In Impel Down, Mio had been occasionally practicing the abilities of the Replacement Fruit, along with training both his Armament Haki and Observation Haki.
To develop a Devil Fruit ability further, it was crucial to first establish a clear direction. Once that was done, everything else would naturally follow. Mio had long decided his next goal—replacing objects.
Swapping the positions of two items.
Time flowed quietly.
One Month Later – Marine Headquarters
Aokiji, having just returned from the New World, arrived at Marine Headquarters. He wasn't the only one—Kizaru and Garp were also stationed in the New World at present, but others had returned for a significant event.
The reason was straightforward: Sengoku was to be officially promoted to Marshal of the Marine Headquarters, and Aokiji himself would be promoted to Admiral. The announcement was expected to give a significant boost to the Navy's morale.
Inside Sengoku's office, Aokiji sat lazily in his chair, gazing toward Sengoku.
"General Sengoku—no, I suppose I should call you Marshal now," Aokiji said casually. "Marshal, is there any news from the Black Crow Pirates?"
Sengoku shook his head. "No news. Since the arrest of the Black Crow Pirates' captain, there's been complete silence. They might've disbanded."
"That seems unlikely," Aokiji replied, shaking his head slowly. He recalled clearly the way the crew had addressed Mio. Their bond was genuine. They wouldn't simply disappear like that.
The way they looked at Mio… it wasn't just loyalty—it was something more. A deeper connection.
Still, there had been no movement for a month. Could they be waiting for something?
Sengoku chuckled and said, "You shouldn't stress too much about it. It's rare to get a break after the New World. Take this opportunity to rest. After this promotion, you'll be deployed again. Rest will be a luxury then."
Aokiji nodded. "You're right."
He stood up from his seat.
"You're leaving already?" Sengoku asked in surprise.
"Of course," Aokiji said with a shrug. "You said it yourself—there's not much time for rest. I'm heading to the Sabaody Archipelago. Just want to unwind a little."
Sengoku nodded. "Alright then. While you're there, clean up the pirates heading toward the New World."
"Understood," Aokiji replied, heading out of the office.
All Across the World
At this moment, most people had stopped paying attention to the news about the Black Crow Pirates.
Most—but not all.
A select few still cared.
Doflamingo, for instance, was silently contemplating why Mio had yet to make a move. Hawkeye wondered whether Mio had truly been captured and locked away in Impel Down.
And then there was Rayleigh, living in seclusion on the Sabaody Archipelago. He sipped his sake while reading an old newspaper with Mio's arrest on the front page. He shook his head with a hint of sorrow.
"A promising new pirate… what a pity," he muttered. "Looks like he's going to disappear."
Six Months Later
In the time that passed, many major events unfolded.
First, the former Admiral of the Navy was promoted to World Commander-in-Chief and took charge of Marijoa in the Holy Land.
Sengoku, the former Admiral known for his wisdom, was officially appointed Marshal of the Navy Headquarters.
Aokiji, formerly a Vice Admiral, was promoted to Admiral after slaughtering countless pirates in the New World.
During this period, the World Government once again proposed Garp be promoted to Admiral for his achievements. Garp, as expected, rejected it.
The New World, after a time of chaos, slowly began to stabilize. The Navy's promotion campaign, along with brutal massacres by Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and the Navy itself, forced many ambitious pirates to lie low.
But anyone with sharp instincts could tell…
This peace was temporary. A storm was brewing.
The fire of pirate ambition could not be extinguished so easily.
People all over the seas were quietly waiting—for the next great wave.
Red-Haired Shanks, during this time, rose swiftly in strength and fame, finally earning the title of one of the contenders for the Pirate King's throne.
In an effort to suppress the next storm before it broke out, the World Government unveiled a new plan: the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.
Although Sengoku opposed the idea, the government pushed the plan forward with determination.
Selection of the new Seven Warlords began.
At the same time, Zephyr's disappointment in the Navy grew once again. Even so, he remained at Navy Headquarters, dedicating himself to training the next generation of naval cadets.
Among those cadets were many future elites—the current Three Admirals were all personally trained by Zephyr. The Navy was reluctant to let go of such a treasure.
Impel Down – Sixth Floor
On this day, a new guest arrived at the sixth level of the underwater prison.
Mio sat with his back against the icy wall of his cell, calmly watching two guards escort someone down the corridor.
The visitor was unmistakable—Doflamingo.
"With your current identity, even if you still held your old one, you shouldn't be able to enter here," Mio said lightly, his voice echoing in the dim space.
"Hehehe… Have you heard of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Doflamingo chuckled, his sunglasses hiding a gleam in his eyes.
Despite Mio's still posture and lowered head, something about his presence disturbed Doflamingo. It felt unreal. An illusion, almost.
Yet, he couldn't place the cause.
Nor did he speak those thoughts aloud.
"Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Mio's eyebrows twitched slightly. "I see. So you've become one."
"Heh. Just a bit of trickery," Doflamingo snorted. Memories of the methods he used to secure the title—and the price he paid to soothe the wrath of the World Government—flickered through his eyes.
"No wonder you managed to get in here," Mio said indifferently. "Now, tell me why you've come."
In the adjacent cells, Douglas Bullett and the Red Earl kept their eyes closed, their expressions unreadable.
But they were listening.
"I came to check in on you," Doflamingo said with a grin. "You've always been my partner. And don't forget—you left a lot of things with me. They're still waiting for you to reclaim them."
Mio smirked faintly. "Don't worry. That day will come soon."
"Is that so…"
Doflamingo gave a knowing nod. Then, he leaned in and asked, "Need any news? I may not visit again. After all, no one brings newspapers to the sixth floor of Impel Down."
———-
Pump up the power stone if you guys want mass release