“El-sama…”

  Before long, El desded from Atntis with Linlin, Sally, Helen, Lillian, Gerd, and the others, nding on the back of Zunesha—the giant elephant that served as the foundation of the nation of Zou.

  Following them was a group of lively children with wings and fming heads, bursting with energy and curiosity.

  “Huh? Giant humans? Are they from the Giant Tribe?”

  “People with wings? Could they be Lunarians, like Moss said?”

  “And someoh three eyes…”

  The Minks—men, women, and children alike—were filled with amazement. Even Duke Barton, their leader, couldn’t hide his surprise.

  “Greetings. My apologies for the ued visit and any invenience caused…”

  El approached Duke Barton with his ente, nodding to Moss before turning to the duke and smiling.

  “I am Kukulkan El, King of Totto Land and captain of the Fallen Angel Pirates.”

  “Greetings, El-sama…”

  Duke Barton studied the t and imposing young man before him, whose presence was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. He responded amicably, “I am Barton, King of the Mokomo Dukedom. Wele to Zou!”

  “Wow! There are so many people like Uncle Moss!”

  “So furry! So cute!”

  “ I touch them?”

  The children, including Thor, Sif, and Dal, were wide-eyed with wonder, marveling at the diverse Minks.

  While Totto Land had its share of Mink residents—some rescued from the bck market and many freed from svery in Mary Geoise—the children were still awestruck by the sheer variety on Zou.

  “Don’t be so rude, you little brats!”

  Gerd gave each of them a flick to the forehead, scolding them.

  “Mind your manners!”

  “It’s fine,” Duke Barton said with a ugh, watg the eic children. “They’re quite charming. We’ve never seen Lunarians iants before, so the feeling is mutual.”

  The Minks were incredibly hospitable, warmly weling El and his panions. Not to be outdone, El ordered Homies soldiers t down an abundance of Totto Land’s specialties from Atntis.

  The Minks, who had spent their entire lives on Zunesha and rarely ventured outside, were thrilled and grateful. The children quickly made friends with the Mink children, even exging clothes as a sign of mutual respect—a high honor among the Mink Tribe.

  Though the atmosphere was joyous, El’s visit was brief. When Sally received intelligehat the Marines were beginning to move, El—who had no iion of staying long—bid farewell. Before leaving, he made sure to take a rubbing of the Third Red Road Poneglyph.

  “Woo-hoo-hoo…”

  As the Minks relutly waved goodbye, the massive floating fortress Atntis rose into the sky and began its journey.

  “Maaamaaama… So, the Marines have started mobilizing already?”

  Linlin, holding the now soundly sleeping baby Ares, grinned, revealing her sharp teeth.

  “We’ve also received another cssified report,” Sally said, her expression serious.

  “To ter Edward e—Whitebeard—and his ability to cause tsunamis with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the Wover has retly entrusted the Marine forces with the power of the Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit.”

  “Oh?”

  “The Ice-Ice Fruit?”

  “Maaamaaama… How generous of them!”

  The news caused everyone present to widen their eyes in surprise. Even El looked intrigued, clearly impressed by the Wover’s strategic move to locate and assign the powerful Ice-Ice Fruit.

  …

  At this moment—far away in the first half of the Grand Li Marineford, the new Marine Headquarters:

  “What?”

  Ihe Fleet Admiral’s office, Garp widened his eyes in shock after hearing the proposal from Fleet Admiral Hammons William.

  “You wao bee a Devil Fruit user?”

  “No way! Losing my ability to swim freely? That’s way to. Find someone else!”

  He refused ht, without a sed thought.

  “Garp, I’m not joking with yht now, you are the most suitable didate for the Ice-Ice Fruit in the Marine ranks…”

  Hammons William stared directly at Garp and spoke early.

  “The Ice-Ice Fruit is u freeze the o itself, and its user doesn’t fear falling into the sea! Even if you bee a ‘hammer’ who ’t swim, it’s not like you’d lose all your strength, right?”

  He hadn’t expected Garp to reject so decisively, especially when the Wover had painstakingly allocated this top-tier Logia ability—ohat tless individuals would kill for.

  “Even so, I won’t be able to swim freely anymore…”

  Garp’s attitude remained firm as he waved his hand dismissively.

  “Fleet Admiral William, just find someone else. I’m not ied.”

  He genuinely had no desire to bee a Devil Fruit user. Garp firmly believed irength of his fists, fident that he could rival—or even surpass—any Devil Fruit ability.

  “For others, this would be a on-a-lifetime opportunity. This guy…”

  Hammons William’s face darkened as he gred at Garp.

  “Do you think I want to pick you? The three Admirals are already Devil Fruit users! Among the Vice Admirals, most are too mediocre. Only you and Sengoku far surpass the rest, but Sengoku is already a Devil Fruit user. That leaves only you!”

  “And you’re well aware of how eous some of those pirates’ abilities be…”

  Hammons William furrowed his brow and stared at Garp, his tourning grave.

  “Don’t you uand that without termeasures, our fleets could be wiped out by a sudden tsunami, sinking to the bottom of the sea? Whether it’s the Fallen Angel Pirates or the Rocks Pirates, isn’t their arrogance rgely due to their ability to summon storms, trigger tsunamis, and wreak havoc at will?”

  “Especially the Fallen Angel Pirates. Have you fotten the unpreted explosion at Marineford five years ago? Tens of thousands perished in fmes—i souls turo ash! Do you not remember why the Navy has been uo retaliate anize rge-scale expeditions against them?”

  The Fleet Admiral sighed deeply, menting the situation. If only Tsuru, once part of the new geion’s ‘Trio’ of the Navy, hadn’t defected…

  She would have been the perfect didate. With the Ice-Ice Fruit at her disposal—bined with her already impressive potential—she might not have reached Sengoku arp’s level, but achieving Admiral-level strength would undoubtedly have been within her grasp. If that were the case, there would be no s about the geion of Admirals.

  But what was done was done; dwelling on it ointless.

  “Of course I haven’t fotten…”

  Garp’s face twitched, clearly feeling the weight of the situation. Then his eyes lit up with an idea.

  “And who says there isn’t a suitable didate?”

  He turo Fleet Admiral William with a smirk.

  “Fleet Admiral William, I reend someone!”

  “Oh?”

  Bleam