Chapter 130: Pirate Empire

Once… in the “New World,” there existed a powerful nation known as the “Golden Country,” one of the mightiest in the world.

A closed-off land that, for over 800 years since the foundation of the World Government, had repelled every pirate and government agent seeking its gold with the overwhelming strength of its samurai.

With its own unique culture and religion, cut off from the outside seas, it had a bountiful environment and vibrant people, all living in peace.

But now… there’s nothing left of that former glory.

“Hah… hah…!!”

“Ghh… Don’t stop running…!! If they catch us, it’s over…!!”

“Gyahaha!! Where do you think you’re going, huh?!”

“Kyaa!!”

“!?! Hey!! That’s a woman!! What the hell are you doing!?”

“I know that…!! But she’s a fugitive and a traitor…!! Traitors get executed!!”

“You and this woman are gonna die!! Gyahaha!!”

“……!! Damn it…!!”

Under the overcast sky of the Flower Capital, screams and laughter echo.

Two sounds that should never coexist. Yet in today’s Flower Capital, they’re nothing unusual.

“Uu… p-please… help…!!”

“No can do!! You’re an example!! We gotta show the people what happens when you go against us!!”

“…! That’s horrible…!!”

A townsman who tried to flee is crucified, left to await death through torture, while those who chose not to resist or escape—former citizens of the Flower Capital—are lined up in the square, forced to obey the pirates’ orders, one by one.

“Get in line!! Men are slaves!! Women are whores!! Doesn’t matter if you’re a kid or an old fart!! If you can’t work, you die!!”

“Or hey… how about you join us and try being pirates? Gyahaha… Not that it matters—weaklings die either way!”

“No doubt!! Gyaa-ha-ha-ha!!”

The Flower Capital, once the only prosperous region in Wano ruled by Shogun Kurozumi Orochi, allowed those who could generate wealth to live in luxury.

Unlike the other provinces—desolate, lawless wastelands where people were forced to work in weapons factories—this was the last haven, the last place where a human life could be lived.

But that, too, has ended. The country of Wano was destroyed several months ago.

On the night of the Fire Festival, the one peaceful day of the year where the alcohol ban was lifted and no one was supposed to die…

…everything was crushed by a massive island that fell from the sky. Now, where the Shogun’s castle once stood, a certain something sits atop the wreckage of the town and its people—and that very thing became the name of the new nation.

“This is Pirate Country now!! The weak die!!! The strong—us—rule!!! That’s the law of this land!!!”

“Gold, food, booze!! Houses, lives—it’s all ours!! If you can’t survive, that’s your problem!! Go die in a ditch!!”

“Hahaha… Can’t eat? Starving? Don’t be stupid. We’ve decided—food only goes to those who work!! If it’s still not enough, then how about eating the corpses lying around? Chow down as much as you want!! Cleaning them up was a pain anyway!!”

“Gyaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!”

“……!! This… this is hell…!!”

Pirates, the strong, laugh like beasts—while the weak, innocent citizens bleed and cry.

But don’t mistake this for hell. The name of this new nation is—“New Onigashima.”

It’s the base ruled by the world’s strongest pirate crew, one of the Four Emperors—the Beasts Pirates.

And it was the worst in history… a true Pirate Empire.

---

Still… “first impressions” matter.

“Hah… hah…!! Hurry…!!”

Ignoring the faint gasps of someone nearby, I think to myself. Yes… people’s impressions are based on appearance first. Everything else comes second.

“But my looks are perfect… I mean, I am the cutest in the world, after all.”

That’s right, no problem with my looks. I’m cute. No matter who sees me, I’m an adorable beauty. A fresh, bubbly idol around fifteen years old.

Even my voice is obviously cute. Naturally, my skin is soft and silky. I smell great, too. I’ve got that natural beautiful-girl fragrance. Taste? I don’t know, but probably delicious. The stronger someone is, the better they taste—and I’m ridiculously strong, so there’s no way I’d taste bad.

“In short… I’m a five-senses-level beautiful girl. The world’s cutest. Perfect. From the tips of my toes to the top of my head—even to the ends of my wings—every part of me is made of pure cuteness…”

Yes, I am a flawless beauty, a perfect idol. That’s an undeniable truth.

…Then why… why are there people spreading false rumors about me?

Like I just said—there’s no issue with my looks, my voice, or anything else. Not a single flaw. Even looking in the mirror right now, I see the very embodiment of “cuteness” staring back at me.

That means the issue must lie elsewhere. And though it pains me to admit it, I must accept the truth.

“…If there’s one thing I need to work on… it’s my ‘behavior.’”

