Chapter 43: The Voice of the New World

——That place… was the latter half of the world that countless sailors—pirates—aspired to reach.

To even enter that route, half would sink at Reverse Mountain. And of those who survived to enter the Grand Line, another half would drop out before completing the first half of the journey.

Then, only about 30% would make it to Fish-Man Island, the midpoint resting at the ocean floor 10,000 meters below. The remaining 70% wouldn’t even reach it.

The sea that only those who overcame this brutal survival race could finally arrive at… was the latter half of the Grand Line—the New World.

——The New World.

This was a sea where the influence of the World Government and the Marines was thin.

Of course, it wasn’t a complete lawless zone—there were nations affiliated with the World Government and Marine G-branches. These countries maintained proper military forces, and in some cases, even sought the Marines’ aid. And pirates, for that matter, didn’t just go around mindlessly destroying every island they came across.

But the government wouldn’t act for civilians, and neither would the Marines. In the New World, where ruthless pirates reigned supreme, the Marines were just another faction—no more significant than any other.

For pirates, it should’ve been paradise. A true utopia… but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

For the strong, the New World was heaven. They could claim vast territories and rule over them like kings.

But half the pirates who made it here would either lose everything and die… or flee back to the real "paradise"—the first half of the Grand Line.

Countless rookies arrived seeking adventure, fame, power, or riches—but only a handful survived long enough to claim them. The New World’s elite pirates monopolized it all. To take anything, you had to fight for it. And in the end, most lost everything in the struggle.

The only way to survive was to swear allegiance to one of the legendary pirates who already ruled these seas.

Like "Golden Lion" Shiki—the fleet admiral reigning over dozens of pirate crews, said to be aiming for world domination.

Like "Big Mom"—a ruler of nations, steadily expanding her territory across the New World.

Like "Whitebeard"—though his domain was smaller, his overwhelming personal strength and the power of his sworn crew made him a force feared by even the mightiest pirates.

And then there were those like "Roger"—a pirate who sailed freely across the world, claiming no territory, yet whose sheer strength allowed him to crush even the most notorious pirates. None could rival him except Whitebeard, and he too was counted among the New World’s greatest rulers.

The battle for supremacy among these titans was fierce, leaving no room for newcomers.

But even in these turbulent seas, there were rare gaps—occasional rookies who, despite their small numbers, carved out a name for themselves.

These outliers were called the "eyes of the storm," catching the attention of the great pirates themselves.

Just like… today’s newspaper.

"Zehahahaha… So they finally made it, huh? Those damn rookies…!"

On a summer island in the New World, where tall palm trees swayed, stood the base of a legendary pirate—one who flew the flag of the "Lion’s Skull."

A man with wild golden hair like a lion’s mane, two legendary swords at his waist, and a cigar between his teeth—a pirate so infamous, the whole world knew his name.

The admiral of the Golden Lion Pirates… Shiki.

Right now, he was grinning at the newspaper in his hands. The headline read:

——The Beasts Pirates Storm the New World!!——A Threat Great Enough to Wipe Out an Entire Nation!!

Seemed like they’d caused trouble the moment they arrived… but Shiki just laughed. Typical of those lunatics.

As he pondered what to do next—frantic footsteps and a panicked voice interrupted.

"Boss!! Boss, it’s bad!!"

"Yeah? What’s got you so worked up?"

"It’s…! One of our ships—the one carrying the new recruits—was sunk! By those Beasts Pirates bastards!!"

"! …Zehaha… Still as crazy as ever, huh? Not even scared of my flag."

"H-Huh? What do you—?"

"Nothin’. Just some old acquaintances. I was plannin’ to pay ‘em a visit soon anyway… So let ‘em be for now."

"You’re going yourself…? Understood."

And just like that, Shiki brushed off the loss of one of his ships. His empire wasn’t so fragile that something like this would shake it.

No rage. No retaliation.

Just a single thought—

Sooner or later… I’ll make even them bow to me.

