Chapter 86: Idol Activities

——The 2nd Captain of the Sun Pirates, "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe!! Now a Warlord of the Sea!!

The news shocked the world.

It hadn’t been long since the incident four years ago when Fisher Tiger, captain of the Sun Pirates, launched an assault on the Holy Land Mariejois and freed the slaves—only to lose his life. The memory was still fresh in the public’s mind.

That tragedy, which left many fish-men and freed slaves in mourning, occurred just a year ago. Since that day, Jinbe had inherited Tiger’s will, leading the Sun Pirates through an unending series of battles.

A former soldier of the Neptune Army, a master of Fish-Man Karate and Fish-Man Jujutsu—his power was well-known not just on land, but even more so on the sea, where he was said to be unbeatable.

He was a man of honor, respected and admired by countless fish-men and merfolk alike. Yet, his title as captain of a notoriously troublesome fish-man pirate crew could not be ignored.

Combining all these factors, his bounty was set at 250 million berries. Even so, many within the government—especially among the Marines—considered it an underestimate.

With a vacancy opening among the Seven Warlords, it was no surprise that “Knight of the Sea” Jinbe would be selected.

He had witnessed the era when pirates and humans frequently assaulted Fish-Man Island. He had seen the abductions of mermaids, which still continued. As a pirate who detested other pirates, Jinbe accepted the government’s offer just as they had hoped. Other pirates, however, sneered at the idea—another obedient dog of the World Government had been unleashed on the Grand Line.

Though many feared him, his status as a pirate still made him a threat—even if he now stood aligned with the government.

And yet, the ones most displeased by this development were the Celestial Dragons.

“Why, Father?! Why would you return our slaves?!”

“Well... you see, a fish-man named Jinbe became one of the Seven Warlords, and thanks to that amnesty, it seems the fish-man and mermaid slaves were allowed to return to their homeland.”

“W-What?! That’s awful! All those slaves we collected—gone just like that?!”

“It can’t be helped…”

Normally, the Celestial Dragons couldn’t care less about who joined the Seven Warlords. It meant nothing to them.

But any pirate crew granted Warlord status was given a blanket pardon, extending to their subordinates as well.

Jinbe used this amnesty to ensure the return of his former slave comrades to their homeland—and to elevate the status of the fish-man race. He joined the Seven Warlords and chose to draw closer to the World Government.

As a result, many of the enslaved fish-men were freed—something a number of Celestial Dragons resented.

Still, they could not overturn a decision made by the World Government—especially one involving the Five Elders. Even if they disliked it, there was no room for objection.

And so, the former slave members of the Sun Pirates were released.

Among them… was one who had been sold into slavery just a year ago.

“—Arlong!!”

“Arlong-san!!”

“…………”

The release of “Saw-Tooth” Arlong, a crew member of the Sun Pirates.

This fish-man, with a bounty of 20 million berries, had been captured during a battle with the Beasts Pirates a year ago and sold into slavery.

Most of the other captured crew members had gone missing, but Arlong alone had been sold to the Celestial Dragons.

To some, he was a trusted comrade. To others, less so. But all of them, once enslaved, now found relief in seeing Arlong return—even dressed in tattered clothes.

His eyes still held life. Though the dorsal fin on his back was completely gone—a sight that darkened the expressions of his crewmates—it was still a miracle he returned alive.

“Arlong…”

“So it’s true… Jinbe-ani is a Warlord now…”

“…Yeah. He is.”

At the front of the group, there stood a towering fish-man—“Knight of the Sea” Jinbe, pirate and newly appointed Warlord—who had come to retrieve his comrades. Faced with the sight of his battered younger brother, Jinbe hesitated. He could only respond with silent affirmation.

And in that moment, Arlong’s expression transformed. His bloodshot eyes bulged, veins protruding—rage.

Jinbe braced himself, expecting to be insulted. He watched Arlong closely, preparing for it… But what came was more complicated than just anger.

Arlong’s body trembled. And then—he clenched his teeth with force.

“You became one of them… You became a dog of the government… of those brutal, twisted humans!!!”