Yes—if the embodiment of cuteness that is me has just one tiny, teeny-tiny—like one millimeter—flaw, it’s probably in my behavior.

Think about it: even idols or actresses won’t seem cute if their words aren’t, or if their gestures are crude.

Well, even that can be cute in its own way, and needless to say, no matter what I say or do, I’m still cute… but yeah, I guess lately I’ve been so full of myself that I’ve neglected that area.

“If I can tighten up there… I’ll become the ultimate Nue-chan…”

Yes, I need to focus on the parts I’ve let slide. Starting now, I’ll train myself.

That said, I am a pirate, so it’s only natural if my behavior is a bit… y’know. And even then, it’s not like it’s not cute. When I do something that wouldn’t be cute if anyone else did it—it becomes cute.

Still, as an idol, my everyday behavior… my gestures and such could be refined.

“Alright, let’s start with…”

An arrogant ruler gets taken down—of course, there’s no universe where I’d ever lose in cuteness. But even so, it’s important to never settle and always aim higher.

Whether it’s strength or cuteness, it’s all the same. I’ve always strived for the top.

So this time, I’ll polish myself once more. Spinning around, I flash a cute smile and introduce myself.

“──The fifteen-year-old who wants to be all grown-up ♡ I’m the little-sister-style idol, Nue-chan—Phantom beast Nue～～～～～～～～♡”

Saying that, I push out my hips, lean forward, make a peace sign over my eye, and wink.

Checking myself in the mirror, I hold that smile for a while. Yep, cute as always. Might even be 20% cuter than usual.

But still…

"Hmm... Maybe I should tilt my head a little more this way...?"

I adjust myself little by little in front of the mirror. Striking a pose really changes how you come across, so it's tricky.

The way I talk and act is fine like this... yeah. But maybe just a bit more like—yeah—

"My favorite food, for this super cute me, is... meat♡ And my least favorite is~~~~~~ bugs♡"

"Nue-san!! Lord Kaido is calling—gahh!!?"

"Shut up!!! Don’t just barge in!!!"

—Just as I was rehearsing, a subordinate suddenly slammed open the door and came in, so I greeted him with a barrage of attacks that I held back considerably on. Seriously, rookies these days are hopeless. I know he was in a rush, but to not even knock... clearly he needs more training.

"...Spandam~~~? Don’t you think it’s completely inappropriate to enter a beautiful girl’s room without knocking...?"

"S-S-S-S-Sorry!!! It’s entirely my fault!!! Nue-sama!!!"

"...Well, I’m kind, so I’ll forgive you... but if you do it again, I’ll kill you, okay?"

"H-Ha-ha-ha-bbit!! Ow!! I bit my tongue!! Y-Yes!! U-Understood!!! Of course, Nue-sama!!!"

"So? What do you want?"

I sigh, watching the man try to suck up to me while biting his tongue in sheer terror. This subordinate just joined recently. After the Summit War, he was the first government official to betray them in Mary Geoise—someone I already knew by reputation as being quite a piece of work.

[Beasts Pirates Rookie (Former CP9 Director) Spandam]

"Y-Yes!! L-Lord Kaido said, since it was already time and you weren’t there, to go call you..."

"Huh? Oh, is it that late already? I was so focused I didn’t notice. …But really, why’d you come running all the way here? You could’ve just used a Den-Den Mushi or a Smail to call me."

"Th-That’s just it! None of them were connecting!! Look, see—huh?"

Spandam takes out his Smail and tries calling my number… but the ringtone comes blaring from my pocket. Silence falls. He probably dialed the wrong number.

But the awkwardness and that brief pause in the air were so funny that I couldn’t help but laugh.

"Ahahaha!! You called the wrong number!! Spandam, you really are such an idiot!!"

"Ugh… Y-Yeah… looks like I messed up… hahaha..."

"Yup yup!! But being funny’s a good thing!! —Alright, let’s go!!"

"Y-Yes…!! (Damn it… why the hell does the great me have to be running errands like this…!!)"

"Hmm~? You wouldn’t happen to be complaining about something, would you?"

"N-N-Noooo!! Not at all, Nue-sama!!! Let’s go right away!!!"

Maybe it’s just my Observation Haki playing tricks on me, but Spandam seemed a little disgruntled, so I decided to threaten him a bit. He's fun to mess with. His reactions make it worth the effort. He’s a total weakling, but because he’s amusing, he’s got more going for him than your average grunt. Not bad for someone to toy with. And I do need more manpower. Even small fry can be useful if you have enough of them.

With that, I leave my room and head out from the castle to the castle town—since I’ve got plans today!!

