Chapter 50: A Major Incident in the New World

Wars between countries in the New World aren’t unusual—but only when they occur on the same island.

Fighting wars across the islands of the “Grand Line” is hardly realistic. The seas are brutal, voyages don't always go as planned, and pirates are everywhere. Even if tensions rise between nations, going to war usually isn't worth the cost unless the situation is truly exceptional. In fact, conflict between islands typically only happens between pirates—or between pirates and the Navy.

But… if a country lays hands on another’s Heavenly Tribute—that counts as something truly exceptional.

“Retrieve our Heavenly Tribute at once!!!”

“If we don’t have it, we’ll be expelled from the World Government!!”

“This is war!! Such outrageous aggression cannot be tolerated!!! And more than anything—our national pride is on the line!! We cannot stay silent!!!”

That morning’s headlines shocked the entire world.

A ship carrying Heavenly Tribute meant for the Celestial Dragons had been ambushed by another nation. The escort crew and everyone aboard were slaughtered, and the tribute was stolen—a crime beyond imagining.

The news spread like wildfire across the globe. And, of course, it reached the Celestial Dragons even faster.

“To steal money meant for us… I won’t forgive such insolence!!”

“If they can’t pay, just expel them! Let them grovel back later!”

“…For now, let’s observe how this unfolds…”

The general sentiment among the Celestial Dragons was one of irritation. Naturally—they were enraged that money meant to be offered to them by the lower world had been snatched away.

Still, if a country can’t pay, expulsion is a given. Some reacted coldly, saying it was better to leave them to suffer—either they’d cough up the money again, or pirates would tear them apart and turn their land into hell.

Even the Five Elders, the highest authority in the World Government and leaders of the Celestial Dragons, chose not to mobilize the Navy immediately. Instead, they opted to wait and see how things between the two countries would develop.

Everyone assumed war would break out at once. But the ones most blindsided… were the accused.

“What is the meaning of this!? We have no knowledge of such a thing!!”

“We must lodge a protest!! Spreading these outrageous lies to the world is absolutely unforgivable!!”

“The enemy has already taken up arms—they could strike at any moment!! We need a decision!!”

“Damn it… is this a nightmare!? We have no choice but to fight—but what in the world is happening!?”

That nation hadn’t stolen the Heavenly Tribute. They had no memory of it, no involvement whatsoever—yet they were now being dragged into war over a baseless accusation. Confused and simmering with anger, they found themselves forced into conflict.

But even if war had arrived suddenly, they were nowhere near prepared to wage it.

They needed troops. Ships. And above all, weapons. Without weapons, there’s no war—or rather, they’d be doomed to lose from the start.

There was no time to manufacture enough. As the country’s leaders wracked their brains, wondering what to do… a Den Den Mushi rang out.

“Who the hell would call at a time like this!?”

“…Things seem quite chaotic over there.”

“…? Who are you!? How do you have this number!?”

“Who I am doesn’t matter. More importantly… don’t you want weapons?”

“What!? Weapons…!? Are you saying—you can sell us weapons!? Are you an arms dealer?”

“…Something like that. If you want the weapons you need for war, I’ll sell them to you. The price’ll be a bit steep though…”

“No, that’s fine!! We don’t have time to question your identity!! Right now, if we don’t get weapons, our nation will fall!! Give us everything you’ve got!!”

“Of course. Then—shall we begin negotiations?”

“Yes…!! And—what should we call you? You’re probably not giving us your real name, but surely you’ve got some kind of alias?”

“…My name is JOKER. That’s what you can call me.”

It was around this time that the mysterious underground broker—untraceable and known only as JOKER, a figure dealing in the shadows of the New World—first made his appearance.

---

—The New World, "Desire Island."

Once half-destroyed, the island had fully recovered and now thrived as a bustling pleasure district, just as it had before.

A land of eternal night, the island glittered garishly under neon lights, its streets teeming with people drunk on dreams and desires. Dressed in expensive attire—proof of their success—they strolled through the city, indulging in food, drink, women, and theater.

On the flip side, those who failed in this city lurked in the slums, clutching cheap liquor, spitting into spittoons while whining about their misfortunes and blaming others or their circumstances. It was a den of bitter, washed-up losers.