---

The New World – A Certain Island

"Kaido and Nue…!! HA~HAHAHAHAHA!! Took you damn long enough to show up…!!"

"Those two are as batshit crazy as ever…"

At a tea party in front of a massive, half-built castle, a certain female pirate grinned wildly as she read the newspaper alongside her crew and children.

This was none other than "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin, a legendary pirate who would destroy entire nations for sweets—a former crewmate of the two now making headlines.

The Beasts Pirates had been stirring up trouble for a while, but this was their first major incident in the New World. Meaning they’d finally arrived.

Perospero, the eldest son of the Charlotte family, grimaced openly. But he wasn’t the only one—most of the older siblings wore similar expressions. Even as children, they remembered. They couldn’t forget. Kaido was one thing, but Nue in particular had… played with them when they were much younger.

And among them, even the youngest—still a minor yet already a wanted criminal, the Charlotte family’s finest masterpiece—reacted.

"Tch… So they’re finally here…"

"? What’s wrong, Katakuri?"

"…Nothing."

The boy, Katakuri, pressed a hand to his temple, his usual stoic expression cracking ever so slightly into something like irritation.

---

Elsewhere in the New World…

"They wiped out a whole country!!"

"Heh. Sounds like a real mess. Just like our captains!"

"Dumbass! Our captains and first mate are way stronger! Right, Gabban?!"

"Hah. Kaido and Nue, huh… So, what do you think?"

On the deck of their ship, a straw-hatted redhead and a round-nosed boy bickered over the news. The sunglasses-wearing man sharpening his axe—Scopper Gabban—tossed the question to the two figures nearby.

"It’s been years since we last saw ‘em… Judging by their bounties, they’ve gotten a lot stronger."

"Yeah…! Can’t wait to fight ‘em!! WAHHAHAHA!!"

The calm analysis came from "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh, flipping through the bounty posters tucked in the paper.

And the man eagerly looking forward to a reunion? The freest—and most feared—pirate on these seas: "Gold Roger" Gol D. Roger.

---

And Yet Another…

A certain legendary pirate frowned at the same news.

"—Old man!! These guys…!!"

"Yeah… Damn it, they never learn…!"

On the deck of the Moby Dick, a ship shaped like a white whale, "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate rubbed his temples as his sons gathered around. So they’ve finally made it to the New World.

Between this and the recent disappearance of a World Government-affiliated royal family—along with several fish-men and merfolk—things were getting too damn suspicious. Whitebeard usually enjoyed sailing carefree, but lately, he’d had plenty to worry about.

---

Meanwhile, Among the Civilians…

As the New World’s pirates took note of the Beasts Pirates’ arrival, its ordinary citizens could only pray one thing:

"Please… don’t let the same thing happen to us."

---

The New World's Seas Are Brutal.

A sea of fire. Rain of lightning. Islands floating in the sky. Islands turned upside down. Incomprehensible phenomena, impossible weather. Mysterious and deadly creatures—threats to life were everywhere.

…But for us? It was nothing new. We’d rampaged through these waters before.

Back then, every enemy was strong—every fight brought us to the brink of death. And that was fun. This was the ultimate sea, the only place worthy of real pirates.

But so far, the trash we’d run into at the entrance? Pathetic.

"P-Please, spare us…!! We ain’t got no beef with you…!!"

A whimpering voice echoed across the dim, choppy waters. The ones begging were the pirates we’d tied up on deck—currently being entertained by our crew.

Our torture-loving executive, King, glanced at our captain.

"—Hmph. They’re begging. What’ll it be, Kaido?"

My partner, standing beside me, grabbed one by the throat and snarled.

"Worthless trash… You die first. Weaklings got no place here."

"Ghk—?! W-Wait, hold on!! If you kill us, Golden Lion Shiki won’t let this slide…!!"

"Y-Yeah…! We’re newbies, but we’re still part of his fleet!! You mess with us, and—"

"And what?! AND WHAT, HUH?!?!"