---

Castle town of "New Onigashima."

Once a lively city known as the Flower Capital, the town is now on the verge of being reborn as an even livelier paradise under pirate rule.

"Mmm, such a great view."

I take in the scenery that changed after the New Onigashima Project a few months ago.

I didn’t dislike the old castle and town layout—in fact, I liked them. The air, the water, the food of Wano all suit me. I’ve been to a lot of islands, but this place really feels the most like home.

So yeah, it’s a bit of a shame that it had to change. But being able to reshape things to my own taste is fun. Though the town around the castle was partially destroyed during the New Onigashima Project a few months ago, the restoration is already more than halfway done.

"Gyahaha!! Hey, this house over here is—huh?"

"Whoa!! It’s Nue-san!!"

"Heeey everyone♡ Having fun?"

While walking down the street, my subordinates notice me. The area near the castle, which we’ve named "Gokuraku Town," is where the Beasts Pirates live and enjoy themselves.

The ones drinking in front of those fancy residences aren’t just grunts. They’re my Headliners. Some Gifters too. They’re our core force, and we treat them accordingly. We’re a lot closer than with the underlings. As soon as I speak, they get lively and respond right away.

"Of course, Nue-san!!"

"Hey Nue-san!! Come check out my house!!"

"Come by mine too!!"

"Nue-san!! Won’t you drink with us!?"

"If I feel like it, I’ll stop by♪ I’ve got plans with Kaido now though."

I keep walking, waving at the Headliners with a flutter of my hand, turning down their invites with a smile and a "maybe next time?" Honestly, being popular is tough. When everyone likes you this much, even just turning down offers gets exhausting. I drink with them when I’ve got free time, but today’s a no-go. I walk down Jigoku Street with the rookies and my personal subordinates in tow.

Before long, I spot the place we’re headed for. It’s the building at the center of all the construction our carpenters are working on. And sitting out front on a massive beam of wood, guzzling from a gourd, is my partner—and now the undisputed strongest man in the world.

["Emperor" Beasts Pirates Governor-General "Kaido of the Beasts" – Bounty: 5,111,000,000 Berries]

"……!! Urrrp… Oi, Nue!! You’re late!!!"

"Sorry, sorry!! I got distracted admiring how cute I was."

"You’re the one who set the time!! And that’s the excuse you’re going with…!?"

"Hmph, that’s not a dumb excuse at all. Me being cute is a perfectly valid reason. And it’s only a few minutes! Don’t be such a whiny little guy over that!!"

As Kaido grumbles, downing his booze and complaining about me being late, I shoot back that he’s being too nitpicky. Kaido’s serious like that. Big guy, but he fusses over the smallest things. And he’s already started drinking… well, that’s nothing new, so whatever.

"…Tch… Who was it that used to go ballistic over people being late, huh…"

"You say something?"

"Nothing... Anyway, what the hell’s this building? Explain it, Nue."

"Huh? You can tell just by looking, can’t you?"

Kaido grumbles some more, then gestures toward the building behind him and asks about it. But seriously, you can tell just by looking. There’s even a sign. Why is he asking?

Then Kaido suddenly yells:

"That’s not what I meant!!! Why the hell did you build a damn YAKINIKU RESTAURANT!?"

"Yup!" I said, pointing at the sign. It was a big four-story building. Above an entrance wide enough for even Kaido to walk through, it read: "Nue-chan’s Yakiniku Restaurant ♡", complete with a cute illustration of my face. Nothing weird about it—at least, that’s what I thought… but I guess I should explain.

"Huh? What's wrong with a barbecue joint? I love meat, and I’ve always wanted to open a place I produced myself~~♡ Fufun, impressive, right?"

"…Who the hell’s gonna use a restaurant? This is a pirate town."

"It’s a special treat from Nue-chan, so any pirate under our banner can eat all the delicious meat they want!! It’s basically a mess hall, but you know… it adds to the town’s vibe!! Even Onigashima had brothels and stuff set up all the time!!"

"Well, yeah, but…"

"Right?! So today, we’re celebrating the grand opening! Food and booze, right here!! —Come on, newbies, don’t be shy! Get inside, get inside!!"

I walked into the shop with Kaido, who gave a small sigh, and motioned the subordinates and newcomers I’d brought along to follow. Parties are more fun with a big crowd. Besides our usual crew, I’d invited the new recruits too—not just Spandam.

"Welcome, everyone ♡ Our girls will show you to your seats."

"Wahaha!! That’s right, Kyoshiro!! Get in here!! I’ve got some damn good sake just for today to celebrate us becoming brothers!!"

