Chapter 71: Beast Pirates Vice Captain Arc: The Four Emperors
The Great Pirate Era
âThe age of pirates.
Eight years had passed since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, sparked by the dying words of the first Pirate King,
, after he conquered the Grand Line. His final proclamation sent countless souls chasing the legendary treasure, One Piece.Even now, the number of pirates continued to swell. Dreams of adventure, mountains of gold, and the thrill of the unknown drove them toward the Grand Line. There, they believed, lay everything a man could desireâwealth, power, fame. Even those who didnât aspire to become the Pirate King could carve out their own glory, amass fortunes, and live as they pleased.
In the end, pirates were nothing more than selfish creatures, driven by their own desires. They hoisted their flags, embodying their dreams and convictions, living freelyâfor better or worse.
To combat their rise, the World Government relied on two forces: the Marines, the military arm of justice, and the Warlords of the Sea, government-sanctioned pirates. Together, they barely maintained control over the Grand Line and the worldâs oceans.
But their influence was strongest only in the four seas and the first half of the Grand Line.
Beyond that lay a graveyard for piratesâa place where even the Marines and Warlords held little sway.
For in the latter half of the Grand Line, the New World, ruled four emperors of the seaâthe Four Emperors.
Even the Marines and Warlords paled in comparison to their terror.
A single Emperorâs crew could match the combined might of the Marines and Warlords. The only reason balance existed was because the Emperors themselves were locked in conflict.
Yet neither the Marines nor the Warlords held real power in the New World. This was the domain of the Four Emperors. Even nations under the World Governmentâs banner often flew an Emperorâs flag, seeking protection. The dual rule was an inescapable reality.
But though the Marines and Warlords were weak there, the New World was no paradise for pirates. For most, it was the opposite.
The route to the New World, through Fish-Man Island, was said to sink 70% of all ships. And even those who made it soon realizedâtheir days as free pirates were over.
Most who reached the New World lost everything. If they survived, their first cry was always the same:
"Take us back to Paradise!"
"Paradise"âthe name pirates gave the first half of the Grand Line. Though it was still a graveyard for the weak, it was a paradise compared to the New World.
After all, "Paradise" had no monstrous climates, no unpredictable islands, and most importantlyâno Four Emperors.
But the New World? It was a battleground where true pirates fought for supremacy. No laws, no honor. Lose, and you lost everythingâyour crew, your dreams, your life.
For the weak, survival meant one thing: submitting to an Emperorâs rule.
Newcomers to the New World always sought an audience with one of the Four, pledging allegiance in exchange for protection.
Only a rare few dared to challenge them. These were the truly strongâpirates who used cunning, alliances, or sheer power to take on an Emperorâs forces.
"âAre you SERIOUS, Captain?! You wanna pick a fight with a Four Emperor?! And not just anyâthe Beast Pirates?!"
"Quit your yapping! Emperors or not, theyâre still human! Shoot âem in the head or the heart, and they die like anyone else! We sneak into their territory, assassinate the big guy, and itâs over in one shot!"
"âŠYouâre right!"
And soâthe pirates who challenged the Emperors were always the dangerous kind, the ones who truly believed in their own strength.
"Yeah, if we stay at sea and donât land, we should be safe."
"Damn right. And if we run into underlings, we crush âem. Ambush a few, squeeze âem for infoâweâll find the boss in no time⊠Huh?"
"Wait⊠Is that⊠a UFO?!"
âWhat they didnât realize was how small they truly were.
"No way⊠I heard the New World defied common sense, but UFOs?!"
"Itâs real⊠Wait. Is it⊠coming toward us?"
"Yeah, itâs definitelyâ
âThe Four Emperors were monsters, beings who operated on a different level entirely.
"AAAAHHHâ?!"
"Theyâre firing at us!"
"The shipâs taking damage!"
"Tch⊠Stay calm! Itâs just a damn UFOâweâll shoot it downâ"
âA massive organization. Overwhelming power. Numbers. Individual strength.
In every way, they were outmatched. That was the Four Emperors.
"Th-the UFOs⊠Theyâre multiplying!"
"CAPTAIN! Shipsâfrom the east! Itâs the BEAST PIRATES!"
"Whaâ?!"
"Boss! Their cannonsâhow are they hitting us from this range?!"
"We canât stop the UFOs OR the cannons!"
A single pirate crew stood no chance against an Emperor. Most wouldnât even lay eyes on a top officer before being wiped out.
And the crew they had chosen to challengeâthe Beast Piratesâwere the most brutal of the Four, feared even among monsters.
"DAMN IT! STOP! DONâT KILL MY CREW!"
"SOMEBODY HELP USâ!"
"Are we really gonna die here?!"
"We never shouldâve challenged an EmperorâŠ!"
But the Beast Pirates were also expanding their empire.
And they always made one offer before the slaughter:
âJoin or die.
âRefuse, and youâll be killed. Or captured and tortured.
Submit to their rule, or suffer hell.
The spineless would break immediately.
The strong-willed would endure torment until they yielded.
