That so-called "wicked plan" had started off as nothing more than a mischievous whim.
A fleeting thought that had popped into his mind the moment he saw that signature red-haired infant—
the future Emperor of the Seas.
Maybe… secretly change the future Emperor's diaper?
Or draw a turtle on his face?
The moment those ideas surfaced, Lucian squashed them.
"Too lowbrow.
Too boring."
But as his attention truly focused in on that corner—
as all of his senses tightened like a taut rope and reached out—
The amusement vanished from his face.
Bit by bit.
Something heavier settled over him.
The Eye of God pierced through time.
Every frame in that corner, every detail down to the pores of the skin, poured into his vision.
That woman—covered in blood—her fine robes were shredded and caked with mud and gore.
But the innate nobility in her bones was impossible to hide.
Like a diamond in a pitch-black cloth.
Her face was drained of all color.
She was barely clinging to life, breath shallow as a thread.
But her eyes—
Her eyes burned like hellfire.
In her arms, she clutched two infants wrapped in rags—
They were her entire world.
In front of her stood a young man in a Marine uniform.
Lucian's gaze lingered on him a little longer.
His face still bore traces of youth, but his bones were already hardened like stone.
And those eyes—
They burned not with his father Garp's wild fire for battle—
But something darker.
Heavier.
The kind of fire that wants to burn the whole world to ashes.
"System, analyze."
[Ding!]
[Target locked: Monkey D. Dragon (Youth).]
[Binding template... Success. Acquired SR-Rank Legendary Template: "Dragon".]
[Divine Parsing Initiated. Current Analysis Rate: 0.01%...]
As expected.
The future leader of the Revolutionary Army.
The most wanted man in the world.
Lucian's gaze shifted to the woman.
[Target locked: Name unknown. Codename: "Shanks' Mother".]
[Detected special bloodline: Figarland Family.]
[Divine Parsing Initiated. Current Analysis Rate: 0.01%...]
Finally, the two wailing infants wrapped in cloth and blood.
[Target locked: Shanks (Infant).]
[Detected special bloodline: Figarland Family.]
[Divine Parsing Initiated...]
[Target locked: Shamrock (Infant).]
[Detected special bloodline: Figarland Family.]
[Divine Parsing Initiated...]
Lucian's mind buzzed.
A few fragmented clues smashed together inside his brain—
and reconstructed a piece of erased history.
Figarland…
Shanks…
Dragon…
Names that should never have shared a page—
had all collided here, in the most insane, cruel way possible.
Shanks... a Tenryūbito?!
And not just any Tenryūbito—
But one from the most noble bloodline: the Figarland Clan.
And the one who saved him?
None other than the future revolutionary—
Monkey D. Dragon.
How f***ing ironic.
"So this… is fate."
For the first time, Lucian's heart beat not for entertainment—
but for something beyond it.
He wasn't just watching history anymore.
He was watching the first piece of a world-shaping game—fall into place.
Just then, the woman used the last of her strength to shove the two infants into Dragon's arms.
Her voice was broken, hoarse—
every word felt like it tore her throat apart.
But it carried an unstoppable will.
"Please…"
Tears and blood streamed down her face.
"We don't know each other, but only you can save them!
Take them!
Please, get them out of this hell!"
Dragon stared down at the newborns in his arms—
both crying at the top of their lungs.
He said nothing.
He only held them tighter—
using his chest to shield them from the chaos and gunpowder.
"They're good children…"
The woman's voice was full of hatred.
"But they must never—never fall into the hands of Figarland Garlin!
He'll ruin them!"
Garlin.
Commander of the Holy Knights.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
Several white-clad shadows emerged from the smoke.
In an instant, they had the group surrounded.
Uniform white suits.
Emotionless masks.
A killing intent so practiced it chilled the air.
CP agents.
Their goal was clear:
The woman. And her children.
The lead agent pointed a blade at the woman, voice as lifeless as a machine:
"By order of Saint Garlin—hand over the children."
"Run!!"
The woman shrieked—shoving Dragon with all her might.
Dragon roared in fury and ran.
He knew—every second lost here was a sin against the lives in his arms.
He was a Marine.
But more than that—he was a man.
And in those burning eyes of his—
He wanted to rip a hole in the sky of this unjust world.
But the woman…
She didn't run.
She couldn't.
Her body was broken. A burden.
Instead—
She turned around.
She stood between the CP agents and the fleeing Dragon.
She spread her arms wide—
no fear left on her face.
Only peace.
She cast one last glance at Dragon's back—
At the children in his arms, finally quieting.
That look… could melt steel.
She was buying one last second with her life.
"For... the future..."
Her lips moved.
She rushed toward the CP agent's blade.
No weapon.
No strength.
Only a mother's heart.
Shhk!
The cold blade pierced through her chest.
Blood splashed everywhere.
She died instantly.
The CP agents didn't even hesitate—
they blurred into motion again, chasing Dragon without pause.
On the mountain peak—
Lucian saw it all.
His golden eyes—
No longer held amusement.
No jokes.
No cold detachment.
Something had brushed against that stone in his chest—
not gently.
Since arriving in this world, he thought his heart had long turned to stone.
But now—
watching that woman fall in a pool of her own blood, a smile on her face—
Watching the young Dragon, running through a dead-end path, cradling the future Yonko and his brother—
Past. Present. Future.
All tangled together like a knot of fate.
Lucian raised his hand.
Slowly.
The curve of his mouth rose again—
But this time, it wasn't just for the fun of it.
There was something else.
Something wild.
Something even he couldn't name.
"Being a good audience member is fine and all..."
"But stepping in as the director once in a while?"
"Could be fun."
There was warmth in his voice—something he didn't notice himself.
"History's course can't be stopped..."
"But..."
"Leaving behind a few small, harmless surprises for this cold history..."
"What's the harm?"
And besides—
"Giving the future Emperor of the Sea a surprise..."
"...might not be such a bad idea either."