PinkSnake - True Flame Emperor - Vol. 2 - 453/454

Chapter 453: The Truth About the World (1)

In an instant, the atmosphere in the vast, empty council hall turned tense, and even the air seemed to grow heavy.

In truth, at the level of Yemu, Dragon, and Red-Haired Shanks, with their experience and composure, controlling their emotions should have been easy. But Shanks losing his composure like this was enough to show just how shaken he was.

Dragon, meanwhile, frowned, his expression not looking much better.

However, as the leader of the Revolutionary Army, he had never been particularly fond of pirates to begin with. Because of that, Yemu’s talk of ending the Age of Pirates did not provoke as strong a reaction from him, allowing him to calm down and think.

But Shanks still could not help asking,

“So, Captain Yemu, you brought out the Poneglyph to use the secret of Laugh Tale to lure pirates into the New World?”

That was certainly not praise. Just from the description alone, it was easy to imagine how many people would die because of this, and Shanks’s tone carried a hint of accusation.

Yemu, however, replied very calmly,

“Didn’t the Age of Pirates that Captain Roger set off, and the runaway era that followed, also lead to many deaths?”

Shanks’s expression turned serious, but Yemu continued as if he had not noticed.

“Judging whether something is right or wrong purely by good and evil is the most foolish way to look at things. Just like what Captain Roger did. He wanted to set the era in motion, but it wasn’t merely to turn this era into one ruled by pirates. It was for a far greater goal. You should understand that better than I do, Shanks.”

Shanks fell silent, unable to answer, and sank into thought.

Dragon, on the other hand, suddenly asked with great interest,

“Then, Captain Yemu, what exactly is your plan? Would you mind telling me?”

“Of course. Twenty years have passed since Captain Roger began the Age of Pirates. The runaway momentum of this era has weakened the World Government’s control over the world to its lowest point. My Sky Pirates, the rise of the Rainbow Kingdom, and even your Revolutionary Army are all beneficiaries of this era.”

Dragon nodded and did not deny it.

“But the weakening of that control came at a price. This era has become chaotic to the extreme, to the point that even the era of Rocks cannot compare. The Rocks Pirate Crew back then was terrifying, but the sea at that time was still controlled by the order Rocks had created. Those ambitious people were also restrained by Rocks’s overwhelming personal strength. But now, the sea is full of troublesome, unrestrained ambitious people and monsters.”

At this point, Dragon seemed to understand what Yemu was planning.

“Compared with the World Government and Marines out in the open, these people are much harder to deal with. Not because of their strength, but because the sea is so vast that they can come and go freely. I don’t want to be worrying about them while I’m facing the World Government. This isn’t only for the present, but also for the future. Right now, I can’t possibly spare forces to deal with them, but I can use the Poneglyph to draw them into the New World.”

At this moment, Yemu had more or less laid out his thoughts completely.

However, because Shanks was beside him, he still phrased it rather politely.

“That way, not only can their movements be restricted, but the power of pirates can also be greatly weakened.”

“I see. Using pirates to deal with pirates, while Captain Yemu and your people focus on the Marines and the World Government. Is that your plan?”

“That’s right.”

Yemu’s answer left Dragon deep in thought. He was considering what role the Revolutionary Army would play in what came next.

Shanks, meanwhile, gave Yemu a strange look and said,

“You’re telling me your plan like this. Aren’t you worried I’ll leak it and ruin everything?”

“Ruin everything?”

Yemu found Shanks’s question very strange and asked in return,

“Haven’t you sensed it, Shanks? Even while we’re talking here, how lively is it outside? How many people are risking their lives and killing each other for the Poneglyph? This is the tide of an entire era. It isn’t something one person can stop. Even if you told them, people would only think you were trying to take Roger’s treasure for yourself. Besides, even if I didn’t do it, many others would. This is the momentum of the era.”

Yemu’s words made both Dragon and Shanks pause.

“What do you mean? Is there someone else?”

Yemu did not hide it. Looking at the scar over Shanks’s eye, he said,

“You should be familiar with the name Marshall D. Teach.”

