(Note: I purchased the Chapters from the author so I hope for your support on Patreon.com/flokixy so I can purchase more Chapters 💜)

Mariejois ~~~

In the Pangar Castle, there was a spacious room known as the Room of Power.

The five elder stars, representing the highest authority in the world, now wore deeply troubled expressions!!!

After the descent of the viewing system, they had tried every method possible but were still unable to escape from this state of confinement.

The more power one possessed, the less they liked situations that slipped out of their control!!!

"The situation is getting dire... The Immortality Surgery has been brought into the open!!!"

Shepherd Ten Bito, the golden-haired elder star, stared at the large screen in front of him, his expression grim.

This massive screen in the Room of Power was connected to the live broadcast signal from Marine Headquarters.

From here, they could directly observe the situation at Marine HQ.

Izambalong V Nasujirō, his gaze heavy with thought, looked toward the other four. "The opportunity for the Immortality Surgery must not fall into anyone else's hands! We must intervene forcefully!"

"Forceful intervention? How?"

Makasu Mazu, the white-haired elder star with a long braid, moved his jaw slightly and shook his head. "For something like this, no one can resist the temptation! Haven't you noticed? Even the Navy wants this chance!"

"So what? This is the chance for immortality!!! Are we just going to sit back and watch it land in someone else's hands???"

Izambalong V Nasujirō stood up, his voice low and resolute.

Before the two could delve further into the discussion, Topman Wochuri, the round-headed elder star, interrupted their argument. "Let’s put the Immortality Surgery aside for now. The most pressing matter right now should be the awakening of that fruit, shouldn’t it???"

At these words, the faces of the other four elder stars changed dramatically!!!

Indeed...

None of them had expected that the Devil Fruit, which hadn’t awakened in 800 years, would awaken again!!!

And even more shocking was that its method of awakening surpassed all their expectations ~~~

All because that brat answered a question casually, and just like that, the Zoan-type Mythical Beast-class Devil Fruit—Nika form—awakened...

Damn it!

Wasn't that too casual?

Shepherd Ten Bito pondered for a moment. "Im-sama must have seen this situation as well. Once the restrictions on this viewing system are lifted, Im-sama will likely give us instructions."

"There’s no other choice..."

The other Five Elder Stars also wore grave expressions.

At this moment, the red-framed screen in the sky gradually dimmed ~~~

And in its place, a white-framed screen lit up.

【Time passed day by day ~~~】

【Luffy followed Ace everywhere, trekking through mountains and rivers, adventuring far and wide.】

【Though he often came back battered and bruised, he was happy!】

【In the town of Fuschia Village, the Red-Haired Pirates had been stationed there for over a year ~】

【Luffy often came to the town to help Dadan buy things. Over time, he became familiar with the Red-Haired Pirates.】

Charlotte Linlin: "This kid... He’s Garp’s grandson, Dragon’s son, and yet he’s so close with Shanks. Interesting..."

Edward Newgate: "Now that you mention it, I didn’t realize before! His father is the leader of the Revolutionary Army, his grandfather is the Hero of the Marines, and yet he’s so chummy with one of the youngest Yonko. This kid sure has a lot of connections ~~~"

Shiki: "No wonder they’re showing his footage specifically ~"

It was worth noting that Shiki had fallen to his death after being defeated by Luffy...

He had been quite resentful about it, but now, seeing this, it wasn’t so hard to accept ~~~

Damn it, I died at the hands of the Chosen One...

Monkey D. Garp: "Damn you, Shanks! What’s a big-shot pirate like you doing hanging around some backwater place like Fuschia Village? If it weren’t for you, my eldest grandson might’ve become a Marine by now!"

Tsuru: "Even though Shanks wasn’t a Yonko back then, he was already a notorious pirate in the New World. There was no reason for him to stay in a remote place like that for over a year..."

Watching the scenes on the screen, Vice Admiral Tsuru’s eyes narrowed slightly as she began to think deeply.

Shanks: "Having fun! Isn’t being a pirate all about freedom? If you find a place you like, you stay there longer. What’s the problem?"

Why did he go to Fuschia Village in the first place?

Rather than saying Shanks went there intentionally, it was more like he was mysteriously guided there by the Rubber Fruit ~

It was an indescribable feeling ~

On his journey to the East Blue, many things seemed normal at the time, but looking back now, they felt strange!!!

For example, the wooden box containing the Devil Fruit was swept into the sea by a storm, and everyone chased after it for hundreds of nautical miles!

Or how they got lost inexplicably and ended up somewhere completely different from their intended destination ~~~

Through a series of coincidences, they arrived at Fuschia Village.

And then, for some reason, they stayed there for a whole year, only for the Rubber Fruit to be eaten by Luffy out of nowhere...

If you thought about it carefully, Shanks couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t mere coincidence—it was as if the Rubber Fruit had actively chosen Luffy!!!