"G-Gah… Aah…!!"

They thought name-dropping Shiki would save them. Did they really think we didn’t know what would happen if we crossed him?

Of course we knew. We used to sail together. Shiki was strong—a real threat. Right now? We couldn’t take him.

But that didn’t mean we’d bow to some bottom-feeder’s threats. Not me. And definitely not Kaido, whose grip was crushing the pirate’s windpipe beside me.

"Tch. That bastard Shiki…! Always lookin’ down on people…!"

"He is kinda funny, though~. But honestly? Doubt he’d start a war over some newbies and one sunk ship~~~… Eh, either way, you’re already dead meat. Bye-bye~♡"

"Wha—?! Y-You idiots, don’t—"

"MUAHAHA!! EXECUTION TIME~~~~♪"

Queen and the others got to work. Some died by his sadistic machines. Others burned under King’s flames. I lounged back, laughing as the show unfolded.

"Ahaha! So cool~♪ But man, these guys were way too weak. Kinda wanted a real fight, y’know? Om nom♡"

"The entrance of the New World doesn’t always have strong opponents."

"Heard lots just turn tail and run. —Oh, want a pork bun?"

"I’ll pass."

I pouted (not really) and kept munching, using S-snake’s lap as a pillow. Warm, juicy, delicious—why did no one ever take me up on sharing? Only Kaido ever did. Then again, he knew what was safe to eat around me.

(Being a Zoan carnivore had perks—enhanced digestion, poison resistance. I’d tested it. Surviving stupid shit? That’s what Animal Types do. Toughness for days.)

Not that it mattered here. The moment we entered the New World, Kaido and I went wild.

Which, as S-snake dryly pointed out—

"Did you really have to destroy a country right off the bat? You’ll be fine?"

"Pfft! That was nothing!"

"Tch. Boring as hell. Wrecking that Marine base after was way more fun."

"…Fufufu. Well, at least someone’s happy."

"Huh?"

"The hell?"

S-snake smirked—well, I think she did. Hard to tell from this angle, my head buried in her thighs. (Why are all the beauties in this world so damn stacked?!)

"That island had two nations. The one you crushed was winning a war against the other. So… the survivors? They’re thanking you."

"What the hell is that…? Sounds like total crap to me."

"Ohh, so that’s what it was… In that case, maybe I should’ve visited the other country too and basked in the hero treatment while I was at it."

"Exactly! If I’d gone too, I probably would’ve become a star over there. Super popular, totally irresistible—"

"—Oh yeah, wasn't pork their local specialty? Then I’m sure you’d be real popular, alright."

"What the hell’s that supposed to mean, King?!"

Ah, there they go again—King and Queen fighting. And of course, the crew’s keeping a little distance. I mean, even if it's just a shouting match, it’s these two. Can’t blame them for being cautious.

But more importantly, what comes next?

"Hey, Stussy. How much farther to the island?"

"Hmm… a day or two, maybe. It’s not too far off."

"Hmm~~ Got it… In that case, I think I’ll hit the hay for today. Stussy, wanna go to the bath~?"

"Sure. —If you’ll excuse me?"

"Yeah. —Alright, you lot, party’s over."

With Kaido’s words, the usual combo of party and execution for the enemy pirates who crashed the celebration comes to an end. Stussy and I get up to head back inside the ship, but then King responds to what he just heard—

"Ah! Miss Nue… wait, just a moment…"

"Hm? Don’t tell me the bath’s not ready yet?"

"Sorry… I’ll heat it up right away."

"Make it quick~"

King apologizes and rushes back inside. I don’t get mad or anything and start leading the way for Stussy, but then she gives me this deadpan, mildly exasperated look and says—

"…Wait a second. The bath on this ship… don’t tell me…"

"Oh, you figured it out? Yep, it’s hand-heated~♪ Ehehe, pretty impressive, right?"

