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Pirate World, Jura-Tempest Federation
"Wow! Another world, it's really another world! Rimuru-sensei, we're in another world!"
Alice came tumbling through the Dimensional Gate wrapped in her magic cloak, eyes wide, and immediately started running in every direction, peeking around corners and pressing her face against things.
"Alice, we still need to go see Shizu-sensei."
Chloe caught her by the arm and gently pulled her back.
"Oh, right, right! Let's go, I've missed Shizu-sensei so much!"
The mention of Shizu was enough. Alice stopped bouncing immediately and turned to Chloe with an impatient expression that said they should have been moving already.
"Hehe! Follow me, I know where Shizu-nee is."
Rimuru smiled at the children and gestured for them to follow.
"Yes!" *5
The five of them fell in behind her and made their way to the government building.
Inside, Shizu was looking at Kaito, Zegion, and the others standing before her desk with a quietly troubled expression.
"Ririka. This is your internship report."
"Y-yes, it is."
Ririka looked back at Shizu's gentle gaze and felt guilty in a way that was very difficult to hide.
"Zegion." Shizu turned to him. "Is this report accurate?"
She had clearly already decided she did not entirely believe Ririka's answer, and Zegion's expression was harder to read.
Zegion glanced briefly at Kaito beside him. Then he gave a small nod.
"Yes."
"Is that so."
With even Zegion confirming it, Shizu had little choice but to accept the report. The doubt in her heart, however, did not go anywhere.
The document was simply too polished. It painted Ririka and the others as beloved heroes of Wano Country, liberators celebrated by an entire nation, who had departed to the sound of the whole population weeping.
Based on everything she knew about these children, that picture did not quite fit. Their past had left them deeply reluctant to trust anyone outside the Jura-Tempest Federation. The idea that they had spent their internship being warmly generous to complete strangers was not the first thing that came to mind.
Then again. Was it possible that the life they had been living had genuinely changed them?
She turned it over, found no better explanation, and let it go.
"Alright. I'll accept the report." She looked at the room. "You've all worked hard. Go get some rest."
The girls answered in a small chorus and filed out of the office in an orderly line.
In a moment the room held only Shizu, Kaito, and Zegion.
Kaito walked directly to the sofa, took a small running jump, and dropped onto it face-first.
Shizu watched this, shook her head, and turned to Zegion.
"Zegion, you can head back. Make sure the Security Force is assembled and ready. They'll be under Benimaru's command for the time being."
Zegion nodded, said nothing, and left.
The office door closed.
"Alright. We're alone now. Tell me why we're suddenly going to war."
Kaito turned his head toward her from the sofa with a slightly pained expression.
"Honestly, this is not my fault. The Celestial Dragon started it. I was perfectly happy taking Ririka and the others to Sabaody for a day out, and this man immediately decided Sakuya should be his personal slave." He paused. "I showed considerable restraint by not killing him on the spot. I think that reflects well on me."
Hearing that a Celestial Dragon had actually targeted Sakuya for that, something cool moved through Shizu's usually warm eyes. She straightened slightly.
"Can our current forces handle this war? If not, I can transfer some of the Academy City teachers over."
Kaito sat up and waved both hands quickly.
Good heavens. Shizu was talking about mobilizing the teaching staff of Academy City. Shion, Shuna, Treyni and the rest of them. The World Government was serious, but it was not that serious.
"That's completely unnecessary, we have more than enough. I'll let you know the moment that changes."
Shizu looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
"Make sure you do."
The news traveled fast.
The Jura-Tempest Federation intended to publicly execute a Celestial Dragon. By the time it had made the rounds of the world's major territories, the reaction everywhere was the same: stunned disbelief, followed by the slow realization that someone had apparently decided to openly challenge the World Government.
Even the Four Emperors, who answered to no one, had never gone that far.
Calm Belt, Amazon Lily
"Snake Princess, I think you should see this."
Elder Nyon's face was drawn tight as she held out the newspaper. Her hands, usually steady, had the faint tremor of someone who had just read something they could not quite process.
She had lived a long time. She had never seen anything like this headline.
"It had better be worth interrupting me."
Empress Boa Hancock took the newspaper from her with the languid certainty of someone who fully expected to be unimpressed.
"Th... this... how is this possible?!"
The headline hit her like a physical thing. Her pupils went tight. The composure she wore like armor cracked completely.
"Sister, what is it?"
Her younger sisters had never seen that expression on her face before. They crowded close.
"The... Celestial Dragon... is going to be publicly executed."
"What?!"
"That can't be real!"
"Jura-Tempest Federation." Hancock read the name again, slowly. "What kind of country is this? No. I have to go there." She raised her voice. "Someone prepare the ship. We're going."
Elder Nyon stepped forward immediately.
"Snake Princess, please think carefully. We don't yet know whether this country can actually withstand the World Government's response. If you leave now, your Warlord title will be revoked. The consequences for Amazon Lily—"
"Quiet, old woman. What I choose to do is not your concern."
The words came out sharp and careless. Elder Nyon went still.
Hancock was already moving toward the door, her sisters falling in beside her.
Then Elder Nyon spoke again, quietly this time.
"Snake Princess. If you go, this entire country will be left exposed. Have you thought that through?" A pause. "If you've truly made up your mind, then I won't stand in your way any longer."
Hancock stopped.
"I... but I..." She turned back. The armor was gone entirely. Her face was wet. "I really..."
Elder Nyon looked at her for a long moment and let out a slow breath. Then something shifted in her expression, and she made her decision.
"Go." Her voice was soft. "I can still look after Amazon Lily for a while yet."
The three sisters stood very still.
Then, as one, they bowed deeply, tears spilling freely.
"Thank you. For everything. We're leaving Amazon Lily in your hands."
Elder Nyon turned away before they could see her face.
She raised one hand in a dismissive wave.
Her aged cheeks were wet.