Hachinosu, Central Hall.
Roy sat in the main seat, with a huge stone table in front of him, on which hundreds of Devil Fruit were neatly arranged.
Some of the fruits glowed with firelight, some were crackled with electricity, and some simply lay there quietly, yet exuded an aura that made one afraid to look directly at them.
The main hall doors were pushed open, and the core cadres walked in one after another.
Bullet was still the same as ever, wearing a military uniform, his muscles looking like they were cast in iron, and he burst into laughter as soon as he entered.
" Roy! I heard they won again in Wano Country? Did Kaido hold them back?"
Dracule Mihawk, carrying his cross-shaped broadsword, silently walked in and found a seat by the window.
Crocodile, a cigar dangling from his lips, dust swirling between his fingers, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Tesoro, dressed in a burgundy suit, his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming under the light, nodded to Roy.
Red Count leaned against the door, a slight smile playing on his lips as he examined the fruit on the table with great interest.
Stella stood behind Roy, holding a thick register in her hands.
Roy looked around and put down his glass.
"Is everyone here?"
He stood up, his voice steady.
"In the Wano Country arc, Luffy's Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika Awakening, Sengoku and Ryokugyu were captured alive, the Marines completely withdrew from the New World, and the last threat to the Beasts Pirates was eliminated."
Roy paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
These victories are just the beginning.
"Now that the Navy has been driven out of the New World, the World Government is unlikely to take any major action in the short term."
What we need to do is seize this window of opportunity and make everyone on Hachinosu significantly stronger than before.
Now you can choose whatever you like.
Roy finished speaking.
The crowd, who could no longer contain themselves, immediately stepped forward.
Tesoro, who already possessed two Cerberus Fruit.
"Boss Roy, I choose this one!"
Roy didn't keep them in suspense; with a flick of his wrist, the Mythical Zoan Fruit flew towards Tesoro.
"Then."
Tesoro grabbed it and stuffed it into his mouth without even looking at it.
With a snap, juice splashed everywhere.
The next second, Tesoro's pupils suddenly contracted, and a visible crimson aura erupted from his entire body.
Fine black lines appeared on the surface of the skin, like marks from being burned by flames.
A moment later, he threw his head back and laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha--This power! It's amazing!"
Mihawk glanced at Tesoro's crazed state and gave a soft snort.
Tesoro's gaze swept over, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
" Mihawk, you're no match for me now!"
Mihawk didn't even lift his eyelids, replying indifferently.
"Want to try it now?"
Tesoro froze.
Roy ignored the conceding Tesoro and continued distributing the fruit.
A Devil Fruit flew towards them.
After Roy finished distributing the fruit, his gaze fell on Hawk Eyes.
" Mihawk, would you like to try out the power of Devil Fruit?"
A conflicted look appeared in Hawk Eyes's eyes at this moment.
Roy didn't try to persuade him any further.
"It's all up to you!"
"We have plenty of fruit. Just tell me whenever you want some."
After he finished speaking, he collected the remaining fruit and turned to sort it into different categories.
" Tesoro, make a trip to Wano Country."
Roy packed one batch of fruit separately and handed it to him.
"Give the fruit to Kaido and say it was my order. The All-Stars and the Flying Six can eat it if they want."
But when the time comes, they'll all have to fight me to the death.
Tesoro took the storage bag and bowed slightly.
"Don't worry, boss. It will be delivered intact."
"And what about the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Roy then produced another batch of fruit.
"Send it to Ace."
Tell him that these are from Hachinosu for the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Clear."
"These are for the Revolutionary Army."
Roy handed the last batch of fruit to Stella.
"Same old rules, take the secret route."
No words need to be written; not a single word should be left.
The dragon knows how to use it.
Stella nodded and made a note of it.
Several days later.
Wano Country, Onigashima ).
Tesoro's arrival surprised Kaido, but when he saw the dozens of Mythical Zoan and Logia Devil Fruit in the storage bag, his face lit up with a smile.
"Hahahaha-- Roy really kept his word!"
Kaido immediately gathered all All-Stars and the Flying Six to begin selecting Devil Fruits.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World.
On the island where the Whitebeard Pirates were located.
Ace sat on the rocks by the sea, looking at the dozen or so Devil Fruit in front of him, and remained silent for a long time.
Vista sat beside him, polishing his rapier.
"What's wrong, Ace?"
"What is Roy thinking?"
Ace frowned.
He never gives things away for free.
Vista smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
He is indeed playing a very big game.
But at least for now, we're heading in the same direction as him.
Ace didn't answer, but simply picked up a fruit and twirled it in his hand.
"If Pops were still alive, he would be very happy."
He muttered something under his breath, then tossed the fruit to Vista.
"These will be distributed to the captains of each division. Our Whitebeard Pirates can't continue to be so pathetic."
Somewhere along the Grand Line, Revolutionary Army stronghold.
The dragon took out more than a dozen fruits from the heavy bundle and arranged them neatly on the table.
Sabo stood behind him, his brow slightly furrowed.
"This... was sent by Roy?"
The dragon nodded.
Did you say anything?
"No. They didn't say anything."
The dragon lowered its head.
"It's precisely because he didn't say anything that I find this person even more terrifying."
Sabo remained silent.
He certainly understood what the dragon meant.
Roy never does anything meaningless.
The delivery of these fruits is a clear message to the dragon—
Your Revolutionary Army's current strength is far from sufficient to restrain the World Government.
He's pushing everyone forward.
The dragon spoke slowly, its tone revealing a complex emotion.
"He turned us all into pieces on his chessboard."
A moment later, Sabo smiled.
"But we don't have any other way to go now, do we?"
Long smiled and reached out to pick up a fruit.
"You're right. Since he gave it to us, we'll accept it."
"The flames of the Revolutionary Army burn as brightly as possible."
Thus, in the undercurrents unnoticed by all parties around the world—
In Wano Country, the Beasts Pirates begin their final strengthening process.
In the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates trained day and night on a hidden island, rapidly recovering their strength.
In the first half of the Grand Line, the Revolutionary Army's offensive became increasingly fierce, and they conquered more and more kingdoms.
On Hachinosu, the cadres kept pushing their limits after reaping new rewards, and the island's training grounds and explosions continued to roar incessantly.
Everyone felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.
Like a thunderstorm that has been brewing for years, about to sweep across the sky.
On the highest cliff of Hachinosu.
Roy sat alone, surrounded by swirling black mist.
Dark Water swam around him like a living thing, occasionally bursting forth with black and red Inazuma, only to be swallowed up by the black mist.
He closed his eyes.
Mental energy covered the entire Hachinosu.
He could sense Bullet's heartbeat during his intense training, Crocodile's sandstorm rising over the distant sea, and Yamato's roar as he swung his bat on the cliff.
Roy took a deep breath and drew the churning black mist back into his body.
"Soon."
He whispered something, as if to himself, or perhaps to some unseen being.
The sea breeze swept across the cliff top, making his black trench coat flutter loudly.