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Arthur, his words hanging in the air, turned and walked away.
Kuzan and Saul exchanged glances, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
They watched Arthur leave, then, escorting Catarina Devon and her crew, headed back to their warship. This was beyond their authority.
They had to report to Headquarters—If Arthur had an informant within the World Government, especially one in a position of power, the implications were disturbing.
Back on the warship, Kuzan immediately contacted Fleet Admiral Kong.
Marineford, Kong's Office.
Kong, his arms crossed, considered the report, a slow, cold fury building within him. He'd pin this on Vegapunk. He loathed the scientist, and his gut—usually accurate—told him Vegapunk was responsible for the leak.
He dialed the Five Elders.
"Moshi moshi??" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's voice, sharp and cold, answered.
"Seabury D. Arthur has acquired a Devil Fruit-based item—a spatial storage device. That technology belongs to the World Government, correct? Before he left, he said something…" Kong's tone was clipped, his voice tight with anger.
"Get to the point, Kong. We're busy," Saint Shepherd Ju Peter said impatiently.
Kong took a deep breath, trying to control his rage. "He said—The World Government has this technology. Why shouldn't I?—How did he know? I suspect Vegapunk…"
"Enough, Kong! We don't have time for these petty squabbles. Handle your own affairs!"
The Five Elders hung up, dismissing Kong's concerns, their conversation resuming.
"When we sent Daniel to retrieve the Elephant Sword, the surveillance logs and the guards he encountered reported nothing unusual. Vegapunk confirmed it."
"Vegapunk was under constant surveillance, except during his experiments. There shouldn't have been any opportunity for a leak. So why did Daniel only take the Devil Fruit transferal data?"
"Are you suggesting he was an imposter?"
"Not an imposter. A spy. Working for Arthur. How else could he bypass the Science Division's security?"
The Five Elders discussed the possibilities. The CP0 agent, Daniel, had vanished, his body incinerated, leaving no trace. They could only speculate.
"Daniel is gone. Who will replace him?"
"Spandine seems promising. What about him?"
"No. He lacks significant achievements. His promotion wouldn't be well-received."
"Give him a few more years, a chance to earn some merits. Give him Funkfreed."
The Five Elders decided Spandine's fate—and the fate of the Elephant Sword, which would eventually end up in the hands of his son, Spandam.
Arthur, carrying the mountains of food he'd stored in his bracelet, left Jessica's Dream House and returned to the coating docks, waiting for the work to be completed.
He could wait three days.
He'd considered flying over the Red Line to reach the New World—but he wanted to experience everything this world had to offer.
And Fish-Man Island—a city 10,000 meters below the surface? It was a wonder he couldn't miss.
He was particularly interested in meeting Queen Otohime, the mother of Shirahoshi, a mermaid with extraordinary Observation Haki, even able to sense people's emotions.
Two days passed. Arthur explored Sabaody, acquiring more clothes and a substantial amount of fine wine, storing it all in his bracelet.
The convenience of the storage device was undeniable. He could shop without being burdened by his purchases.
The Marines, aware of his presence, hadn't made a move, perhaps still formulating a plan to recapture him.
"Sir, the coating is complete," the stocky, honest-looking mechanic reported, gesturing towards Arthur's ship.
Arthur, taking a swig from his sake gourd, turned to look.
A thin, transparent film, shimmering with iridescent colors in the sunlight, now coated the ship's hull.
They were ready to depart. He was tired of Sabaody, eager for new adventures.
"We've applied multiple layers, sir. Guaranteed to reach Fish-Man Island safely," the mechanic assured him, puffing out his chest with pride.
Arthur nodded, boarding the ship.
He activated the descent mechanism, the vessel slowly sinking beneath the waves.
The seawater parted as the coating around the ship began to expand, forming a protective bubble.
Under Arthur's careful control, the ship descended into the depths, heading towards Fish-Man Island.
Fish-Man Island, located 10,000 meters below the surface, within a massive cavern beneath the Red Line, was a crucial stop for pirates entering the New World.
Though deep beneath the sea, the island was enveloped in a massive, double-layered bubble, creating a pocket of air, complete with a sky and clouds.
Sunlight, filtered through the roots of the massive Eve Tree reaching down from the surface, illuminated Fish-Man Island, creating a day-night cycle—a phenomenon the residents called "the sun's blessing."
The descent was smooth, uneventful, no Sea Kings daring to approach.
Arthur, sipping sake at the bow, checked his compass periodically. Hours later, the legendary island, a miracle of the deep sea, came into view.
From a distance, bathed in the filtered sunlight, the massive, double-layered bubble dome shimmered, a layer of air trapped between the two protective barriers.
During his time on Sabaody, Arthur had overheard conversations about the island, learning about its unique defenses. Ships approaching Fish-Man Island through unauthorized routes would have their coatings stripped away, merging with the outer bubble. Some unlucky vessels even crashed in the air pocket between the two layers.
And even if a ship managed to breach the outer barrier, it would be swept away by the powerful currents within.
Only authorized entry was permitted.
Arthur rubbed his nose, letting out a small burp. He had no idea how to gain authorized entry.
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