People called this place the "Island of Dreams and Desires." The premier pleasure island of the New World, it attracted countless visitors—not just underworld denizens but even government officials sneaking in undercover.

Rumors claimed the Marines stayed away because the island’s rulers had greased the right palms in the government.

And for good reason—the ones who ruled this territory were the most deranged and brutal pirate crew in the entire New World, a sea crawling with monstrous pirates.

"Hey!! The hell’s your problem!?"

In Desire Island’s pleasure district, Laguna—the heart of the island, lined with high-end restaurants, hotels, stylish bars, and theaters—the most popular spot was undoubtedly the casino.

A playground for adults, where money became chips, and fortunes were won or lost on the turn of a card.

Here, even a shabby old man or a scrawny kid could become a high roller. Against other gamblers and dealers, they could rise on luck and skill alone. In a way, the casino was the most egalitarian place in the world.

Dressed in sleek suits and gowns, drinks in hand, the crowd reveled in the games. Business boomed daily, but trouble was never far away.

At one table, a commotion drew brief attention—a man had been shoved to the ground by a black-suited enforcer. Not a dealer, but one of the casino’s hired muscle, a brute employed by the establishment’s owner.

"You were cheating just now, weren’t you?"

"Hah!? The hell I was!"

"Cheating is forbidden in this establishment. Come to the back with me."

"I said I didn’t do shit! Quit making baseless accusations!"

"...Playing dumb, huh? Then let’s take a look inside your jacket."

"Wha—!? The hell you—!?"

A patron accused of cheating, confronted by security—a scene that played out multiple times a day in any casino.

Cheating was taboo, of course. But if you didn’t get caught, you didn’t pay the price. That’s why cheaters always existed.

But getting caught meant punishment—everyone knew that. And on this island, the pirates in charge were especially ruthless.

The man knew it too. So, reluctantly, he raised his hands.

"...Fine, alright. Go ahead and search me..."

"...Then pardon the intrusion—"

The moment the enforcer moved to inspect him, the man struck.

"—Like hell I’d let you!!"

"Guh—! You bastard...!?"

Grabbing the enforcer, he slammed him down and bolted for the exit.

His movements were sharp—not those of an ordinary patron. A former bounty hunter? A pirate? Either way, he was no stranger to danger.

"Heh, this place is a joke. Time to make my escape—whoa!?"

Dodging through the crowd, he glanced back at the chasing enforcers and smirked—only to crash face-first into a wall.

Stumbling onto his rear, he stared up in confusion—until he realized.

This wasn’t a wall.

Surrounded by rough-looking pirates, the towering figure looming over him was a monster in black, nearly four meters tall, with piercing slit eyes and flames and wings on his back.

The man’s face drained of color.

"P-please, spare my life...!!"

"Your life? ...Tch. Sure. If you survive our torture, we’ll let you live. —Take him away."

"Yes, sir!"

"N-no!! HELP MEEEE—!!!"

Dragged off by the pirates, the man’s fate was sealed. On this island, defiance against them—the Beast Pirates—meant death.

Especially from their executives, each one a terrifying monster. This man, King the Wildfire, a top executive with a 430 million berry bounty, was no exception. Regulars on the island had seen him burn and butcher people countless times. A ruthless killing machine who followed Kaido and Nue’s orders without hesitation—that was King.

The Beast Pirates had another monster just as fearsome, along with multiple high-ranking subordinates with terrifying abilities. But even they paled in comparison to their captain and vice-captain, who were several times worse. Defying them was suicide.

By now, no one dared oppose the Beast Pirates. Some even sucked up to them, praising their might. They were cruel, yes—but they kept the island safe. And strength alone was enough to draw people in.

"It’s Lord King...!!"

“Lord King～～～♡”

“As intense as ever... That pressure’s unreal!”

And King was no exception to the rule. He was feared. Naturally so—he was one of the top executives of the Beasts Pirates. His name was gaining notoriety even beyond their crew.

But unlike the other executive, the one who acted like a clown and soaked up the attention, King wasn’t the type to indulge in any of it. He handled it coolly. If someone disrespected him, they’d pay for it—but there was no reason to silence voices of admiration. So, without saying a word, he simply turned to leave.

