One Piece is one of the longest-running manga series of all time. Eiichiro Oda's manga has earned plaudits because of his ability to write a magnificent story without any retcons. Another thing that has made Oda popular among the masses is how he is able to put subtle clues in the story that hint toward something big. The One Piece author has used this particular device many times in the story.
In One Piece Chapter 1084, Oda introduced a brand-new character called Nefertari Lili, who ruled over Alabasta before the formation of the World Government. The chapter only revealed her silhouette, but it has sparked many debates within the One Piece community. Many fans believe that she is going to be crucial to the story, but the question is: how?
Who Is Nefertari Lili?
As previously stated, Nefertari Lili ruled over Alabasta before the Void Century. She was one of the twenty monarchs who banded together and created the organization that would come to be known as the World Government. Nefertari Lili's reason for joining the other rulers in their quest to obliterate the Great Kingdom remains unknown. The monarchs stated that they wanted to destroy it for safety reasons. As Cobra continued to talk to the Five Elders, he said that the common knowledge was that Nefertari Lili returned to Alabasta instead of staying in Marijoa like the rest of the rulers. However, Cobra refuted that the information was false, and Lili never returned to Alabasta. In fact, it was her brother who ruled the country.
Considering the horrible things done by the World Government, it is possible that the organization had a part to play in her disappearance. In either case, Lili seems to have an important role to play in the future. Another interesting thing about Lili is her silhouette. At first glance, it may not seem special, but on closer inspection, it appears to be similar to Imu.
Connection To Imu
Imu is the true sovereign of the World Government. They preside over the Empty Throne, which means that they have control over every single person that falls within the jurisdiction of the World Government. Imu was introduced way back in the Reverie arc, where they shocked the readers after the Five Elders fell to their knees after seeing the ruler of the world. At the moment, there is very limited information available about Imu, but it is plausible to assume that they might have existed before the World Government was created. The Five Elders look up to Imu and treat the ruler of the world with the utmost respect. They ask for guidance, and Imu tells them who to kill in order to protect the World Government.
In Chapter 1084, Imu made a sudden appearance before Nefertari Cobra and the Five Elders. The latter could not believe that Imu would reveal themselves to Cobra. Instead of stating their reason, Imu instead said, "Lili." This implies that Imu is aware of what happened to Lili, or maybe they are Lili. The silhouette of Imu on the last page of the chapter bears an uncanny resemblance to Lili. Both silhouettes have similar eyes and hair. The only difference is the crown on their heads, with Imu's being bigger. It would make sense as to why Lili's name is not mentioned anymore because she has taken up a new alias. Considering most of the world forgot about her existence, she would thrive with her new identity.
If Lili is not Imu, then the only other reason she never came back is that she was murdered. It is a well-known fact that the World Government does not care about killing other people to protect the organization's false image. It has destroyed many kingdoms that tried to fight back or learn its secrets. If Lili decided to go back to Alabasta after discovering that their goal of destroying the Ancient Kingdom was nothing but a hoax, the World Government would never let her leave. She would have information about the biggest and darkest secret of the World Government and if she were to tell someone else, the organization would fall apart. It also makes sense why the other 19 rulers stayed in Marijoa. They could have been forced to stay there because the World Government could keep an eye on them and protect their secrets.
What Became Of Her?
Imu may have murdered Lili after she learned of their existence. The 19 swords signify that the rulers were all equal, so no one would sit on the Empty Throne. The lack of Lili's sword around the throne means either she didn't trust Imu or she crowned herself as the ruler of the world. However, it is more likely that Lili was killed because she refused to play any further part in the World Government's domination of the world. Another thing that supports this claim is the existence of a Poneglyph in Alabasta. This particular Poneglyph contains information about the Pluton, which is one of the Ancient Weapons. If Lili were Imu, then she would send someone to remove it or make sure that it was buried somewhere no one knew. It wouldn't make sense for her to leave such an important Poneglyph in her homeland.