From the Tobi Roppo, the strongest of the Headliners, came Black Maria and Sasaki. They’d brought a bunch of courtesans and former crew members with them, but between them were two new recruits.

Beasts Pirates Headliner “Red Flag” X Drake

"…Excuse me."

Beasts Pirates Headliner “Dozing Kyoshiro”

"…Then I’ll gladly take you up on the offer."

"Oh my, the newbies are so stiff. No need to be that nervous♡"

"What’s with you, Kyoshiro? Nervous or something? Not like you."

"…Yeah… I mean, well… standing in front of Lord Kaido and Lady Nue is… something else…"

"………"

Neither Drake nor Kyoshiro cracked even a hint of a smile. They were the guests of honor today. Promising new blood we expected to wreak havoc for us down the line, so I brought them here to build some rapport. —Oh, and Spandam too, technically. Not that anyone cares.

Anyway, this little dinner was also to make up for not giving the newbies much attention during the Golden Kagura festivities. Since I told Kaido I wanted to have drinks with the rookies, he took his seat at the head and leaned toward me.

"Oi, what about those two?"

"Hm? Oh, those two? I did invite them, you know? But they’re even more uptight than these two, or maybe just bloodthirsty? They seemed eager to get back to work, so they went off on an expedition. —Right, Joker?"

"Indeed. I’ve sent both of them out on a mission."

"!"

Replying to Kaido’s question—and taking it a step further—was our All-Star who had just joined us at the shop. A beautiful woman flanked by the Marys, our surveillance squad. At her entrance, both new recruits visibly twitched.

Beasts Pirates All-Star “Joker of the War-Torn” — Bounty: 1.74 Billion Berries

"Right now, there’s a lot to handle both in and outside of ‘New Onigashima’... So those craving glory are diving into their work headfirst, and honestly, it’s been a great help♡"

"Yeah! Whether it’s catching samurai or expanding our turf, now’s the time to cash in!! Normally, there’s no way anyone would turn down my invitation, but they’re doing it for our sake, so we’ve gotta forgive them, right?"

"I see. Then it’s fine. Sounds like the rookies are doing a good job too... Was planning to reward them today... but guess that’ll have to wait. Joker, good work to you too."

"Exactly!! Joker-chan’s been working so hard!! Eat and drink your fill today!!"

"Thank you kindly♡ Such gracious words..."

At our words, Joker offered a graceful bow with a soft smile.

As she took her seat beside me, Black Maria, seated next to Kaido, glanced over at her.

"Joker… so you came back. I thought I was finally going to have Lord Kaido and Lady Nue all to myself…!!"

"Oh dear, my apologies. But considering how exhausted you must be from all those back-to-back missions, why not take a break? I’ll keep Kaido-san and Nue-san company♡"

"No need to worry about me. But perhaps you should rest?"

"Knock it off, you two… don’t start a fight at the drinking table."

"Yes, yes, cut it out, both of you. No fighting… over me♡"

"Ugh… So cute…♡"

"As expected of Nue-san…♡ Even more adorable than before…♡"

"She just winked once… You two are way too easy…"

With a sharp, batcon wink from me, Joker, Black Maria, and all the courtesans and servers under our wing melted, their eyes turning into hearts. Fufufu, naturally. Even Hancock’s Mero Mero no Mi can’t top my cuteness. Sasaki looked exasperated, but come on—deep down, he’s totally a fan too. That tsundere.

Now, while Joker and Black Maria—the queens of hospitality—were squabbling, today was my day to host. I did produce the place, after all. That makes me the organizer, doesn’t it?

"Come on, eat whatever you like!! My producer-certified restaurant’s got top-tier beef, pork, chicken, fish, veggies, and booze!!"

"As expected of Nue-san♡"

"By the way, I built the place♡"

"Yep yep, thanks again, Black Maria♪"

"The booze? Some of it’s brewed by yours truly!! …That said, Nue-san… we’re only talking beef, pork, chicken, and fish for the meat, right?"

"Oh, there’s all kinds! Wild game like boar and deer, of course, plus exotic stuff like crocodile and elephant... Ah, and my top recommendation!! The ‘Nue-chan Special’!! A mysterious, top-grade meat!! Wanna try?"

"Yeah… I’ll pass."

Sasaki turned her down flat, dead serious. Ahh, I figured. It’s a bit of an acquired taste, but it’s really good! For the record, my number one recommendation is the Nue-chan Full Course Set, featuring every type of meat. I’ve eaten tons of meat in my life, and I hand-picked the best of the best for this full course. It’s the most prominently displayed item on the wall menu. Of course I’d recommend it—it’s my fave!

