"Enough!!"
Gion suddenly screamed, cutting Tenma off.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, her chest heaving violently, as if she were on the verge of collapse.
"What exactly are you trying to say?! Are you trying to turn me against the Navy?!"
"I'm a Navy Rear Admiral! I will never betray my justice!"
She shouted loudly, but the trembling note at the end of her voice betrayed the turmoil in her heart.
Tenma looked at her, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
"I don't expect a few words to make you switch sides."
"Since you don't believe me, how about we make a bet?"
Gion bit her lip and stared at him warily. "What kind of bet?"
"Have you heard of the 'White Town'—Flevance?"
Tenma calmly spoke the name of a place.
"That country that got rich by mining Amber Lead. If my calculations are right, it's not far from annihilation."
"Nonsense! Flevance is a member state of the World Government and extremely wealthy. How could it possibly be destroyed?!"
Gion immediately shot back.
"That's exactly what the bet is about."
Tenma raised a finger.
"The World Government has long known that Amber Lead is highly toxic, but for enormous profits, they concealed the truth."
"Now Amber Lead Syndrome has reached its outbreak phase. Everyone in that country will die."
"And what the World Government will do is definitely not rescue them. They'll seal the borders and clean everyone out like trash."
Looking into Tenma's unwavering eyes, Gion felt a chill surge up from her feet straight to the top of her head.
"Y-you… why are you telling me all this?"
"Because I want you to see it with your own eyes."
Tenma stood up, releasing the pressure restraining her.
"I'm letting you go."
"Go back and investigate it yourself. See whether I'm just spouting alarmist nonsense."
Gion stared at him in disbelief. "You're… letting me go?"
"Keeping you around means I'd have to feed you. Too much trouble."
Tenma waved his hand dismissively and turned toward the cabin, his back looking exceptionally carefree.
"As a Navy Rear Admiral, checking this kind of intel shouldn't be hard for you. Once you uncover the truth about Flevance, then come talk to me about justice."
This wasn't just a bet.
It was a seed of doubt.
Once planted, it would take root in Gion's heart and grow, until it completely destroyed her blind faith in the World Government.
The tragedy of Flevance was inevitable.
When faced with such a horrifying end, where would this justice-filled female officer go?
Tenma was very much looking forward to that moment.
…
At the same time, Navy Headquarters—Marineford.
A furious roar echoed from the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Still haven't found her?! A living person just vanished into thin air?!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku clutched a Den Den Mushi, veins bulging on his forehead. The great Buddha looked anything but calm.
Inside the office, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt frozen solid.
The Vice Admiral reporting bowed his head deeply, the bitter smile on his face harsher than gall.
"The search-and-rescue teams have already been deployed and combed the entire sea area, but unfortunately, we still haven't found any trace of Vice Admiral Gion."
Everyone actually knew this outcome already.
After all, the enemy possessed the legendary Float-Float Fruit.
If it were just sea travel, there might still be a chance. But once the target vanished into the clouds, they would be completely hidden in the vast, boundless sky.
Searching under those conditions was more hopeless than looking for a needle in the ocean.
"Enough. Stop making excuses."
Sengoku sat behind his desk, his face iron-blue, teeth grinding audibly.
On the sofa beside him, Garp looked utterly carefree, picking his nose as he casually chimed in.
"Sengoku, don't make things too hard on them. That's the Float-Float Fruit, after all."
"Back in the day, that old bastard Golden Lion was even harder to track than Roger. It's not like we haven't experienced this before."
Seeing the reporting Vice Admiral trembling under Sengoku's fury, Garp was indirectly helping him out.
At the mention of that name, Sengoku's brow furrowed even tighter, frustration nearly spilling from his eyes.
"We guarded against everything, yet who would've thought that insignificant prison guard from Impel Down years ago actually managed to steal the Float-Float Fruit's power!"
"What's most terrifying is his patience. Anonymous in prison, completely vanished these past few years—and now he strikes with a royal flush!"
"He defeated someone as strong as Gion without taking a scratch. Is the heavens really trying to give us another Sky Admiral?!"
The more Sengoku spoke, the angrier he became. He slammed his desk, rattling the teacups.
