After passing by Blackbeard, Rosinante let out a long sigh.
He was certain—Blackbeard's eyes had unmistakably doubted him.
But the other man also had his own hidden agenda and secrets, so neither had any intention of exposing the other and ending in mutual destruction.
"Hmm, but it's really strange... Given the nature of these Celestial Dragons, how could they possibly accept Blackbeard's presence?" Rosinante rubbed the stubble on his chin.
"This means the Celestial Dragons no longer place as much importance on so-called 'bloodline'... Wait, no—they never really cared about bloodline in the first place."
During his time undercover in the World Government, Rosinante had uncovered quite a few secrets about the Celestial Dragons.
For instance, every Celestial Dragon now bore at least one flame-shaped tattoo—a sigil that seemed to be the reason for their sudden surge in power.
And this was most likely the ability of the "Great Imu's" Devil Fruit.
A sinister power capable of manipulating life itself.
But the exact nature of this power remained unknown to Rosinante.
After all, Imu-sama had always harbored suspicions toward him, never truly accepting him as one of their own.
Still, it was enough for him to continue monitoring the situation from within the Celestial Dragons' ranks.
"Tch, I just don't know when I'll finally get to stab these Celestial Dragons in the back! My hands are practically itching for it!"
"Fleet Admiral Sakazuki and Commander Dragon are really something... All they told me was to start relaying information back!"
"They have no idea how torturous every single day among these Celestial Dragons is!"
Rosinante grumbled incessantly.
Only by becoming one of them could one truly grasp just how vile these creatures were!
If not for Imu-sama propping them up... they would have long been slaughtered like pigs.
But... complaining wouldn't change anything.
Time to get back to work.
With that thought, he headed out of Pangaea Castle.
The guards outside bowed upon seeing him and asked, "Lord Rosinante, where might you be headed?"
"To the World Government headquarters... I need to discuss the reconstruction of CP0 with Fleet Admiral Kong."
...
The Flower Room.
"W-Why did you bring me here?"
Vivi stared at the unfamiliar flora around her, her eyes still filled with fear.
From the moment she had laid eyes on "Imu-sama," she had felt an eerie sense of familiarity.
Especially that blue hair—it was practically...
Identical to hers and her aunt Crocodile's.
It reminded her of a name her father Cobra had once mentioned during a meeting with Aunt Crocodile...
Lily.
Nefertari Lily.
"There's no need to be afraid, child. You're safe here." Lily didn't answer Vivi's question. Instead, she slowly took a seat beside the straw hat in the Flower Room and continued.
"At least, you're absolutely safe... until that day arrives."
"That day? What day are you talking about?" Vivi rubbed her hair, glaring at Lily's unsettling crimson eyes. "Stop speaking in riddles! Riddle-speakers never end well!"
"Do you truly wish to know?" Lily looked at her with mild surprise. "I've always thought... ignorance is bliss."
"So you want the entire world to live like ignorant livestock under the rule of the Celestial Dragons and the World Government? Just to be fattened up and slaughtered at your whim?"
"Hmm, righteous and stern questioning, as noble as a champion of justice... Over these eight hundred years, I've been questioned by countless people like you." Lily's expression remained unchanged as she glanced indifferently at Vivi.
"But do you know how it always ends? I gave them many chances, yet they all chose to become one of the Celestial Dragons in the end... Just like you, the princess of Alabasta, born to be sustained by the entire kingdom, believing yourself to be a wise royal. But if given the chance to dominate and exploit the entire world, I'm certain you wouldn't let it slip, would you?"
Vivi opened her mouth.
But no words came out.
Though she desperately wanted to refute the woman who claimed to have lived over eight centuries, she knew—this woman was right.
No one could refuse the chance to stand above all else in this world.
As Vivi thought this, she failed to notice her shadow shifting from simple darkness to a tainted, corrupted form.
The Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Demon—it could absorb negative emotions to grow stronger and also release them to infect others.
Those who accepted the demon's contract, branded with the flame array, would gain power, even the ability to teleport remotely through the array or achieve "immortality."
This was why those bloated Celestial Dragons had all grown stronger overnight.
And why the God's Knights and the Five Elders could act with such impunity.
Nefertari Lily—the true incarnation of a demon.
The current Vivi had already begun to unconsciously be affected by the negative emotions subconsciously emanating from Lily.
Lily hadn't even actively used her abilities yet—merely this passive influence was enough to show signs of "corruption" in Vivi.
But just as the negative emotions in Vivi's mind made her start agreeing with what Lily had said earlier, suddenly an incomparably holy light shone from her chest.
The feather she had torn from Michael with childish strength after her birth began glowing on its own, instantly neutralizing the passive effects of Lily's Devil Fruit.
However, it also completely captured Lily's attention.
"This is..."
"What!?"
Lily stood up and approached Vivi.
She reached out, wanting to touch that pristine, slender feather.
But the faint Holy light surrounding it burned her, forcing her to withdraw her hand as if struck by lightning.
The Holy light, which had healing and calming effects on others, was lethal poison to Lily.
Yet she showed no anger at being harmed—instead, her expression grew even more fanatical.
"Where did you get this!?"
"This..." Vivi instinctively grasped the feather pendant. "Uncle Michael gave it to me..."
"Michael? Which Michael?"
"Are there many Michaels? There's only ever been one Michael, hasn't there?"
Vivi's words made Lily freeze completely.
"Right... How could there be someone named Michael who also possesses the power of an Angel Devil Fruit? And the reason Toki stayed in this era must be because she discovered this too... How long have I been deceiving myself?"
After muttering to herself, Lily broke into a shy smile, like a maiden in spring.
"Michael... You've finally come to stop me."