"—Yes. Quite."

Oh, she wants to say something, I can tell. But the fact she doesn’t? That’s what makes her such a lady. A real grown-up. If it were Queen, he’d be cracking jokes in a heartbeat. Not that it matters. I never expected that from Stussy anyway.

—And so, after waiting a bit, it’s bath time. Once that’s done, time to sleep.

"Alrighty, bedtime~ C’mon, hop in the futon♪"

"Thank you. I’ll be intruding, then."

I invite Stussy into my big custom-made bed. She’s a guest, and a lady, so naturally she’ll be sleeping with me. I decided that myself, and Kaido had no complaints. Honestly, in a ship full of men like ours, there’s nowhere else decent to let her sleep. So, into the plush, custom-ordered bed she goes. For the record, I’m in my pajamas, and Stussy’s changed into a white nightgown—pretty sexy, honestly. So the two of us get into bed, and right away, Stussy looks at me and says—

"…Hey, Nue♡ Mind if I ask you something?"

"Hmm~? What is it? Go right ahead~"

I casually give her the go-ahead. I figured she might start asking things soon. You know, letting her guard down now that we’re getting close. I don’t mind answering a little bit if it’s nothing serious.

"I’m really happy we’ve grown so close♡ But… tell me, by any chance—do you have that kind of taste?"

"Huh? …Ohhh, I get it now~♡"

It took me a second, but I caught on quick. Ah, that kind of taste, huh? Hmm~~ what should I say to that? It’s not like I’m into that stuff anymore, but it’s not totally foreign to me either. In fact, back then, it was perfectly normal. …Wait, is she trying to use this as a way to probe deeper? —If that’s the play, maybe I’ll play along a bit.

"Hehehe~♡ And what if I said I did?"

"—In that case… I think we could grow even closer♡"

"…Ahaha. I see what you’re doing~♪ That’s a pretty tempting offer♡"

I flash a playful smile and think to myself—whoa. She really went for it. So that is what this is. Well, yeah, makes sense. This isn’t some fictional world, it’s reality. These things happen. We even had those kinds of places in our territory. They just never got shown on screen, is all. It’s kinda fun, like I’m peeking behind the curtain of the world. I could keep playing along a bit longer… but I don’t like being drawn into someone else’s rhythm. Time to flip it, surprise her a little, and steer things back to my pace.

So, as I wrap my arms around Stussy, I say—

"—But ya knooow~~ When I get all touchy-feely like this, it’s actually for a different reason~♪"

"Oh my, and what exactly do you mean by that?"

Stussy asks back as she wraps her arms around me in return. So, I lock eyes with those blue ones of hers and tell her up close—

"When a cute girl like me is cuddling up to something adorable or beautiful, it just makes me look even cuter, don’t you think? ♡"

"…So basically, you’re doing it to show off how cute you are?"

"Fufun. That’s exactly right~♪"

"Fufu, that’s a rather tacky hobby♡"

"I know, right~♡"

With that, I throw her a wink. …Well, that’s not the only reason, of course. Honestly, if I don’t keep a close eye on her like this, who knows what she might try. It’s just a precaution.

For example, if she broke the bubble on the way to Fish-Man Island, it’d be a disaster. And this ship has a lot of stuff that would be very bad if stolen. Sure, most of it’s hidden using mysterious seeds and all, but that doesn’t make it 100% safe. And times like bath or bedtime are when people tend to let their guard down the most, so she might try something. But if I’m right here, she can’t exactly report back or pull anything funny.

Best of all, if we’re sleeping together, and I’m holding her like this, there’s nothing she can do—not even in the middle of the night. Thanks to some past experience, I’ve got this knack for waking up instantly if I sense anything. Malice, hostility, anything shady—I’ll be up before she even blinks.