—Oh right, besides Black Maria, who built the place, and Sasaki, who provides the booze, I had help from a bunch of my adorable crew.

Ulti-chan handled the veggies. Pe-tan took care of the fish. Who’s Who handled the main meat selection, and we even have his logo painted on the wall. Right beside it is a photo of King with his arms crossed, next to the words “I made this.” Okay, I wrote that myself, but still. He did help plan and cook some of the menu. Officially, he’s the head chef. So if someone yells “Bring me the chef!” King’ll show up. I set it up that way ‘cause it’s funny. King didn’t seem to mind either, so it’s fine.

"Well, order whatever you like!! Here's to cute little Nue-chan and the grand opening of Nue-chan’s yakiniku restaurant!! And while we’re at it—cheers to the newcomers too~~~!!!"

"The newcomers are just an afterthought, huh."

Still, we all raise our drinks for a toast. Kaido throws in a casual jab, but I don’t mind. Toast speeches in settings like this are usually pretty sloppy anyway. If it were a proper grand banquet, we’d do things right, but today’s just a casual gathering. I down my drink in one gulp and start the conversation.

“Pwah!! Man—our crew’s gotten huge again, hasn’t it?! We’ve got ten thousand samurai!! Three of the Supernova joined us too, and even a government spy’s on board!!!”

“Worororo!! Can’t have too much military strength!! And New Onigashima’s shaping up nicely as a capital too!!”

“Totally!! The alliance with Linlin’s going smoothly too… Yamato’s still on his honeymoon, right? Joker?”

“Yes. They’re scheduled to spend about a month over there… then spend several more months in Totto Land, and return afterward.”

“Nice, nice. Then by the time they get back, New Onigashima should be fully established as a nation!”

“Yeah. We’re building weapon factories in each district, and the capital’s almost done. Make sure the harbor and the fortress atop the waterfall are handled, Black Maria!!”

“Of course♡ I’ll be working with Queen to speed up the construction as much as possible♡ If all goes well, the major works should be done in about three more months…”

Drinking with grilled meat, getting poured sake by Joker, and chatting about how good things have been lately—it all feels right. Ever since we started the New Onigashima Project, everything’s been going our way.

The capital’s already about 80% finished, and the harbor and fortress are just a matter of time now.

“We’ve rounded up most of the rebel scum too. All that’s left are a few bandits and villages to wipe out… oh! Maybe we should let the newbies handle that?”

“Worororo!! Sounds good!! Hey, Drake!! Kyoshiro!! Either of you feel like handling it, go for it!!”

“!”

“…That is…”

The newcomers have been pulling their weight. We’ve already been giving them minor missions, and so far, no issues. Capturing the remaining samurai survivors in the country is just a matter of time now, so it’s safe to entrust them with this.

—That is, unless they’re… traaaaaiiiitoooors♡

“! Kaido-san!! Nue-san!! In that case, let Kyoshiro handle it!!”

“…! Oi, Sasaki…”

“Kyoshiro, huh. Yeah… considering you were Orochi’s top retainer, even someone like ‘Ashura Doji’ shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Ahaha, true. You’re still super close with Kyoshiro, huh, Sasaki?”

“Don’t tease me, Nue-san!! He’s got what it takes!! With Kyoshiro’s strength, he’d make a damn fine Flying Six!! Way more useful than that Kozuki tramp, Komurasaki!!”

“…! You’re overestimating me, Sasaki. I’m still new here—hardly worthy of the Flying Six…”

“Wahaha, don’t be modest, Kyoshiro. If you’re my sworn brother, you’d better aim that high!! Come on, drink up!!”

“There you go saying reckless things again.”

Drake and Kyoshiro had been hesitant about the job, but Sasaki stepped up and recommended Kyoshiro. As expected from someone who calls him a best friend—they’re seriously close. Honestly, it’s rare. You can really feel how genuine their bond is.

Especially since Sasaki recommending someone for a position like Flying Six is basically unheard of. The fact he’s willing to vouch this strongly—for Kyoshiro only—says a lot.

Their relationship’s gotten even tighter since Kyoshiro became one of our Shinuchi and was officially named Sasaki’s sworn brother. At least, Sasaki definitely sees it that way.

But… he’s a traitor, y’know? With how close they are, I almost feel bad about eventually having to tell him. Poor guy’s gonna be crushed. Might even lose it. Though, I’ll admit, a revenge-fueled fight between a betrayed Sasaki and a vengeful Kyoshiro could be fun to watch. Guess we’ll see when I show him the evidence someday.

