In Strong World, the floating islands that Golden Lion had lifted into the air…
After Golden Lion's death, these islands would normally have fallen back into the Blue Sea. However, people and rare beasts still remained on them, and there were also IQ-boosting plants for animals—plants that Rosinante had some interest in.
Before leaving, he silenced the gravity of the islands and had them dragged up to Skypiea.
Though massive, with their gravity silenced and some assistance from tools on the Sky Island, the Grey Kingdom managed, through great effort, to lift them to over ten thousand meters and settle them among the clouds.
Unfortunately, Golden Lion's subordinate, the pharmaceutical scientist Indigo, could not be found. He had apparently been away from the Sky Pirates' headquarters when the battle began.
Rosinante didn't mind—there were plenty of other skilled scientists in the Blue Sea.
On one floating island, a strangely dressed man trudged along. Beside him walked a chimpanzee dressed in human clothing.
"What's this? The Float-Float Fruit?" The man stopped, staring in astonishment at the peculiar fruit appearing before him.
These two were Golden Lion's deputy, Dr. Indigo, and the King of Beasts, the red gorilla Scarlet.
During the Grey Kingdom's attack on the Sky Pirates, Indigo had been experimenting with IQ-enhancing drugs outside. When he returned, the Sky Pirates and Golden Lion had already been defeated, so he hid quietly in the beasts' territory.
Dr. Indigo stared at the strange fruit in front of him.
To others, it was just a fruit—but having long served Golden Lion, Indigo recognized it immediately. This was Golden Lion's Float-Float Fruit.
"The Float-Float Fruit has reappeared here… how did it come to be…" Indigo muttered, holding the fruit silently.
"Grey Kingdom and Rosinante, huh? One day, I'll settle the score with you!" he said coldly.
Then, surprisingly, he handed the fruit to Scarlet.
Scarlet looked confused. As the King of Beasts, he already possessed considerable intelligence.
"Eat it. Later, you'll help our Captain get revenge. I'll help you gain great power!" Indigo said.
"Chitter-chitter!" Scarlet waved his hands, making excited noises.
"Don't worry. This is Lord Shiki's Devil Fruit. With it, you'll inherit Lord Shiki's strength. Coupled with my research and your beasts, getting revenge for Lord Shiki will be a breeze!" Indigo explained.
"Chitter-chitter!" Excited, Scarlet clapped and eagerly ate the fruit, though he immediately made a face of dislike at the taste.
"Ah, Devil Fruits are always this awful. Now, how do you feel? Can you control its powers?" Indigo asked casually.
The red chimp looked at his hands, then pounded his chest a few times. Chunks of earth and stone lifted into the air.
"Indeed, this is Lord Shiki's Devil Fruit! Our chances of avenging him just went up!" Indigo cheered.
The two of them then began dancing an impromptu gangster-style dance in celebration.
Meanwhile, in the Blue Sea, the oceans were in an uproar.
The Grey Kingdom's massive operation had not only piqued the Navy's curiosity, but other factions were also eager to know what the Grey Kingdom was up to.
However, they lacked the Navy's capabilities and couldn't easily track the Four Great Squads.
And, frankly, they had no real reason to. The Grey Kingdom wasn't acting against them.
Some factions did try to send trackers, but they were eliminated by the Four Great Squads and the BloodSworn Guard. The Grey Kingdom's forces were not easy to follow, and Borsalino's formidable Light-Light Fruit also helped keep them hidden.
With the news of Grey Kingdom annihilating the Sky Pirates, the Blue Sea was soon abuzz.
This wasn't the Navy intentionally spreading rumors—it was simply impossible to keep such a massive event hidden. Tens of thousands had been involved, and the Grey Kingdom's Four Great Squads would soon return to the Blue Sea.
The world was shaken.
Golden Lion—the once-dominant pirate of an era—had been defeated.
Although the previous era was that of the Pirate King, Roger's crew had been a small, exploration-based crew. The truly dominant crew in the New World had been the Sky Pirates.
Even weakened after the battle of Edward Island, the Sky Pirates had been considered untouchable. That the Grey Kingdom could defeat them was beyond anyone's imagination.
Even more shocking, Golden Lion had been defeated by Rosinante.
While some had already speculated that Rosinante possessed the power of a Sea King, hearing that he defeated Golden Lion left the world stunned.