'An opening act?'
Hearing Cyrus's words, Caesar thought for a moment and spoke up.
"Could it be that you think it's the World Government?"
"It should be, but it's all the same to me," Cyrus said as he walked past Caesar.
Only Cyrus could say something like that so casually.
On this sea, anyone else who said that would probably not be convincing, not even the three Pirate Emperors currently ruling the New World.
But if it was Cyrus... thinking about what happened at Mary Geoise not long ago, could anyone else do that?
"You wait here. My people should be here soon. Certain experiments can be stopped from now on. Before the news of my departure from here gets out, I expect many people will rush to Punk Hazard," Cyrus instructed.
"But Lord Cyrus, it would be a shame to abandon those experiments. As long as they produce results, they represent huge profits," Caesar pleaded.
The scientist could now sense that Cyrus didn't intend to take his life, so his courage had grown a tiny bit.
Cyrus stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Caesar.
Although he didn't unleash his Conqueror's Haki, Caesar instantly broke out in a cold sweat just from being stared at by the Guild Master.
"I don't want to have to remind you again. Some can continue, but some must stop. You, or rather, all of you, can use your brains for research in other directions," Cyrus commanded.
After saying that, he turned back and continued walking.
Caesar let out a soft breath and hurried to follow.
Even the Fish-Man Tom could create the Sea Train, and the value of that technology to this ocean planet was self-evident.
Vegapunk, Caesar, and these guys were definitely much more capable than Tom, but the research these guys did was all very abstract and cruel.
Thinking of this, Cyrus felt a little speechless, knowing it was true that none of these guys could be called kind.
Cyrus wouldn't force them to do what was decisively right, as the true value of these people couldn't be realized just yet.
Only when the world order changed in the future would the roles of these people be fully utilized.
However, Cyrus wasn't sure if Caesar could hold back, so he would just have to wait and see.
...
By the sea, aboard the Rose Hunter.
Cyrus arrived in front of his ship and watched the people carrying supplies disembark.
Issho was already on board, and Robin was waiting for him below.
"Report, all supplies have been loaded!" a tall figure in a protective suit reported.
Caesar waved his hand, watching as Cyrus and Robin boarded the ship.
He saw the vessel pull away from the shore, then turned and left. Caesar raised a hand to his chin, staring until the ship disappeared from view.
'What kind of trouble will this man stir up next?'
...
At Marine Headquarters.
"Pfft—" Garp covered his mouth, spraying a handful of rice cracker crumbs.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, everyone except Aokiji had dark lines forming on their foreheads.
'Does this guy have no restraint at all?'
"Ahem, did that many really die? And the others don't dare to come out anymore?" Garp winked and squinted, finally suppressing his laughter before speaking with feigned seriousness.
Sengoku nodded with a dark expression.
"What a pity... no, I mean, how reckless. If I had known earlier, I would have captured him when I saw him back then," Garp said with a look of regret.
But no one in the room believed him, the laughter he couldn't hold back just now was his true feeling on the matter.
"This incident is too massive," Sengoku said, glancing at Garp and resisting the urge to order his friend to go deal with Cyrus.
Though it would have been said in anger, one couldn't joke about fighting Cyrus right now.
"It is indeed massive. I suggest we must strike back. But since Sakazuki and Borsalino failed even when they joined forces, we can't deploy that many troops. In my opinion, this time the World Government or Mary Geoise itself will have to act," Garp immediately suggested.
"You bastard!" Sengoku roared, slamming his hand heavily on his desk.
Garp casually picked his nose, looking at the furious Fleet Admiral.
"You're right. This time, they do have to act themselves," Sengoku conceded, and as he said this, the expressions of everyone in the office shifted.
"So, we really don't have to make a move?" Aokiji asked, though inwardly, he was sighing.
Thousands of Celestial Dragons had died in that single attack, and the aftershock had caused thousands more casualties.
Normally, the appearance of an Admiral was required if even one Celestial Dragon was simply attacked, but with so many dead, it suddenly didn't feel like such a big deal anymore.
"Correct," Sengoku glanced at Aokiji, then nodded solemnly.
"But you can't be idle either. The impact Cyrus has caused this time is huge. The Celestial Dragons..."
As Sengoku spoke, he suddenly paused, frowning in thought as if considering how to phrase his words.
"The perception that Celestial Dragons cannot be attacked has been shattered. Next, those pirates, or even non-pirates, might try to follow his example," Vice Admiral Tsuru supplied.
"Exactly," Sengoku nodded in agreement with the Great Staff Officer's words.
"No need to worry about that either. The Celestial Dragons don't dare leave Mary Geoise now anyway. Do you think those guys would dare to rush up to Mary Geoise and attack like Cyrus did?" Garp asked, still maintaining his nonchalant attitude.
Indeed, they wouldn't.
Even if they had the guts and the idea, they would also need the strength, which no one else possessed.
"Alright. Here are the upcoming missions. Even if no one can do what Cyrus did, the Marines must take action," Sengoku ordered, waving his hand and not wanting to argue with Garp any further.
"Also, you should all know that Cyrus is at Punk Hazard. His next destination should be Dressrosa."
"That Doflamingo kid is in for it!" Garp laughed, his tone full of schadenfreude.
"Doflamingo definitely can't stop Cyrus. I just don't know what he'll do," Vice Admiral Tsuru said after some thought.
She had a decent understanding of Doflamingo's personality, the man might either avoid the confrontation entirely or stay in Dressrosa and fight Cyrus to the death.
But it wasn't just Vice Admiral Tsuru, everyone here understood that absolutely no one could stop Cyrus now.
Not even the people sent by Mary Geoise and the World Government.
In other words, the outcome was basically certain.
"He is truly strong. He has been hiding his strength all along," Sakazuki, wrapped tightly in bandages, suddenly spoke, his tone incredibly grave.
"Admiral Sakazuki is right. When I fought him in the North Blue, he didn't display such strength. So, he has been hiding his true power since that time," Aokiji said, recalling the moment Cyrus had suddenly revealed his power during their fight.
It was as if he had become a completely different person in an instant.
"So?" Sengoku looked between Akainu and Aokiji.
"This man is a deep schemer, to have hidden himself so well from the very beginning. Perhaps he has a grand conspiracy," Akainu theorized.
"A conspiracy?" The office fell silent as everyone pondered Akainu's words.
"Puhaha, what kind of conspiracy could this guy have? Is he going to snatch control of the world from the World Government?"