"Kidnapping a Navy Headquarters Rear Admiral in broad daylight—this is as egregious as it gets! Does he think that just because he has Golden Lion's ability, he can trample on the Navy's dignity?!"
If Tenma were here, he'd probably cross his legs and retort righteously: Yes. Flying really does let you do whatever you want.
At this moment, facing the enraged Fleet Admiral, only a few old comrades with decades of friendship dared to breathe freely.
"Gion shouldn't be in immediate danger."
Vice Admiral Tsuru, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
Her hands were clasped beneath her chin. Her tone remained as calm as ever, but the slight tremble in her fingers betrayed her anxiety.
"If he intended to kill her, there'd be no need for such an elaborate kidnapping. Since he took her away, he must have some objective."
At Navy Headquarters, everyone knew Tsuru treated Gion like a younger sister—her concern even exceeded Sengoku's.
Hearing his old partner speak, Sengoku forcibly suppressed his anger and calmed down a little.
"Tsuru, then analyze it for me. What does this guy want? Is he after a seat among the Seven Warlords?"
As the Age of Pirates intensified, the World Government had introduced the legalized pirate system to maintain balance.
Recently, countless pirates had been breaking their heads trying to squeeze into the Seven Warlords' position.
But that seat required layer upon layer of World Government screening and approval.
Tsuru gently shook her head, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"I can't be sure. But if he really wanted something, a ransom call should've come in already."
There was another possibility she didn't voice—that the man simply had his eye on Gion's beauty.
Having long dealt with dark intelligence, Tsuru had seen too much filth. But precisely because the victim was Gion, she instinctively rejected that thought.
Just then, hurried and chaotic footsteps echoed from the corridor.
Before the door even opened, an urgent shout pierced through it.
"Report, Fleet Admiral! Emergency situation! The headquarters communications room has just received a signal from Vice Admiral Gion!"
The words struck like thunder, and Sengoku sprang up from his chair.
"Quick! Bring the Den Den Mushi in!"
The Marine outside didn't dare delay. He rushed in holding a dedicated Den Den Mushi, respectfully presented it to Sengoku, then wisely withdrew.
The office instantly fell silent. All eyes were fixed on the silent Den Den Mushi.
A few seconds later, Tsuru tentatively called out, "Gion? Is that you?"
The Den Den Mushi's drooping eyes snapped open, and a familiar yet slightly weary voice came through.
"Big Sister Tsuru… it's me."
Hearing that voice, Tsuru's tense shoulders relaxed at once. She let out a long breath.
But immediately after, her heart jumped back into her throat as she anxiously pressed on.
"How are you now? Are you hurt? What did that bastard do to you?"
There was a brief pause on the other end, and Gion's tone turned strange.
"He… let me go. I'm near the Sabaody Archipelago, on Polme Island."
"He let you go?!"
This time, Sengoku and Tsuru exclaimed in unison. Even Garp stopped eating his rice crackers.
"I'm not sure why either. When I woke up, I was already lying on the island. There were no enemies around."
Gion's answer left the three big shots staring at each other, minds full of question marks.
This development completely defied all expectations.
Tsuru was the first to recover. She quickly adjusted her emotions and reassured her through the Den Den Mushi.
"As long as you're safe, that's what matters. Stay where you are and don't hang up."
"I'll immediately arrange for the nearest warship to pick you up. Any questions—we'll talk in detail once you're back."
"Understood."
With Gion's response, the Den Den Mushi slowly closed its eyes, ending the call.
After Sengoku efficiently arranged the retrieval, the office was left once again with just the three old comrades.
"What do you make of what Gion just said?" Sengoku lifted his teacup, only to realize the tea had gone cold.
Garp had already reverted to his slovenly self, slumped on the sofa, shamelessly digging his nose.
"What else is there to think? Didn't the girl say it herself? She was unconscious when that brat dumped her on the island."
"What, you're going to doubt a kid you practically raised yourself?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru stood up, her sharp gaze sweeping over Sengoku, her tone clearly displeased.
Seeing this, Sengoku immediately backed down halfway and laughed awkwardly.
