"P… public execution of a Celestial Dragon!?"
Fujitora's expressionless face froze in shock as soon as he heard Red's plan. He sat motionless on the soft sofa, stunned.
Even though he had prepared himself mentally, his heart still trembled when he truly understood what Red intended to do.
In the eight hundred years since the founding of the World Government, not everyone had bowed before the Celestial Dragons, and indeed, there had been those who dared kill them.
But every single one of those who did… met a miserable end.
So as each shocking incident piled upon another, the world's awe toward the Celestial Dragons grew stronger. People came to revere them as untouchable, godlike nobles.
Of course, none of these events were ever recorded in official history. Any books that dared mention such matters had long been erased—burned to ashes along with their authors and publishers by the World Government.
During his travels, Issho had heard whispers and scattered rumors about such stories.
At first, he assumed Red was like those people from the rumors—one of those reckless souls seeking to carve a "legend" by defying the Celestial Dragons.
But after listening to Red's full plan, he realized…
This wasn't just about making history.
This man… was about to create an entirely new era!
"L-Lord Red…"
Issho's voice trembled slightly as he recalled the full scope of the plan. His heart tightened with tension.
He straightened his posture, his tone solemn."How confident are you that this plan can succeed?"
Red's fingers tapped rhythmically against the table as if in thought."Confidence, huh…? If the Navy were my only opponent, then I'd say one hundred percent."
"One hundred percent!?"
Issho's brows lifted in surprise.
Before he could ask why, Red continued:
"However…"
"This kind of act—one that shakes the very foundation of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons—they'll never leave it to the Marines alone."
"When the time comes, the World Government's Cipher Pol agents will move… the Holy Knights of the Celestial Dragons will intervene… and perhaps even those five sitting atop the world."
"With such unknown forces involved, I can't predict the true outcome of the battle."
Hearing this, Issho nodded quietly. From Red's words, he could tell—this man was not some madman without preparation.
Issho then turned his gaze toward Koby, who sat nearby, holding a Devil Fruit with an unsure expression.
"To think you'd go this far… all to save the Whitebeard Pirates, people you've never even met."
"This bond of loyalty and compassion—it moves even an old man like me."
"This world may be muddied… but in the midst of that murk, there are still sparks of light."
"Like that boy—fragile in body and gentle in heart, yet filled with boundless potential."
"Perhaps that's what's kept me going all this time."
A faint, gratified smile tugged at the corners of Issho's mouth.
Red's eyes gleamed slightly, a realization forming in his mind.
"So that's why Fujitora took Koby as his disciple."
Red stroked his chin thoughtfully and turned his gaze toward Koby as well.
For his part, Koby felt so nervous under the weight of their gazes that he could barely breathe.
Fortunately, the two didn't dwell on him for long.
Issho suddenly spoke again, his tone filled with resolve:
"Lord Red! May I make a presumptuous request?"
The calm air of the office shifted, heavy with tension.
"Oh?" Red raised a brow. "No need to stand on ceremony, Issho. Speak freely."
"Thank you for your understanding."
Issho remained composed, but in the next instant, his tone grew solemn.
"Lord Red, may I—be the one to act as executioner for this plan's Celestial Dragon?"
He lowered his head. "To tell you the truth… it was because of the Celestial Dragons that I chose to blind myself."
"At that moment, because of my weakness and helplessness, I turned away from what I should have upheld."
"I never thought I'd be granted a second chance decades later."
"This time… whether for my former self, or for Koby now—I need this chance!"
"Please, Lord Red, grant me this!"
A wave of invisible pressure surged through the office.
The tea table before Issho and the sofa behind him rose into the air.
Then, with tears welling in his sightless eyes, Issho knelt and bowed deeply in samurai fashion.
"Master Issho! Please, there's no need for this!"
Red quickly stepped forward to lift the man up—this admiral-level warrior whose heart still clung to righteousness.
Even though the anime had never revealed why Issho blinded himself, or why he joined the Marines in the first place, seeing a man like this weep made it clear just how deeply the world's corruption had scarred him.
