Im finally decided to step out of the treehouse, out of the Pangea Castle, because he suddenly realized he seemed to be hitting a dead end.
He hadn't visited the Four Seas, the White Sea, or the Grand Line, but wasn't the Red Line the same?
Besides, ordinary people weren't even qualified to come up here!
He could simply wander around the Red Line first; once he had explored enough, he believed it would pass a significant amount of time.
It was simply that he had been dreadfully bored lately.
For someone who had only transmigrated a little over a year ago, not having a computer or a phone was too difficult, and he didn't even have anyone by his side to chat with.
Every day, besides practicing his sword, playing the piano, and reviewing reports, all that was left was looking up at the moon!
Thus, he walked out of Pangea Castle, leaving Mary Geoise far behind him at an unimaginable speed.
"Whew—"
For some reason, Im let out a long sigh of relief.
Immediately following that, he took a deep breath to enjoy the fresh, natural air.
It wasn't that he hated staying in Mary Geoise particularly much.
It was just that he felt his mind and body relax; at least for a short while, he didn't have to pretend to be cold and indifferent, nor did he have to worry about the World Government's rule.
"Oh, so what lies adjacent to Mary Geoise is an autumn region!" Im smiled as he scanned his surroundings.
He found himself in a crimson "world," with palm-sized flakes of "red snow" drifting and dancing above his head, and a thick carpet of red leaves covering the ground beneath his feet.
At a glance, the mountains and fields were filled with fiery red maple trees.
Im walked leisurely through the woods, enjoying the company of the autumn wind and the falling maple leaves.
At the same time, he recalled information regarding the Red Line.
The situation of the Red Line was somewhat similar to the islands on the Grand Line; it did not have the normal seasonal transitions found in the Four Seas.
Instead, it was composed of various regions with different terrains and climates, ranging from a hundred kilometers in size to just a few dozen.
Therefore, if one were to walk on foot across the Red Line, constantly moving in one direction...
One might find that while the previous region was covered in heavy snow, the next was under a scorching sun, unbearably hot.
Come to think of it, for those who loved traveling, wouldn't this be equivalent to paradise?
Actually, it wasn't surprising, because back in the day, the Red Line was originally pieced together from various islands of the Grand Line.
The Holy Land, Mary Geoise, was a spring region, which was why the climate there was always bright, warm, and filled with blooming flowers.
"Sigh, it would be nice if there were someone to talk to right now."
Im reached the edge of this autumn region and muttered to himself as he looked at the snowy ice mountains appearing before him.
But then again, even if there were someone with him, what could they even talk about?
With his current identity, finding someone with common interests would not be easy.
As for someone he could speak to as an equal, that was just a passing thought; if such a person actually appeared, he might not even be willing to engage.
Im began to contemplate the utilization of the Red Line.
Although he appeared to be trying to escape pressure, in the end, he could not let go of his concern for his rule.
"Such a massive place... if people were migrated here, the population would surely explode in a few decades. There would also be vast amounts of land to grow food; leaving it like this is too much of a waste!"
In his view, keeping the majority of the populace on various islands was not only extremely difficult to manage and suffered from poor transportation, but the living environment was also not very safe.
The large islands might be fine.
But the truly small islands, when faced with typhoons or tsunamis at sea...
That was truly gambling with one's life. God only knew how many islanders perished in such natural disasters every year.
But living on the Red Line would be different. Although the seasons in each region were fixed, the advantage was that they were stable enough.
Furthermore, the terrain here was extremely high, so there was absolutely no need to worry about tsunamis.
"Population, population, population..."
Im repeatedly whispered this word.
Because he knew very well how important this was for the future World Government.
With the "cheat" of the Star Map and the Stargate in his hands...
In the future, whether for war or administration, an extremely exaggerated population would certainly be required.
Although other worlds would undoubtedly have residents...
In the early stages, he certainly couldn't rely on them on a large scale.
Local talent was the foundation!
Walking through the vast snowy expanse, he suddenly stopped because he felt bored again.
Looking around, although the scenery was nice, there wasn't a single soul to be seen.
Occasionally, one could see snow rabbits or snow foxes scurrying about.
Ultimately, he himself was not a person who enjoyed traveling.
He wanted to go outside purely out of curiosity, wanting to see interesting people and miraculous things, but the scenery on the Red Line right now was too normal, too ordinary.
So, what did he like?
Watching movies, watching anime, reading novels, playing games, eating delicious food, and occasionally playing sports—like table tennis, badminton, or basketball.
"It seems that once the world situation stabilizes in the future, I'll have to find a way to enrich the entertainment industry of this world..."
Suddenly, Im thought of a person—a little fellow who dreamed of becoming a great singer and a superstar, and loved grand spectacles.
"At this point in time, that kid should be in the Sabaody Archipelago. He is a talent worth cultivating. However, for the short term, movies and games are out of the question; I could try sports instead."
Im rubbed his chin while pondering, then turned around to head back the way he came, as he felt that sports were much more interesting than looking at mediocre scenery.
Aren't sports also a form of gaming?
"But I can't exactly play by myself..."
*Purupurupuru, purupurupuru.*
Just as he was thinking about which sport to try first upon his return, the Den Den Mushi in his pocket rang. When he was away from home, only the Five Elders could call him.
"Lord Im, the attendants from Marine Headquarters and CIPHER POL have been confirmed. Would you like to meet them now, or wait until departure?"
The voice belonged to the mustachioed Elder; Im was now very familiar with it.
"Wait until departure," Im replied calmly. But just as the other party was about to end the call after receiving the answer, he casually asked a question.
"What are their names?"
"My Lord, Marine Headquarters will send a female Rear Admiral named Gion. While her strength is average, her appearance is top-tier, and she is proficient in all the arts of a geisha. We believe she will bring you enjoyment during the journey."
"Gion?"
Im raised an eyebrow. It was indeed a familiar name, and the choice was quite good.
"And the other one?"
"It is Stussy, currently of CP9. She also possesses top-tier looks and decent strength, specializing particularly in intelligence gathering and assassination. We believe she should be able to handle many small matters for you."
After hearing the identities of these two attendants, Im's interest surged. Feeling bored, he immediately said
"Have them come to see me. Also, set up a tennis court and the necessary equipment near Pangea Castle as quickly as possible."
"Uh, yes, sir!"
Far away in Mary Geoise, Saint Topman Warcury was filled with question marks, but he still respectfully agreed immediately and gently hung up the receiver to end the call.
On Im's side, he became somewhat excited, a smile appearing on his face.
"Finally, something to play with."
But the smile was immediately withdrawn, returning to his usual coldness and arrogance.
In the next second, he vanished from his spot, like an invisible bolt of lightning, shooting back toward Mary Geoise.