Over 150 nations across the globe were affiliated with the World Government.
The Reverie was a council composed of 50 kings from those nations, gathered in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
The criteria for participation weren't clearly defined, but it was common knowledge that only those possessing a certain level of national power were invited.
Military strength, economic power, political influence… The forms of power varied, but it was undoubtedly a gathering of the world's elite.
The Marines would deploy their full force to escort the kings to Marine Headquarters or G-1, and from there, they would be transported to Mary Geoise on the Red Line.
It was a prestigious assignment for the Marines, and except for a few exceptions, the kings wouldn't refuse their escort.
One such exception, the ship of the Rommel Empire, was sailing directly towards G-1.
If a nation possessed its own military force and declined the Marines' escort, they would have to travel using only their own strength.
It was a performance of sorts, a demonstration of their military might.
This was standard practice for the Rommel Empire, but this time, there was another reason they didn't need the Marines' help.
"Enemy attack! A giant Sea King!!"
Soldiers rushed about on the deck.
A massive Sea King emerged from the sea, its head looming over the ship.
Cannons were effective against smaller Sea Kings, but against larger ones, their effectiveness was limited. The soldiers desperately tried to drive it away, but as expected, it wasn't working.
In the midst of the chaos, a young girl excitedly observed the Sea King, her eyes sparkling.
And beside her, two women calmly enjoyed their tea.
"A Sea King. It's unusual to see one in this area."
"It's noisy. Could you take care of it?"
"Sure."
Kanata and Diana, relaxing under a parasol on the deck, sipped their tea.
Such incidents were common at sea. Kanata placed her cup on the table and looked at the Sea King.
Overwhelmed by her Conqueror's Haki and piercing red gaze, the Sea King retreated, diving back into the depths.
"Wow… Amazing! How did you do that?!"
The young girl with golden hair and blue eyes – Diana's daughter, turned to Kanata and asked this.
Perhaps because she was young, or because it was her first time traveling across the sea, she seemed to be fascinated by everything.
"Mare, please behave yourself. You're the next queen. You need to act with more dignity."
"…Yes, Mother. I apologize."
Mare, scolded by Diana, slumped her shoulders.
"She's just a child. It's good to be curious."
"You're not in a position to say that. If she's going to be queen, then she needs to learn to control her emotions."
"That's harsh."
Diana was strict with Mare, perhaps to prepare her for the throne. Even when Kanata tried to intervene, she was quickly rebuffed. Kanata couldn't help but smile wryly.
"It's good to broaden your horizons. But that's different from expressing your emotions openly. She can learn both."
"You're spoiling her. You treat her differently than you treat me."
"That's because children are cute, and you're not."
"I'm going to punch you."
Kanata shrugged, ignoring Diana, who was scowling. Diana, usually unsettlingly calm, seemed to be more relaxed around Kanata. Even Mare and the other subordinates were surprised.
As they chatted, G-1 came into view.
But their destination wasn't G-1.
Beyond G-1, there was a place called Red Port. It existed on both sides of the Red Line, connecting Paradise and the New World, and was used by the World Government to travel to Mary Geoise.
"It's been four years since I was last here."
"I come here occasionally. For the Warlord meetings."
The Seven Warlords were summoned for meetings every now and then. When one of the Warlords was removed and a replacement had to be chosen, or when there were important matters to discuss with the government or the Marines.
Kanata tried to attend whenever possible, but if she couldn't make it, she would send Junshi as her proxy and receive the minutes later.
"Are those Soap Bubbles?"
"Yes, the climate here is similar to Sabaody Archipelago, so they can utilize the same technology. They use bubble-powered lifts called "Bondolas" to travel to and from Mary Geoise."
Royalty from other nations were also arriving, and the citizens, gathered to catch a glimpse of them, cheered.
King Beer VI of the Roshwan Kingdom.
King Ham Burger of the Ballywood Kingdom.
Queen Mororon of the Tajine Kingdom.
They were all famous figures. It was no wonder the crowd was going wild.
"Is that… the new queen of the Rommel Empire?!"
"And… Kanata, the Witch of Twilight?! Is she attending the Reverie this year?!"
Kanata, walking with Diana and Mare, wasn't royalty, but she had been granted special permission to attend due to her influence.
She could only imagine the Five Elders' frustration when she suddenly declared, "I'm going to attend." But that was a different story.
The crowd's cheers were particularly loud for Kanata, a world-renowned beauty, and Diana, whose beauty was legendary. They were walking side by side.
Reporters, seeing this opportunity, frantically took photos.
The World Economic News was no exception.
"This is a scoop, Boss! The Witch is attending the Reverie…! Boss?"
"…..!"
"He's frozen! He's mesmerized!"
His subordinate couldn't help but comment on Morgans, who was staring at Kanata with heart-shaped eyes.
Kanata and her companions continued walking, and Morgans, finally snapping out of it, approached Kanata, careful not to get too close to the guards.