“…Have you forgotten Tiger’s words, Arlong? Don’t live for hatred and revenge.”

Even so, Jinbe spoke—trying to remind him of their late brother’s will. But Arlong no longer heard it.

“Hah… Don’t spout that nonsense, Aniki!! That was just something for the next generation—those who haven’t suffered like we did!!”

“!”

Arlong sneered briefly before erupting again, shouting at Jinbe.

Jinbe’s eyes widened at the words. He clenched his back teeth and listened to his younger brother’s rage.

“I’m just like Big Aniki!! I… I’ve seen the madness of humanity!!! I’ve seen the vile, filthy depths of what they are!!! I suffered through it!!! This past year!!!”

“……!”

Jinbe said nothing. He clenched his fists tightly—not in anger at Arlong, but at himself. At his own powerlessness. His failure to save his brother in time.

Arlong, too, reflected on the past year—and spat out his agony in the form of rage.

“—Sir, I’ve brought in a few good ones, mostly sharks. They’re fresh—use ’em as snacks with your drinks or something.”

“Haha!! Discounted shark meat!! Hey hey, is this really okay? The government put a 20 million bounty on him, but their valuations are always off… Whatever, let’s have them carved up for a test!”

“Yeah.”

“—!! Stop… Let go…!! You bastards, you think you’ll get away with this—GYAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

He had seen the darkest, most feral side of humanity.

“A former fish-man pirate slave! A shark slave!!”

“Funny, right? The other day, Joe—the broker—told me he had something amusing, so I bought it. You can use him to learn how to handle slaves for now.”

“Yay!! A slave!! I wanna play with it too, just like Daddy does!!”

“Ugh…!!”

Those hellish days had been more than enough to sow a deeper hatred within Arlong’s heart than ever before.

“I’m not just carrying the grudge of Big Aniki’s death!! I suffered! I felt the pain! So what if I choose to live for hatred and revenge!!!”

“…Arlong…!! You…!!”

“Sorry, Aniki!! But I’m going back to being the Arlong I used to be!! Big Aniki is dead… I’ll carry on his anger—with my comrades, I’ll carry it on!!!”

“…………”

With those words, Arlong turned his back on Jinbe—taking his old comrades and leaving the Sun Pirates behind.

He refused to hear Jinbe’s pleas. Even when struck, Arlong didn’t waver, supported by his former Arlong Crew members as he walked away.

The Sun Pirates would eventually split into three factions, each walking their own path.

Among them, Arlong—now a confirmed supremacist who harbored the most hatred toward humanity—swore revenge.

“Just wait… One day… I’ll make them feel everything they did to me…!!!”

With seething hatred in his voice, Arlong’s crew set sail—headed for the East Blue.

---

——Red sea, white sandy beach, scorching sun.

Everything here exists solely to adorn and accentuate me.

"Mmm~~~…♡ Delicious♡ Seconds!!"

"—Here you go, Nue-san♡"

I lay sprawled across the beautiful summer island beach, savoring fresh seafood and fine wine. Meanwhile, Joker, lounging under a parasol in a beach chair, watched me through her sunglasses and spoke up.

"Fufu… Indeed, the texture is quite satisfying. Maybe we should have Pētan bring us more♡"

"HUH!? Why the hell should Pētan have to fetch shit for you, Joker, you bastard!? —Listen up!! The only ones allowed to boss Pētan around are Kaidou-sama, Nue-san, and ME!! So Pētan!! I want my share too, damn it~!!"

"—The hell!? You’re right there, go get it yourself!!"

"Myself~~~!?"

Our top performers, Ulti and Page One, bickered as usual, still wearing their masks and hats despite their swimsuits. Then, from another direction, another figure stomped across the sand and raised her voice.

"—Enough!! Why in the world was I summoned to such a place in the first place!?"

"I already told you—it was Nue-san’s invitation, Hancock."