"Of course not. I watched Gion grow up too. I'm just trying to figure out the motives of that freak Tenma."
"There aren't that many 'whys' in this world."
Tsuru sighed, her voice soft and distant.
"We're not omniscient gods. We can only infer the truth from the clues we have."
"Hahahaha! Exactly!"
Garp suddenly burst into hearty laughter, shaking dust from the ceiling.
"Just like back then, when we couldn't figure out why Roger turned himself in—only to find out he used his own life to usher in a new era!"
"You old bastard, if you don't know how to talk, then shut up!"
Sengoku roared, having his sore spot poked, and angrily snatched the bag of rice crackers from Garp's hand to vent his frustration.
Watching these two old men—over a hundred years combined—still bickering like children, Tsuru shook her head helplessly and turned toward the door.
Before leaving, she paused, her expression turning solemn again.
"Now that Gion is safe, our focus must shift to Tenma."
"He's inherited Golden Lion's ability and also possesses great-swordsman–level swordsmanship and Haki. This is essentially a young Shiki reborn."
"And he's younger, more patient, and more restrained than Golden Lion. The level of threat he poses in the future may far exceed our imagination."
With that, Tsuru pushed the door open and left, leaving behind a room heavy with silence.
…
Escorted at top speed by a Navy warship, the trip from Marineford to Polme Island took only a couple of hours.
Tsuru personally went to retrieve Gion and brought her back to headquarters unharmed.
After a thorough medical examination confirmed that Gion had suffered no abuse or hidden injuries, Tsuru took her back to her residence to rest and undergo psychological counseling.
Meanwhile, Sengoku sat alone in his office, staring intently at the photos just delivered by the Intelligence Department.
In the images, Tenma was manipulating a sky-filling sandstorm—a display of awakened-level power.
An extremely rare possessor of all three forms of Haki, and wielding them with masterful proficiency.
Coupled with the world-shaking Float-Float Fruit…
Sengoku rubbed his aching temples. This was practically a perfect replica of that sky pirate of old—if not even more dangerous.
…
The next morning.
Under the command of news magnate Morgans, the World Economy News went all out.
Countless News Coo took flight like dark clouds from headquarters, scattering to every corner of the world.
With the Navy's tacit approval and the World Government fanning the flames, a piece of explosive news swept across the seas through the newspapers, stirring up monstrous waves.
"Legend Reborn! The Successor of the Float-Float Fruit—[The New-Era Sky Admiral] Tenma Appears!"
The headline dominated the front page in the boldest, blackest typeface imaginable.
The effect was explosive.
Everyone who picked up the paper felt their pupils contract violently, their hearts pounding uncontrollably.
The Float-Float Fruit—that was Golden Lion Shiki's signature power!
The power of a legendary monster who once stood shoulder to shoulder with the world's strongest man Whitebeard and the Pirate King Roger.
Since Golden Lion fell at Impel Down, countless ambitious figures had frantically searched for the fruit's whereabouts, dreaming of becoming the second Sky Admiral.
Now, this headline was like a bucket of icy water, ruthlessly dousing all those fantasies.
"F-Float-Float Fruit? Are you kidding me—has it really reappeared?!"
"Hey! Look at this part! The paper says this Tenma is the one who killed Golden Lion back in Impel Down!"
"He killed Golden Lion and then took his Devil Fruit ability?! How is that even possible?!"
"How did he do it? Can killing a Devil Fruit user really grant you their power? That's insane!"
Countless questions exploded in people's minds, yet none had answers.
Although the guy called Douglas Bullet had also died at Tenma's hands in Impel Down, there was no news that Tenma obtained the Moa Moa no Mi.
After all, it was common knowledge that a person couldn't eat two Devil Fruits, so everyone's attention was focused solely on the Float-Float Fruit.
[New-Era Sky Admiral · Tenma
Bounty: 480,000,000 Berries
Dead or Alive]
The brand-new wanted poster was tucked into the newspaper. That nearly 500-million–berry initial bounty, along with those jaw-dropping feats, caused Tenma's name to resound across the seas overnight.
At Navy Headquarters, inside a quiet residence.
