Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Yamato never claimed to be Oden again.

Even when she met Kozuki Toki and Kozuki Hiyori at the Shogun's Mansion, her expression stayed somber.

Still, she continued the month of dance she had promised in Caelan's room. She had already made her choice, and there was no taking it back.

Even so, Yamato's urgency to save those six thousand people no longer seemed as strong. Going to Caelan's room to dance felt like it was for something else.

During his days in the Shogun's Mansion in Wano, Caelan indulged in leisure.

He brought Hina, Ain, and Nojiko over to stay.

The trio of Kozuki Hiyori, Kozuki Toki, and Chiyo each had their strengths, and arranging time with them was its own kind of enjoyment.

With Yamato joining at the end, he felt a certain sense of accomplishment.

"Phew, if this keeps up, I'll rot."

Caelan reclined on the bed, Hina nestled against him with a ladies' cigarette.

It should have been Caelan smoking afterward, but he did not smoke, though his companions sometimes did.

He casually took the cigarette from Hina and put it out, earning a playful eye-roll.

It was not that he disliked the smell, it just felt odd to have someone smoking beside him.

"Really? To me it looks like you're enjoying it," Nojiko said, massaging Caelan's shoulders.

"I am, but I can't go on like this. I'll turn into a paramecium," Caelan said with a wry look. "Anything big happening? I want some action."

"If you mean big, Marine Headquarters will execute the Pirate King's bloodline the day after tomorrow. Aside from that, nothing major," Hina said lazily.

"You can go take a look at Marine Headquarters."

Caelan's eyes lit up, his demeanor sharpening.

"Are you actually planning to go?!" Hina sat up at once. "I was speaking offhand. It's too dangerous there, and what's the benefit?"

"If you're really bored, go fight pirates. Big Mom Pirates, Red Hair Pirates, the world's greatest swordsman Hawkeye, any of them works!"

She rattled off names, each one a top-tier powerhouse.

Compared to Marineford, crossing blades with a Yonko would seem simpler.

"She's right. There are too many strong ones at Marine Headquarters," Nojiko said with concern. "Three Admirals, the Five Elders, the Fleet Admiral, and a lot more. You don't need to go."

"Marine Headquarters is decided," Caelan said, unmoved. "This is the World Government asserting its authority. As their greatest enemy, the Neo Marines can't just sit by."

If the World Government succeeded in projecting dominance, the Neo Marines' future growth would meet greater resistance.

Better to confront it now.

"But it's too dangerous," Nojiko and Hina said, worried.

"My strength has no equal in this world. They can't do anything to me," Caelan answered, calm and confident.

"But there are so many of them…"

If it were only two or three, they would have no doubts.

But three Admirals and, as Caelan had said, five Elder-level combatants? That was eight top fighters. It was too many.

Caelan stopped talking about his personal strength and reassured them from another angle. "Don't worry too much. If your Heroic Spirit bodies can be resurrected, then naturally I can be as well."

The day after he brought Hina and Ain into his camp, he had turned them into Heroic Spirits.

For those worth keeping, you accompany them for life. For those who go astray, you guide them for life.

"Oh, that's true," the two replied, relaxing at once.

They had almost forgotten that Heroic Spirit bodies could resurrect. If it was true for them, it was even truer for Caelan, who could create Heroic Spirits.

Realization hit. Of course Caelan was terrifying.

His strength was overwhelming, and he was almost impossible to kill. Being his enemy was truly frightening.

"By the way, Caelan, are you going to save Ace?" Hina asked, brow furrowed.

She did not want Caelan to save Ace. If the Pirate King's bloodline fell into Neo Marine hands, the ending would be execution.

"Why would you think that?" Caelan chuckled. "I have nothing to do with him. Why would I save him?"

"I'm going to Marine Headquarters to declare war on the World Government and knock them down a peg. And I want to see if I can draw Aokiji and Garp over to the Neo Marines."

Hina blinked, stunned. It sounded outrageous.

Convincing an Admiral and a legendary Vice Admiral to defect was nearly unthinkable.

"Caelan, are you sure?" Hina asked.

"Of course. Ace is doomed this time. He is Garp's adopted grandson, and Garp's biological grandson might die as well. Why would he stay after that?" Caelan said evenly. "As for Aokiji, he would only remain a Marine if he could become Fleet Admiral and reform the institution. But that position is destined for Akainu. Aokiji will have to leave."

Caelan's arrival had changed many things.

For Sengoku and Aokiji, those changes were negative, and their chances at the top job were even smaller than before.

"Then I really look forward to that day," Hina said, unable to hide her anticipation.

If Aokiji and Garp joined the Neo Marines, their power would soar, and the original Marines would be finished.

"It will come. I will go and bring back everything," Caelan said with a smile.

These were roughly his goals for Marine Headquarters.

Declare war on the World Government and strike hard at their moment of pride.

Try to recruit Aokiji and Garp. Aokiji was very likely. Garp would be a bonus.

There were more potential gains. Ace could summon Roger's Heroic Spirit, and Whitebeard and his captains could be converted into Heroic Spirits as well.

He would not lack high-end combat power.

Perhaps he should study how to remove memories and create an "autonomous unit" that retained combat strength.

After all, becoming a Heroic Spirit meant eternal life, which was not a privilege pirates deserved.

(To be continued.)