"I wasn’t asking you, Black Maria!! I was summoned to Onigashima under the pretense of important matters, yet…"

"Ah, that’s a separate issue. This is just—my little vacation, or rather, a girls’ gathering invitation♡"

"! Again with this…"

Hancock, clad in a wine-red and pink bikini, clutched her head at my words as I lounged across Black Maria’s lap in my swimsuit. Hmm. Hancock didn’t seem too pleased, but she also seemed resigned. She let out a sigh but pressed on.

"...Haaah. Fine, I’ll concede that much… but then!! Why are there men here if this is a girls’ gathering!?"

"HUH!? I don’t give a damn ‘bout Jack, but if you’re lookin’ down on Pētan, I’ll slaughter you, Hancock!! —Pētan could totally pull off cross-dressing, no problem!!!"

"That ain’t the damn point!! And the only reason I’m here is ‘cause sis dragged me along as a pack mule!! I didn’t even wanna come!!!"

"…………Annoying loudmouth of a woman."

"—What was that?"

Hancock bristled at the presence of men, while Ulti and Pētan resumed their amusing back-and-forth… but then Jack’s muttered remark earned him a sharp glare. And not just any glare—Hancock was unleashing her Conqueror’s Haki. Jack glared right back—but I cut in.

"Hey, Jack!! If you’ve got time to glare at Hancock, you’ve got time to take more pictures of me!!"

"—My bad, Nue-san. R i g h t a w a y."

With that, Jack immediately broke eye contact with Hancock, lifted the camera hanging from his neck, and started snapping photos of me. Watching this, Hancock crossed her arms and turned to Page One nearby.

"...What is he doing, Page One?"

"Don’t ask me. Just look—Jack’s takin’ pics for the photo book Nue-san’s puttin’ out in our territory."

"...Why Jack…? No, more importantly, why this island…?"

Hancock wore an unreadable expression as she listened to Page One’s dutiful answer.

I could’ve answered Hancock’s lingering questions myself, but before I could, the masked swimsuit-clad woman under Joker’s parasol—seated in a chair with a stack of books on the table, reading them one by one—answered for me.

"—The New World, ‘Rainbow Island.’"

"! If you know, then speak, Dulak!"

Hancock turned sharply toward the voice. The speaker was Dulak—another participant in our girls’ gathering.

"A perpetually summer-climate island, famous for its sea that shifts between seven colors. Rich in seafood and fruit. Perfect for a vacation—incidentally, this is one of its seven beaches, ‘Ruby Red Beach.’"

"...Is it not under anyone’s territory?"

"Not at the moment. It doesn’t belong to any of the Four Emperors, nor is it affiliated with the World Government… A rarity in the New World, perhaps."

"...Are you suggesting we should attack this island, then?"

Hancock’s question made me laugh. I struck a pose, raising both hands.

"Ahaha, no no!! It’s a vacation—don’t you ever wanna go somewhere outside your own territory to have fun? Staying in your own turf doesn’t feel like a real trip… plus, it’s perfect for photos!! So today, I just came here to play♪"

"...I see. So we’re merely along for the ride."

"You don’t mind, do you?"

"...It would be problematic if I were seen with you all."

"—Which is why Nue-san made you come alone, leaving the Kuja Pirates and your sisters behind."

That was Joker’s input. Our comrade—a double agent feeding info to and from the Government—Stussy, aka Joker, was well-versed in all the Government’s tedious red tape.

That said, anyone could guess the trouble if Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the "Pirate Empress," were known to have ties to one of the Four Emperors, the Beasts Pirates.

If exposed, she’d be stripped of her title—but I reassured her it wouldn’t be an issue.

"Don’t worry!! If it comes to that, I’ll just make sure your identity stays mysteeeeerious!! So let’s just enjoy ourselves!! Okay♡"

"...Sigh, as reckless—no, as free-spirited as ever…"

"Nue-sama’s freedom is a given, damn it!!"

Hancock finally exhaled in resignation. Whether she was actually in the mood to enjoy herself or not was unclear, but she seemed to accept it.

Well, if she’s here on vacation with me, she’s gotta be having fun, right!?

"—Nue-san. I’ve finished taking the required number of shots."

