Egghead Island, Research Layer. Sephiroth took in Stussy's tense posture, her muscles coiled like springs, eyes sharp with wariness. She was ready for a fight. With a sigh, he slid the butcher knife back into its sheath and raised his hands in a placating gesture.
"Relax! No need to get jumpy. Let's talk this through." He scratched his head, searching for the right words. "Dr. Vegapunk, tell me something—did you invent something called Mother Flame and hand it over to the Gorosei?"
Vegapunk blinked, caught off guard by the question, but he answered truthfully. "Yes, that's correct. After years of research and experimentation, I succeeded in creating Mother Flame. It's an immensely powerful energy source..."
"Exactly!" Sephiroth cut in, his tone firm.
Stussy frowned, confusion knitting her brow. "But what does that have to do with the doctor's research on Mother Flame?"
Sephiroth chuckled darkly. "Do you realize the attack that obliterated Holy Land Mary Geoise and the Red Line was fueled by Vegapunk's Mother Flame? That's what caused such catastrophic destruction."
Vegapunk's eyes widened in shock, his face pale. "What?! My intention was purely to explore new energy sources. I never imagined it could be used to wreak such devastation on the world."
Sephiroth shrugged, offering a half-hearted attempt at comfort. "It's not your fault. You were just researching energy, after all." He paused, then added, "Think of it like nuclear fission. The scientist who discovered it didn't build the bomb. That's not on them. The creator's intent isn't always aligned with how others use their work."
Stussy's expression darkened as she pieced things together. "Wait... why would the Mother Flame you provided end up destroying Holy Land Mary Geoise? Unless..." Her voice trailed off, realization dawning.
Sephiroth grinned, confirming her suspicions. "You're on the right track, Stussy. That island-leveling attack that engulfed Marineford? I redirected it straight to Holy Land Mary Geoise."
Silence fell heavy between them. Vegapunk and Stussy exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of what they'd just learned pressing down on them. They'd stumbled upon a secret so monumental, it felt like a curse. If they could, they'd erase it from their minds.
Sephiroth's revelation left them with no illusions about their options. There were only two paths forward: death or alignment with him. Neither choice was appealing.
"Let me ask you both," Sephiroth began, his voice smooth but laced with menace, "don't you agree that the Celestial Dragons are despicable? Every last one of them is rotten to the core."
Neither Vegapunk nor Stussy responded, though inwardly they both thought, You're not exactly a saint yourself.
When the silence stretched too long, Sephiroth cleared his throat and shifted tactics, his tone coaxing now. "Dr. Vegapunk, I'm sure you've always harbored resentment toward Satan Saint and the Celestial Dragons' atrocities. Given the choice, you wouldn't want to keep working for them, would you?"
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a persuasive murmur. "The New World Marines are under my command now, and the SSG science unit is mine as well. Whatever funding the World Government gave you, I can match it—and more. So, what'll it be? Stay loyal to the Celestial Dragons, or throw your lot in with me?"
Vegapunk hesitated, his mind racing. On the surface, it seemed like a choice, but in reality, there was only one option. Refusing Sephiroth would mean instant death. Swallowing his pride, he answered carefully, "I've long been disillusioned with the Celestial Dragons. Between the two, I choose you. But the Gorosei are closing in. What's the plan?"
A dangerous gleam lit Sephiroth's eyes, his lips curling into a predatory smile. "Simple. If Stussy can provide accurate intel on the Gorosei's movements, I'll take care of the rest."
......
Wano Country, Flower Capital.
In a luxurious courtyard with a plaque hanging above the entrance that read "Generals Mansion", servants coming and going were rearranging the entire residence, changing furnishings, and performing partial renovations. This mansion was the largest and most luxurious mansion in the Flower Capital, besides the original Generals Mansion.
It was originally the residence of Queen Doflamingo, but it has now been requisitioned by Kozuki Hiyori to serve as the temporary Generals Mansion. On the top floor of a six-story pavilion, in a spacious room, Sephiroth stood on the balcony, gazing at the festive scene of lanterns and decorations in the distance, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Where is Marigold?"
Kozuki Hiyori, who was kneeling in front of a tea table and leisurely brewing tea, replied with a smile:
"Reporting, Master, my sister is having a beauty sleep. Do you need me to call her?" Hearing this, Sephiroth shook his head and chuckled:
"No need. In the past few days, there have often been large and small plots of rebellion in Wano Country.
It's all thanks to her using Observation Haki to cover the entire country, monitoring and detecting in real-time, that we were able to discover and eliminate these hidden dangers in time. She's probably quite tired now, so there's no need to disturb her rest." "Yes! Thanks to her, the situation in Wano Country has stabilized so quickly.
Presumably, Wano Country's annual Fire Festival tomorrow should also be held smoothly..." Kozuki Hiyori said sincerely. Sephiroth looked at the pedestrians on the street and frowned:
"Wano Country... Honestly, I don't like this name." "This... then what does Master mean?" "Let this country change its name! Tomorrow... bid farewell to the old past and welcome a brand new future."
