Marineford War: I Will Stand in the Sky

After all, Yann needs to truly transform the Hueco Mundo organization into one capable of "destroying the world," so there are many things that cannot be completely hidden from Corazon.

Corazon exclaimed in utter shock, "As expected, the Lord of Hueco Mundo never existed in this ocean from the very beginning; it was all your doing..."

“That’s right…” Yann nodded in agreement.

"so……"

Corazon swallowed hard and asked, "Those were the offerings needed to gain power from the Lord of Hueco Mundo... the sacrificial items?"

???

Ya'en.

Yann stared blankly at Corazon.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Corazon pursed his lips and said, "Yarn, you don't really think I didn't notice anything at all, do you?"

"You... sensed something?" Yann asked, his lips twitching.

Corazon took two steps forward and began to count them, saying.

“Almost all members of the ‘Hueco Mundo’ organization are connected to you. The way you guided me to meet the ‘Lord of Hueco Mundo’ back then, the tone you unintentionally revealed when you talked about the ‘Lord of Hueco Mundo’, and the fact that you have been collecting Devil Fruits for more than ten years without any corresponding users appearing…”

"In conclusion, outsiders may not know, but I have long harbored suspicions..."

At this point, Corazon looked at Yone and said, "All the Devil Fruits you've collected over the years, you actually sacrificed to the 'Lord of Hueco Mundo,' didn't you?"

"Overall, it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with it..." Yann replied somewhat guiltily.

"Tsk, I knew it."

Corazon said with certainty.

"So, the members of the 'Hueco Mundo' organization that have appeared over the years are actually cultivated by you through the power you obtained in exchange for trading with the 'Lord of Hueco Mundo', right?"

No...that's right.

Yann gradually calmed down, and his tone became much smoother as he asked, "Corazon, how did you guess such an unbelievable truth? How did you do it?"

Corazon smiled and said confidently.

"At first, I didn't understand at all, until later I accidentally learned about the black magic legend circulating on 'Namakura Island': as long as you offer the right sacrifice in the right way, you can communicate with the gods and obtain the corresponding power."

"Although no one has yet successfully gained power from black magic in the verifiable history of Namakura Island, your actions are quite similar to that kind of black magic. In addition, the sea area where the old man met you was near Namakura Island, so it is not surprising that you know about the black magic of Namakura Island."

(PS: Namakura Island is the island that was knocked down by a bear in the Bubble Islands and was mistaken by the locals as the "Satanic demon".)

"Almost...more or less..."

A thought crossed Yarn's mind, and he simply echoed Corazon's words.

"I tried using this magic by chance, and unexpectedly communicated with the 'Lord of Hueco Mundo' by offering a Devil Fruit as a sacrifice."

"As for the mighty 'Lord of Hueco Mundo,' the only thing that interests him is Devil Fruits. As long as I offer a Devil Fruit, he can give me a key that allows others to communicate with the 'Lord of Hueco Mundo' and obtain some strange powers..."

After a pause, Yann added.

"However, with the continuous sacrifice of Devil Fruits, the 'Lord of Hueco Mundo' has an ever-increasing demand for them."

"I see……"

Hearing this, Corazon nodded knowingly. "In that case, everything makes sense. But why did you try something so dangerous in the first place, Yann?"

"Back then, when I was so weak, did I have any other choice?"

"And as it turns out, I succeeded," Yann explained.

“But isn’t it a bit too dangerous? Will that ‘Lord of Hueco Mundo’… affect you?” Corazon asked.

"No need to worry. If we're talking about danger, the existence of Devil Fruits is far more dangerous than dark magic..."

[Chapter 588: The Void Soul-Slaying Blade - Leopard King]

Then, Yann followed up the conversation and told Corazon about the information he had learned from "Red-Haired" Shanks.

In other words, each Devil Fruit... likely contains a collective consciousness, and will have a multifaceted influence on the behavior and habits of the user.

Immediately, Corazon was captivated by this astonishing information, momentarily neglecting to question Arn about the details of the so-called "dark magic" communication with the "Lord of Hueco Mundo".

In fact, Yann has now given up on the idea of ​​fully explaining the truth to Corazon.

Everyone is limited by their own perspective and knowledge, and thus will make reasonable speculations and interpretations about unfamiliar or questionable things based on their own way of thinking.

Therefore, rather than giving Corazon a more complicated and troublesome explanation, it is more appropriate to let Corazon have this misunderstanding and avoid more unnecessary worries.

The only thing that made Arn feel a little regretful was that these eight awakened "Void Soul-Slaying Blades" were named: Leopard King. According to Arn's speculation, this should also be similar to Corazon's "Holy Crying Mantis", belonging to the combat type "Void Soul-Slaying Blades" that directly enhance the physique.

but……

As Yanna clasped his hands together, which were holding the white orb of light, he subconsciously recalled Rob Lucci, the "big cat" who was on a mission in Water Seven.

Even if one deliberately keeps the "Hollow Soul-Slaying Blade" from being unleashed, this "Hollow Soul-Slaying Blade," which can enhance physical strength, still has a considerable amplifying effect on the body.

For the past few years, Lucci has been following the World Government's orders to infiltrate Water Seven in search of the blueprints for the Ancient Weapon Pluton. Due to environmental limitations, his strength has stagnated during this period.

