Joy Boy had always been certain about one thing: during the years they adventured together, Imu had indeed been an upright and kind man—someone he truly regarded as a friend.
He had once racked his brain, unable to understand why Imu would betray him, why he would abandon the ideals they had once shared.
It wasn't until later, when Queen Lily discovered Imu's scheme and secretly sought him out, that the truth finally surfaced.
The reason was simple… and unbelievably ridiculous.
"Because—"
Ian tried hard to hold back his laughter. "Because Imu fell in love with Lily."
"Huh?"
Law blinked blankly.
"Eh?"
Ace scratched his head in confusion.
"What?"
Even Kaido froze.
What kind of absurd reason was that?
Was Ian seriously not joking?
"Fell in love with Lily?"
Black Maria's eyes instantly lit up. "Ohhh, I get it! Imu deeply loved Lily, but Lily liked Joy Boy instead, right?"
She spoke excitedly, "Originally, Imu was a righteous and kind man, but he gradually lost himself in jealousy. In order to obtain the woman he adored, he chose to betray his former friend!"
"Oh! What a touching storyline!"
Viola dabbed at her completely dry eyes.
"What's touching about that? Sounds more like a comedy to me."
Jack rolled his eyes. "How could the entire world be turned upside down because of such a stupid reason?"
Hancock muttered softly, "If it were for Ian, I could somewhat understand."
She shot Yamato a cold, suspicious glance.
Of course—anyone who interfered with her love deserved to die.
"So, Ian—"
Kaido looked at him urgently. "It can't really be exactly like what Black Maria said, right?"
Ian shook his head.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief.
If everything had begun because of such a ridiculous reason, then the world might as well have been destroyed already.
"Not exactly the same."
Ian smiled. "For example, Lily didn't actually like Joy Boy. Imu only thought she did."
"And what truly enraged Imu was that Joy Boy didn't like Lily at all. Imu believed Joy Boy trampled on the love he longed for but could never have."
Everyone's expressions went stiff in an instant.
Law tugged at the corner of his mouth, his eye twitching along with it. "So that ridiculous reason was actually real?"
"Hahahahaha!"
The next moment, everyone burst into laughter.
They couldn't help it. It was too absurd. Who could have imagined that the world had turned into its current state for such an unbelievable reason?
"Jealousy really is a terrifying thing."
Ian chuckled. "But of course, this only proves that Imu is nothing like the righteous, virtuous figure he pretended to be."
The truth was downright ridiculous.
Imu had feelings for Lily and believed Lily liked Joy Boy.
But in reality, Joy Boy liked the Mermaid Princess — and the two were genuinely in love.
Joy Boy had even promised the Mermaid Princess that he would help bring Fishman Island up to the surface.
Honestly, if Imu had simply asked Lily one question, none of the tragedy that followed would have happened.
But unfortunately, Imu couldn't set aside his pride, and he didn't dare to be honest about his own feelings.
So in the shadows, he let jealousy and pain twist his heart bit by bit.
"I'm starting to lose hope for this world."
Law rubbed his temples. "Ian, hurry up. Let's tear the World Government out by the roots. Just thinking that this organization has ruled the world for eight hundred years because of something this stupid makes me lose it."
"Relax. We all feel the same."
Ian let out a soft laugh.
The fact that someone like Imu had ruled the world for eight centuries made Ian feel exasperated too.
After all, Joy Boy had carved into the Poneglyph that in the final battle Imu forced him into, he beat Imu so badly that the so-called king, always so arrogant, ran away crying. If not for having more people on his side, Joy Boy might have killed him right then and there.
Ian felt a twitch in his expression.
Was this really the ultimate opponent he had been wary of all this time? Where did this pitiful clown even come from?
Could it be that Joy Boy had traumatized him too? That he'd break down the moment he saw Nika's abilities?
Ian felt embarrassed just thinking about it.
There's a saying: the level of your opponent determines your own.
For someone like that, preparing for so many years… it really didn't feel worth it.
In short, after that battle, Joy Boy didn't die, but the Lunarians were almost completely wiped out, and most of his companions were killed.
The war was, in every way, a total failure.
After learning the truth, Lily found Joy Boy, and together with the ancestors of Wano's Kozuki clan, they created the Poneglyphs.
Lily took responsibility for spreading the Poneglyphs across the world.
As for Joy Boy, he went to surrender to Imu.
To proclaim his victory to the world, Imu decided to publicly execute Joy Boy.
"Hiss—"
Gasps instantly rippled through the surroundings.
Shanks couldn't help but nearly laugh. Why did this scene feel so familiar?
"Don't tell me," Mihawk said with a faint smile, "that Joy Boy also declared during his execution that he left everything in the world right there."
Ian laughed. "Otherwise, why do you think Imu erased that entire century?"
"Mama mama mama!"
Aunt Linlin burst into loud laughter. "So that damned thief Roger even stole this idea from someone else?!"
In a certain sense, that was indeed the case.
No wonder Roger said he wanted to meet Joy Boy.
If reincarnation really existed in this world, then it wouldn't be surprising if Roger truly was Joy Boy's rebirth.
Anyway, that's roughly what happened during the blank hundred years.
"Those details aren't important anymore," Aunt Linlin snickered. "Ian, the real key point—the Ancient Weapons—you haven't gotten to that yet."
"Linlin!"
Kaido shot a fierce glare at his old friend. "Don't poke your nose where it doesn't belong! Isn't what you've learned already more than enough?!"
Ian only smiled, but didn't continue further.
**********
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