Chương 64: Big News

A few days later:

Halls of Justice, Pangea Castle

The five elders sat on the sofa in the massive hall solemnly as they read a particular article on the front page of the World Economic Journal. The head of CP0 also stood in the room with rapt attention for any orders. There was a picture of Victor in his raid suit in his complete Zoan Transformation with six wings flying in the air as Garp confronted him in the frozen sea along with the headline:

"The Marine Hero saves the world again from a masked villain!!?"

[BlackRock Island located in West Blue, the home to the richest man in the world, Victor Moriarty was under attack by the revolutionaries. Sources suggest that the villain linked with the worst criminal of this world, Monkey Dragon planned to trick the Marines into initiating a buster call on this city which would have sparked a tragic economic recession worldwide. Fortunately, Marine Hero Garp and Admiral Kuzan foiled their plans and defeated the leader of the Revolutionaries and this masked man whose identity is shrouded in mystery. The foreign minister of BlackRock and CFO of Blacklight Organization, Gild Tesoro has lodged a formal lawsuit against the parties involved in this incident to Enies Lobby and urged the World Government to provide justice. This war on their soil has cost them 500 million bellies due to the damage to their reputation as a neutral territory, massive destruction in infrastructure and the frozen seas surrounding the island have halted all trade and commerce via seas which is expected to last for a few months. Prices of Blacklight Org. exported products have increased by 80% and are expected to rise even higher. The culprits had fled the scene when they were defeated and their current whereabouts are unknown.]

"The revolutionaries are getting more brazen!! We almost fell into their trap." One of the Gorosei said with anger. They have already received a report from Sengoku about the failure of the mission to capture the Devil Child.

"They first leaked the information to draw out the CP agents and planned to use the golden den den mushi to wipe out the island to cause friction with the underworld. Fortunately, we were smart enough to send Garp and Kuzan with the Marines." Another Gorosei said as he caressed his beard.

"Did anyone notice the masked man with six wings? What kind of devil fruit is it?"

"The mythical zoan Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nephilim. Another troublesome fruit has got into the hands of our enemies. It has a similar potential to rival Kaidou's Uo Uo no mi Model: Seiryu." Saturn replied in a somber tone.

"The Marines reported he was acting independently from the Revolutionaries as he seemed to be talking with Dragon on equal terms. Do you think they are on the same team?"

"We must catch this variable at all costs for interrogation. His motivations are unclear but it's clearly not in our favor. We must assign a high bounty for him!!" The eldest gorosei ordered the head of CP0 who nodded in response.

"Elders! What about Spandine and the CP5 agents? All of them were killed in action and now the position of the head is empty!!" The CP0 agent asked with a bow.

"Didn't he have a son whom he recommended as his successor? Put him in charge of the department. Understandably, he lost his life while facing the revolutionaries, he was going to die of that illness anyway."

"How do we deal with the West Blue situation? We are receiving multiple complaints at home from the celestial dragons after the halt of the trade from BlackRocks." Another Gorosei raised the question.

"CP0, contact the leader of Blacklight Organization and tell him we want to talk with him. He should be able to do something and divert the goods to Marijois on our orders. What was his name again?

"Victor Moriarty, the leader of the Moriarty Mafia Family." The CP0 head replied promptly.

Meanwhile, the world was shaken when they read the news. Most of them were rich businessmen, the nobility of various kingdoms, and the stakeholders in the underground empire.

"Kuehaha!!! Tesoro, now you will face the wrath of the World Government for hosting terrorists in your territory!"Doflamingo laughed wildly as he read the newspaper from Whiskey Peak.

"That brat is facing troubles with the Marines and he didn't even tell me!!" Son Chinjo roared in anger as he crushed the newspaper in his hand. "Sai, did Victor call you?"

"Yes, Grandfather!! He told me he will visit Kano Kingdom in a few days."

"Hmphh!! That bastard Garp, causing trouble for my student!!"

"King!! Did you have a long-lost brother?" Kaidou asked curiously as he read the newspaper while drinking alcohol from his jug.

"Huh?? Why are you asking this suddenly?"

"Look!!" Kaidou showed him a photo of Victor in his mask which was almost identical to King along with King's new bounty poster which has passively shot up by 100 million.

"Nani!??"

"It seems someone is your big fan in West Blue!!" Queen muttered from the side causing King to glare at him in anger.

Dragon looked at the report with a sigh from a hidden location in West Blue as he looked at the briefcase on the table. It contained only one of the cloned devil fruit of Capone Bege's Castle fruit. After eating one of the devil's fruit himself he discovered that this thing was legit and worth taking the blame for. As for the second fruit, he plans to give it to Morley, the giant commander of West Blue. He already had the power of Oshi Oshi no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows the user to freely move and shape the ground as though it was malleable like clay. They have solved a huge problem of mobility of troops and logistics.

Meanwhile in the ruins Ohara:

Robin POV:

Victor dressed in a simple black mourning attire stood before a gravestone with Nico Robin who knelt as she put a bouquet of Chrysanthemum. Her eyes were teary as she finally returned to her home, whatever remained of it.

[In memory of Nico Olvia(1469-1503)]

[A mother, a dreamer and a fighter]

"I'll give you a moment!" Victor held her shoulders assuringly as he left after placing a cup of sake near the headstone followed by a deep respectful bow to his late mother-in-law. It must have been Saul, the gentle giant who buried the archeologists of Ohara.