"Mmm, alright, let’s shoot in the next swimsuit. —Komurasaki-chaaan, bring me a swimsuit~"

"...Understood."

Jack had just finished his report, lowering the camera, so I called over the cute newbie to fetch my next outfit.

She’s only been with us for two years—just about getting used to things, I’d say.

Beasts Pirates "Apprentice" Komurasaki

"There are quite a few… which one would you like?"

"Hmm~… Then that frilly one!!"

"...Yes."

I pointed at the black-and-red frilly bikini—perfect for someone as adorable as me—and Komurasaki, clad in a pale purple swimsuit, dutifully handed it over. I changed into it and gave her my previous swimsuit to put back in the luggage.

"...How the hell is Jack keeping his cool…?"

"Seriously! Any normal guy would be losing his mind getting to photograph Nue-sama in a swimsuit!!"

"That ain’t the damn point…"

Page One and Ulti were side-eyeing Jack as he calmly adjusted his camera again, but hey, Jack’s a serious guy. He takes everything he’s taught to heart and follows orders to the letter.

Sure, he’s a bit rigid and doesn’t always pick the cleanest methods, but it’s all for me, Kaido, and the Beasts Pirates’ benefit. He’s got a thing for destruction, sure, but hand him a pickaxe and he’ll drill through mountains like it’s nothing.

He’s also weirdly good at backstage work for my concerts, idol management, and even handling camera setups. Lately, I’ve had him overseeing business in Kuri, and he’s been handling that flawlessly too. A real jack-of-all-trades. —Well, he still screws up enough to get chewed out by King and Queen now and then.

"...You’re still fishing, I see…"

"Tch. Got a problem? I like it, so back off."

"That’s right!! Pētan’s a fishing fanatic!! The best in the Beasts Pirates!! Doesn’t matter if it’s tuna or sharks—he’ll reel in anything even in shallow water!!"

"Quit setting him up for impossible crap!! —Oh, something’s biting…"

Page One, Ulti, and even Hancock were watching as Page One casually cast his line into the shallows. Huh, Hancock’s blending in better than I expected. Then again, they did train together a few years back.

And Pētan seemed to have hooked something again… but huh? He’s actually struggling for once. And that presence…?

"! …Damn, this one’s heavy…"

"You got this, Pētan!! We’re rooting for you!! —Go, Pētan♡ Go♡ Don’t lose, Pētan♡ Fight, oh!!"

"Quit distracting me, sis!! Tch… but there ain’t a fish alive I can’t reel in…!! Whale or Sea King, I’ll drag it up…!!"

"He’s getting fired up."

"Just like when he’s building something."

Black Maria wasn’t wrong—Pētan was getting pumped. Joker tossed in a lazy jab, but hey, everyone gets hyped doing what they love. —And yeah, something big was definitely on the line.

"You’re putting up one hell of a fight… but this is where it ends!! —ORAaaa!!!"

"!"

"Eh…?"

"This is…"

—The instant Page One yanked his rod up with all his might, a massive splash erupted, revealing a long, sleek silhouette.

A tailfin, a humanoid upper body—and atop it, flowing blue hair and a well-proportioned figure…

"—A mermaid!?"

"Holy shit, Pētan!! A mermaid!! You caught a freakin’ mermaid!!"

"—Sigh… To think I’d get fished up… What a pain… I wanna die…"

"Wait, seriously? An actual mermaid!? —It is a mermaid!!"

Even I was a little surprised. I figured it was something big, but a mermaid? Didn’t expect that.

The mermaid—young, female, and lazily blinking at us with half-lidded eyes—let out another long sigh.

Sono, a Mermaid of the Oarfish Type (Former Civil Servant, Currently Unemployed)

"If you’re asking whether I’m a mermaid… well, yeah. But even answering is a hassle… I’m Sono. A mermaid from Ryugu-no-Tsukai…"

"You just answered, though…"

"Why is a mermaid all the way out here…?"

Page One delivered the deadpan, while Hancock voiced the obvious question. Joker and Dulak were the ones who answered.