“Ah, Lord King? Where are you going...?”

“──Nue called for me.”

“!! I-I see...! Then please give lady Nue our regards!!”

“Hmph...”

Hearing the commotion, the casino owner rushed over, wringing his hands and hoping to greet King personally—but King swiftly shut down the noise and exited the casino. Once the name “Nue” was mentioned, the owner couldn’t possibly try to stop him. All he could do was watch the group leave and get to work cleaning up after them.

──And so King, accompanied by a few subordinates, headed off from the main street toward another building.

It was a theater located along the main avenue of the pleasure district. That night, it was more packed than usual.

Regularly hosting musicals and performances, this theater had recently come under the management of Queen—“the Plague,” one of the Beasts Pirates’ top officers. It wasn’t a place King visited often.

But when summoned, he had no choice. King walked in boldly, making his way up to the second-floor VIP seats through the main entrance. The crowds posed no obstacle. His face and presence were well known, and the moment people caught sight of him, they instinctively cleared a path.

At the VIP section, he found two large sofas set up around a table in a reception-style arrangement. Sitting there was none other than their captain—the one who ruled this island. Seeing his state, King hesitated to speak... but he didn’t really have a choice.

“──Kaido.”

“! King!! You showed up!! Come sit over here and drink!! We’ve got a guest tonight!!”

“...Of course.”

“...Stussy, huh... and that guy...”

Kaido, the massive pirate towering nearly five meters tall, the captain of the Beasts Pirates—“Kaido of the Beasts” himself—called out to King to join him for a drink. Sitting nearby was Stussy, the so-called “Queen of the Pleasure District” and the island’s underworld boss, who looked visibly fed up with having to entertain Kaido.

But there was another man King didn’t recognize. He was likely the guest Kaido had mentioned—probably someone they were doing business with. King didn’t say much, simply glancing around to look for the one who’d actually summoned him. But that person wasn’t there. Only a few fellow Beasts Pirates crew members... and some caged creatures that looked more like wild animals than people. Still no sign of her. And of course, that idiot was here too.

“...Where’s Nue?”

“Over there.”

“! ...Of course she is.”

King noticed the seat next to Kaido was empty and asked where she was. It was Stussy who responded, gesturing toward the stage. King let out a faint sigh. As always, it seemed he’d just have to wait. With nothing else to do, he turned his attention to the stage like the others.

And just then, the show was starting. Dressed in a glamorous gown, a woman took the stage, backed by a chorus and a team of backup dancers. With rhythmic music, she began singing and dancing in a charming, almost playful way. She was the very person who had summoned King here.

But it was Queen who opened the act. He often performed in these shows, but this time, he was playing the hype man. His booming, energetic voice filled the theater.

“Get ready, fellas～～～!!! The call and response is～～～～!?”

“CUTE & UNKNOWN!!”

“YEAHHHH!! Welcome to the New World♫ The cutest idol lighting up these hellish seas♡ Her name is──”

“LADY NUEEEEEEE!!”

“Mysterious and untraceable♫ If you’ve managed to find me, lucky you♫ Why? Because I’ve got a bounty on my head♫ But I can walk around in plain sight just fine! Why? Because I’m a mystery♫ I vanish in style with my magical illusion~♫”

“UNKNOWN!!”

“But I’m just too cute to go unnoticed♡ If you’ve made it to the New World, you’ll see me at least once♫ Fans? Totally welcome♫ Servants or subordinates? Also welcome♫ But enemies? I show no mercy♡ I love torture♡ I can do whatever I want♫ Because I’m…”

“CUTE!!”

“Yessss♡ And now──It’s showtime♫”

Under the spotlight, twirling her trident as she sang and danced at the center of the stage, was Nue—the so-called “Phantom Beast” and vice-captain of the Beasts Pirates. She looked like an adorable young girl… but appearances were deceiving.

In reality, she was older than King, nearly the same age as Queen, and considered a sibling figure to Kaido himself. A terrifying pirate with unknown abilities. Flying around with colorful UFOs, vanishing and reappearing on a whim—just witnessing her stage act was enough to understand she wasn’t normal. And yet, lately she’d been gaining fans, even among the Beasts Pirates crew and the island’s residents. Sure, people feared her—but some also genuinely enjoyed her performances. Their chants were well-rehearsed.

