Chapter 198: The Furious Five Elders
At the top of the Red Line, in Mariejois.
In the Room of Power, the Five Elders, who appear to be the rulers of the world, were descending into fury.
"What is happening?!"
"Why did Vegapunk and Slug Island vanish?"
"And why don't we remember Vegapunk at all? Who tampered with our memories?"
"What Devil Fruit ability is responsible for this?"
Their angry voices echoed through the room.
Kneeling before them, a CP0 agent, who didn't dare to raise his head, trembled as he spoke: "Master Five Elders, according to our investigation, the disappearance of Warhead Island is most likely linked to the Golden Lion, who has mysteriously gone missing, but we're not entirely certain."
"Besides the Golden Lion, there are several others in this world with Devil Fruit abilities capable of lifting an island."
"For example, Kaido of the Beasts Pirates with his Mythical Zoan Dragon Fruit—his flame clouds can support an island; or Cross Kahn, 'The World's Strongest Creature,' whose telekinetic powers could also lift an island; there's also the Heavy-Heavy Fruit, among others."
"We suspect that Vegapunk may have allied with this mysterious individual, aiming to escape the World Government's control."
"It's possible that Vegapunk secretly modified Warhead Island and installed a device to block its magnetic field, preventing us from using an Eternal Pose to track it."
"As for the memory issue, this is definitely the work of someone with memory-altering abilities. Memory-related Devil Fruits are extremely rare, and there are very few entries in the 'Devil Fruit Encyclopedia,' so we suspect it could be an unknown Devil Fruit power."
"This could be due to either the Paramecia-type Childlike Fruit or the awakening of the Memory-Memory Fruit."
"However, from our investigation, Charlotte Pudding of the Big Mom Pirates has been in Totto Land the whole time, making it impossible for her to be on the Red Line, and she hasn't awakened the Memory-Memory Fruit."
"Therefore, it's highly likely that either an unknown ability user is involved or the Childlike Fruit user turned Vegapunk into a doll."
"Additionally, over a decade ago, there was an auction in a black market in North Blue, where it was rumoured that the Paramecia Childlike Fruit was on the list."
"...Rumored?"
Hearing this, the Five Elders exploded in anger: "Since when does CP0 report on mere rumors?!"
"I deeply apologize, Lord Five Elders..."
The CP0 agent stammered. "Because it's been over ten years since that auction, and when we tried to investigate, there were no clues left. The island itself has been ravaged by wars for over a decade and is now nothing but ruins."
"Not just the island, but the organizations involved in the auction, and even the participants—we lost all traces. It's as if some invisible hand has been carefully erasing all evidence over the years."
"Investigate further. Whether it's coincidence or deliberate, search all of North Blue if you must. Find out who obtained the Paramecia Childlike Fruit."
"Yes!"
The CP organization's movements were massive, just as the Five Elders had commanded, giving the impression that they were turning North Blue upside down in their search.
This quickly drew the attention of all major players.
As the underworld king, Doflamingo was one of the first to realize the CP organization's purpose.
He simply smiled wickedly, his eyes behind his sunglasses filled with disdain.
After more than a decade, they still thought they could find traces of that old auction. They were severely underestimating him.
That's right—the island that was reduced to ruins by war wasn't a coincidence. An invisible hand had orchestrated it all.
And that hand belonged to Doflamingo.
Well, to be precise, it was Kahn.
After Kahn obtained information from Queen and read Judge's memories, he decided that in the future, he would extract Vegapunk's knowledge as well.
The plan had already been set in motion.
The Childlike Fruit was a crucial part of that plan.
Kahn was well aware that even if Sugar turned Vegapunk into a doll, the Five Elders would eventually discover the truth.
Because Kahn had been the one to auction off the Childlike Fruit in North Blue all those years ago.
With CP's vast intelligence network, they would inevitably trace things back to North Blue.
That's why, before Doflamingo moved the Donquixote Family to the New World and secured control over the arms and medicine trades for the Cross Guild, Kahn had ordered him to start a war that would destroy the island and discreetly eliminate all witnesses.
The auction's participants and the key underworld figures behind it were all dealt with, creating the perfect "coincidence."
More than ten years had passed, but perhaps a few stragglers who knew the Childlike Fruit had been claimed by Kahn were still out there.
Even so, tracking them down would be a difficult and time-consuming task, even for CP.
By the time they figured out Kahn was the one who took the fruit, he would likely have perfected his creation and completed his masterpiece.
And even if they suspected Kahn, the Five Elders wouldn't dare turn against him without solid proof.
They couldn't afford to. Without evidence, they wouldn't risk a direct conflict with him.
After all, the World Government, with only a few Seraphim under its command, lacked the confidence to challenge the Seven Warlords of the Sea or the Four Emperors without fear.
When Kahn learned of CP's actions through Doflamingo, he merely laughed it off and continued his scientific research.
At the same time, two of the Four Emperors made unexpected moves.
Edward Newgate, "The World's Strongest Man" Whitebeard, and Charlotte Linlin, "Big Mom," had both stirred into action.
Although Neptune didn't inform Whitebeard that Shirahoshi had been taken by Hancock, Whitebeard, ever the man of justice, eventually discovered the truth.
To help his sworn brother get his daughter back, the Whitebeard Pirates extended an invitation to the Cross Guild, seeking a meeting.
Meanwhile, in North Blue, Germa 66 made its way to Totto Land. Vinsmoke Judge arranged a meeting with Charlotte Linlin, and the Vinsmoke and Charlotte families agreed to an arranged marriage.
The groom? Vinsmoke Judge's runaway fourth son, the Straw Hat Pirates' cook, and a member of the Worst Generation—"Black Leg" Sanji.
The bride? Charlotte Linlin's thirty-fifth daughter and seventy-sixth child, the user of the Memory-Memory Fruit—Charlotte Pudding.
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