One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Beehive Island, the main island palace.

Roy had just returned from the kendo dojo, covered in sweat, and was about to take a shower.

These past few days, he has been consolidating the power of his awakened Devil Fruit while keeping an eye on the Sun Pirates' progress in finding the lanternfish.

Tiger has already explored more than a dozen sea areas. Although he has not yet found any trace of the lanternfish, he has identified several possible areas.

Roy was fairly satisfied with this.

Just as he was about to enter the bathroom, the Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly rang.

Blub Blub... Blub Blub...

Roy took out a Den Den Mushi and pressed the answer button.

"Feed?"

A rough yet familiar voice came from the other end.

"Roy! It's me! Kaido!"

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Kaido? What is it?"

Kaido's voice carried a hint of barely concealed excitement.

"Roy, tell me the truth—"

"You're looking for lanternfish, isn't it for pure gold?!"

Roy's pupils contracted slightly.

Pure gold?!

How did Kaido know?!

"Kaido, where did you hear that from?"

Hearing Roy's words, which had become noticeably serious, Kaido burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! It really is true!"

"Roy, the news has spread throughout the entire ocean!"

"You're looking for pure gold! That thing that can grant immortality!"

Roy's face instantly darkened.

Has it spread throughout the entire ocean?

How is that possible?!

He only told the core members about the news about the pure gold.

Even the fishmen of the Sun Pirates only knew that he was looking for lanternfish, but they knew nothing about what was inside the lanternfish's body.

Roy didn't believe his partner would betray him.

How was that information leaked?

"Roy? Roy!"

Kaido's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

"Hey! Are you still there?!"

Roy took a deep breath, suppressing his shock.

"exist."

"Kaido, where did you get this information from?"

Kaido chuckled.

"It's spread through all the underground channels!"

"I don't know who spread it."

"But everyone says you're looking for pure gold."

"Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Golden Lion, they all know."

"They're probably all watching you right now."

Roy's face grew even more somber.

Whitebeard, Big Mom, Golden Lion...

Do those sea emperors know all this?

"Roy!"

Kaido's voice rang out again.

"We're allies!"

"If you find pure gold, don't forget to share some with me!"

Roy was silent for a moment, then said,

"understood."

"Contact me again if there is any news."

He hung up the phone, stood by the window, and remained motionless for a long time.

Outside the window, sunlight streamed in, and seagulls circled in the sky.

But Roy's eyes were filled with solemnity.

The news about the pure gold has been leaked.

Moreover, the leak was so thorough and so rapid.

This cannot be a coincidence.

There must be someone manipulating things behind the scenes.

who is it?

Just then—

There was a sudden knock on the office door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Crocodile strode in.

His expression was equally solemn.

"Captain, something's wrong."

Roy turned around. "Speak."

Crocodile walked up to him and placed a piece of intelligence on his hands.

"In the past few days, a large number of unfamiliar ships have appeared around Beehive Island."

Roy's brow furrowed even more.

"Did you find anything?"

Crocodile nodded.

"Um."

"They all seem to be asking about pure gold!"

"Moreover, their sources are all consistent—"

"I received them all suddenly in the last few days."

"It's like someone deliberately spread the news."

Roy was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Crocodile, who do you think it is?"

Crocodile, cigar in mouth, exhaled a smoke ring.

"To be able to spread the message across the entire ocean in such a short time—"

There aren't many forces with that capability.

"Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shiki—while they are powerful, their intelligence networks aren't nearly as extensive."

"The bigwigs of the underworld could do it, but they have no motivation to."

"All that's left is—"

Roy picked up the conversation,

"World Government"

Crocodile nodded.

"That's right."

"Only a world government has the capability and the motivation to do this."

"They don't want you to get the pure gold, so they deliberately spread the word so that other forces would try to steal it."

"Using someone else to do the dirty work."

A cold glint flashed in Roy's eyes.

They really are those old foxes.

He walked to the window and looked out at the distant sea.

Silent for a long time.

Then he turned around and looked at Crocodile.

"Continue the investigation."

"Uncover all the clues leading to the source of the information."

"I need to confirm whether it really is them."

Crocodile nodded.

"clear."

He turned and left.

The office door closed gently.

Roy stood alone by the window, watching the setting sun gradually sink in the west.

His mind was racing.

World Government...

The Five Elders...

Those old guys who have lived for eight hundred years are indeed not easy to deal with.

They knew that a direct attack on the New World was unrealistic, so they resorted to these underhanded tactics.

Let the various forces fight, vie for, and deplete their own strength.

What a clever tactic of using someone else to do the dirty work.

Want to reap the benefits without lifting a finger?

Roy's lips curled into a cold smile.

……

three days later.

Crocodile's office.

Roy sat on the sofa, holding a thick investigation report in his hand.

Crocodile stood before him, his expression solemn.

"Captain, we've figured it out."

"The source of the information is indeed the World Government."

"They deliberately spread information about the effects of pure gold to various powerful forces through spies and underground channels they had planted within them."

"Moreover, they did it very discreetly. If it weren't for our intelligence network's in-depth investigation, we wouldn't have been able to find them at all."

Roy looked at the report in his hand, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

It really was them.

The Five Elders.

Crocodile continued,

"Now, the whole ocean knows about pure gold."

"Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shiki are all closely monitoring our movements."

"The bigwigs of the underworld have also dispatched their subordinates, under the guise of business cooperation, to try and find clues about the pure gold."

"Even the Navy has increased security at the G-1 branch."

Roy put down the report, leaned back on the sofa, and closed his eyes.

a long time--

He opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them.

"Since they want to play, then play along."

Crocodile raised an eyebrow.

"Captain, you mean...?"

Roy's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Pure gold, I'm determined to have it."

"Anyone who wants to take it, come and try."

"Perfect!"

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the distant sea.

"Let's see what these so-called 'Emperors of the Sea' really are worth."

Crocodile looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

The captain was truly enraged.

That makes sense, though.

Anyone would be furious to be plotted against behind their back.

"Captain, what should we do now...?"

Roy turned around,

"Keep searching."

"Tell Tiger and the others to speed things up."

"In addition, strengthen security on Beehive Island."

"Make everyone more vigilant."

"During this period, we may have 'guests' visiting."

Crocodile nodded.

"clear."

……

Outside the window, the sun was still shining brightly.

But beneath the calm surface of the new world, undercurrents have begun to stir.

A storm surrounding "pure gold" is quietly brewing.

And at the eye of the storm was that increasingly prosperous island—

Beehive Island.