"...Once their traces are discovered, apprehend them immediately!"
"Yes! Fleet Admiral!"
Inside the office of the G-11 Base Head, Rowen saluted solemnly before hanging up the Den Den Mushi.
"Well... that's it."
He turned around and sank back into the sofa, pulling out a cigar and lighting it with a flick of his wrist.
"This matter is already in the hands of the Fleet Admiral and Tsuru. All we need to do now is find the person... But first, let me share what I've uncovered in my investigation, Smoker."
"I'm all ears!" Smoker straightened his posture, nodding attentively.
"Why the formalities? But whatever." Rowen shrugged, then said, "Before we dive in, how much do you know about the country-stealing war that took place in Wano twenty years ago?"
"The country-stealing war in Wano? I've heard bits and pieces."
Smoker took a puff of his cigar, exhaling a cloud of white smoke as he replied, "Rumors say that the daimyo of Wano, Kozuki Oden, wanted to open the country. The opposition, led by General Kurozumi Orochi, allied with Kaido to overthrow the Kozuki clan, who were the ruling family at the time. However, the specifics of their collaboration remain unclear."
"Eventually, the Kozuki clan was wiped out, and Kurozumi Orochi, as the shogun, seized control of Wano. He was a rather ruthless ruler."
Due to various well-known reasons, the Marines have always kept a close watch on Wano. Naturally, compared to the upper echelons of the government who control everything, the Marines' information is quite limited.
Rowen took a drag from his cigar and said, "That's right, that's the gist of it. And what I'm about to tell you next must remain between us... If this gets out, even I could be in serious trouble!"
Hearing this, Smoker straightened up, preparing himself: "Please, go ahead, Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)!"
"A lot transpired back then... First, Kaido coveted the Kozuki clan's advanced stonemasonry techniques and was envious of their rumored ability to read ancient texts. Additionally, Kurozumi Orochi not only wanted to prevent the opening of the country but also sought to usurp the throne."
"The two struck a deal, with Orochi allowing Kaido to establish a weapons factory in Wano in exchange for Kaido's protection and funding for his armed forces."
"Naturally, this meant they had to eliminate the troublesome Kozuki clan."
"By the way, for the past twenty years, the biggest client of Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi's arms business has been our very own World Government!"
Smoker's eyes widened in shock: "What?!!"
'The World Government is doing business with Kaido?!!'
"Why is that so surprising? You know how perilous it is to conduct business in the Grand Line."
Rowen glanced at him and said, "No matter how large old Sai's business in West Blue gets, it's hard to cover the Grand Line. But the government's armed forces number over ten million. With so many mouths to feed, they need a stable supply source."
"But don't we have our own weapons factories?"
Smoker frowned in confusion: "Can't we be self-sufficient?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Rowen nodded, and under Smoker's increasingly puzzled gaze, he grinned: "However, developing the military industry on a large scale requires a massive workforce to meet the demand, which in turn requires a huge amount of Berries to support, making the cost very high... In comparison, buying directly from Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido's weapons factories is much, much cheaper."
"Because they don't factor in labor costs! And because their workers are all forcibly enslaved!!!" Smoker finished Rowen's sentence, gritting his teeth.
"These corrupt government officials, aren't they afraid of nurturing a tiger that will bite them back?"
"Of course they are! But as I said, that was twenty years ago, or to be precise, twenty-five years ago..."
Rowen shrugged: "Back then, the seas were still ruled by the Three Great Legends, and later by the 'Pirate King' Roger! Kaido and Orochi weren't given much attention."
"And it's not like the government didn't take any measures... Kaido, being a notorious pirate in the New World, couldn't be left unchecked. If they could also stop Kurozumi Orochi and help Wano open up, it would be beneficial for us as well."
"So when Kaido was preparing to attack the Kozuki clan, and while he was alone and being attacked by a certain pirate, the Marines launched a raid on Kaido."
"There are two figures in this that you must be familiar with: one, 'Gecko' Moria, and two, Vegapunk."
The former Shichibukai, "Gecko" Moria.
The World Government's top scientist, Vegapunk.
Both are indeed well-known to Smoker.
"That's right, Moria became the first Shichibukai in the subsequent program because of this battle."
Smoker nodded: "And then?"
"Then... Moria's pirate crew was completely wiped out. Moria himself barely survived and later smuggled himself back to Wano, stealing the corpse of Wano's legendary 'Dragon Slayer' Ryuma."
