As Imu was preoccupied with his "clone."
Outside, countless people and events were also shifting with altered fate, moving toward brand-new directions.
Louise and Saito were taken back to Impel Down and imprisoned in the same cell in "Eternal Hell."
This was a special privilege that the "Void God" Brimir had secured for them.
Meanwhile—
Sage Mimoza and her two students, along with Kirche.
With the mages of Rondel collectively joining the World Government, at the request of Sage Magnus and President Joseph, they were re-sentenced to house arrest in the Mage Association for ten years.
During this period, they were forbidden to step even half a pace outside the Sky Island where the High Mage Council was located.
Because in essence, they were still prisoners.
At the same time, the relocation site for Rondel's nearly 100,000 residents had been determined.
Considering that the Mage Association headquarters—the Mage High Tower of the High Mage Council—was situated directly above Reverse Mountain on a Sky Island, the World Government designated "New Rondel City" to be built in Area RL1001 beside Reverse Mountain.
The Construction Department had already dispatched an engineering team led by Marshall D. Teach.
On the noisy construction site—
The burly and rugged Teach looked at the high-definition photos and construction blueprints spread out on the cement table, filled with confidence.
He immediately shouted loudly to the workers around him: "Get your spirits up, boys!"
"Tonight I'm treating everyone to delicious cherry pie!"
"Woooo!!!"
As soon as Teach finished, the site erupted in cheers.
It seemed everyone loved cherry pie?
Because those who didn't like cherry pie had already been kicked out of his team.
As Teach put it:
The very first requirement to join this crew was that you had to absolutely love cherry pie.
"Eh———"
Seeing that he had successfully lifted everyone's spirits with cherry pie, Teach instead let out a long sigh, his eyes carrying faint loneliness and helplessness.
Though he had already accepted the reality that for the rest of his life he would be building houses, in his heart there was still some depression.
He just couldn't understand—why didn't the military want him?
His strength wasn't weak at all!
Those lieutenant generals weren't necessarily his match, not to mention that he also possessed three different Devil Fruit abilities!
Of course, Teach admitted, his abilities did indeed look more suited for construction.
But he was a pirate by birth—fighting was his true profession!
And those three damned abilities were given to him by them in the first place!
Truth be told, deep inside, Teach suspected he'd been played.
But he didn't understand why.
He couldn't figure it out.
Lately Teach had been considering whether to just quit outright, strike out on his own, and look for a chance to rise.
Yet, smart as he was, he knew very well.
These days, only within the World Government could one access first-hand resources from other worlds.
And he was already a senior architect, able to lead an entire official construction crew by himself.
It could be said he had climbed to a middle-tier position.
With a few more years of effort, he had every chance of becoming a high-ranking official.
To quit now would mean throwing everything away.
So Teach was deeply conflicted.
And if he left, what would he even do—go back to being a pirate? Only if he'd lost his mind.
Who knew, maybe "Old Man" would personally come to catch him.
'Is this really what my life's come to?'
'Even if so, someone tell me straight—who's targeting me, and why?'
Marshall D. Teach roared inside as he gazed up at the blue sky and white clouds above.
A few minutes later, after adjusting his mood, he clapped his hands and began manipulating countless amounts of cement, steel, and glass, hurling them into the ongoing construction.
"Wow, no wonder he's the boss—his efficiency is worth a thousand of us!"
"The boss is known as 'Graybeard,' the counterpart to the military's 'Whitebeard'!"
Hearing the constant praises of his men nearby, Teach pressed his lips together, on the verge of tears.
At last, unable to endure, he lashed out angrily at them.
"Quit running your mouths! Get back to work!"
That thunderous roar shook the entire construction site—and was also Teach's final act of stubbornness.
Even if it was only house-building, he would climb step by step and become a true big shot!
Just wait and see!
Meanwhile—
In RL1555, where the Army Headquarters was located.
Douglas Bullet had just returned from the Canberra Continent in the Titan World.
[Knock, knock, knock!]
"Come in."
With the voice sounding from inside, Bullet immediately pushed the door open.
"Marshal, you called for me?"
Bullet looked quizzically at Raymond, who sat behind the desk.
He didn't understand what could possibly not be said through a Den-Den Mushi, that required him to come back in person.
"Sit down first. This matter is somewhat special." Marshal Raymond pointed to the sofa with a stern face.
Bullet had just sat down when Marshal Raymond's next words made him frown.
"How much do you know about the Underworld?"
"The Underworld?"
"Yes."
Bullet raised an eyebrow. "Well, I don't know much, basically the same as most people. Just that there's the King of the Dead, that's about it. Why?"
Bullet grew increasingly puzzled.
"Ahem, listen patiently to what I'm about to say, about the World Government's progress in the Underworld."
Raymond's tone was low as he recounted, word for word, what he himself had only just learned.