And in that single bow, Issho had made his choice.
Not merely cooperation.Not mere alliance.
But a pledge.
"Welcome to our side, Master Issho!"
——
——
[Pokémon: Issho]Level: 86Gender: MaleNature: SeriousType: Ground / FlyingAbility: Mind's Eye (Ignores opponent's evasive actions; physical moves have an increased chance to land critical hits.)Moves: NoneEXP: 0 / 28,058
HP: 294Attack: 172Defense: 220Sp. Atk: 263Sp. Def: 234Speed: 219
——
"Over 1,400 total stat points… so that's the standard for a gatekeeping admiral, huh?"
Night fell.
After settling Issho, Buggy, and the others, the massive whale Laboon finally returned near Jaya Island from the deep sea.
Red boarded the Going Merry, greeted his crewmates, and slipped into his small cabin. There, he opened Fujitora's status panel.
He couldn't help but be amazed. Level 86… total stats exceeding 1,400… truly worthy of his title as "admiral."
But then, another status panel appeared—and its numbers were laughably low in comparison.
[Pokémon: Koby]Level: 10Gender: MaleNature: Naive (+Speed, -Sp. Def)Type: Fighting / BugAbility: Serene Grace (Increases the chance of additional effects from attacks.)Moves: NoneEXP: 0 / 91
HP: 39Attack: 34Defense: 29Sp. Atk: 34Sp. Def: 26Speed: 33
——
Clearly, since joining Bartolomeo's crew on the Grand Line, Koby had grown somewhat.
When he first appeared in the anime, even calling him level 5 would've been generous.
Now, after all their adventures, he had gained something at least.
Still, his long entanglement with pirates had eroded the drive and determination he once had as a Marine.
But it wasn't too late yet.
Though he had lost Garp as a mentor, he had gained another—an admiral-level powerhouse.
And in Red's view, Issho was far more suitable to be Koby's teacher than Garp.
Why?
Because they shared the same heart.
Garp, born with overwhelming strength, could never truly understand the struggles of the weak.
Under him, Koby could learn countless techniques, endless drills…
But judging by his performance at Marineford, Garp's teachings had failed in one crucial aspect.
They made Koby stronger—but not steadier.
His heart was fragile.
And that was why, driven into chaos by war and despair, he earned the title of "King of Cowards."
Issho, however, would nurture not only strength—but conviction.
Under his guidance, Koby might finally shed his timid nature and grow into a true warrior capable of standing by his own will.
That was what Red hoped for.
After all, now that Issho had joined the Straw Hats, Koby naturally counted as part of their strength as well.
Even if the boy had just eaten his Devil Fruit and wasn't used to combat yet…
"Well," Red chuckled softly, "a Devil Fruit sent out by day, returned by night—with interest."
"As expected, I'm the best businessman among the Straw Hats!"
He smirked at the thought, recalling Nami mocking him for "having no financial sense" when he set up prices for the Pokémon Paradise.
He had gained a real admiral—and a future one to boot.
Red's mood soared.
He stretched out on his small bed and opened the in-game interface.
Then, sending out a telepathic signal toward Jaya Island, where Luffy and Zoro were still experimenting with Conqueror's Haki techniques, he called out:
"Luffy, log in!"
A burst of light enveloped the world.
In the next instant, Red and Luffy appeared inside a dilapidated structure.
Before them stretched a wide yet decrepit hall.
The lighting was dim but not dark, flickering weakly to keep the shadows at bay.
Around the hall, broken machinery and shattered equipment lay scattered; every so often, sparks flashed, like dying cries for help.
Tools and parts littered the floor—abandoned by all but the Pokémon still dwelling here.
And speaking of which…
Even the weakest Pokémon in this place were around level 40.
A tough challenge—even for Luffy now.
This was none other than the Abandoned Power Plant, the famous dungeon from the Pokémon games.
After several hours of effort the day before, Red and Luffy had finally cleared the prerequisite route.
They had gained tons of experience and, more importantly, found their target—
The legendary Pokémon hiding within the abandoned power plant—Zapdos!
(End of Chapter)