After a few minutes of nonstop performance, Nue zipped straight up to the VIP lounge on the second floor.

“──Thanks for waiting~!! All right, let’s get this deal started!!”

With that line, it seemed the deal was finally about to begin—or so it seemed, until Stussy, clearly hesitant, said:

“……The deal was finalized a while ago.”

“Wait, what!!? Seriously!?”

──Apparently, the transaction had already been completed.

---

After finishing my performance and sitting down for the deal, Stussy told me it was already done. I was heartbroken.

“How mean! I was really looking forward to intimidating him with some impossible demands!”

“…If you bullied him, the whole thing might’ve fallen apart.”

“But that’s the point! I wanted it to fall apart!! You killjoy, Stussy!!”

Hmph. I had this whole game planned out—showing off how intimidating I could be to the poor negotiator, playing the part of the untouchable big shot. But I guess that wasn’t happening now. Oh well. I plopped down next to Kaido and decided to enjoy the food and drinks instead.

“Well, whatever. More importantly, I’m starving~♡ Time to dig in!! Nom”

“…I can’t believe you’re saying that in front of the business partner…”

“Nom nom… huh? Oh, you’re still here. Wanna drink? Or maybe a bite? This meat’s actually really good.”

“…I’ll pass.”

Oh well, I thought, watching his bitter expression as he tried to keep his composure. Didn’t bother me any. He was a delivery man of sorts—someone from the underworld, tasked with distributing the weapons we’d procured to a certain country. Today was supposed to be about ironing out the details of that deal, but apparently Stussy handled it all cleanly. I’d check later to confirm, but I wasn’t too worried. No matter how it played out, we were going to make a killing. And Stussy had her own share in it too—no way she’d mess it up.

Then, I turned to look at the other thing I had arranged for delivery.

“──Ah, you actually brought it! Thanks a ton~!”

“Of course… it’s my job. However… what exactly are you planning to do with a Mink slave?”

“Hmm, that’s a secret~♡ Isn’t it a little rude to ask something like that in the first place?”

“…Fair point. My apologies…”

“No worries. ──Alright, King~ Take it out back and get it started~”

“Yeah.”

The delivery guy apologized promptly, but I didn’t really care either way. I sent King off with several Mink slaves in tow. The Mink Tribe is a race of beastmen—animalistic humanoids native to an island deep in the New World. They're known as a “warrior race by birth,” and yeah, they’re pretty strong. But that’s not why I bought them. It was pure curiosity. I got all sorts—cow Minks, pig Minks, just to try a variety. I want to run a few experiments, that’s all. If I happen to find one fit to be a subordinate, that’s just a bonus. That’s for another day, though.

“Mm! Thanks for the meal! Alrighty, next I’ll have… steak, tonkatsu, and a nice juicy hamburger, please~♡”

“Yes, ma’am! I’ll let the kitchen know!”

“Thanks a bunch~!”

I gave my next order to the subordinate waiting nearby. Performing makes me hungry. And since the deal’s all wrapped up, I figured I might as well enjoy myself. As I was thinking that, Kaido snorted after hearing my order and teased,

“Meat again, huh?”

“Hey! That’s discrimination, you know! Girls like meat and greasy food too! I mean, I’ll have a salad in between, okay?”

“Is that how it works?”

“Hmm… more or less.”

“—Hey, Nue-san! Don’t just fly off after your show like that!! We can’t fly, you know!!”

“Oh, Queen! You made it! Want some food?”

“Huh? Yeah, I guess—if it’s made with normal ingredients… Wait, what the hell!? Only salad’s left!? What am I, a girl!?”

“I’m a pretty girl!!”

“Guh!?”

“Queen-sama’s under salad attack!!?”

I stuffed Queen’s mouth with a massive pile of salad to shut him up. No dressing. Low calorie. Let him savor the raw sweetness of fresh vegetables—oh, right.

“By the way, Stussy? Got any new underground news? Gimme the latest in a top-three ranking! Queen!”

