At the peak of the Red Line, months had passed since the upheaval in Mary Geoise, and the Holy Land had been restored to its pristine splendor. Such recovery was possible only because of the immense wealth and dominance of the Celestial Dragons.
Yet, the city was no longer the same. The last time Rhett Vane stepped into Mary Geoise, countless Celestial Dragons had perished under his hands. Their already dwindling numbers had grown fewer still. Fear now chained those who survived, keeping them confined within the Holy Land, too terrified to wander beyond its walls.
In a newly built chamber, the Four Elders sat around a table. The fifth, the one known as Saint Nusjuro , was no longer among them. He had been slain by Vane, and even the First Generation Kitetsu, one of the twelve supreme grade swords, had been claimed by the young pirate.
The atmosphere was heavy. The four remaining Elders were waiting.
The door opened, and a man draped in a black robe stepped inside. If any Marine or pirate had been present, their blood would have run cold.
The man lowered his hood, revealing crimson hair.
"Shanks…" One Elder's expression twisted with unease. "No, perhaps I should call you Red-Hair. You shouldn't have set foot in the Holy Land.
"Even so, I had to spare time from my schedule to see you."
The short-haired Elder's voice carried irritation, while the long-haired one added, "Indeed. This place is forbidden to you."
Their words carried discontent, but not rejection. For all their authority, the Elders could not deny Shanks an audience.
Among the Celestial Dragons, hierarchies existed much like those of kingdoms. Nobles beneath royalty, yet still above the common. The Five Elders, for all their power, were still but retainers, bound to serve the higher bloodlines of the Celestial Dragons.
And Shanks, though a Pirate Emperor, carried a truth hidden from the world—his origins lay among the Celestial Dragons themselves. Unlike the infamous Donquixote Doflamingo, whose fall from grace was well-known, Shanks' lineage was far more complex.
It traced back to the God Valley Incident, when Roger himself shielded a Celestial Dragon family. Shanks, still an infant at the time, had been among those saved. That connection made the Elders both wary and respectful toward him.
Shanks leaned forward slightly, his eyes calm but sharp. "What do you make of Rhett Vane?"
The name weighed heavily in the room. Shanks had long considered seeking out Vane, yet Wano Country was a dangerous place. Kaido of the Beasts had entrenched himself there, and rumors spoke of an alliance forming between him and Vane.
The world trembled enough beneath Kaido's reign. Add Vane into the mix, and chaos threatened to spiral further.
"He is dangerous," the short-haired Elder admitted. "Without Imu-sama, we cannot guarantee the continuation of the Celestial Dragons' rule."
Another Elder narrowed his eyes. "You are an Emperor of the Sea. Why does this concern you? The fate of the Celestial Dragons should mean nothing to you."
Indeed, it did not. Shanks was not here out of loyalty to them. He had no love for the corruption of Mary Geoise. The man he respected most was Roger, not the so-called Gods who perched atop the world.
Still, he was a man who thought of balance. A world tipped too far into chaos would collapse beyond control.
While the red-haired Emperor spoke within the Holy Land, far away in Wano, Vane was doing something far simpler—sharing a meal.
"Gion's cooking really is impressive," Vane remarked with a faint smile.
"Of course," Gion replied proudly, throwing a playful glance at Kalifa. She had grown used to her captain praising her dishes. Men, after all, always seemed to prefer novelty.
Though Vane was still young, only sixteen years old now in the year 1520 of the Sea Circle Calendar, his presence alone carried weight enough to shake the world.
Kalifa pouted. "Isn't my cooking delicious too?"
"Hmm, it's mid," Vane teased lightly.
"Hmph," Esdeath snorted. "You're far too lenient with her."
That single jab was enough to set Kalifa glaring back, sparks of rivalry igniting once again.
"You again!" she snapped. The two women had always struggled to get along.
The tension broke when a melodic voice entered the room.
"Yo, everyone's eating without me?"
Kozuki Hiyori stepped gracefully into view, dressed elegantly, her light makeup accentuating her beauty. The care she had taken to present herself did not go unnoticed.
Esdeath's smile was sharp. "Some night owls seem to be blossoming in spring."
"Home flowers never smell as sweet as wild ones, Esdeath," Hiyori replied with calm confidence as she sat beside them.
Her gaze lingered on Vane, warm and steady. "Each time I see you, I find you different from other men."
Vane only sighed, already expecting sparks to fly between the women again. "Let's just eat."
Hiyori nodded softly. "As you wish, Vane-sama."
But as she reached for chopsticks, the table grew tense once more. Only one set remained, and both Kalifa and Esdeath glared sharply at Gion, who had intentionally set an extra dish at the table.
Was she leaving room for Hiyori?
Gion's cheeks reddened slightly, embarrassed, but she said nothing, focusing instead on her meal.
Hiyori, however, ate as though she belonged, unbothered by the silent tension.
Wano, after all, had changed. Its lands were no longer the isolated, stagnant country they once were. The flow of time carried it forward, electricity already lighting its cities, and Vane, at the center of it all, directed its course toward the Sabaody Archipelago.
The winds of the New World were shifting.
And the world itself braced for the storm that followed in Vane's wake.
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I'm sorry to say this fanfic won't be receiving any further updates. I'm not sure if anyone here has been following it, but it's partly my fault, I assumed the original author would continue updating, not realizing it had already been axed.
Check my other works, you might find sum you like.