So while we’re bathing or sleeping, Stussy doesn’t make any suspicious moves. Once we’re on the island, I won’t be able to keep this up, but that’s fine. I’ll just make sure we have more eyes on her and keep a closer watch. Not that I think she’ll act rashly or anything—but on a ship, one wrong move could be fatal. Better safe than sorry. And besides, it’s a good chance to observe her.

And me? I get to cuddle up to a beautiful spy, subtly keep her in check, and snooze on a super-comfy human pillow. Cute, clever, and efficient—it’s a triple win. Fufun. I am a genius. I’m sure Stussy wanted to use this as an opening to get somewhere too, but even if that were the case, I’d be fine. No openings here.

Which means I can totally relax, enjoy our chat, or even tease her some more. Like this—

"Hehehe~♡ But you know~~ if sleeping next to someone as cute as me is just too much for you to handle, I might consider being generous and—"

"You’re right, Nue—you are adorable♡ So cute, I could just eat you up♡"

"Ehh… eeeehhh~♡ Y-You really think so? Ehehe…♪ W-Well, I am cute, so I guess that’s fair! Here, I’ll even grant you the exclusive right to dote on me♡"

"Thanks. In that case, I’ll shower you with affection♡ My cute, cute Nue♡"

"Ugh… D-Don’t think for a second that just calling me cute over and over is gonna make me happy or anything! N-Not at all! Ehehhehehehe~~♪"

—Kuh… Khh!! Damn it, I didn’t see that coming—death by compliments!! I can’t believe she hit me with that strategy…!! But I won’t lose! She’s hugging me tight, patting my head nonstop, showering me in compliments—but I won’t let it get to me!! …So c’mon, say I’m even cuter!!

---

—A few hours later.

"Heeey, Stussy~~♡ You should totally join our pirate crew~♡ I’ll even make you my exclusive Cute Manager♡ I’ll pay you loads too♡ And if there’s anything you want, or anyone you wanna get rid of, just say the word, okay?♡ You’re already my bestie for life, Stussy♡"

"Uh, y-yeah… thanks, you’re adorable, Nue. (I can’t believe how easy she is to handle… Is this her weakness? …Can I even call it that? Still, I didn’t expect she’d keep this up all night...)"

I got so pampered. Seriously, Stussy’s such a good person♡ I didn’t think there was anyone in this world who’d understand my cuteness this much… She’s more than a best friend, more than a soul mate. She’s my true Appreciator of Cuteness. She even said she’d help out the Beasts Pirates! The only downside is that she’s with CP0, but hey—I'll just steal her away♪ Real pirates take what they want, after all♡

As the morning sunlight pours into the ship, I revise one of my future goals—Hmm? Someone’s calling at this hour?

"—Ah, sorry, Stussy. My Den-Den Mushi’s ringing. I’m just gonna step out for a sec, okay?"

"! —Oh my, a secret call? Even that part of you is adorable♡"

"Ehehe~♡ Right?♡ But sorry, it might be something important~♡"

"…I see. Well then, take care♡"

I leave Stussy in my room and head out. I feel a little bad about it, but I can’t go around spilling too much to a spy. That would just cause problems for Kaido and the rest of the crew. So I quietly apologize to her in my heart and move to a place where she won’t hear, then pick up the Den-Den Mushi.

"Hel~looo? Whooo’s this?"

"—Kyokyokyo… That voice… it is dear little Nu-e, isn’t it?"

"!! That laugh… and that voice…"

I freeze in surprise. I had expected this might happen someday, but I didn’t think she’d reach out now. That old woman’s voice—and the Den-Den Mushi mimicking her face—belonged to—

"Indeed…!! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it…? My former apprentice… Looks like you’ve become quite the pirate. I’m proud of you…!!"

"…Well, you know~ So? What do you want?"

"Kyokyokyo…!! I’ve brought you and Kaido a very interesting proposal. I hear you’ve been struggling to expand your power, yes…?"

—That voice belonged to the old woman who was once a comrade… Kurozumi Higurashi. And I decided then and there to hear her out—together with Kaido.