One Piece: My Evolving Aircraft

Next Bonus, 100!!

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Silence descended upon the great hall.

It was heavy, suffocating. Expressions varied from disbelief to calculating dread as the assembly processed the bombshell Jin had just dropped.

The news was simply too earth-shattering.

It wasn't just Galdino and the lower ranks who were stunned; even heavyweights like Kuma, Crocodile, and Katakuri wore deep frowns.

A King of the World? A ruler named Imu??

To think such an entity actually existed...

No wonder the World Government had strictly forbidden any research into the Poneglyphs or the Void Century.

"Imu. The Supreme Leader of the Celestial Dragons. Even the Five Elders know little of his true identity or appearance," Jin's voice cut through the quiet, authoritative and calm. "For the sake of this discussion, we will simply refer to him as 'Him'."

This meeting was, in essence, a war council—a rally to unite the internal factions before the crusade against Imu began.

Jin needed them to understand.

Why they were fighting. Who they were fighting. And what was at stake.

Only by establishing a clear, terrifying enemy could he unify their wills and force them to pull in the same direction. Without this, the alliance would remain fractured, with everyone hiding their true strength and looking for an exit strategy.

Jin knew that in the world of pirates, willpower was a tangible force. He placed great importance on morale and ideological conviction.

He had to take these loose strands of rope and braid them into a hangman's noose for the World Government.

And nothing binds people together faster than a common, overwhelmingly powerful enemy.

"'He' is described as possessing supernatural power and unfathomable wisdom," Jin continued, pacing slowly on the raised platform. "Legend has it that He forged a specific contract with a 'God'—a pact that granted the Celestial Dragons eternal life and dominion over all the races of the world."

He paused, letting the weight of the words settle.

"The reason Fish-Man Island and the Fish-Man race have been ostracized by the World Government for centuries is, in part, because He personally loathes your kind."

Jin's gaze slid toward Jinbe, Madam Shyarly, and the royal family.

Jinbe's pupils contracted to pinpoints. "What??"

"Is that the truth??" Fukaboshi gasped.

"Imu..." Madam Shyarly murmured the name, a chill running down her spine.

"He has existed for a very long time," Jin stated. "There is evidence suggesting He is from the same era as Joy Boy and the Mermaid Princess from eight hundred years ago."

Shirahoshi covered her mouth. "Eh? Lived... for that long?"

"Is he truly a 'God'?" Galette whispered, her face pale.

Katakuri shook his head slightly. Even he couldn't see the truth of this with his future sight.

"However," Jin interrupted their spiraling thoughts, his tone shifting from narrative to analytical. "Whether this 'God's Pact' is a genuine divine covenant... or merely a lie fabricated by Imu to consolidate power... remains to be seen."

"Based on my analysis of existing intelligence, I believe this so-called pact is nothing more than a convenient lie. A myth fabricated to cement the Celestial Dragons' authority and justify their 'divine' status above the common people."

"His immortality likely involves lost technology—or perhaps the Op-Op Fruit—rather than any divine intervention."

Jin glanced meaningfully at Law.

Law froze. He knew his fruit had the Awakening ability to grant the Perennial Youth Operation at the cost of the user's life. Had someone actually performed it in the past?

And was that person Imu?

Jin didn't give them time to dwell on the mechanics. He steered the conversation back to the core issue, his voice rising with conviction.

"But in reality, He is neither legal nor holy."

"He has long since betrayed the oath sworn by the Founding Twenty Kings when they defeated the Great Kingdom and established the World Government."

Jin pointed a finger toward the ceiling.

"No Dictatorship."

"Yet, as we can see, the Celestial Dragons, the Five Elders, and the World Government have become nothing more than a totalitarian regime."

"Which means," Jin said, placing a hand on his chest, "that I, as a King of a member nation, and we, as citizens of this world... have the right—no, the duty—to end his rule. To terminate the dictatorship of this false god."

"We have the responsibility to purge a government that has broken its oath and to execute the tyrant sitting on the throne."

"This is the vow the twenty kings made when they left their weapons around the Empty Throne."

"This is our right!"

Just as the Marines constantly shouted about "Justice," this sort of "righteous cause"—however abstract it might seem—was vital.

It was the glue for ideology and faith.

Jin raised his fist high. He needed them to believe that what they were about to do wasn't treason—it was a correction. It was holy. It was legal.

Only by standing on the moral high ground could they ignite their fighting spirit and banish hesitation when the blood started to flow.

Every usurper needs a banner. Jin was painting his with the light of righteousness.

"Down with the tyrant! Death to the dictatorship!"

Kuma was the first to stand. He raised his massive arm, his voice booming like a bell.

Jin's eyes swept across the room, cataloging every reaction.

War with the World Government? War with the Celestial Dragons?

This was no small skirmish.

Most of them weren't ready for this level of commitment.

But Jin wouldn't give them time to think. He was forcing them to pick a side.

Align your beliefs now.

Walk this path, or die.

Hancock stood up gracefully, her eyes fierce. "If he is your enemy, he is mine! Down with the tyrant!"

"Gahahaha!" Loki laughed, hefting his hammer. "A war of this scale? Count me in!"

Crocodile took a drag of his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he glanced at Jinbe and Katakuri. "Hey. Do we really have a choice?"

"It doesn't matter what we can do, only what we want to do!" Bon Clay struck a pose, tears in his eyes. "Boldness contains genius, power, and magic! Let's do it!"

Galdino, however, looked like he had swallowed a lemon.

'I thought this was a corporate retreat...'

It's easy to get on a pirate ship, but getting off is impossible! Curse you, 'Mr. Kite'!

Katakuri revealed a rare, small smile. "Better to fight and fail than to never fight at all."

"We desire peace, of course," Gan Fall said, stroking his beard. "But war is never far away."

Fujitora, Van Augur... one by one, they stood.

Watching more and more arms raise in the air, Hina felt a cold sweat on her back. "Sister Gion... this..."

To raise, or not to raise?

Gion sighed, a look of helplessness on her face. "Let's just focus on staying alive first. That man... he's dug a pit so deep we can't see the sky anymore."

Knowing the deepest secrets of the World Government... could they even survive if they left?

Gion sighed again.

Ohara. The Buster Calls. The history was clear.

Raising a hand against a Celestial Dragon brought an Admiral. Killing one brought annihilation.

And Jin wasn't just talking about killing a Celestial Dragon. He was talking about overthrowing the entire World Government and executing the King of the World.

They were already too entangled with Jin. If war broke out, they would be implicated regardless.

Finally, the heroes of the Empress reached a consensus.

"Down with the tyrant! Death to the dictatorship!"

The sternness on Jin's face finally relaxed. He lowered his arm and motioned for everyone to sit.

"Now, we are travelers on the same path."

"I will carve your names onto a Poneglyph, ensuring that history remembers your courage forever!"

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~ 70 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon

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