"Fish-men and mermaids don’t only live on Fish-Man Island. They’re all over the world. …That said, it’s still rare."

"Especially mermaids—they’re prime targets for kidnappers. You won’t see many outside Fish-Man Island, that’s for sure."

"Sigh… Yeah, probably."

"How are you vague about your own damn life!?"

"Originally, I was a mermaid from Fish-Man Island. But I got sick of my job, quit, and now I just drift around the New World."

"Then say that from the start, dumbass!!"

"Sigh… Too much effort…"

“Normally, yeah, but… when you’re starving, you’ll eat anything. Though honestly, I’ve always eaten fish anyway.”

“Then you didn’t need to say the first part!”

“So, Nue-san, what should we do?”

“It’s funny, so I don’t mind!! Go ahead and treat her.”

Black Maria turns to me, asking what to do about Sono—the mermaid who, quite unlike a typical mermaid, asked for sashimi because she was hungry.

The question includes whether we should capture and sell her, but I tell them to give her food because it seems entertaining. Sure, we could sell her, but personally, I don’t care either way if it’s amusing. Money from selling a mermaid is pocket change to me. Entertainment is priceless.

So she gets the same sashimi that Komurasaki had served me. Sono brings it to her mouth and,

“Ahh… thank you… I haven’t eaten anything lately… well, that’s my fault, really…”

“What? Did you get snatched by traffickers or something and escape?”

“Ah, only one question per person, please. Keep it short.”

“...Then answer the one I just asked.”

“I was captured and escaped. ─And that’s the end of question time.”

“Hey!!”

“Ahaha!! She’s a funny one!!”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Page One looked a little pissed, but since I was the one who said to treat her, no one could lay a hand on her. Joker, Black Maria, and Dulak watched calmly, and Jack stayed silently at the back.

“...Do you live on this island?”

“Yes… the people here are very kind… I was trying to find a way to live comfortably off passive income, but the world turned out to be harsher than I expected. Even a jobless ex-salarywoman mermaid like me, starving and all, was welcomed warmly… I owe a lot to the people here…”

“So you’ve been living here while working, then.”

“──No, I got a taste for free food and stayed jobless while mooching off the islanders…”

“Come on, get a job at least…”

“What a shameless mermaid…”

After answering Dulak’s question about working, Sono earned exasperated looks from Page One and Hancock. Personally, I think it’s great. Being honest about what you want is a virtue.

“But lately…”

“…Huh? What now? Why’d you suddenly stop talking…”

“Oh, I just got tired of talking. Haah… the sashimi’s delicious.”

“Spit it out already!!!”

“And so, this island is currently occupied by pirates.”

“What do you mean ‘and so’!? Quit screwing around…”

“Whaaa!? Pirates!? On the island where Nue-sama’s vacationing!!? Who the hell are they!? I’ll beat them to death!!!”

Page One and Ulti each flew into their own brand of rage… But honestly, I found her explanation pretty convincing.

“Aaah, so that’s why I heard all that noise from the other side of the island.”

“Nue-san, you noticed?”

“I figured I’d head over to the town later anyway, so if something was going on, I thought I’d check it out then. They sounded super weak, so I didn’t think they were pirates.”

“Ahh… so you’re using Observation Haki to hear voices, right? I had a feeling you were incredibly strong… so how about it? Would you consider saving this island while you’re here…?”

“Ahhh!? You got a death wish or something!? Keep messing around and we’ll just destroy this whole island!!!”

“…Nue-san. What should we do?”

Page One bared his teeth at the request, furious. Jack turned to me, waiting for my call.

It goes without saying—when things go like this, we usually just take over the island, or capture the mermaid and wreck her. If I gave the word, this place would be hell in an instant. That pirate or whatever would die, but so would the islanders.

And I’d be fine with that… but with a smile, I said:

“It’s fine!! Let’s help them!!”

“Really? Thank you. I’ll definitely… probably… maybe… most likely… repay you if I feel like it…”

“You better!! C’mon!! ─Nue-san!! You don’t have to listen to someone like her—”

“Ahaha, it’s fine, it’s fine. Normally, yeah, I’d force a payment out of them or just ignore the request and do whatever I want──”

Right. Normally I might do that… but not today.