“Crunch crunch… gulp… Hang on—ugh… Okay. ──Da-da-da-da-daaa!!”

“──Do you really need to do your own drumroll?”

“Of course! Ahem! Number three!?”

As Queen provided the sound effects, I asked Stussy for her usual underworld intel. Something to pass the time while waiting on my food. She sipped from her teacup and gave a little sigh.

“Let’s see… A Celestial Dragon family was found dead.”

“Whaaaaaaaat!!? No way! That wasn’t us, was it!?”

“──Hmm… okay, what’s number two?”

“War broke out after someone stole a kingdom’s Heavenly Tribute.”

“Muhahaha! That one I do know!! That’s just awful! Who’d stoop so low as to steal the tribute, huh!?”

“Worororo… Or maybe, someone stole it and framed someone else. Tough luck for them.”

“So sad, right? It’s so sad. I’m just so moved I might finish my whole salad over it~”

We all wore wicked smiles as Stussy fed us the info. ──Of course, we were the ones who stole that Heavenly Tribute.

We’d lost our skirmish with the Big Mom Pirates and needed cash again. So when we got wind of a shipment carrying tribute to the Celestial Dragons, we hit it. I disguised our ship as one from a different country using my powers and launched the ambush. That set off a war between the two nations.

Today’s weapon deal? It was meant to arm one of those sides. We took precautions to keep any leaks contained, naturally.

It was the perfect scam. We scored a fortune, got a war going for more profit, and would probably be stricken from the World Government’s radar soon. Might even seize the whole island before we’re done. It was a juicy plan, down to the bone. Kaido suggested we raid the ship, and I threw the rest together on the fly—but it’s working out beautifully.

We’ll use the money to buy more weapons, ships, and build up our power. We can recruit subordinates as needed, but weapons and ships? Those cost money. And if we want more Devil Fruits, same deal.

People say the Beasts Pirates are nothing but savage thieves who take what they want—but that’s not true. We do pay for things sometimes. We’re pirates, yeah, but we’re still civilized. You can’t get ahead on barbarism alone. Hmph. This is smart. I’m smart. Smart and cute. That’s why I never slack on gathering intel.

“So, what’s number one?”

“──The Roger Pirates have returned to the New World.”

“──Alright! We’re going to attack them RIGHT NOW!!”

“Whaaaaaaaaaat!!? That’s way too sudden!! Stop her, Kaido-san!!”

“──Roger…!! We’ve got no choice but to kill him…!! Alright, you bastards!! Set sail!! Move it!!”

“Wait, Kaido-san, you too!?! Stussy-chan, help me out here! Say something!!”

“…As if I could stop them.”

“Kiiiing!! You useless jerk!! Say something, will ya!?”

“Hah!? Shut it, you lardass!! I’m frying something for Nue-sa— I mean, I’m in the middle of a torture session right now!! So pipe down…!! Or do you wanna be turned into tonkatsu too!?”

“This is no time for your kinky torture crap, you twisted freak!!”

“Haaah!!?”

──And just like that, we set off, loud and rowdy, to pick a fight with the Roger Pirates. …Oh, and yes: the steak, tonkatsu, and hamburger were delicious♡

---

──Somewhere in the New World…

“──UFOs are real!!”

“──There’s no such thing as UFOs!!”

On the deck of a ship sailing through the New World, two boys were nose-to-nose, arguing heatedly. Both were pirate apprentices, having grown up aboard this very ship.

The crew, watching the scene unfold, burst into laughter. This kind of thing happened all the time.

“Shanks and Buggy are at it again!!”

“Ahahahaha!! This is great!! Go, go!!”

“Don’t you dare lose, either of ya!!”

The crew were all tough, seasoned pirates with their own quirks, but they had an easygoing vibe—well, all except one newly joined boy.

“…Pathetic.”

Off to the side, a sour-faced boy crossed his arms and muttered coldly as he watched the commotion, choosing instead to focus on maintaining his weapons.

Meanwhile, the crew egged the two apprentices on—one a red-haired boy with a straw hat, Shanks, and the other with a red nose, Buggy. The argument, for the record, was: Shanks believed in UFOs, Buggy didn’t.

“They’re obviously real, you moron!!”

