"Cover Story Serial — White City Arc: 'On the Brink of War'"
"Does it really have to come to this?"
In the Kingdom of Arca , the old prime minister stood atop the city wall, watching the proud and valiant soldiers march toward the frontlines. He let out a long sigh…
"Things have come this far — there's no turning back now. The old minister understood that releasing the monsters sealed within White City would bring catastrophic destruction upon their kingdom… yet his conscience simply couldn't bear to cross that final line."
——————————
You're at least a Vice Admiral
Hearing those words, both Momonga and the CP-0 agents who had followed over exchanged strange looks.
It was almost hard to believe.
It was nearly the year 1507 already, and yet there were still people who would dare say something like that — to Vice Admiral Nao's face.
So this fat old man… had no idea who he was talking to?
"You're the king the CP unit was escorting?"
Nao didn't seem angry. He just looked at him calmly and asked,
"So, you're from an allied nation, then? Didn't attend the recent Reverie, did you?"
"Of course I'm from an allied nation! I am Roaland VI, King of the Flevance Kingdom!"
The fat old man snorted, giving Nao a suspicious look.
"As for the Reverie… I was busy lately, didn't have time to go. Why bring that up now? Does that have anything to do with this?"
"Of course it does, Your Majesty,"
Captain Wilson interjected quietly, "If you had attended the Reverie, you would know that this man — Vice Admiral Nao — was the Marine's highest representative there, and one of the session's leading hosts."
The meaning behind his words was obvious.
Before someone of that rank, it'd be wise to drop the arrogant royal attitude. You can play the part of a pompous noble in front of us CP-0 agents, but this man? He's not one you can afford to offend.
The Marine's representative… a host of the Reverie?
"I see…"
Roaland VI wasn't a complete fool. He vaguely recalled the name "Nao" — it did sound familiar. It seemed this man really was someone he shouldn't mess with.
But still, his pride wouldn't let him yield completely. He pouted, muttering unhappily,
"Even so, there must be an explanation, right? I lost so many treasures — those were the royal family's savings, built up over years of hardship. Surely your Marine bears some responsibility."
Still hung up on compensation?
If not for Vice Admiral Nao, you wouldn't even be alive!
Wilson's blood boiled, but he didn't dare explode at the king. Instead, he covered his face helplessly and cautiously glanced toward Nao to gauge his reaction.
"An explanation, huh?"
Nao had no interest in wasting more time arguing with this buffoon. He waved his hand and gave a cold smile.
"Onigumo, show His Majesty King Roaland what 'an explanation' means."
"Yes, sir."
Onigumo, who had followed behind and had been eagerly waiting for this, grinned upon hearing the order. Under Roaland VI's horrified gaze, he abruptly hoisted the king onto his shoulder and carried him towards the deck.
His movements were rough yet incredibly practiced.
Clearly, he had done this kind of work quite often over the past few years.
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Lami's condition was getting worse and worse.
Most of the time, she lay unconscious in bed. In recent days, she'd hardly eaten at all — just a few spoonfuls of thin porridge — and was surviving only thanks to a steady drip of glucose.
Law stood beside her bed, anxiety etched across his face. In his left hand was the bowl of porridge, in his right, a spoon he stirred absentmindedly.
His mind was filled with the stream of bad news he had gathered through various means over this period.
Ever since that day they stormed the palace and discovered Roaland VI had already abandoned them and fled, the people of White City, amidst their outburst of anger, finally realized that staying in this country offered no hope.
Many began packing their belongings, taking their families, and leaving White City, placing their last hope on seeking treatment in other countries.
However.
When they reached the border, people were horrified to find the entire country surrounded by high barbed wire fences. The five neighboring countries had all deployed heavy troops.
And they were all wearing protective suits and filter masks, standing guard as if defending against monsters.
No matter how desperately they pleaded, the soldiers on the other side of the barbed wire remained unmoved.
Those who tried to escape under cover of night, prying open the fence to slip through, were mercilessly gunned down on the spot.
The kingdom's army also attempted to mobilize their forces, trying to cover the civilians' retreat and break through the blockade.
However, the White City had never been known for its military strength. The difference in power was overwhelming. Within just a few hours, the defending troops were completely crushed.
When dawn broke and the first light of morning spilled over the border, the land was covered with corpses and blood that had long since dried…
The news spread back to the urban areas, causing an uproar and plunging everyone into utter despair.
Was there really nothing left they could do?
Could they only stand by and watch as the disease ravaged everything, devouring all of White City?
Law clenched his teeth, his right fist tightening unconsciously. He didn't even notice that the spoon in his hand had snapped, cutting into his index finger as blood trickled down from the wound…
"Brother…"
A frail voice pulled him back to reality. Law looked down, startled, to see that his sister Lami had woken up at some point on the bed.
"Brother, my body hurts so much…" Lami whispered weakly. "And my skin… it's getting whiter…"
Tears welled up in her eyes. "Brother, am I… going to die soon?"
"Don't say such silly things, Lami."
Law took her hand, cutting her off gently. "Just hold on a little longer. Don't forget — this is the best hospital in the whole country. And Dad … he's one of the most famous doctors in the nation."
"These past couple of days, Dad is almost close to finding a way to remove the Amber Lead."
Her hand was so cold it barely felt alive. Forcing a smile through his grief, Law said softly, "Don't worry, Lami. He'll definitely cure you."
"Really…?"
"Brother,"
Lami nodded faintly, then turned her head weakly toward the window. "It sounds so noisy outside… there are so many people…"
"They're preparing for the festival at the end of the month!"