"Kanata-san! I have a great proposition for you! Let's have dinner sometime…!"
"That was the real reason you approached me, wasn't it…? Fine. I was wondering when we would have this conversation."
"Really?! Here's my number! Call me anytime!!"
Considering her future plans, having Morgans as an ally wouldn't be a bad idea. She hated journalists, but even she had to acknowledge their usefulness.
Kanata pocketed the note Morgans had given her and brushed him off.
"Are you sure? That man will write anything for a scoop."
"He's annoying, and I personally dislike him, but he's useful. It's called politics."
"I see… I wouldn't know."
Diana, seemingly uninterested, boarded the Bondola with Mare.
Kanata, utilizing the time it took to reach the top, chatted with other royalty.
They disembarked at the port near the summit and climbed a long, grand staircase. Finally, they arrived at Mary Geoise – the land where the descendants of the creators of the world resided.
"This place is still as unpleasant as ever."
Kanata muttered this as she stepped onto the moving walkway. It was a disrespectful remark, but no one dared to question her.
Offending the Witch was as bad as offending a Celestial Dragon. Everyone pretended they hadn't heard her.
***
Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle.
Entering through the main gate, they arrived at the "Social Plaza", where royalty from around the world were mingling.
During the seven days of the Reverie, everyone was busy. Even the interactions in the lobby could have a significant impact on the future of their nations.
It was a conference where the world moved, literally.
"Oh, Kanata! It's been a while!"
The first to greet Kanata as she entered the plaza was King Cobra of Alabasta.
They had met when Kanata was staying in Alabasta, and were on good terms. Kanata smiled and shook his hand.
"It has been a while, King Cobra. You seem to be doing well."
"You too. I've heard a lot about you. I never thought I would meet my savior here."
"Fufu… What a small world."
They hadn't seen each other since Kanata moved her base of operations to the New World, but they had finally reunited.
They were both grateful for the other's help, and their conversation was lively.
There were many others who wanted to speak with Kanata, but they were all hesitant to approach her.
"How's Crocodile doing? Is he causing any problems? I can replace him if he's not suitable."
"No, no, there's no need for that. He's been a great help."
"I see… But don't forget, pirates are pirates. Even me. Don't trust him too much."
Crocodile had moved his base of operations to Alabasta after his defeat at the hands of Whitebeard.
He was an intelligent pirate. It would be foolish to let one's guard down around him. But Cobra seemed to trust him completely.
"Excuse me. I apologize for interrupting, but may I have a word?"
Berg approached them.
He was still as serious as ever, but Kanata could sense that his strength had grown considerably.
"Oh, Berg. It's been a while. I heard you've become an admiral."
"It's an honor I don't deserve. But I won't refuse a position that allows me to protect the citizens."
"I doubt being a puppet for the Celestial Dragons is that important."
"I would appreciate it if you refrained from making such remarks… but that's not why I'm here. I'm assigned to be your bodyguard."
"I don't need a bodyguard."
"Not your bodyguard, but the bodyguard of those who speak with you."
Weapons were strictly forbidden in this gathering of important figures. While they had strong guards, it would be difficult for them to handle Kanata if she decided to attack.
Her presence as a pirate was already an anomaly. Berg had been assigned to ensure her safety.
It was a troublesome task, but Kanata understood their concern. Safety was paramount. The Marines and the World Government had made the right decision.
"Bears are strong, even without weapons."
"Do you want to be thrown across the room?"
He was implying that Kanata was like a bear.
"All Celestial Dragons have been ordered to remain indoors during the Reverie. That should be good news for you."
"Yes, I have no desire to see their faces."
She would have to resort to violence if they tried anything.
Perhaps the Five Elders were thinking that minimizing the chances of an incident would prevent a rebellion. It was a valid strategy.
The kings, who had struggled to deal with the occasional Celestial Dragon who wandered around, seemed relieved.
But…
"There's one exception. A Celestial Dragon who has been granted special permission to meet with you."
"…I didn't agree to that."
"I've never met him personally, but I heard he obtained permission directly from the Five Elders. He wouldn't intentionally antagonize you. Would you consider meeting him?"
"I need to know who he is and why he wants to see me. Otherwise, I can't give you an answer."
"Hmm," Berg nodded in understanding.
"It's Saint Donquixote Mjosgard. He said he wants to discuss the future of Fish-Man Island."
***
Pangaea Castle, inner chambers.
The Celestial Dragons usually resided beyond the "Gate of the Celestial Dragons" located deeper within Pangaea Castle, so they wouldn't encounter the Warlords or the Marines who visited the castle.
Most of the World Government's functions were concentrated in Pangaea Castle, so there was no need for them to venture beyond the gate.
Therefore, there was no chance of Kanata encountering other Celestial Dragons while meeting with Saint Mjosgard.