“──Today, I’m an idol, after all♡”

“!”

With that, I stood up and led everyone to the other side of the island, where the pirates were. ─Alright then, time to go save the day!!

---

──The New World, “Rainbow Island”

Among the island’s seven beaches, the “Emerald Green Beach” stood out for its distinctively green waters. It was here that a pirate ship had docked—and where the island’s residents had been rounded up.

“P-please... stop...!!”

“Ugh... dammit...”

“Waaah!! Daddy!!”

The terrified townspeople huddled together, trembling before the pirates. Some of the adults lay beaten and bloodied on the sand, while children wailed at the horrific sight.

But the pirates showed no sign of stopping. This was the New World. There was no freedom for the weak.

“──Shut the hell up!!! Because of you bastards, that mermaid I went through all the trouble of catching got away! I gotta take my anger out on something!!!”

“Guh...!!”

The pirate lashed out with a savage kick at one of the collapsed villagers. He was the captain of this pirate crew, enraged over the escape of a rare prize.

“Captain! We’ve searched everywhere! There’s no trace of the mermaid!”

“Of course not...! Mermaids are the fastest swimmers in the world!! Once one escapes into the sea, there’s no catching her... THAT’S why I’m pissed off!!!”

“Gahhh!!”

The massive man stomped on another villager, then slumped heavily into a chair planted in the sand. His subordinates stood guard around him, weapons drawn and trained on the townspeople.

“Captain, what should we do with these guys?”

“Tch... Rough ’em up first, then put ’em to work...!! This island’s gonna be our turf!! To grow our power, we need solid ground to stand on...!!”

『Captain Holdem of the Texas Pirates – Bounty: 76,000,000 Berries』

He made his intentions plain for all to hear. Judging from his cruelty, this crew was likely among the more brutal kind of pirates. They showed no hesitation in inflicting pain.

Fear gripped the townspeople. Despair followed. An island ruled by pirates had no future.

“Even if the mermaid got away... what’s gonna happen to us now...?”

“We’ll be fine... Just do what they say for now... Help will come eventually...”

This island had once been under the protection of a certain pirate group, but with their fall, it had become a power vacuum—unclaimed territory. In the New World, most islands survived by aligning with one of the Four Emperors or other major pirates. If they were part of the World Government, the Navy might offer some protection. But with neither of those shields, the people had no choice but to defend themselves.

But no ordinary citizen could hope to stand against pirates in the New World. All they could do was keep their heads down and hope no one else got hurt. Even the children were taught not to resist.

──“Daddy!!”

“Huh?”

“!! Wait, stop!!”

But then—one little girl broke from the crowd, rushing toward her bloodied father.

Holdem’s eyes locked onto her. He had the adults and the injured father restrained by his men, then stepped forward and grabbed the girl by the neck, hoisting her off the ground.

“You’ve got guts, kid... But guts alone won’t save anyone, and they won’t change a damn thing!!! Weaklings with no power should just obey the strong and keep their mouths shut!!! GWAHAHAHAHA!!!”

“Ugh... ahh...!”

“S-stop... please...!!”

Choking a child while grinding his boot into her father’s back—Holdem was a tyrant, the worst kind of invader to ever set foot on this island.

In the New World, the powerless die. If you want to live, you submit. No matter the humiliation, no matter how precious your loved ones are, you endure. That was the unspoken law.

But... Holdem had yet to learn something.

──“Ooooh, they’re really going at it~ ♪ And I must say, they’re being reeeal civilized about it~ ♪”

“Huh? ──The hell!?”

Startled by the sudden sing-song voice, Holdem whipped his head around toward the road leading to town—and saw multiple figures approaching.

“Well, this is a smaller crowd than I expected.”

“Looks like just over a hundred or so, give or take.”

“Not much bite to ’em... All weaklings, looks like.”

“Should we waste ’em quick? Or take ’em alive?”