Also… there’s another potential traitor here. I turned to that one too.

“…Alright then, we’ll leave the ‘Ashura’ case to Kyoshiro… and the village purge to Drake, sound good?”

“! …Purge the village… you mean there are rebels there?”

—X Drake. One of the Supernova who once made headlines across the seas. A peculiar pirate with a past as a former Navy officer.

He joined us and immediately became a Shinuchi. Well, strength-wise, no complaints. His Haki’s still underdeveloped, but his ability is one of the many ancient Zoans we’ve got: the Ryu Ryu no Mi, model Allosaurus. He’s definitely Flying Six or even All-Star material in the future.

He listens to the job briefing with that usual dour face, refusing drinks from the courtesans.

“As far as I can tell with Observation Haki, yeah. Looks like a few dozen samurai escaped the capital… oh, and while you’re at it, bring back the swordsmith and the little girl too♡”

“Swordsmith and… little girl?”

“Yep! There’s a swordsmith named Tenguyama Hitetsu and a little girl named O-Tama in Amigasa Village. She’s a Devil Fruit user. Capture both of them and bring them straight to me!!”

I gave the order while chewing my meat. I mean, if he’s one of the Supernova, this level of mission should be fine. A few dozen samurai is just the right challenge. He should win, but it won’t be a cakewalk.

I could go myself, sure… but if I do everything myself, I’d just be stealing my underlings’ achievements. Not a good look. King would give me crap for it. Though Sono would be thrilled since it means less work for him.

That’s why I try not to move unless it’s a really important job—well, I try. If I can’t resist, I’ll still go!! Same for Kaido. Suppressing your instincts is bad. If you wanna go wild, then go wild. If there’s someone you wanna kill, go kill ’em. Leave what you can to your subordinates, but if you’ve got the time and urge, then hey.

“Oi, Nue. You trying to bring another kid into our crew?”

“Mmm, something like that♡ Seems like she’s got potential!!”

“Well, if you’re saying that, then she probably does…”

“What I’m curious about… is where you learned she was a Devil Fruit user.”

“That’s a secret♡ Mystery and the unknown are part of my charm♡ —Anyway, Drake!! Make sure to show that village how scary we can be!! Show them what happens to rebels and traitors!! Utterly!! Thoroughly!!”

“—The swordsmith and the child with powers, right. Understood. I’ll head out later.”

Drake nodded instantly. Hmmm, not even a flicker of doubt, no slip-ups either. Unlike Kyoshiro, who’s acting a little off, Drake doesn’t seem to hold any grudge against us. Just business as usual.

Though, in Drake’s case, we don’t really know if he’s a spy or not. He did wipe out the Navy. Still not sure if he’s in contact with the new government. I made those anti-traitor remarks earlier partly as a warning to everyone here… ah, speaking of traitors, that girl comes to mind. Joker must’ve been thinking of the same person, because she turned to me and said:

“Oh dear, so scary… By the way, are we still letting the ‘Pirate Empress’ roam free?”

“Ahhh, you mean Hancock-chan? She’s finished moving, so for now, we’re letting her rampage around the New World for our benefit!! Worst-case scenario, we’re close to Amazon Lily now, so we can just wipe out the whole island if we have to!!”

“Fufufu… Understood. I’ll have someone keep a covert eye on her—Fukurokuju.”

“—Hah.”

“!”

When I said that, Joker immediately caught my intent and moved to issue orders to initiate surveillance. The one who appeared at his call, as if from nowhere, was one of Joker’s subordinates—a tall-headed ninja who had become a top-ranking member of the Beasts Pirates’ Marys.

“Headliner of the Beasts Pirates (Former Leader of the Oniwabanshu): Fukurokuju”

“I’ve already dispatched several kunoichi to the former location of Onigashima, now Amazon Lily.”

“Good work♡ You’re as fast as ever—it’s a huge help.”

“No… I’m honored.”

“Ah, Fukurokuju!! If you’re here, you should’ve joined us!! You’re a new recruit just like Hotei and Kyoshiro, aren’t you?!”

“I appreciate the invitation, but I still have much to do. I’d like to focus on my duties… and I’ve also begun training with the Devil Fruit you granted me recently.”

“I see~ Well, good luck!! It seems like a perfect fit for a ninja! I’ll be looking forward to the day you master it!!”

“Yes. Both Lord Kaido and Lady Nue have treated us Oniwabanshu most generously. We’re deeply grateful.”

“Oooh, no need to be so formal, Fukurokuju. You samurai and ninja are vital assets for what’s to come. Enjoy yourself.”

