Just as Kuro had coordinated with Vic, Pica, Lilian, Blazing Sun, and others, preparing to secretly reconstruct the New World's geological strata...
It was now September of the year 1511 in the Sea Circle Calendar.
The weary dragon, carrying Luffy, Ace, Sabo, Dadan, and the others, finally returned to White Soil Island in the New World.
The Karasu, carrying Peter, welcomed the dragon and his companions back.
"Chief, welcome back," Peter greeted with a broad smile.
The Karasu, as always, remained expressionless and simply nodded.
Dragon, oblivious to Karasu's unusual behavior, pointed to Luffy, who was dancing and gesturing wildly at the base's dock, and began introducing him to Karasu and the others:
"The one wearing the Straw Hat is my son, the other two children are my son's sworn brothers, and that Big Mom is my father's friend."
The Karasu glanced at Luffy, who seemed to have developed ADHD, and then asked calmly, "Boss, should we send them to the training camp?"
Dragon instinctively refused. "No need. He and Ace want to be pirates, Sabo wants to join our Revolutionary Army. I will personally train them."
"Pirates? I understand..." The Karasu said nothing.
Peter was still smiling.
Dragon assumed that Karasu and Peter didn't mind, so he didn't explain anything and simply took Luffy and his two brothers to rest.
However, he didn't see that the Karasu was looking at the departing figures of Dragon, Luffy, and the other two brothers with disappointment in its eyes.
Peter patted him on the shoulder and whispered, " Army Commander Karasu, the Sky Empire and the World Government have been clashing a lot lately. Shall we go discuss headquarters' security?"
"Can."
The two walked towards the ground of White Soil Island.
Standing on the vast, desolate salt flats, the salty sea breeze caressed their faces.
How about we go check out those islands and reefs in the northwest?
"Um."
The Karasu activated its ability, and a giant bird made of coal soared into the sky, flying towards the deserted island in the northwest.
The two remained silent throughout the journey.
They landed on a reef more than 150 kilometers from White Soil Island.
The Karasu created a spherical house with double walls for soundproofing, then sat on the coal sofa. "At this distance, his Observation Haki can no longer hear us."
You seem a bit insecure!
"It's always better to be careful."
Peter understood the Karasu's fear of the dragon. After all, as Devil Fruit User, the dragon's Observation Haki combined with the wind allowed him to hear subtle sounds from tens of kilometers away.
This is also why the two did not discuss matters on White Soil Island.
Peter pulled out a card, which released a table full of food. He poured the Karasu a cup of black coffee. "Let's eat and chat!"
" Card-Card Fruit? Aren't you a White Fox Devil Fruit User?" Karasu, somewhat surprised.
However, the Karasu's face then showed an even more shocked expression.
Because Peter transformed into the form of a dragon, then into Ivankov, Betty, and Karasu, and finally into a blonde beauty:
"Hehehe... who do you think I am now?"
The Karasu thought for a moment before asking somewhat uncertainly, "Are you a user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox?"
"You got it right, but there's no reward." Champagne smiled and took a sip of her coconut latte.
"You must hold a high position in the Liberator Organization, right? After all, the disguise ability of this fruit is incredibly powerful."
"I'm in charge of intelligence work in the New World."
Aren't you worried I'll take you down?
Champagne squinted and put down her glass. "You don't think you can take me down by yourself, do you? And you seem to have forgotten one thing."
"What is it?" Karasu frowned.
"This isn't White Soil Island."
"You're very confident."
Champagne laughed, "Hehehe... because I have Lord Noah and millions of Liberators behind me. Even if I'm in Mary Geoise, Lord Noah can rescue me unharmed."
The Karasu fell silent.
Are you feeling lost?
The Karasu didn't deny it, picked up his black coffee and drank it all in one gulp, his mouth full of bitterness. "Hahaha... a revolutionary's son wants to become a pirate, who wouldn't be confused?"
"For freedom, perhaps that's why the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika chose Straw Hat Luffy!"
" The Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika? You mean Straw Hat Luffy ate the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika?" The Karasu clearly knew the legend of Nika and the Sun God, because Kuma often told them about it before.
"What? You've changed your mind? Want to cling to Straw Hat Luffy's coattails again?" Champagne teased, completely unconcerned.
However, the Karasu clenched its fists, its eyes filled with tears. "Hahaha... What a laughable fate! This world actually needs a pirate to save it! If this is the so-called prophet, I will never accept such a destiny!"
By the end, the Karasu was furious.
Immediately, the Karasu burst through the roof, transformed into coal Karasu, and flew back to White Soil Island.
Watching the Karasu fly back to White Soil Island, Champagne didn't stop them, continuing to cut her steak and drink her coffee.
You will come back.
White Soil Island.
After the Karasu returned, it went straight to the dragon.
"Boss, I'm not qualified to lecture Luffy's two brothers on their thoughts, but as your son, isn't it a bit inappropriate for him to become a pirate?" Luffy Karasu to phrase it as tactfully as possible.
Dragon glanced at the Karasu, then shook his head. "I respect Luffy's own decision, but if you can persuade him to give up being a pirate and join the Revolutionary Army, I won't object."
Upon hearing the dragon's words, the Karasu immediately stated its own opinion. "I will persuade him."
"I don't want you to force him, understand?"
"I see."
The next day, the Karasu found Luffy and his two brothers training and began trying to persuade Luffy to give up becoming a pirate and join the Revolutionary Army.
However, Luffy's answer dealt a heavy blow to the Karasu.
"No way! I'm going to be the Pirate King!"
For a whole week, those words echoed in the Karasu's ears.
On this day, the Karasu resumed their patrols of the islands and reefs to the northwest.
It's still on that same island.
The Champagne glass swirled. "You seem to have given up?"
"This is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous! The so-called child of prophecy is actually a man who's going to become the Pirate King!" Karasu picked up the red wine on the table, drank it all in one gulp, and then smashed the bottle on the ground.
"Fate isn't static." Champagne took out another bottle of red wine and poured himself a glass. "Take the Kozuki Clan of Wano Country, for example. They were also waiting for the prophesied child to open the country eight hundred years later, but now Wano Country has been destroyed."
" Wano Country has such a prophetic legend?" The Karasu suddenly realized, "Wait a minute! How do you know about this? Even if you have the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox, it would be difficult to steal secrets from Golden Lion, wouldn't it?"
"Guess!" Champagne squinted at the Karasu.
A thought flashed through the Karasu's mind, then its eyes widened as it stared at the Champagne: " The Sky Empire is the Kingdom of Dawn?"
"Only a part."
The Karasu, utterly shocked, mentally reviewed all the intelligence about the Sky Empire. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that the Sky Empire was indeed the Kingdom of Dawn.
On the surface, the Sky Empire is an empire, but in reality, there are no nobles within it; only the empire's bureaucratic system manages everything.
Karasu found it hard to believe that the mighty Golden Lion would side with the Liberator Organization, and that the Liberator Organization would accept the allegiance of such a great pirate.
This somewhat overturned his understanding of the Liberator Organization.