“If they submit, we don’t kill. If they resist, wipe them out... Just like always.”

“Tch... What a bunch of vulgar men...”

“Honestly, one of us could handle the cleanup solo…”

“…………”

The newcomers were almost entirely women—and stunning ones at that, dressed in swimsuits.

“Wooooah!! Damn, they’re all smokin’ hot!!”

“Hell yeah!! This is the jackpot, boys~!! ♡”

“What, this island had babes like that just hangin’ around!?”

“Wait—one of ’em’s huge!! Is she a giant or what!?”

The pirates lit up at the sight of the approaching beauties, excitement surging through their ranks. Holdem was no exception.

“Who the hell are these hotties!? This is the best damn day ever!! Hey!! Come over here!! I’ll treat you real special!!”

“Oh? Planning to have us dote on you?”

“Your eyes must be very cloudy…”

“What shall we do with them?”

The group of women paused, glancing toward a particular girl in their midst. She stepped forward, addressing Holdem directly.

“Well, I can’t really blame you for being dazzled♡ But unfortunately, I’m not that kind of cheap girl. I came here for a bit of idol promotion—and a side of hero work. Still, if you get on your knees and beg, I might just forgive you—”

“The hell? Who the hell do you think you are, you brat!? No one asked for you!! Get lost already!!!”

“…Huh?”

“!!?”

──The moment those words left Holdem’s mouth, the air around them turned glacial.

Everyone froze—Holdem, his crew, the villagers… even their lieutenants, Jack and Page One broke into cold sweats, fear etched across their faces.

The sheer, suffocating pressure that followed made one thing immediately clear: Holdem had just stepped on a landmine. And his misfortune? He’d been too distracted by the beautiful faces to recognize who they were.

He had no idea that the girl standing before him was none other than the honorary sister of a Yonko—a pirate with a bounty exceeding 3 billion Berries.

And worse yet, his crude dismissal hadn’t just insulted her—it had angered nearly every woman in the group. Taking all that in, Page One came to a single, definitive conclusion:

“Ah… they’re dead.”

---

"Hey, hey? Say it again for me♡ Come on, what was that you said? Who's the brat? Hm? You lowly pirate… what exactly did you say to me? Go on, say it again♡"

"AaaaAAAAAAGHHH…!! Ugh, ggh… ah… ah… I-I’m s-sorry… AGAHHH—!!"

—There was no battle.

Because the difference in power between the two sides was far too great.

Holdem and his subordinates, who had terrified the island’s residents, now lay bloodied and crumpled on the beach, reduced to little more than machines for screaming and groaning.

Nue, her soles stained red, stood atop Holdem’s large body with a sweet, girlish smile as she questioned him. Her strength was like that of a vice. If she wanted to, she could crush his skull like a tomato and grind his body to pieces.

Realizing this, Holdem ignored his shattered teeth and the pain coursing through his body to desperately force out his voice.

“N-Nue-sama is… t-the most… adorable… in the whole world…!!”

"Hmm? I can't hear you~ Say it louder. A thousand times. Put your heart into it and I might forgive you♡ But if you can't… fufufu♡ Well, that's a surprise for later~♡"

"…!! I-I’ll say it!! Nue-sama is… the most… adorable… in the whole world!!!"

"Yes, yes, keep it up~!! —You all, too!"

“Ugh… Aah…”

“Hey! You ultra-shitty bastards!! Nue-sama told you to say it!! You want your skulls cracked open!? Say it already!!”

"My my, what a shame to ruin such a beautiful white beach."

"Well, it’s only natural. They insulted Nue-san. This is their punishment."

"The weak have no rights… because I am strong, and beautiful!!"

The female officers of the Beasts Pirates tortured the Texas Pirates, tossing the corpses into their ship. The living were treated no differently. If they declared Nue to be the cutest in the world and apologized, they were finally forgiven and allowed to join the Beasts Pirates. Refusing wasn't really an option—not for men who had already experienced such terror.

The rescued townspeople stood frozen, too scared and unsure of what to do.

