One Piece: The Devil Fruit Collector-Chapter 265: Lily’s Letter

"Ancestor Lily... how is that possible?"

Hearing her father's words, Vivi found it hard to believe.

This mausoleum, which no matter how one looked at it was full of vicious curses and clearly built for a sinner, had actually been constructed by the founding monarch of Alabasta for herself?

What that represented, Vivi naturally understood.

"Ancestor Lily believed she had committed an unforgivable sin, which is why she considered herself a sinner."

That was a realization completely opposite to everything Vivi had known since childhood.

Because in the stories she had heard growing up, Queen Lily was a great monarch.

It was said she possessed powerful strength and leadership charisma. She had once led the people of Alabasta during its founding to defeat countless enemies and establish this country.

The current mother river of Alabasta, the 'Sandora River', was excavated by the people under her command. It was also rumored that the rich spice resources of all Alabasta had been unearthed from underground under her leadership.

In the legends, she had the ability to fulfill everyone's wishes—an achievement shared by all the 'Initial Twenty Kings', for which they were revered as 'Gods'.

How could such a person be a 'sinner'?

Vivi looked at her father, hoping he would give her an answer.

But Cobra didn't explain directly.

He merely turned his gaze toward Tatsu.

"Your Excellency Tatsu, you came this time requesting to know everything about Ancestor Lily, so I assume your side must already possess some information about her?"

He said so.

"...We do indeed know why Queen Lily considered herself a sinner."

Hearing his words, Tatsu didn't deny it.

Beneath the mask, Roy's gaze fell upon the sarcophagus with some complexity.

Yes.

His reason for coming to Alabasta this time was very simple.

After obtaining Doflamingo's memory and learning about the situation of Laugh Tale from Rayleigh—

As the past history of this world became clearer in Roy's eyes, his understanding of Imu had deepened as well.

So he confirmed some things and also developed some doubts.

For example, regarding the 'Void Century', Roy was now essentially certain that that century encompassed the process of Davy Jones establishing the 'Great Kingdom' and then being betrayed and overthrown by Imu.

In that war, Joy Boy and Davy Jones were undoubtedly the losers.

Imu, relying on the Initial Twenty Kings, overthrew Davy Jones—His 'collaborator'—as well as that Great Kingdom, and established the current era belonging to the Abyss.

But at the same time, there was a problem.

"Judging from the situation of the First World and the Second World, the 'power' Imu could exert back then clearly far exceeded His current restricted state."

This was something Roy could be certain of.

In the era of the First World, Imu found Davy Jones, and the First World was destroyed by the Serpent of Hellfire and earthquakes.

In the era of the Second World, Imu found the Twenty Kings, and the Second World was destroyed by a massive war.

The destruction of these two world eras had clearly happened extremely fast. After finding a 'spokesperson', Imu seemed able to immediately exert an unimaginable power sufficient to destroy the world in an instant.

But what about now?

Imu needed many years to pass before making the sea level rise even once.

His true body was clearly restricted to the Room of Flowers, His range of activity at most within Pangaea Castle, and He could only appear in other places through 'Descents'.

This was clearly very strange.

"After gaining victory, Imu completely obtained rulership of the world—yet His power actually weakened significantly, going from an almost omnipotent God to a state where He can only hide behind the world."

"Joy Boy and Davy Jones managed to escape after their defeat, and they even had time to carve the Poneglyphs and send them all over the world."

"Races like the Buccaneers, Giants, and Fish-men, which clearly aren't controlled by Imu, were also able to survive..."

Given the current conduct of Imu and the World Government, Roy found it hard to imagine they would let these 'rebels' go.

Undoubtedly, there must have been a third person involved—besides Joy Boy and Davy Jones, a third 'Enemy of God'.

Her rebellion caused Imu's plan to fall short of its true conclusion, restricting His power, and ultimately allowing the world to develop into its current state where, although dark, a glimmer of hope still existed.

And the identity of that person was obvious in Roy's eyes.

There were only nineteen swords below the Empty Throne.

On the 'Contract' between Imu and the Twenty Kings, one person's name was also missing.

That was Queen Lily—the only one among the founding Twenty Kings who did not let her descendants become Celestial Dragons and did not relocate to Mary Geoise.

She was very likely the key to why Imu's power had weakened to its current state.

That was why Roy chose to make time to visit Alabasta before Hebi's scheduled duel arrived—he knew this country must harbor secrets regarding Queen Lily.

And now, the sarcophagus before him further corroborated his theory.

Queen Lily had called herself a sinner and left behind a cenotaph.

That was clearly the same sentiment as Davy Jones—she regretted cooperating with Imu and realized she had committed a grave sin.

