Mary Geoise.
The headquarters of the World Government at the top of the Red Line.
In the deepest part of Pangaea Castle, inside a flower-filled chamber—
A figure cloaked in elegance rose from the flowers, draped in a robe, and stepped toward a hidden path.
It was a secret passage, leading into a dimly lit corridor. Imu walked through it slowly, a stack of bounties in hand.
Eventually, she arrived before a colossal straw hat.
This hat bore the same design as the one once worn by Roger, but was several times larger in scale.
Imu gazed at the hat, then looked at the bounty on top of the stack—Mio's face staring back. After a moment's pause, she shook her head slightly, as if rejecting some notion.
Raising her hand, she gently touched the surface of the oversized straw hat. A faint glow flickered for just a heartbeat—then vanished.
With a wave of her hand, the bounty floated and landed atop the straw hat.
Imu turned and proceeded back through the passage, ascending step by step toward the Empty Throne.
Beneath the grand throne stood nineteen ancient swords embedded in the ground—representing the nineteen kings who once united to defeat the Great Kingdom.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Imu's steps echoed in the stillness.
Finally, she seated herself upon the throne, her gaze falling upon the rusted swords below. Her eyes sharpened as she spoke:
"Those who exist outside the light will perish beneath power!"
New World — Black Crow Sea
After Mio's warning, Stussy quickly departed.
But Mio wasted no time. He contacted Judge through a Den Den Mushi, ordering him to install a "lock" mechanism within the imitation Pluton's power core. The lock was designed to cause a full self-destruction if anyone tried to dismantle and study the internal systems.
The most vital component of the imitation Pluton was its power conversion device.
And Mio would never let that fall into the wrong hands.
This was precisely why he dared to sell it to the World Government in the first place. Even if they had Vegapunk, what could he do? Vegapunk was a genius, yes—but a pure researcher, not a combatant or a warmonger.
And what Mio could offer Vegapunk in secret… would tempt him far more than what the World Government ever could.
"Speaking of which, there should be news from Hei Yan soon." Mio murmured, his eyes calm yet calculating.
He wasn't worried about Hei Yan's safety—only about whether his identity might be compromised.
If the World Government found out Hei Yan was working for him, they'd believe without a doubt that Mio had ambitions against the ancient weapons.
He wasn't afraid of the World Government anymore, but such trouble would be annoying.
After all, while the New World was largely outside their control, the first half of the Grand Line was firmly under Marine and Government domination.
If he were to become their main target, it wouldn't just be the Black Crow Pirates in danger—every pirate crew allied under his banner would be hunted.
Near Water 7 — Enies Lobby
Slaughter.
Hei Yan, clad in a black robe that concealed his entire figure, moved silently through the island. He had not used any Devil Fruit powers—only pure physical combat and Haki.
The members of CP9 and the island's guards had already fallen.
A mountain of corpses lay in his wake.
At last, Hei Yan reached the temporary prison located deep within Enies Lobby.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His footsteps echoed through the dark hallway as he approached one particular cell. Inside was the fish-man shipwright, Tom—imprisoned and awaiting execution.
Hei Yan's voice was hoarse and cold as he spoke.
"You should know why I've come."
"…Pluton?" Tom looked up at the cloaked figure. Though he couldn't see Hei Yan's face, he gave a bitter smile. "That thing really does draw people in."
"Ancient weapons in the hands of the powerless are a sin." Hei Yan said grimly.
"If you'd said that to me in the past, I'd have disagreed. But now… I think you might be right."
Tom had been sentenced to death for building ships for Roger, yes. But the true reason was Pluton.
Hei Yan watched him in silence. He had long since infiltrated Water 7, observing both Iceberg and Franky, hoping for clues. But they revealed nothing.
In the end, he came to Enies Lobby directly, hoping to crack the truth from Tom himself.
"Leave. I won't hand it over." Tom's voice was resolute.
Pluton was a creation that should never have existed. If it fell into the wrong hands—or worse, the hands of the World Government—it would be a catastrophe.
He knew better than anyone what the World Government was capable of.
But Hei Yan was unfazed. He had anticipated this refusal.
"You have two homes. Two apprentices." Hei Yan said coldly. "Shall I trade them for Pluton?"
Tom's eyes widened with fury. The chains on his massive body clanged as he strained against them.
"What are you planning?!"
"Fish-Man Island. Water 7. Iceberg. Franky." Hei Yan listed them one by one, each name spoken with calm menace. "These four—your price."
"If you refuse… Water 7 will be swallowed by the sea. Fish-Man Island will fall into ruin, its people turned into slaves. Iceberg and Franky will die. Every person tied to you—gone."
Hei Yan, like Mio, would go to any length to achieve his goal.
"I know you likely hold the blueprints to Pluton, not the weapon itself. The real Pluton is probably with your apprentices."
"If you deny me, I'll kill them. Search the city. Tear them open if I must. Eventually, I'll find what I want. Whether you agree or not changes nothing—except how long it takes."
Silence.
Tom glared at Hei Yan like an enraged lion. The prison chains trembled.
But Hei Yan remained still. Unshaken.
Ten seconds passed.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Then—
"Heh…"
Tom gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh, slumping against the cold stone wall.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…You bastard."
"…I can't refuse you."
——————
Pump up the power stone