"…Well now. I figured they were strong, but not this strong…"

"! Sono!? Did you come… to get help…?"

"Yes, well, sort of… Whether or not that actually helped, I’m still not sure…"

Emerging from the sea was the Ryugu sea bream mermaid, Sono. She exchanged words with the residents, somewhat relieved but also clearly uneasy.

Would beings this powerful and cruel really just leave without incident…? That doubt lingered heavily.

But then…

"…Um…"

"Hmm?"

"Hey—!!"

"That kid again…!!"

As Nue stood atop Holdem, forcing him to praise her cuteness as a reward, the young girl who had earlier been strangled by Holdem stepped forward and spoke.

It was a move that could only be called reckless, and the villagers panicked. But none dared to interfere. They held their breath as Nue looked at the girl and met her eyes.

"What’s up? Want an autograph? Or have you become my fan already?"

"…Thank you for saving my dad."

"! Ahaha!! You’re thanking me? That’s so sweet~♪"

Nue patted the girl's head and smiled. The villagers were confused. She had hurt people, yes—but at this moment, she seemed just like any ordinary girl.

Maybe… she was a good person?

She was still a pirate, but in the New World, the people knew that not all pirates were the same.

At last, the adults began to move.

"…Allow me, as a representative of the island, to thank you."

"Oh? So you’re the leader or something? No worries, no worries. I just dropped in for my idol activities today. Total whim~♡"

"…Even so, please let us express our gratitude. And if possible, we’d like to offer you a token of thanks…"

The middle-aged village chief, leader of the island, stepped forward to speak.

But Nue gave him a crooked smile and immediately saw through his intent.

"—Worried about us helping you for free? Afraid we’ll tear this place apart after all?"

"! N-no, that’s not it… It just felt wrong not to offer something in return after being helped…"

"Ahaha, I appreciate the thought—But since I’m doing this out of a rare bout of kindness, could you just accept it as is? If we start talking rewards, then money or goods won’t cut it anymore, you know?"

"…!!"

At her words, the chief felt a wave of sweat burst out across his whole body.

For an instant, her eyes turned sharp. The implication was clear—if you make this a transaction, we’ll treat it like one.

Giving a “reward” to pirates is the same as paying tribute. And once you do, they’ll likely come to collect regularly. They’d claim official control of the island and demand payment every month.

Nue’s message was simple: she hadn’t done that yet, so take the kindness at face value.

From her point of view, helping someone for fun was enjoyable—but if it turned into pirate business, it ruined the mood. That’s all it was.

Nue was honest and free-spirited. Helping people was just something she did once in a while for fun.

Nothing more, nothing less.

"Hmm~… Alright, guess I’ll pack these guys up and get back to my vacation. Oh, we’ll be using the beach and the local shops, so take care of that for me♡"

"! A-ah… of course. We’ll reopen everything right away. Just give us a moment."

"No rush~♡ Alright, see ya~♡ —Jack~"

"—Yes, ma’am!!"

“Guhh…!!?”

Nue casually grabbed Holdem and tossed him toward Jack. Jack caught him and carried him off, then gave orders to the rest of the crew.

"Let’s check out another beach next!!"

Still maintaining the facade of a simple vacation, Nue led her subordinates on a multi-day tour of the island. She took swimsuit photos, held a live concert, sold TDs, and slowly—but surely—was accepted, albeit fearfully, by the islanders. She gained more fans in the process.

—And on the return voyage, after the fun was over…

"—Please, let me join the Beasts Pirates."

"Sure~! A mermaid crew member sounds pretty useful!!"

"Thank you. I swear I’m not just trying to coast on… I mean, I don’t at all want to join a Yonko crew for the sake of passive income. It’s not because it sounds easy—no, really… Uh… this is getting tedious, so I’ll stop here."

"Finish your thought!! Properly!!"

“N-Nue-sama is… th-the cutest… in the whole world… Huff… Huff… Nue-sama is… the cutest… in the world…!!”

—And so, having quietly added a new member to her forces, Nue returned to Onigashima, her idol activities and vacation complete.