Wano Country had just ushered in a new life, but now it was suddenly going to change its name. Honestly, this would add some unstable factors, especially for those old Kozuki retainers, who would probably find it somewhat difficult to accept. They had waited for more than ten years, but they didn't expect to receive this result. But...
Compared to the wishes and attitudes of those people, Kozuki Hiyori cared more about Sephiroth's thoughts, so no matter what trouble changing the country's name would cause, she would choose to carry it out. She paused slightly before asking:
"Then what name does Master want to change this country to?" "Hmm~! A new name... This is indeed a problem..."
Hearing this, Sephiroth raised his right hand and gently rubbed his chin, falling into deep thought. He simply found the name "Wano Country" unpleasant to hear, the reason being mainly because he had been disgusted by a certain big idiot in the past... Therefore, the new country name must be pleasant to hear, at least not make him too disgusted.
Sephiroth pondered for five seconds before clenching his right hand into a fist, hitting his left palm, and making the final decision:
"Decided! From now on, the name of this country will be... Inazuma!" "Inazuma!? Master, may I ask why you chose this name?" Kozuki Hiyori asked, somewhat puzzled. "Uh!? This... Uh!?... Look! When rice is bearing grain, there is often thunder and lightning.
Also, when thunder strikes, it produces some chemical reactions that can fix nitrogen, becoming fertilizer for the rice. The next year's rice harvest will be abundant, so there is a connection between thunder and a bountiful rice harvest, and husband and wife are together...
The sky of this country, after experiencing a thunderstorm covering the entire nation, the tyranny of the Beasts Pirates was overthrown, and the country thus welcomed a new life. From now on, the people will escape the hellish days of the past and live a life of abundance. Therefore, the name 'Inazuma' I chose is also full of meaning!
"Oh, and let's build a temple and erect a statue for Marigold! Starting today, she'll be the Thunder God of this nation—immortalized in history and worshipped by countless people. Hehehe!" Kozuki Hiyori tilted her head at Sephiroth's words.
While his reasoning for renaming the country "Inazuma" seemed logical, the sinister grin on his face left her uneasy. Something felt off.
Flower Capital, Rasetsu Town, Prison. Inside a cell, Drake sat on a white hospital bed, his wrists bound by low-purity sea stone shackles. Despite his confinement, he feasted on the lavish spread of food and drinks before him.
Two Skypiea God Officials in white robes stood guard outside his cell, ensuring he couldn't escape. Drake's mind swirled with confusion.
Just days ago, he and the Beasts Pirates' executives had gathered to strategize against the Kuja Pirates' assault on Wano Country. But before they could even mobilize, a bolt of lightning from the heavens obliterated them. When he regained consciousness, he found himself imprisoned here.
If he'd been captured by the Kuja Pirates, it would make sense. But this? The constant flow of fine food and drink didn't align with the treatment of a typical prisoner. "God!" The two God Officials at the prison entrance bowed deeply as Sephiroth approached.
"Hmm. I need to speak with the man inside. Open the door," Sephiroth commanded. The guards swiftly complied, unlocking the cell and stepping aside. "You...?" Drake stared at Sephiroth, his expression a mix of surprise and bewilderment.
He'd heard rumors of Sephiroth rejoining the Marines, but why was he here, addressed as "God" by the officials? "X Drake, Captain of the Marineford Secret Special Unit 'SWORD,' undercover agent embedded in the Beasts Pirates. Am I correct?" Sephiroth asked with a smile, eyeing Drake's bandaged form on the hospital bed.
Drake remained silent, wary of the situation. "A lot has happened while you were unconscious. You should know," Sephiroth said, pulling several copies of the World Economic News from his chest and tossing them to Drake.
Drake picked up the newspapers, scanning the headlines. His eyes widened as he pieced together the events of the past days. "You became a Marine Admiral...?"
"Indeed. I oversee all matters concerning the New World Marines, including the SWORD team. Given your lack of information, I thought it best to detain you temporarily to avoid complications," Sephiroth explained calmly. "Since you're here, the Beasts Pirates must have been wiped out, right?" Drake ventured.
"No. A faction led by Doflamingo escaped during the Marineford War. They remain a significant threat. Once your injuries heal, I want you to go back undercover," Sephiroth stated. Drake's face twisted into a mix of disbelief and reluctance. "..."
Sephiroth noticed the Marine's discomfort. He reached out, patting Drake's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. I've got it all planned out. When the time comes, I'll lock you in another prison, and you'll join forces with the surviving Beasts Pirates Shinuchi."
"Follow the plan I've laid out, and you'll pull off a convincing prison break. It'll fool everyone—get you back with the Beasts Pirates and earn Doflamingo's trust..."
The next day, Kozuki Hiyori made her move during the Fire Festival. Without consulting the old Kozuki retainers, she went live across Wano and declared the country's new name: Inazuma.
The veteran retainers bristled at the sudden change. They voiced their protests, but it was too late. The announcement had already gone out to the nation.
All they could do now was grumble. After all, Kozuki Hiyori was Wano's Shogun now—her word was law.