Among the Emperors, they were the harshest to challengersâbut also the most accepting of those who proved their strength.
That was the way of the Strongest Creature, the Emperor known as "Kaido of the Beasts".
âThe Land of Wano
A Land Once Called "The Country of Gold"
Once, Wano was a land of untouched beauty, a nation unaffiliated with the World Government, sealed away by its natural defenses and the strength of its samurai.
But now, Wano had changed.
Vast stretches of its regions had become wastelands, dotted with weapon factories. The common people lived in poverty, their stomachs perpetually empty, unsure if they would survive another day.
"Iâm starvingâŠ"
"No shit. Get back to workâunless you wanna die."
The people toiled in weapon factories, farms, and mines, their lives entirely controlled by two rulers:
â"Shogun" Kurozumi Orochi and his clan.
âThe "Sovereign" Kaido of the Beasts and his Beast Pirates.
Disobedience meant no food. Defiance meant torture or execution.
Some still dared to resistâthieves who stole food to survive. But they lived in constant fear, their eyes always on the sky.
"BOSS! UFOs!!"
"Hide the weapons! Get to the treesâNOW!"
For four years, since Orochi and Kaido crushed the Kozuki Clan and solidified their rule, flying disksâUFOsâhad patrolled Wanoâs skies and waters.
Red. Blue. Green.
They struck without warning, targeting only those who resisted. No one understood their patternsâonly that they hunted the defiant.
Fighting back was suicide. Destroying one would summon Beast Pirate elitesâthe "Tobiroppo"âwith an army in tow.
So the thieves hid. They ran.
Because in Wano today, the UFOs were everywhere.
.
.
âThe Capital: A Gilded Cage
"Not many UFOs today, huh?"
"You didnât hear? Thereâs a banquet. Rumor says theyâve been sent overseas."
"ALIENS!! Mysterious, flying ALIENS!!" (A child waved a UFO-shaped trinket.)
"Hey! That strapâs sick! Lucky bastard!"
"Hahaha! Drink up!!"
"Unlimited booze tonight!!"
"They say thereâs a show on Onigashima too!"
"Ugh, I wish I could go⊠Maybe if I became a maid or a courtesan?"
"Or joined the Beast Pirates!"
Unlike the starving countryside, the Flower Capital thrived.
Food? Plenty. Comfort? Guaranteed. Entertainment? Overflowing.
Most here were loyalists, molded by propaganda and privilege. Why resent Orochi and Kaido when life was good?
The samurai who did resist were fractured. The late Kozuki Oden, their symbol of rebellion, was a divisive figureâbarely remembered by the people.
And the new generation? They dreamed of serving Orochi and Kaido.
Becoming officials. Enforcers. Even piratesâthough leaving Wano was a crime.
âOnigashima: The Beastâs Stronghold
A skull-shaped island, once uninhabitedânow the heart of the Beast Pirates.
Past the towering torii gate, beyond the lake that served as its port, stood Kaidoâs fortress, a masterpiece of Wanoâs enslaved craftsmen.
Inside, a banquet raged.
Ten thousand Beast Pirates. Ten thousand of Orochiâs samurai.
And at the peak of the layered halls, a colossal man danced.
"Round but all muscle, baby~! A king who sings and dances~!!"
"FUNK!!" (The crowd roared.)
"WOOOOO!! QUEEN!!"
"QUEEN-SAMAAAAA~!!"
"Alright, Beast Pirates!! Thatâs a wrap for my show!!"
â"Queen the Plague", Calamity of the Beasts.
Bounty: 1,020,000,000 Berries.
One of Kaidoâs three right-hand men, the overseer of prisoner mines, and the life of the party.
His performances were legendaryâa staple of Beast Pirate revelry.
But not everyone was amused.
"...Hey. Itâs over, sis. Wake up."
ăBeasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" â Page Oneă
A boy in a black-and-white hat, his sharp horns protruding through a dark maskâPage One.
Though still young enough to be called a child, he wasnât treated as a mere apprentice in the Beasts Pirates. No, he was a full-fledged combatantâand the glint in his eyes proved it as he nudged the girl beside him. With a grumble, she sat up.
"Mnnn⊠Yaaawn⊠Finally, Queenâs boring singing is over, zamasu?"
"Quit calling it boring!! And drop the weird speech tic!!"
"Pe-tanâs such a worrywart, zamasu ne~. Letâs just study already, zamasu yo."
"I finished the homework, so cut it out!!"
ăBeasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" â Ultiă
A mask with a cute design covered her mouth, twin horns sprouting from her headâUlti.
Like Page One, she was a child raised and trained by the Beasts Pirates, already stronger than most grown fighters. Rubbing her eyes with a sleepy yawn, she finally roseâonly for a towering, smoking beauty to glance down at them with amusement.
This was one of the crewâs elite. Though only four currently held the title, she belonged to the "Tobiroppo"âthe six strongest among the top officers.
"Uti-chanâs growing up so cute~âĄ"
"HUH!? WHO THE HELL YOU CALLINâ CUTE!?"
"Sis, chillâthatâs not the part to bite at!!"