After Victor left, Robin looked around to check if she was alone before she finally broke down in tears while reminiscing about her suffering after the Ohara incident. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the ancient graves of Ohara, as Robin stood there, pouring her heart out to the memory of her mother. The cool breeze whispered through the aged tombstones, carrying with it the weight of her emotions.

"Mother!! I am finally going out into the world to fulfill my dreams," Robin declared, her voice echoing in the stillness of the cemetery. "I am sorry I couldn't come to visit you sooner. If you are watching over me, then please rest in peace. I am no longer alone in this world. I have also met a reliable and loving man whom I can trust with my life," she continued, a glimmer of joy breaking through the sadness. "But I still miss you every day, Mom."

Amidst the silence of the ancient resting place, Robin found solace. The shadows seemed to embrace her, and the spirits of Ohara whispered encouragement. She could almost feel her mother's presence, a comforting touch guiding her forward. In the dim light, Robin wiped away her tears and, with determination, spoke of her dreams. She was very emotional and teary after finally letting go of the knots in her heart. In the emptiness of the graves of the archeologists of Ohara, she reaffirmed her beliefs and dreams. With a deep breath, Robin let out a laugh that echoed among the gravestones. "Dereshishi!!"

"Mother, I am going to become a mother too," she confessed, tenderly caressing her belly. "I have not told Victor yet. He said he didn't want any children yet since he wanted to travel the world. What should I do in this situation, Mom?" Her face was etched with a motherly smile with hints of worry. As if in response, a soft breeze rustled through the leaves of the ancient trees, and Robin closed her eyes, seeking guidance from the spirits that lingered in the sacred grounds.

With newfound determination, Robin whispered into the night, "I will find a way to make both my dreams and Victor's come true. I carry your spirit with me, Mom, and I will face whatever challenges lie ahead."

The graves of Ohara stood witness to a daughter's resolve, and as Robin left the cemetery, she felt a sense of purpose guiding her steps into the unknown, hand in hand with the echoes of her mother's love.

***

Victor POV:

As he walked through the ruins he reached the base of the charred tree of knowledge where Spandine was held captive with ropes. He looked at Victor's figure with dread as he remembered the brutal torture he had received in the past few days. Victor had healed his injuries again and again as he tested the limits of his healing on him as if he were a lab rat.

"Do you know your sins?"

"Please!! Please spare my life..." Spaindine whimpered and begged as he saw Victor pick him by his head and look at him with his eerily calm expression. "The Gorosei forced me to do it!! They are the ones responsible for the destruction of Ohara!!!!" Spandine tried to plead for mercy.

"I know that very well Spandine. You can wait for them in hell, I'll send them to meet you in a few years."

"Y...You're crazy!! You cannot defeat the World Government, many tried but they were erased from history. If you spare me then I'll help you get wealth, fame, and power. You are not from Ohara and I don't remember ever being your enemy. Why are you risking your life for the Devil Child anyway?" Spandine asked in confusion. Victor Moriarty, the richest man in this world was the masked man who wanted to oppose the World Government. If he can deliver this secret to the Gorosei then he will surely gain promotion and avenge the death of his subordinates.

"Do I need a reason to love someone? Spandine, you have a family so you should understand!"

"H...How did y..you know about my son?"

"A father's sin should not be passed on to his children." Victor didn't reply to his question and slowly muttered, [Smiting Touch]. Spandine looked in horror as two demonic horns appeared on Victor's head along with an angelic halo above his head. His pupils began to glow as he gripped Spandine's skull before his head burst out in blue demonic flames.

"Aggggghhhhhhhhh" He screamed as he felt intense pain from the depths of his soul. He discovered himself crucified in a hellish domain filled with rivers of blood. It felt like he was trapped for eternity as his physical body started to corrode and multiple evil curses affected his soul before his body finally disintegrated like dust. Victor looked at the glowing orb floating above his palm, the purified soul energy.

"What should I do with this?" Victor looked at it thoughtfully before he had an idea to experiment with. He channeled his 'grace' to activate holy energy as he pushed the glowing orb into the charred and withered tree of knowledge. Robin who had finally returned after saying her goodbyes and paying her respects to Nico Olvia saw Victor's action from a distance.

For a moment nothing happened as the gentle winds blew through the ruins of Ohara, carrying the whispers of spirits and the fragrance of memories long past. Then, as if nature itself responded to Victor's unique experiment, a subtle tremor coursed through the barren tree.

Robin watched with bated breath, her eyes fixed on Victor and the mysterious, glowing orb. The air seemed to shimmer with otherworldly energy as the moments stretched, and then, as if responding to the call of something greater, the atmosphere shifted.

A soft yet radiant light emanated from the charred and withered tree, casting an ethereal glow that lit up the night. The once lifeless branches of the tree began to stir, and leaves unfurled from their dormant state. It was a breathtaking sight as the rejuvenation unfolded before their eyes as it concentrated into a glowing budding flower that slowly transformed into a seed that fell on the soil. As the glow faded, a vibrant sapling stood in the place where only moments ago, there was nothing but desolation. The tree has used the momentary chance at life and the holy energy to leave a legacy.

"What... what just happened?" Robin exclaimed in awe and wonder etched across her face as she approached Victor and the newly born sapling.

Victor, wearing a humble yet satisfied smile, explained, "The will of Ohara will live on forever. It's a gift for you Robin, let's plant it when we reach somewhere safe." Robin was stunned as she looked at Victor using telekinesis to pick up the little sapling with some soil as he looked at her with a smile.

"Ummm..Let's do that." She could only hug him tightly as she wiped her tears on his shirt with a sweet smile.

AN: Was that too crazy?