Shanks’s brows tightened, and the scar over his eye seemed to ache faintly.

Dragon, beside him, thought for a moment and said,

“Captain Yemu, do you mean that Blackbeard who betrayed the Whitebeard Pirate Crew and became a newly appointed Shichibukai?”

“That’s right. This morning, that man invaded Impel Down.”

“!!!”

“If everything goes smoothly, he should be close to achieving his goal by now.”

“What goal?”

“What else could it be? If he wants to rule this world, one person’s strength naturally isn’t enough. And for an ambitious man like Blackbeard, what subordinates could be more useful than the prisoners of Impel Down?”

Shanks’s expression darkened completely.

To him, the world was changing far too quickly.

Yesterday, everything had still seemed normal. Today, the world had already been turned upside down.

And all of it seemed to be dancing in the palm of this man’s hand, the same youth Captain and First Mate had valued thirty years ago.

Thinking of that, Shanks asked unwillingly,

“Aren’t you truly afraid that all of this will slip beyond your control?”

Yemu’s answer was firm.

“I’m not. As long as the World Government exists, this sea will need us. After all, on this sea, the only force capable of standing against behemoths like the Marines and the World Government is our Rainbow Kingdom. They won’t want us to fall, especially after the Poneglyph appears.”

At that moment, Shanks was once again shocked by Yemu’s interlocking plans.

Just then, Yemu continued,

“And even if they are unwilling, the World Government will force them to do so. As I said, compared with me, the World Government, as the current ruler of this world, is far more dissatisfied with the chaos on this sea.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Yemu looked at Shanks and asked an odd question.

“Speaking of which, Shanks, have you ever heard of something?”

Shanks frowned and asked,

“What are you referring to, Captain Yemu?”

Then he heard words that made his heart tremble and nearly caused him to lose his composure again.

“The national treasure of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise. Have you heard of it?”

Just then, a guard’s voice came from outside the door.

“Your Excellency President, Professor Clover and Dr. Olvia have arrived...”

“Invite them in.”

...

Chapter 454: The Truth About the World (2)

Professor Clover was already 103 years old this year. His hair had long since turned white, and his body had grown stooped, but he was still in good spirits, and he did not need anyone to support him when he walked.

If, twenty years ago, back on Ohara, Professor Clover’s dream had been to decipher the Poneglyphs and learn the truth of the Void Century, then after nearly witnessing Ohara’s destruction and coming to the Rainbow Kingdom, his mindset gradually began to change. His pursuit of history became a desire to teach and nurture others, and he devoted himself wholeheartedly to education.

All of the Rainbow Kingdom’s textbooks had been compiled by Professor Clover at Yemu’s request.

As for the House of Archaeology, Professor Clover had handed it over to his junior, Olvia.

Olvia was also over fifty now. Out of respect for time and history, she had refused the Pure Gold ring Yemu offered her, so the years had left quite a few traces on her face. Yet that only made her look more learned and elegant.

After receiving Yemu’s summons, the two came over.

Their office was inside the Sun Temple, so it only took them a few minutes to arrive.

As soon as they entered, they saw Yemu sitting at the very front, in the center.

Both of them felt deep gratitude toward Yemu.

After all, Yemu had not only saved Ohara, he had also reunited Olvia and Robin as mother and daughter. In the end, he had given them an ideal career as well. This was a debt neither of them could ever repay. All they could do was dedicate their lives to the future of the Rainbow Kingdom.

As soon as the two approached, Yemu stood up and introduced them.

“These two are Professor Clover and Dr. Olvia of our Rainbow Kingdom. And these two are Red-Haired Shanks and Dragon-san.”

“I have long heard of both your names.”

Professor Clover’s voice was still strong, while Olvia nodded in greeting.

Dragon, however, seemed very interested in the two of them.

“I heard long ago that twenty years ago, Captain Yemu had a clash with CP and brought back many remarkable archaeologists from the archaeological island of Ohara. Among them were two especially skilled people who could read the Poneglyphs. I assume that would be the two of you.”