“Do your best♡”

“Yes. Now then, I shall take my leave.”

With a soft dron, Fukurokuju respectfully bowed and vanished in an instant. That uncanny elusiveness of his… Though I can detect him, it still takes quite a bit of focus to sense a ninja’s presence. Their techniques are really something. They’d be such a pain to deal with as enemies.

That said, I don’t think the Oniwabanshu or the Mimawarigumi are likely to betray us now. Orochi was thoroughly finished off by Hiyori-chan, and I doubt they’d dare turn on us after all this time. They know better than anyone just how terrifying we are, and how long we’ve worked together.

“Worororo…!! The distribution of the Devil Fruits is complete… and we’ve captured the Mermaid Princess…!! Now all that remains is the Road Poneglyph…!!”

“Ahh~ Are you really bringing that up in front of the newbies~? —Well, I guess it’s fine!! For now, we’ll wait for the Mermaid Princess to awaken… As for the Road Poneglyph, the problem is we don’t know where the last one is… I’m guessing it’s one of two groups who have it.”

As Kaido, in high spirits from drinking, casually brought it up, I nodded. While the topic was pretty sensitive—practically the core of our future plans—it wasn’t too risky to mention at this level. Even if someone overheard, it wouldn’t matter much. Most of it’s already known to those in the know. And we don’t intend to say anything truly critical anyway. Kaido knows that too.

“The ‘New Government’ or ‘Red-Hair’… or is there still a chance Linlin kept one hidden?”

“Mmm, that’d be the easiest possibility, but probably not. If I had to bet… the most suspicious one is Red-Hair. He’s the shadiest. I won’t rule out the New Government either, but… if they do have it, I think we could still manage.”

“Then it’s most likely in the hardest place to reach.”

“Would’ve been nice if it were in the Holy Land… but nope. We searched during the raid, and all we found were treasures and some Devil Fruits.”

The final piece needed to rule the world—the Road Poneglyph. There are four stones in total. One’s already in our possession. One is with Linlin, and that one’s easy to get. Another can be tracked with a Vivre Card—so we can get that in two years.

And the last one… Based on everything I know, I’d figured it was in the Holy Land, Mary Geoise. We searched thoroughly during the raid, but only found valuables and Devil Fruits.

Still, I kept considering the Holy Land as a high-probability location. The fact that the Gorosei and those above them are missing… that Vegapunk is gone… and there are signs that something important was taken away.

And most importantly… If I assume the Straw Hat Crew will become the Pirate King, then one of the Poneglyphs must be wherever they go next.

After Wano, the most likely destinations are several. Places they haven’t visited yet… like Hachinosu, the pirate island we have fond memories of, or Elbaf, the land of giants in Warland. There’s also Lodestar Island—unlikely, but possible.

And… Mary Geoise. In the canon I know, many major incidents occur there, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Straw Hats and the World Government don’t clash.

The World Government forbids travel to Laugh Tale, so it makes sense they’d hold a stone to prevent access.

Of course, the stone could also be in Elbaf, and the Straw Hats could end up opposing the World Government after becoming Pirate King. That’s possible. But if I think about the worst-case scenario for us… then the stone is in the hands of the World Government, and the Gorosei took it somewhere.

And the one hiding them… is Red-Hair. That’s the most troublesome and inconvenient possibility. I don’t know if it’s because of him or someone who ran to him, but now even Buggy is starting to be a real nuisance… It’s fun and interesting, but also a pain.

—Still, it doesn’t change what we need to do. I grabbed a bunch of grilled meat all at once with my chopsticks, chewed it thoroughly in my mouth, then swallowed and said:

“—Well, we’re going to kill everyone anyway, so it doesn’t really matter who has it, right?♡”

“Worororo!! So all your predictions don’t mean a damn thing in the end!!”

“Ahh, so mean!! You wouldn’t have gotten the Mermaid Princess so easily without me!!”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Your hunches are always spot-on… We’ll stay cautious around Red-Hair, just in case… Got that, Joker?”

“Of course. Leave it to me.”

“I’m counting on you!! Joker!!”

I asked Joker, who handles intelligence, to keep an eye on Red-Hair. Like I said, we’re going to defeat everyone anyway. Still, we do need to locate what we’re looking for. Kaido and the others trust my insights and knowledge, but I can’t say how far they’ll take us going forward. It’s best to collect accurate, up-to-date intel from this world. If I know what’s currently going on, I can match it with what I know—and if I tell Joker or other smart people who handle information better than I do, we’re more likely to find the right answer.

