"Garling will lead the God's Knights in carrying out the mission," Saint Saturn said.
"Garling? After the Harald incident ended in failure, they're finally sending him out again?"
"Elbaph was merely an accident. No one expected that young prince to see through our arrangements. In any case, the matter of Elbaph is not urgent," Saint Saturn replied.
Saint Topman Warcury suddenly narrowed his eyes.
"Wait. Did you just say Garling will lead the God's Knights?"
"Who assigned this mission?"
"Naturally, Lord Imu himself."
After saying that, Saint Saturn rose from his seat and looked at the other four Elders.
"Prepare yourselves. We are going to Pangaea Castle for an audience."
...
Inside Pangaea Castle, the Five Elders knelt respectfully before the Empty Throne.
"Lord Imu, the Five Elders have come to pay their respects."
Seated upon the throne, Imu silently gazed down at them.
Saint Marcus Mars lowered his head and respectfully asked,
"My Lord, have you decided which light shall be extinguished from history this time?"
Saint Saturn continued,
"If Your Majesty has already made a decision, please reveal that person's name."
For a moment, the hall remained silent.
Then Imu slowly raised a hand.
A stack of bounty posters rested between his fingers.
The top poster displayed a familiar image.
Ash's carefree grin from Gourmet City stared back from the paper.
Imu's eyes lingered on the photograph before settling on the name printed beneath it.
Celestial Ruler · Dwan
Every time Imu saw that name, he was reminded of words spoken eight hundred years ago by Nefertari Lily.
"Let the flag of Dawn fly across the world."
Dawn.
D.
The memory stirred a cold fury within him.
His gaze returned to the bounty poster.
"Hmph. Dwan..."
"So obvious."
"Then eliminate him."
His icy voice echoed throughout the chamber of the Empty Throne.
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
The Five Elders bowed deeply once more.
Only after Imu departed did they slowly rise and leave the throne room.
...
On the way back to the Chamber of Authority, silence lingered among them.
Eventually, Saint Saturn spoke first.
"I never paid much attention to it before. I always regarded Ash as a useful blade."
"Who would have thought the 'Dwan' in his title might actually be connected to the Will of D.?"
Saint Peter offered a different perspective.
"But Dwan is not his true surname."
"It could simply be a variation created to match his title."
"After all, Dawn and Dwan are pronounced similarly."
"Perhaps Lord Imu..."
"Enough."
Saint Mars cut him off immediately.
Saint Saturn glanced at Saint Peter before continuing.
"Regardless of whether there is a connection, Ash remains an unstable variable."
"Especially over the past year."
"He has caused more trouble than Kaido, Big Mom, and several other Emperors combined."
"Those three battles against the Yonko continue to affect the balance of the seas even now."
Saint Mars nodded.
"It no longer matters whether he is connected to the D."
"Lord Imu has made his decision."
"That alone is enough."
"Correct," Saint Warcury agreed.
"The will of Lord Imu is the will that guides this world."
Saint Saturn's eyes grew colder.
"And anyone who stands in its way can simply be erased alongside him."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro slowly closed his eyes.
"The world was never meant to remain stable forever."
"It seems another great cleansing is approaching."
...
New World.
Hachinosu.
Near noon.
"Three sevens and a pair of fours."
"Four tens. Bomb."
"Hold on!"
"What do you mean hold on?"
"You already played a straight containing a ten earlier! How do you still have four tens left?!"
"You remembered wrong."
"My Observation Haki can see the future, and you're telling me I remembered wrong?"
"Damn it! We agreed not to use Observation Haki while playing cards!"
"I didn't use it!"
"..."
After receiving intelligence from the New Beast Pirates that Charlotte Linlin herself was leading the Big Mom Pirates toward Hachinosu, the Dawn Ship was in no hurry to leave.
With time to spare, the crew found ways to entertain themselves.
Several members gathered to play cards while others relaxed nearby.
It was one of those rare peaceful moments.
On the beach, Ash and the Kirk siblings lounged beneath the warm sun, enjoying the ocean breeze.
Nearby, Pini, Dicken, Youki, and several others argued loudly over their card game.
Saff lowered her sunglasses slightly, watched the scene for a moment, and smiled.
"What are you laughing about?" Kirk asked without opening his eyes.
"Nothing."
She rested her chin on one hand.
"I was just thinking that having friends and companions around like this feels nice."
"Being able to joke, argue, and waste time together..."
"It's comfortable."
Kirk chuckled.
"Yeah."
"With this bunch around, boredom doesn't stand a chance."
"Although life would probably be even better if they caused a little less..."
"Kirk! Is lunch ready yet?!"
A booming voice interrupted him.
"I want a Sea Cow rib rice bowl!"
Everyone instantly recognized Youki's voice.
"Pfft!"
Ash could not hold it anymore and burst out laughing.
Kirk removed his sunglasses and shot Ash a helpless look before shouting toward the source of the voice.
"No Sea Cow!"
"There's only half a Sea Lion left in storage!"
"If you want Sea Cow meat, go catch one yourself!"
...
Shortly after noon, waves suddenly surged across the sea.
Ash immediately stood up and folded away his beach chair.
A grin appeared on his face.
"After all that waiting, they're finally here."
The members of the Dawn Faction quickly put aside their games and gathered along the shoreline.
A moment later, ships emerged from beyond the horizon.
They cut through the waves and headed directly toward Hachinosu.
Leading the fleet was the enormous flagship of the Big Mom Pirates.
The Queen Mama Chanter.
The grotesque figurehead mounted at its bow immediately drew grimaces from nearly everyone present.
Charlotte Linlin's artistic taste remained as terrifying as ever.
As the fleet approached, more and more ships became visible.
Dozens.
Then nearly a hundred pirate vessels.
The entire Big Mom fleet was advancing toward Hachinosu's harbor from multiple directions.
Dicken stretched his neck to get a better look.
"Back when they were far away, I couldn't tell."
"But now that they're closer..."
"Big Mom's ship is actually huge."
Ash folded his arms proudly.
"Not bad, I suppose."
"Compared to ordinary pirate ships, it's definitely impressive."
"But compared to the Dawn Ship, it's probably only around two or three percent as grand."
"..."
Everyone collectively ignored him.
Pini suddenly turned toward Dicken.
"By the way, why are you still here?"
"The fight ended ages ago."
"You've already eaten multiple meals aboard our ship."
Dicken laughed shamelessly.
"I had a satisfying fight, sure."
"But this is the Big Mom Pirates we're talking about."
"Are you certain you don't want to inform Sali and Wyper?"
Pini laughed.
"Sali already achieved Devil Fruit Awakening."
"Besides, the Marines and World Government have been watching both sides closely."
Youki nodded in agreement.
For once, he and Pini were on the same side.
"Exactly."
"The battle's over."
"Go back to Twin Capes already."
Dicken remained completely unfazed.
"Sure, sure."
"I'm not interested in competing with you two over Big Mom."
Then a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"But didn't Ash once mention wanting Jack to fight Charlotte Linlin?"
"He wanted to compare whose control over souls was stronger."
"You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
"Hehehe..."
Ash blinked.
Then his eyes lit up.
Now that Dicken mentioned it...
He genuinely had forgotten.
A broad grin spread across his face.
"That's right!"
"Quick!"
"Go to Twin Capes and bring Jack here!"
===
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