Law laughed, trying to sound cheerful. "Flevance is always lively, Lami. Get better soon, okay? When you recover, we'll go to the festival together — and I'll buy you the best ice cream there!"
"Mm."
Lami's eyes brightened, and on her pale face, she did her best to show a faint, fragile smile.
"I want strawberry flavor! And chocolate too! Don't forget, brother!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Law said with a faint smile.
…
He closed the door.
The smile on Law's face vanished almost instantly. He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and walked silently down the hallway. Opening the glass window at the end, he looked out toward the front of the hospital.
There, a desperate crowd of townspeople had gathered, clutching the iron gates, their voices hoarse with hopeless cries:
"Doctor! Please, let us in!"
"My father needs treatment — he can't hold on any longer!"
"Save me… I'm only twenty… I don't want to die yet!"
…
Some had collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably. Others pounded on the iron doors with all their remaining strength. A few huddled in dark corners, trembling, too weak even to stand.
But Law knew — the hospital doors would not open.
This hospital, once the pride of the entire nation, had reached its absolute limit after running nonstop for over half a month. Not just the beds — even the stores of blood and medicine had been completely depleted.
More than half of the doctors and nurses had already collapsed from exhaustion. His parents were among the few still forcing themselves to keep working, even though their own daughter was dying at home. They hadn't come back for over a week.
Lami had been relying entirely on him these days… but how much longer could he keep this up?
Law stared at his reflection in the glass — a pale face, lifeless eyes, and skin as white as snow. There was no trace of vitality left in him.
Whoosh…
A sudden gust of wind howled outside. It rushed through the open window, lifting a dusty old newspaper from an uncovered trash bin and sweeping it onto the windowsill before him.
Law steadied his leopard-patterned hat that almost got blown away and looked down at the paper instinctively.
He recognized it immediately — far too well.
It was a report from half a month ago, about Big Mom's seven-day-and-night fierce battle with Nao, ending in her defeat and frantic escape. The photo of that Vice Admiral Nao occupied nearly half the page.
Under the setting sun, the handsome man was helping repair damaged houses, a gentle smile on his face that inexplicably gave people a sense of tranquility and warmth.
Back when the hospital hadn't collapsed yet, his mother would often take out this newspaper after work, leaning on the sofa and repeatedly looking at this photo.
She'd say that looking at that smile made her feel at peace — that somehow, the exhaustion and heaviness in her heart would fade away. It had become her one small moment of comfort and rest in those endless, grueling days.
She even comforted Law back then, smiling as she told him not to worry so much — that even if the World Government had abandoned them, the Marine, the embodiment of justice, would not.
Especially Vice Admiral Nao — he should still be in the North Blue now, she'd said. People were already trying to contact him. And if he learned of what was happening in White City, he would definitely come to save them, no matter what.
However…
Three days passed. Then five. Now more than a week had gone by…
The number of dead kept rising, and the situation grew worse by the day — yet not a single shadow of the Marine had appeared.
His mother no longer even had time to come home to see his sister, let alone sit on the sofa flipping through that old newspaper like before.
Law couldn't even remember exactly when it happened — one day while cleaning the house, he had picked up that same paper from the floor and, without thinking, tossed it into the trash bin in the hallway.
"Justice…"
He stared at the two bold characters printed on the white cloak in the photo — and at the handsome man wearing it, that gentle, reassuring smile on his face. Suddenly, an unnameable rage surged in Law's chest. He grabbed the paper and tore it to shreds.
Justice?
What justice?
Bullshit justice!
"They're all liars! Liars! It's all lies!"
The torn scraps scattered to the floor. Grinding his teeth, Law stomped on the pieces — the smiling man's face, the pristine white coat emblazoned with "Justice" — crumpled and twisted beneath his feet.
He kept stomping until, all at once, he sank to the floor, clutching his head, crying silently.
In front of his sister, he always acted strong — like a mountain that would never crumble.
But in the end, he was still just a boy barely past his tenth birthday.
"Law… Law… Law!"
The cold night wind blowing through the window made his head spin. He didn't know how much time had passed before a faint voice reached his ears, calling his name.
Through his haze, he lifted his tear-streaked face — and saw the face of his mother, whom he hadn't seen in over a week, filled with urgency and worry.
"Mom?"
Law's eyes widened as he leapt to his feet in surprise.
"You scared me half to death, you silly child — thank goodness you're all right."
The doctor let out a deep sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her chest. But the next instant, she remembered why she'd come and grabbed Law's shoulders, shaking him anxiously.
"Hurry! Go home, take Lami, and get out of the city through the northeast side — if you don't leave now, it'll be too late!"
"Leave the city?"
Law froze, not quite understanding.
"It's the Marine! The Marine finally responded!"
A bright smile spread across her weary face. "Law, remember how I told you someone was trying to reach the Marine for help? Word just came back — they know what's happening here! They've arranged evacuation ships on the northeastern coast. If we can make it there, we can board and escape to another country for treatment!"
"They… arranged evacuation ships?"
Law clenched his jaw. "That's it? That's all those so-called 'just' Marines can do? Why aren't they sending troops in to save people directly?"
"Oh, silly child… The Marine can't disobey the World Government's orders. There are so many things in this world that aren't as simple as you think."
She gently patted his head, trying to hide her sorrow, and urged again:
"When dawn comes, the ships will depart. Don't waste any more time, Law — go now, take Lami, and get out while you still can."