"King Cobra, you just said she left this mausoleum when she went to attend the first Levely?"

Thinking of this, Roy asked.

"Yes."

Cobra nodded and said gravely.

The first Levely, convened together by the Twenty Kings—it was precisely after this meeting that the descendants of the Twenty Kings moved into Mary Geoise together and became 'Celestial Dragons'.

"According to my research, Ancestor Lily vanished without a trace after that meeting. She never returned to Alabasta, and even the World Government's records no longer mention anything about her."

As he spoke, he also looked at Tatsu.

"Your Excellency Tatsu, as the King of Alabasta, this is the question I wish to ask—do you know what happened to Ancestor Lily?"

His eyes were full of solemnity.

And hearing Cobra's words, Tatsu regarded this wise king with a long look.

After a moment, he let out a quiet chuckle.

"King Cobra."

"You actually already have an answer in your heart, don't you?"

He calmly pointed this out.

After arriving in Alabasta, he had actually been prepared for Cobra to refuse him.

After all, for Cobra, getting involved with The Zodiac was clearly an enormous risk for his country.

But the truth was, this king did not refuse.

As if he had long been waiting, the moment Tatsu mentioned 'Queen Lily', he decisively agreed to Tatsu's request.

That was enough to reveal his thoughts.

Hearing this, Cobra fell silent.

After a moment, he said softly: "I do have a guess—Ancestor Lily... she did the same thing as all of you, didn't she?"

His eyes suddenly became sharp.

"She had resolved to oppose this 'World' she helped create, so she left behind this mausoleum, these relics, and a letter as her final words."

"A letter!?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, Vivi, who was still in shock and hadn't recovered, widened her eyes even further.

One revelation came after another; she could barely keep up.

But Roy remained unsurprised.

He had long known that Queen Lily once left a message for her descendants.

In the original story, it was precisely to seek the truth behind this letter that the gravely ill Cobra chose to confront the Five Elders after the Levely, and was consequently killed.

And right now—

"That's right... a letter!"

Cobra slowly stepped in front of the sarcophagus.

He raised his hand, drew a small knife from his waist, and cut his own hand.

Blood flowed down and gathered on the 'scale' below.

VMMM!

In the next instant, an invisible power spread through the tomb chamber.

An illusory mark appeared on the scale.

"!!!"

Roy felt a jolt of shock.

Because he had already recognized that the mark appearing on the scale was the same power as Imu's 'Contract' he had seen in Dressrosa.

But the difference was—

"So strong."

Roy couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

Yes.

Within the contract manifesting on this scale, the 'Source Energy of Lineage Factor' erupting from it was even stronger than the Abyssal Sea Contract he had witnessed in Dressrosa.

More importantly—

"This contract hasn't been completed... and it's not the Abyssal Sea Contract!"

Roy studied the mark pattern of the contract.

In the center of the structure surrounded by the ring, what existed was not the 'cross' symbolizing Imu, but a mark resembling a lily flower.

"Lily?"

Roy immediately grasped that fact.

What appeared before him was not the 'Abyssal Sea Contract', but the unique 'Contract' belonging to Nefertari Lily.

It was clearly more powerful and more distinct.

"Could it be... the contract mark of every one of the Initial Twenty Kings is completely different?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

While Roy's mind reeled, he and Vivi had already seen it.

The words left behind, appearing in the air above the sarcophagus.

[To my descendants]

That ancient handwriting seemed to cast itself directly into the depths of their hearts.

[Because of my naivety and mistakes, the world has lost its freedom, and the sun has dimmed]

[I do not wish for my descendants to reside in the heavens, becoming deities who enslave all creation, nor slaves to the world]

[I leave my sword, my crown, my descendants, and my power in the human realm, to remain with all living beings]

[I will scatter the history recorded by the sun and the First King across the human realm, preserving the truth of the world]

[Ultimately, I will march toward the final war that belongs to me]

[I cannot win that war—the power obtained from the world naturally cannot defeat the world]

[I only hope to do my utmost to ensure that when the one destined to change everything appears, the world he must oppose will not be so invincible]

[My descendants, protect the Poneglyphs well]

[Do not seek my whereabouts. The 'World' has an agreement with me; as long as you do not seek the truth, He cannot harm you]

[Wait quietly in this world shrouded in darkness, sinking from the sea's surface, heading toward its doom]

[Wait for the arrival of the day of atonement, wait for the darkness to pass, wait for rebellion to rise again]

[At that time, Alabasta will rise up and hoist the flag of dawn to the world]

[We will return freedom to the world]

And at the very bottom was that elegant signature.

[Nefertari D. Lily]

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