Gion held Tenma's wanted poster in her hand, her gaze unfocused.
What distracted her wasn't the humiliation of her defeat written on it.
Her mind kept replaying the words that man had said to her—and that inexplicable bet.
He hadn't restricted her freedom in the slightest, yet when facing the deeply respected Tsuru and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, she had inexplicably concealed that part of the truth.
She had even, for the first time in her life, lied to them.
She didn't understand why.
When holding the Den Den Mushi, she had clearly intended to tell everything—but when the words reached her lips, considering their positions as Navy high command, she unconsciously swallowed them back.
It wasn't distrust toward Sengoku or Tsuru.
It was a feeling she herself couldn't clearly explain.
As if, deep in her subconscious, she had already begun to believe in a certain future that man described.
Her fingers gently traced Tenma's portrait on the wanted poster. Gion's gaze gradually firmed, her lips moving as she whispered a place name.
"Flevance…"
…
As the News Coo spread the story worldwide, even major figures deep in the New World—who rarely read newspapers—were shaken by the news.
Especially after details of Tenma killing Golden Lion and seizing his ability were dug up, the resulting shock was immeasurable.
Sabaody Archipelago, in the lawless zone, inside a bar called Shakky's Rip-Off Bar.
Shakky elegantly exhaled a puff of smoke and lightly slapped the newspaper onto the counter.
"Look at this. It's all in the papers now. That kid Tenma who took down Shiki is being hailed as the new-era Sky Admiral."
The bar was already closed. Rayleigh was sitting alone, leisurely drinking.
Faced with such explosive news, neither of them seemed particularly surprised—after all, it had unfolded right under their noses at Sabaody.
Rayleigh glanced at the photo in the paper, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips.
"Hahahaha… a new-era Sky Admiral, huh. How interesting."
"I wonder what it'll be like when he meets Shanks someday. That straw hat and the flying pirate ship left quite an unforgettable memory back then."
"Come to think of it, that kid Shanks should be officially setting sail soon. This new era is getting more and more exciting."
…
New World, Totto Land—Whole Cake Island.
"Mamamamama! So it really was that brat who got the old lion's power!"
One of the Four Emperors, Charlotte Linlin, stuffed massive pieces of cream cake into her mouth while glaring at the wanted poster, greed blazing in her eyes.
"Pass down the order! Keep constant surveillance on Tenma's movements!"
"The moment he's spotted, send him an invitation to Totto Land! I'll personally host a grand tea party for him!"
Seated below her, Charlotte Galette—still a ten-year-old girl—tilted her head in confusion.
"Mom, you're already an Emperor of the Sea. Is it really worth holding a tea party for a newcomer who's only just gotten a Devil Fruit?"
As a member of the family, she knew exactly what a tea party represented in Totto Land—the highest-level celebration.
"That's not quite right, Galette."
The eldest son, Perospero, extended his long tongue and licked his candy cane staff, explaining with a sinister grin.
"The Float-Float Fruit is a strategic-level treasure. It has the terrifying power to alter entire landmasses."
"With that ability, Mama could transport every island the world covets and piece them all together in Totto Land."
As the child who understood Big Mom best, he knew her thoughts all too well.
"That's right! Then my Totto Land will have even more territory and races!"
Charlotte Linlin excitedly wiped cream from the corner of her mouth, dangerous light flickering in her eyes.
"And besides, I'm very curious what method that brat used to steal Golden Lion's ability."
People harboring such intentions were far from limited to Big Mom alone.
…
Somewhere in the New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, sat upright on his massive throne, IV tubes inserted into his body.
Listening to his sons chattering about the news, his thoughts drifted back to the days when he had clashed with that madman of golden hair.
Seeing their old man reminiscing, the younger division commanders crowded around him, eagerly asking about Golden Lion's long-past exploits.
Only one person stood apart, alone in the shadows of the deck.
He clenched the newspaper tightly in his hand, staring at Tenma's name. His body trembled slightly from overwhelming excitement and fear.
"Could it be… this guy has also seen through the secret of Devil Fruit reincarnation?!"
"No… his body structure isn't abnormal like mine. He shouldn't be able to withstand two fruits."