If Lucci's strength improves further, coupled with the continuous losses of CP0 members, he might soon attract the attention of the CP0 organization...

Yann narrowed his eyes, feeling quite wary of the CP0 organization, which was known as the "strongest shield" of the Celestial Dragons.

The exact number of this group is unknown, as is their specific information. Coupled with the strange changes in the former CP0 chief, Frode, infiltrating the CP0 organization is now inevitable.

……

Meanwhile, on a World Government ship with clear markings, Rob Lucci, dressed in a black suit and top hat, stood at the bow, his posture unusually upright against the whistling sea breeze.

Kalifa, standing next to Lucci, adjusted her glasses and spoke.

“Boss, although we each left Water Seven under different pretexts, our simultaneous disappearance from Water Seven might arouse the suspicion of that mayor.”

“Yes, Kalifa worked so hard for so many years to gain the trust of that mayor and become his secretary. Now all that effort has been wasted,” Kaku said regretfully, with his unusually long, rectangular nose that stood at a ninety-degree angle.

The other CP9 members who were following Lucci couldn't help but nod, their expressions revealing a hint of confusion.

What kind of mission could possibly warrant the entire CP9 team's involvement and the abandonment of the "Ancient Weapon: Hades" blueprints they had been searching for for years?

Faced with his subordinates' questions, Lucci, who had left CP9 after Foz-Fox's mission failed and became a pirate, and was now the strongest member of CP9 and the de facto captain of CO9, turned around and said.

"This mission is not difficult; it is simply to escort a World Government psychologist to make contact with a certain person."

"If it's not difficult, then why..."

Before Kaku could finish speaking, he suddenly noticed Lucci's expression, which was completely different from his usual cold demeanor, and his voice faltered.

That look in his eyes was filled with nostalgia and...longing!

This is the first time in the years that new CP9 members like Kaku, Kalifa, and Bruno have followed Lucci that such an expression has been seen on the face of Lucci, who is known as "the strongest and most ruthless killing machine in the history of CP9".

Lucci's tone shifted abruptly, and he suddenly asked, "Do you... know why someone as weak as you was able to all be promoted to the new CP9 members?"

Upon hearing this question, the members who had joined CP9 in recent years exchanged glances, then Kalifa adjusted her glasses and spoke.

"Is it because all the other predecessors have already sacrificed themselves?"

"Pretty much. In the Alabasta incident six years ago, almost all members of the CP9 organization were killed in the struggle to stop the 'Ancient Weapon Pluton'..."

When Lucci discussed this issue, his tone remained completely unchanged, as if he were merely stating some unimportant facts.

"And now... you are about to meet the hero who saved this sea in that great event—Lord Tefimo Arne!!!"

As he spoke, Lucci's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, and his gaze couldn't help but drift towards the distant direction the ship was traveling.

'Lord Yann, it's great to see you again!'

At this thought, Lucci's hands, stained with the blood of the weak, trembled slightly.

Before that great man, I, so weak, had actually enjoyed his protection in the past...

Without a doubt, that great man is the only light in this dark sea filled with cruelty and slaughter!

Am I finally able to get closer to that ray of light again?

Six years have passed, and he still hasn't found the blueprints for the "Ancient Weapon - Hades". Lord Arn's brilliance, however, has only grown more dazzling, so dazzling that Lucci is almost afraid to look directly at Lord Arn.

The deeper one is shrouded in darkness, the more one yearns for the light...

But as he was about to get closer to the light in Lucci's heart, he subconsciously felt a sense of fear, which made him bring all his subordinates with him, just so that... he could increase his own weight in front of Lord Arn by even the slightest bit.

"This mission is not difficult, but it is extremely important. You must risk your lives for it and absolutely cannot lose face in front of Lord Yann!"

Lucci spoke in an extremely cold tone.

"Whoever disrupts my connection with Lord Arn... or disrupts the psychologist's connection with Lord Arn, may he rest in peace in the sea."

Upon hearing Lucci's words, all the CP9 members couldn't help but shudder.

Lucci... doesn't seem to be joking!

Those murderous glints in their eyes clearly indicated that they truly intended to kill them.

Immediately, all the CP9 members responded.

"Yes."

----------

P.S.: The joy and busyness of the Lunar New Year holiday are over. I will resume normal updates starting tomorrow, and... I will try my best to update more frequently. That's all.

[Chapter 589: I Can't Hold On Anymore]

"The entire CP9 organization has left Water Seven, and other CP organization spies have taken over monitoring Water Seven?"

As for Lucci, the big cat who is likely to join the CP0 organization in the future, Yone has never relaxed his attention to him.

In particular, among Lucci's subordinates was Brook, a user of the "Door-Door Fruit" who seemed to be of considerable use to the Revolutionary Army. Therefore, as soon as the CP9 organization's movements changed, the relevant information was passed to Yann.

"What happened? That big cat actually abandoned the mission to find the blueprints for the 'Ancient Weapon - Hades' and led all of CP9 to evacuate Water Seven?"

Sitting in the G-9 branch ward, Yan closed the book in his hand and muttered in confusion.

"Dong Dong Dong~"

Just then, a soft knock sounded on the door.

Immediately, the ward door opened, and a beautiful young nurse walked in carrying some medicine. Then, she spoke softly to the empty bed.

"Lieutenant General Yann, I'm here to change your IV drip..."