Led by Berg, Kanata entered a room where Mjosgard was waiting for her alone. He was a Celestial Dragon, yet he had no guards or slaves.
"Greetings. I am Donquixote Mjosgard. And you are Kanata, the Witch of Twilight, correct?"
"Yes… You're a strange Celestial Dragon."
"I suppose I am. I've only recently become this way."
Berg stood behind Mjosgard as his bodyguard, and Kanata, accepting his invitation, sat down across from him.
She had met other Celestial Dragons, but Mjosgard's aura was different.
Those who bore the name Donquixote rarely did anything good, but Kanata was intrigued. She observed him carefully.
"First, I want to thank you for coming here. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me."
"Don't mention it. It's better to discuss Fish-Man Island before the conference begins."
"Even so, I imagine you have many people who want to speak with you. I'm simply abusing my position as a Celestial Dragon to cut in line."
"Now then," Mjosgard said, getting to the point.
"This might take a while, but allow me to explain how I came to be here." He began to speak.
"After Fisher Tiger's incident, I lost all my slaves. I heard that some of them, Fish-men and merfolk, were living on Fish-Man Island, so I went there to retrieve them. It was a foolish, reckless act, driven by youthful arrogance.
My ship was destroyed in a storm, and most of my crew perished. I was seriously injured, and nearly killed by the Fish-men who hated me.
The one who saved me was Queen Otohime."
He had received treatment for his injuries, but he had remained defiant. Queen Otohime, however, insisted on accompanying him back to the surface.
"I discriminated against Fish-men and merfolk… but on our journey back to the surface, and during the short time I spent on land, Queen Otohime spoke with me.
Patiently, she explained things I couldn't understand, blinded by my perspective as a Celestial Dragon. She made me "human" again."
That's why he had summoned Kanata. He had heard rumors about her actions.
"I hear you're pulling some strings to get Fish-Man Island back into the Reverie."
"That's right. I'm preparing for it. I'll submit it as a proposal once the conference begins."
"I've given Queen Otohime a signed document, but I want to help in any way I can. You're free to use my authority as a Celestial Dragon."
He was determined to improve relations between humans and Fish-men. That was his purpose. And that's why he had contacted Kanata.
There was no malice in his words. He genuinely wanted to build a better future.
A Celestial Dragon's influence was immense. With Mjosgard's support, Kanata could achieve most of her goals.
"…Fish-Man Island is currently in a difficult situation."
Two years ago, there had been an attempt to assassinate Queen Otohime.
Tiger had shielded her with his own body, but the culprit had been a human.
This incident had reignited Fish-man supremacy on Fish-Man Island. Even if humans were willing to accept them, the smoldering resentment on Fish-Man Island made it difficult for them to participate in the Reverie.
Without a stable government, there was a risk of a coup d'état.
"There's a lot of resentment towards humans on Fish-Man Island. Besides, it's not my territory. I can't interfere directly."
It would have been easier if she controlled Fish-Man Island directly, but unfortunately, it was Whitebeard's territory.
It was difficult to intervene, and Tiger and Jinbe were busy protecting the royal family. She had very few resources to spare.
There were those who opposed peaceful coexistence with Fish-men among humans as well, but she could handle that. The real problem was the internal conflict on Fish-Man Island.
"Technically, it's a member of the World Government. Ideally, we should involve the Marines, but… Fish-Man Island is underwater. It's difficult for humans to operate there."
She couldn't just order the Ryugu Kingdom's soldiers around.
It was even difficult to gather information. Without proper reconnaissance, she couldn't deploy her forces.
"The lack of Fish-men and merfolk in the Marines is a testament to the deep-rooted conflict between our races."
"I agree. It would have been better if we had implemented integration policies like we did with the giants."
"Mother Carmel was truly a great woman."
Ideally, Neptune would resolve the situation himself, but he was too influenced by Otohime's idealism.
They needed a solid foundation before they could strive for their ideals. A building built without a proper base would easily crumble.
"…All I can do is prepare a world where they can coexist peacefully when they come to the surface."
"That's the difficult part…"
"Just like you learned about Fish-men and changed your views by talking with Queen Otohime, they need to learn about humans. Knowledge is important."
It wasn't just about personal experiences. Simply knowing something existed made a difference.
To accept something, you had to "know that it exists, even if you don't understand it."
"I see… This is more difficult than I thought."
"You changed after speaking with Queen Otohime. It's the same thing."
Mjosgard, realizing this, nodded.
"If I could share what I learned with others…"
"The world might change, little by little."
"I see…"
Having seen a path forward, Mjosgard nodded several times. "It was worth meeting you," he said.
Unfortunately, it was almost time for the conference to begin.
"Mjosgard, I understand your thoughts. I might need your help with Fish-Man Island and the coexistence of humans and Fish-men."
"Thank you, Kanata. Please let me know if there's anything I can do."
They shook hands, promising to cooperate to achieve their shared goal.