Professor Clover was long past the age where praise from others could make him happy. Instead, he said very calmly,

“That is all in the past. These days, this old man is just a teacher in the Rainbow Kingdom.”

“Sit first. We can take our time talking.”

After all, with Professor Clover’s body, standing too long would be tiring.

So the five of them sat down. Only then did Shanks, who had not spoken since they arrived, ask the question in his heart with a serious expression.

“Captain Yemu, can you tell me what you meant by that question earlier?”

Was it a hint? Or something else?

Shanks could clearly feel that the question was not so simple.

Did he know his identity?

But only a very limited number of people knew that.

Professor Clover and Dr. Olvia, who had only just arrived and did not understand what had happened before, both looked puzzled.

Fortunately, Yemu quickly gave an answer.

“It meant nothing. I was simply curious and wanted to know whether you were aware of the existence of the national treasure of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.”

Shanks stared fixedly at Yemu, as if trying to find some answer in his pitch-black pupils. Unfortunately, he could see nothing.

“I’m afraid I don’t know anything about it.”

Shanks said nothing more and only gave a denial.

Dragon, however, frowned and asked,

“Is the national treasure of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, Uranus?”

“Oh, so you know as well, Dragon?”

Yemu looked approving.

Dragon ignored that and said,

“The existence of the Ancient Weapons is not a difficult secret to obtain, especially for people like us.”

“That’s true.”

Yemu nodded, but...

“Unfortunately, that national treasure is not Uranus.”

This answer left Dragon somewhat stunned. Shanks frowned as he looked at Yemu, while Professor Clover and Dr. Olvia remained calm.

Then Yemu slowly said,

“Twenty years ago, after that war, although the Marines and the World Government agreed to hand the North Blue over to me, they made no shortage of moves behind the scenes. CP spies were constantly infiltrating the North Blue and the Rainbow Kingdom. To solve that problem, I used Ohara as a breakthrough point and set a trap for the World Government’s CP.”

“The Ohara incident was actually a trap?”

Dragon was once again startled by Yemu’s scheming.

“Of course. Through the trap at Ohara, I severely damaged the World Government’s CP system, and only then did we earn the stable development of these past twenty years. But to be honest, when I first set that trap, I was also worried. Maybe the loss of CP meant nothing to the World Government, but the Poneglyphs were a taboo the World Government forbade anyone from touching. I wondered if doing that would bring retaliation.”

“However, the answer was no. The World Government’s reaction was far calmer than I had imagined. At the time, I had no idea why. It wasn’t until more than ten years later, after all kinds of research into the Poneglyphs, that I finally found the answer.”

“Then what was the answer?”

Dragon asked, both curious and cautious.

“Arrogance. That is my answer.”

Dragon looked somewhat taken aback, but Yemu soon explained,

“If you possessed the power to easily reshuffle the entire world, would you still care about a few little insects jumping around?”

“...So the national treasure of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, that you mentioned is this power? What exactly is that power?”

Dragon could not help growing impatient. He was the leader of the Revolutionary Army, and the World Government, his enemy, possessed such terrifying power. How could he not be anxious?

However, it was not Yemu who answered him, but Professor Clover beside them. He coughed lightly, then slowly said,

“If you do not mind, let Olvia and me answer that question.”

“Of course. That is exactly why I asked the two of you to come.”

And so, the focus of the entire council hall shifted to Professor Clover and Dr. Olvia.

Both Dragon and Shanks had the feeling that they were about to learn an extraordinary secret.

Professor Clover sighed, then looked at Olvia and said,

“Olvia, you begin.”

“Mm.”

Only then did Olvia fall into reminiscence and speak gently.

“At first, this was only a hypothesis we scholars of Ohara formed through the Poneglyphs. It was not until twenty-eight years ago, when my friends and I formed the Poneglyph expedition team and set sail, visiting several ancient ruins, that we finally confirmed it...”

As she spoke, Olvia raised her head, looked at everyone, took a deep breath, and said,

“The sea level of this world’s oceans is constantly rising...”