But still… Even though we’re already the strongest pirate crew in the world, we haven’t achieved total domination yet. We need to further strengthen our forces. It’ll take time to gather information. We also need to empower our current strength, and that means handing out some rewards too.

“Still, Joker, the other ‘All-Stars’… the ‘Tobi Roppo,’ and all our Headliners—everyone’s working so hard♡ I need to think of some more rewards. Gotta add some extra to their pay too!!”

“Fufu, you flatter me♡ Lady Nue always makes things easier for us.”

“Money’s fine and all, but if I’m getting a reward, I want the right to challenge for the title of ‘All-Star’!! Lady Nue!!”

“Oh my, now that sounds fun. Maybe I should try for Joker’s spot myself♡”

“Fufufu… You’d best know your place.”

“Promotion, huh? Everyone wants that, huh~♪ Drake, Kyoshiro, you’d prefer that over money too, right?”

“…I’ll take whatever I can get.”

"...I have yet to accomplish anything worthy of a promotion, so I believe it would be too much for someone like me to handle..."

"I-I’d also like to get promoted if possible!! Not just stay a low-ranking grunt!! Nue-san!!"

...Well, I knew it already, but still—our crew really does have a lot of people who want to climb the ranks. Actually, everyone’s like that. Once you gain status, everything else you might want naturally follows.

Even newcomers like the current Spandam—weaklings with no real power—join the mighty Beasts Pirates to back the winning horse. They want strength so they can do whatever they please.

To that end, they eat SMILEs to gain power and climb higher... trying to become Gifters, or even aiming to grow stronger, rack up achievements, and become Shinuchi.

The Shinuchi try to get promoted to the Tobi Roppo, and every Tobi Roppo is gunning for the position of All-Star. Even if they’ve given up on becoming Pirate King, their ambition for higher status hasn’t faded. That hunger for strength, that drive to rise, and that fierce will to win—those are common traits in the Beasts Pirates. Precisely because they aim higher, a lot of them don’t want to answer to anyone—there are even guys who say the only ones they'll take orders from are Kaido and me.

Well, we made the crew that way, so that’s fine. The strong deserve to be on top, and since we’re pirates, if you’ve got the power, then pride and ambition are more than welcome. Hierarchy doesn’t need to be all that rigid, either.

So when it comes to rewards, naturally, promotion is what excites them the most... Though promotions up to Shinuchi are fine, the slots above Tobi Roppo are already pretty full. If we hand them out too freely, it cheapens their value. That said, we’ve had more strong Shinuchi rise recently, and some of the Tobi Roppo have accomplished a lot too. I’ve been thinking it’s about time we give them a shot.

"...Hehe, yeah, you’re right. Maybe I’ll give it a little thought. You’re okay with that, Kaido?"

"...You’re planning something again, aren’t you?"

"What do you think about holding a little event? A lot of people have made achievements lately, so we might as well throw a large-scale promotion event~♪"

I asked Kaido. Technically, promotions and such get decided after discussing with him, but that mostly applies to the All-Stars and Tobi Roppo. For anything lower, like Shinuchi, Kaido leaves it to the All-Stars and doesn’t get involved. I don’t usually butt in either unless it’s something big. For anything Tobi Roppo and up, I’m the one with sharper Observation Haki and the better eye for strength, so I make the recommendations, and Kaido gives the final approval.

That’s why, whenever I mention someone has potential or bring up the topic of promotion, everyone’s eyes light up. Sasaki and Black Maria reacted to my words, too.

And once Kaido nods to what I say—well, at that point, it’s basically official.

"Sounds good to me. Go ahead. Could be an entertaining event."

"Okay~♡ Then, since calling everyone together now is tough, let’s save it for the next Golden Kagura. We'll have a martial tournament... with Shinuchi promotions, Shinuchi earning the right to challenge the Tobi Roppo, and Tobi Roppo fighting for the chance to challenge the All-Stars—"

I spoke while thinking aloud.

To honor my subordinates, to reward their strength... to create an opportunity for them to aim higher and grow even stronger—we’ll hold a large-scale tournament before the higher-ups. A spectacle.

That way, I can decide the matchups myself... maybe have that guy and that girl face off, and see some interesting scenes. It’ll give all sorts of people a chance to grow... and maybe even flush out a traitor. It’s a clear and direct way to give our crew a shot at promotion.

It’s a good idea, I thought, and I declared its launch. As for the name—let’s see...

“Maybe I’ll go ahead and call it... the Beasts Cup♡”

"!!!"

As the gathered subordinates widened their eyes, I felt a swell of excitement—thinking this could become the perfect festival to mark the first Golden Kagura since the start of New Onigashima.