“They’re obviously fake, you idiot Shanks!!”

“──That’s enough!!”

“Eep!!”

“Guh!!”

The chaos was finally cut short when a man smacked both boys lightly on the head with his hands—not hard, just enough to break up the fight. He was their first mate, a man once known as the “Dark King.” If he’d been serious, those two skulls would be in pieces.

But the hit was still enough to make both Shanks and Buggy yelp, clutch their heads, and fall flat on their butts, wincing in pain. Standing in front of them, the man scolded:

“You two are always fighting! Seriously… UFOs, of all things…”

“Ow… But he’s the one who said they don’t exist…”

“Ugh… But come on, First Mate! They don’t exist, right!? It’s obviously a hoax!!”

“You’re still going? Well… I could say… that UFOs… do… technically… exist…”

“Whaaa!? You too, First Mate!?”

“See!? If Rayleigh-san says so, it’s gotta be true!!”

Even Silver Rayleigh, the ship’s veteran first mate, had weighed in seriously, backing Shanks. Buggy was clearly shaken, while Shanks was thrilled.

Just then, their captain arrived—a man with a massive mustache, grinning from ear to ear.

“──UFOs, huh!? Man, that takes me back! I used to see ’em all the time!”

“Ehhhhhh!? You too, Captain!?!”

“You saw them!? Were there aliens onboard or something!?”

“Kukuku… Oh yeah. We had a guy ride with us for a while. He’s probably still out there, somewhere in these seas.”

“Whaaaaaat!!?”

“Hey, Roger… don’t mess with them too much.”

“Wahaha!! Sorry, sorry!!”

Rayleigh lightly scolded Gol D. Roger—the smiling captain of the Roger Pirates—for teasing the two apprentices. But Roger offered only a half-hearted apology, clearly not sorry at all. Shanks and Buggy, having calmed their shock a bit, looked confused.

“Wait… so it was a lie?”

“Man… don’t scare us like that, Captain! I seriously thought—”

“Nope, wasn’t lying. UFOs do exist, and there is someone who can show them to you!! That’s a fact!!”

“WHAT!? Then which is it!?”

“Someone who shows UFOs…? Hey, Captain Roger!! What’s that person like? Do they have like… eight legs or something!?”

Buggy looked even more confused now, but curiosity clearly got the better of Shanks, who leaned in with interest. Roger just laughed.

“Wahahaha! Nah, no eight legs. Just looks like a regular cute girl! But don’t let that fool ya—she’s damn strong, and kinda scary. If you ever spot a UFO, you better be careful!!”

“Yeah, someone like you two could get snatched up and eaten in no time!!”

“D-Don’t say creepy stuff like that, Gaban-san!!”

“Whoa… wait a sec!! Then that UFO up there is—!?”

“Huh? What’s this, Shanks? You at that prankster age now? You think we’re gonna fall for something like th—”

Suddenly, Shanks’s expression changed completely. With wide eyes, he pointed behind Roger and Gaban, up at the sky, shouting at the top of his lungs.

It looked so real, so serious, that even though Gaban and the others were laughing, they turned and glanced at the sky just in case.

──See? Nothing there. Just some clouds, a seagull, and a red—UFO…?

“WAIT, WHAAAAAAAAT!?”

“Wh…!?”

“Hey, you’re kidding, right!?! No way!! Is that really—?! Captain!!”

“…Oi, Rayleigh. Looks like things are about to get interesting...!!”

“Stop getting excited, seriously… Sheesh. Can’t believe the Beasts Pirates found us this fast…”

The entire crew gasped in unison at the sight of the red UFO floating casually in the sky. Even the newest member, who usually kept to himself, looked visibly stunned.

Roger grinned, eyes gleaming with anticipation for whoever was about to show up. Rayleigh, meanwhile, sighed at Roger’s carefree attitude—but began making serious preparations for battle.

　

──Elsewhere, a few nautical miles away from where the Roger Pirates encountered the red UFO, a girl sat cross-legged atop the mast of another ship, overlooking the ocean.

　

“──Found you ♡”

Sensing the presence she’d been looking for, she stood up with a gleam in her eye. Giving crisp orders to her crew, she herself led the way—heading straight for her target’s location.