of night patrols, and Shakky, Hachinosu's "unattainable flower," met with misfortune on the same day.

The former was murdered; the latter vanished without explanation, with signs of a struggle at the scene suggesting she had been kidnapped.

On Hachinosu, an island teeming with powerful pirates, two figures of considerable status had silently met such fates—one dead, one missing.

No one knew who had done it, and no one had even heard the slightest sound of fighting!

For the days following the incident, the island's pirates had been on edge, and there were even rumors that the place was haunted.

After all, this was not something an ordinary person could have done!

Only now, after a year had passed without any more such strange incidents, had the pirates gradually forgotten about it.

People always had to look forward.

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

Pete raised an index finger before his lips, signaling John to be quiet. Then he scanned the area and glared fiercely at the pirates lingering nearby to eavesdrop, driving them away.

Only after the surroundings had cleared did he continue.

"This is just my guess. Nothing's certain yet."

"And even if there is news, whether we go rescue her and get revenge or swallow our pride, we'll have to wait for Rocks to make the final call."

"No. Rocks will definitely go save her."

John gritted his teeth, fury written all over his face, making no effort to hide his loss of composure.

There was both deliberation and genuine emotion in his behavior.

The deliberate part was because he was one of Shakky's admirers. He ought to be furious over her kidnapping.

The genuine part was because Shakky's abduction was one of the fuses for the God Valley Battle, meaning his own death was drawing near.

"Why are you so sure Rocks will go?" Pete frowned in confusion.

He admitted that Rocks was more monstrous than a monster, but as for who on the seas could silently kill a Rocks Pirates officer and abduct Shakky...

There was one and only one answer—the World Government!

Rocks did want to overthrow the World Government, that was true, but everything was still in the planning stages. It was nowhere near time to put the plan into action.

Even though Rocks usually acted as though he were enamored with Shakky, Pete did not think he would recklessly wage war against the World Government over her.

That man was no fool who acted on impulse!

Besides, although Shakky was beautiful and captivating, Pete did not think she was worth risking everything to save.

"Rocks has a reason he can't afford not to go."

John shook his head helplessly and turned toward the massive skull-shaped mountain carved by human hands.

God Valley was Rocks's hometown. His wife, children, and clansmen were there. How could he possibly not go?

As he ran, a thought flashed through John's mind.

If Rocks survives the God Valley Battle, does that mean fate has changed?

Would the fate of my own death be directly changed as well?

The more John thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

As long as Rocks remained alive, those traitors under him would never dare betray him, and John would not be stabbed in the back and killed.

There was a direct causal connection between the two!

Inside the skull mountain, in the room within the left eye socket.

A domineering man with blue-and-white hair sat upon a skull throne draped in beast pelts, while figures stood or sat around him.

Edward Newgate, Charlotte Linlin, Shiki, Ochoku, Silver Axe...

These great pirates, infamous both now and in the future, all had their eyes fixed on the man seated upon the skull throne.

Rocks D. Zebek!

The heavy wooden door was pushed open, its hinges letting out a piercing creak that drew everyone's attention.

John strode into the room and waved a hand. The wide-open wooden door shut by itself.

"Hey, how do you have the nerve to make everyone wait for you?"

Shiki held a cigar between his teeth, his chin slightly raised, his demeanor filled with the pride of a lion.

Ochoku opened his mouth, intending to mock him as well, but then remembered the "business" he had been conducting behind the scenes and ultimately chose silence.

For now, he needed to keep as low a profile as possible.

Ignoring Shiki, John swept his gaze over Rocks, Newgate, Linlin, and the others, all of whom wore grave expressions. He spread his hands and shrugged at them.

"Sorry I'm late."

Then he walked to a corner, crossed his arms, leaned against the wall, and waited for things to unfold.

There was no way he could persuade Rocks not to go to God Valley, and he did not have the strength to forcibly influence Rocks's decisions.

So he could only take things one step at a time.

"Just as everyone guessed..."

At that moment, Rocks pulled out a stack of newspapers. His voice was low and repressed, like a storm gathering force.

"According to the reports, the Celestial Dragons will be holding a hunting game on an island in the West Blue called God Valley. The prizes, besides Devil Fruits and treasure, include... Shakky."

Upon hearing that, Shiki crooked a finger and used the Float-Float Fruit's power to make the newspapers float into the air, distributing them to everyone present.

John took a newspaper. The first thing he saw was a huge headline: "'Peony' Shakky Kidnapped by the World Government!" Beneath it was a dense mass of tiny print rambling on about this and that.

There was no photograph of Shakky.

Ochoku clenched the newspaper, unable to hide his panic. Worried that he would be exposed, he tried to muddy the waters.

"This sounds suspicious. Is the information reliable?"

"A small number of people within the Marines have already begun questioning 'justice.' It's entirely possible for information to leak out."

Stussy sat with her legs crossed atop Newgate's left shoulder, her seductive face calm and rational.

She, Shakky, and Newgate were caught in a one-sided love triangle, yet at this moment, she had completely cast aside any feelings about a "romantic rival returning" and focused on analyzing what impact this incident would have on the future.

"So those half-evolved wild monkeys, the Celestial Dragons, were the ones who kidnapped Shakky!" John righteously fumed.

As someone from the future, he had no feelings for Shakky, but this sort of "human battle royale" game deeply struck a nerve.

"The Celestial Dragons' 'human hunting'? I thought it was just a rumor pirates had spread to demonize the World Government. I never expected it to be true."

Newgate was far more composed, nothing like a mindless admirer of Shakky.

Charlotte Linlin stroked her smooth chin and raised her brows with interest.

"There are Devil Fruits too!"

As she spoke, she glanced at the horned, dim-witted youth beside her.

"Kaido... you want them, don't you?"

"What are the abilities of these Devil Fruits?" Kaido leaned toward the newspaper in Linlin's hand, his eyes filled with longing for strength.

That damn Shiki had been the only one not to give him a newspaper. Did he look down on him because he was an apprentice crewman?

Strength! Strength!

"This could be a trap." Streusen's eyes flickered. He had no desire whatsoever to get involved in such a dangerous affair.

At those words, John turned his gaze toward Streusen's greasy face and curled his lip in disdain.

This guy had deceived the once-ignorant little girl Linlin and carried out some grooming scheme...

He was a beast among beasts!