One Piece: Starting By Playing Gilgamesh Template. Chapter 22 22: The Inheritors of the Uruk Empire!

"Or perhaps…"

"There isn't only one historical tablet in this sea that records the King of Heroes and the Uruk Empire…"

Vice Admiral Tsuru's words were shocking.

They caused Sengoku, Garp, and the others to fall into deep thought…

This possibility—

Was not impossible!

Back then, the Uruk Empire had unified the seas with unparalleled might.

Yet its destruction had been strangely abrupt…

So much so that even its traces had been erased…

Behind all of this—

There might have been sothing far from ordinary!

Perhaps—

The Uruk Empire had never truly disappeared…

Even after its fall, its legacy had continued to exist!

And the so-called King of Heroes who had now appeared—

Might very well be soone who inherited that legacy, soone who knew of the King of Heroes!

He could be using this identity—

To probe just how many people in the current era still knew of the Uruk Empire…

Or even—

Whether those remnants from the distant past had once made an agreent…

To restore the glory of the Uruk Empire!

If so—

Then the ergence of this King of Heroes—

Was a signal…

A signal that the scattered remnants of the Uruk legacy were gathering once more!

As for the other possibility—

It was also not impossible!

Although scholars who studied history had largely been wiped out by the World Governnt—

There could still be survivors…

The Marines were powerful, that was undeniable.

But other forces might have stumbled upon the ruins of the Uruk Empire by chance—

Learned its secrets—

Inherited the King of Heroes' legacy…

Or even obtained its treasures!

"If that's the case… perhaps it would actually be for the best…"

Leaning back in his seat, Sengoku's eyes flickered as he muttered to himself.

Compared to a King of Heroes who had lived for four thousand years—

He was far more willing to believe Tsuru's two theories.

After all—

A being who had lived for four thousand years…

Was simply too terrifying!

It completely defied comprehension.

On the other hand—

If it were one of those hidden figures…

Even if they harbored their own ambitions, even if they possessed treasures from the ancient Uruk Empire—

At the end of the day—

They were still nothing more than rats hiding in the shadows!

Their strength—

Shouldn't be too great!

"Fwoosh—!"

The air suddenly turned scorching hot.

Waves of heat spread in all directions.

It was Sakazuki!

Dressed in his crimson-striped suit beneath his Marine coat of justice—

He rose to his feet.

His dark, shadowed eyes were filled with cold, iron-blooded resolve.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku…"

"No matter who this person is…"

"The fact remains—he killed Crocodile!"

"Though that man was a filthy pirate, he was still one of the Seven Warlords personally chosen by the World Governnt!"

"To kill a Warlord so openly…"

"Is no different from trampling on the authority of the Marines and the dignity of the World Governnt!"

As he spoke—

The temperature in the room surged even higher.

Traces of molten magma began to form across his face.

If he weren't restraining himself—

The entire office might have been vaporized instantly!

And his voice grew colder and colder.

"Therefore!"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku… allow to personally carry out his judgnt!"

As a Marine who upheld Absolute Justice—

Sakazuki might look down on the Warlords—

But he could not tolerate anyone who dared to disgrace the Marines or the World Governnt!

So—

He didn't care what this so-called King of Heroes really was—

He would bring him to justice!

The others in the room were unsurprised by this reaction…

"No matter what…"

"This King of Heroes cannot be ignored."

Sengoku lowered his head in thought for a mont, rubbing his aching temples as he spoke with concern:

"But… his strength…"

"And the forces that may stand behind him…"

"We know nothing about them…"

As Fleet Admiral—

Sengoku could not tolerate such a threat existing.

It would undermine the authority of the Marines.

However—

The unknown strength of the opponent made him hesitate.

There was even the possibility—

That so unseen force stood behind him.

The Marine Admirals were too important.

They could not afford even the slightest loss.

Otherwise—

The blow to the Marines would be devastating!

And yet—

He could not justify dispatching multiple Admiral-level forces for soone whose identity was still unclear.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku…"

One of the three Admirals, Kuzan, dressed casually with his curly hair and carrying a faint chill around him, raised his head and spoke:

"Although he killed Crocodile…"

"That doesn't an there's no room for negotiation…"