Knowing the power of Kaido's Mythical Zoan Dragon fruit, Moria, in despair, pinned his hopes on the legendary Ryuma's corpse, which was said to possess dragon-slaying powers. It was, admittedly, quite foolish.
"As for Kaido, he was defeated in that battle and taken by Vegapunk for experiments... Although he later escaped, with Big Mom's help."
"This involves some other matters that you're better off not knowing for now."
Rowen slightly narrowed his eyes, giving a warning.
Artificial Devil Fruits are undoubtedly something the government guards fiercely.
If it weren't for Caesar Clown conducting gas experiments in the original story, causing the Punk Hazard incident and getting imprisoned, Big Mom wouldn't have had the chance to contact Caesar.
Not to mention Kaido's Gifters legion and the artificial Mythical Zoan Dragon fruit that was supposed to be consumed by Momonosuke.
Smoker was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I understand!"
In the end, it all comes down to strength!
Without enough strength, knowing these things won't change anything!
Seeing this, Rowen smiled with satisfaction.
"Back to the main topic... After escaping, Kaido counterattacked our Marine Headquarters and was captured again, sentenced to death. But as you know, he escaped once more."
"Realizing the gap in strength, Kaido stopped mindlessly attacking for revenge and instead focused on preparing with Kurozumi Orochi. In the year 1502 of the Sea Calendar, twenty years ago, they officially launched the country-stealing war."
"The daimyo of Wano at the time was Kozuki Oden, the man who sailed with Roger and sought the great treasure."
"And his most loyal retainers and son were named Foxfire Kin'emon, Evening Shower Kanjuro, Raizo of the Mist, and Kozuki Momonosuke!"
"Impossible!!!"
Smoker gasped in shock, his eyes widening in disbelief: "Kin'emon and Kanjuro aside, if Momonosuke is Kozuki Oden's son, wouldn't he be in his twenties by now?!"
But the Momonosuke he saw was no more than eight years old!!!
"This is why I'm talking to you alone! According to information from informants, a poem circulated in Wano after that fateful night of the country-stealing war."
"A poem?"
"That's right!"
"Like the Moon, you are ignorant of the Dawn. If there is one ardent wish that must be fulfilled, it will be when nine shadows are cast woven together through twenty years of moonlit nights. Only then shall you understand the radiance of Dawn.'"
Rowen slowly recited, a smile forming on his lips: "These were the last words softly chanted by Kozuki Toki, Kozuki Oden's wife, before she perished in the flames."
"Twenty years? Could it be...?!!!"
Suddenly, Smoker felt a chill run down his spine.
If it were just a recitation, Smoker wouldn't find it strange. The seas are vast, and he's seen all sorts of bizarre things.
But combined with the appearance of that kid named Momonosuke before him after twenty years, a sense of tension and fear towards the unknown made his breathing quicken.
"That's right! I strongly suspect that a power that was once thought to be mere speculation is real!"
Rowen's eyes gleamed as he stared straight at Smoker.
"The power to traverse time— the Time-Time Fruit!"
The Time-Time Fruit is a fruit that was imagined to exist after observing the myriad of Devil Fruits. In fact, with the world's skewed technological level, defining time and space is impossible.
But it was still imagined.
Including the Space-Space Fruit.
And even the "King of Devil Fruits," which grants the power of all Devil Fruits when consumed.
Originally, this was just a rumor, and believers were few and far between— perhaps one in a million fools.
But considering the facts, Smoker couldn't help but entertain this speculation!
"So... Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), what are you implying?!"
There must be a reason for telling me all this.
Smoker wanted to know what Rowen was planning!
"The information I know, the World Government also knows... And you reported the existence of Kin'emon and the others. If I hadn't intercepted it, it would already be on the Gorōsei's desk."
Smoker's eyes widened in shock, realizing a terrifying possibility.
If the government were to learn of the existence of the Time-Time Fruit, it would be a disaster even more irresistible than Pure Gold!
"I'm just here to tell you the seriousness of the situation, Smoker. The decision is yours."
"But I assure you, everything I have done so far has been worthy of the people of the seas and the justice in my heart!"
Seeing the shock in Smoker's eyes, Rowen smiled slightly and extended his hand.
"I have a grand plan. Will you join me, Smoker?"
(End of chapter)
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