Truthfully, it had taken him quite some time to accept and understand such earth-shattering content.
The Court of Souls, the Underworld Army Headquarters?
Lord Imu had driven out the mythical King of the Dead, letting the World Government take over the underworld?
Inside the quiet office, Bullet was left dumbfounded.
At first he suspected Raymond was joking.
But seeing how serious he was, speaking without pause—
And since it involved Lord Imu, he gradually realized it might really be true.
"So what then?"
When Raymond finally finished, Bullet had almost taken it all in.
Now what puzzled Bullet was why he had been singled out for this conversation.
Marshal Raymond understood his thoughts and explained: "Telling you this—first, because as an Army general you need to know, and second, to make you believe that the World Government now has the power to control life and death."
"Got it, I believe you. And then?" Bullet nodded.
"Haven't you always wanted to return to being an ability-less man? Now there's a plan to extract the Assimilation Fruit ability from you!"
Marshal Raymond had finally revealed the purpose of this long conversation.
"What way?!"
Bullet shot to his feet, face filled with excitement, only to hear Raymond speak faintly: "You have to die once, let the Devil Fruit detach on its own, and then be resurrected."
"Hah?"
Bullet froze on the spot, the atmosphere in the room instantly solidifying.
Marshal Raymond softly asked: "Do you believe in the World Government?"
Bullet hesitated.
"Eh, if you don't want to believe it, then forget it."
Marshal Raymond saw Bullet staying silent for so long and assumed he was refusing.
In fact, he also felt the proposal was outrageous—if it had been him, he'd have found it hard to accept too.
Wasn't it just a Devil Fruit ability? And to reject it, one had to die once?
"I believe!"
At that moment, Bullet suddenly spoke.
Under Raymond's astonished gaze, his eyes firm, he said: "But what I believe in is not the World Government—it's myself!"
"My value is great enough that the World Government won't abandon me!"
Raymond froze, then burst out laughing: "Hahahaha, good lad, what a formidable lad you are!"
"Now even I believe that sooner or later you'll master Colorless Haki and ascend as a Warrior God!"
"Of course!"
Bullet lifted his chin, pride written all over his face, his eyes brimming with confidence.
"So where is the place of my death?"
"I want to see for myself just what the Underworld is like!"
...
The next day, Douglas Bullet returned once again to the familiar Impel Down.
This time, though he wasn't a prisoner, he had come to undergo an execution.
On the fourth underground level where the 'Blazing Hell' was located—
Bullet was inside an interrogation room specially cleared out.
All around, fruits of every variety were piled so high they reached past his knees.
And standing before him were Impel Down Director Columbus, CP0 Supreme Commander Redfield, Army Headquarters Marshal Raymond, and Biochemical Research Institute Director Fritz.
"Remember, once you reach the Underworld, don't run around. We'll revive you right away!"
Redfield leaned on his umbrella-sword with both hands, a faint glimmer of admiration in his eyes.
After all, death wasn't something just anyone could face so calmly.
"Kahahaha, better not too fast—I want to take a few more looks at the scenery of the Underworld!"
Bullet threw his head back in laughter, his voice full of boldness, as if he truly looked forward to the death to come.
"Is that so?"
Redfield raised an eyebrow.
"In that case, how about we wait until tomorrow to revive you after you die?"
Director Fritz chimed in: "Our Biochemical Research Institute can help maintain the body's condition, ensuring no change within twenty-four hours."
Strictly speaking, these words should have been just a joke, but Bullet took them seriously.
"That's perfect! A rare chance to die once—I'd better savor it longer!"
To him, since he had already made the decision, he should experience the process to the fullest.
If any accident occurred during revival, then he would simply remain in the Underworld.
Of course, that was only as a last resort—he believed the World Government would not truly let him die.
"This…"
Now Redfield hesitated, but fortunately Marshal Raymond barked out angrily: "You brat, what nonsense are you spouting? What's there to see in the world of the dead? You sit your ass right there and wait to be revived honestly!"
Bullet curled his lip: "Hmph, then do it. Dying at the hands of the 'Red Count' isn't exactly shameful."
"Hehe, well said. Then I promise to spare you too much pain."
Redfield smiled faintly.
In the next instant, a gleam of steel split through the dim light of the room.
Director Fritz felt a sudden flash before his eyes, followed by instant darkness—the entire process was already over.
He hadn't even seen how Redfield had drawn his blade, nor how he had sheathed it.
All that mattered was that in the blink of an eye, Bullet was still standing where he had been, but he had already lost all breath of life—without a single visible wound on his body.
Even though Bullet hadn't mounted any defense at all, his physical strength alone was comparable to refined steel, practically impervious to blades and bullets.
Yet Redfield had still pierced through skin and muscle with ease, stabbing his heart directly, killing him in one strike.
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---