"Oh, right, zamasu ne~."
"The biting instinct remains unchanged, I see."
ăBeasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" â Black Maria âą Bounty: 212,000,000 Berriesă
A towering beauty in opulent courtesan attireâthough technically still a girl by age, her stature and twin horns commanded attention. Black Maria observed the trio with amusement before another voice cut in from the side.
"More importantlyâyou did finish your assignments, right?"
"Obviously."
"Good. Not that I give a damn if you screw up⊠unless it spills over into my work. So donât drag me down, Pe-tan."
"THE HELL YOU CALLINâ PE-TAN!?"
ăBeasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" â Sasaki âą Bounty: 344,000,000 Berriesă
Clad in rugged attire with a horned cap and wooden sandals, the sharp-fanged Sasaki eyed the others like a drill sergeant. But not everyone appreciated his tone.
"âOi, Sasaki. Who put you in charge?"
"Common sense. âŠDo I really need to spell it out?"
"Newbies who canât read the hierarchy should stay quiet. Same rank, not same strength."
"Damn right!! Though itâs obvious whoâs superior here."
"Yeah. Youâll learn soon enoughâpray Iâm feeling merciful when that day comes."
ăBeasts Pirates "Tobiroppo" â Whoâs-Who âą Bounty: 428,000,000 Berriesă
A swordsman masked by a horned helm, Whoâs-Who bristled at Sasakiâs authority. Both ex-captains, their rivalry was less about malice and more about the Beasts Piratesâ ironclad rule: power dictates rank. Veterans? Women? Kids? Irrelevant. The Tobiroppo were the apexâfour elites (plus two vacancies)âand their clashes were as routine as the tides.
Then Whoâs-Whoâs gaze snapped to another figure lounging apart from the group.
"Speaking ofâwhereâs Jack? Hey, Drake."
"âŠYes?"
ăBeasts Pirates Archaeologist "Tobiroppo Candidate" â Dulak âą Bounty: 80,000,000 Berriesă
A woman in a white coat and horned half-mask, Dulak set down her wine glass with deliberate calm.
"Jackâs whereabouts. You donât know?"
"âŠWhy would I?"
"Tch. Still ice-cold, huh? Anywayâyour work done?"
"Yes. Dreadfully dull."
Sasakiâs grin vanished.
"Dull?"
"âŠMy apologies. A poor choice of words."
"Watch your tongue. And do your damn job."
"Sheâs right, zamasu yo! For Kaido-sama and Nue-samaâs sake!!"
"Slack off, and weâll clean up your mess."
"Not that weâd mind."
One by one, the Tobiroppo (minus Page One) admonished her. Dulakârecruited for her archaeological expertiseâwas technically untouchable, but hierarchy meant little to these ambition-fueled monsters. Only the top two commanded their deference.
"âMy, what a lively gathering."
"!"
A new presence silenced the room. The click of heels announced herâa woman in a red-and-white dress, garter belt, and wide-brimmed hat, a scarlet parasol resting on her shoulder.
ăBeasts Pirates "All-Star" âą Captain of the Vampire âą "Calamity Joker" âą Bounty: 940,000,000 Berriesă
"JokerâŠ!"
"Youâre back too?"
"Long time no see, zamasu ne!!"
"Indeed. Youâre all as vibrant as ever."
Joker, one of the three All-Stars, rarely stayed in Wano due to her role. Most of the Tobiroppo saw her maybe once a year.
"Oi, Joker. Whereâs Jack? He wasnât assigned shit today."
"Fufufu~ Probably backstage at the concert. Someone had to handle the grunt work."
ââŠBackstage for the concertâŠ?â
âLow-key jealous!!â
ââWait, that means itâs starting soon.â
âAh.â
Page Oneâs mutter made the Tobiroppo collectively freeze. Amidst work talk, theyâd nearly forgottenâQueenâs concert ending meant the next event wasâŠ
âââHeeeeere it is! The annual GOLDEN KAGURA~~~!! Did ya miss me, bastards?! Closing this yearâs show is⊠THAT LEGEND AGAIN!! Scream your lungs out~~~~!!â
âOOOOOHHHHH~~~~!!!â
âAh, crap!! Sis!! We gotta prep for the call-andâSHEâS ALREADY GONE!?â
âTch. Guess weâre doing thisâŠâ
âYou know how petty she gets if we donât play alongâŠâ
Queenâs booming voice (doubling as emcee) and the crewâs roaring cheers snapped them into action. Page One brandished a staff; Whoâs-Who and Sasaki braced. Ulti had already sprinted to the plaza.
Thenâmusic erupted. Shamisens, biwas, keyboards, drums, guitarsâa chaotic fusion of Wano tradition and modern frenzy.
The stage lit up with Queenâs backup dancers (round two) and kimono-clad local women, fans in hand. Lights dimmedâspotlights zeroed in.
A girlâs voice sang:
ââStanding, Iâm a peony~ Sitting, a rose~ Walking? A lily in full bloom~âȘ Sing like an angel~ Kill like a devil~ The cutest enigma soaring through the night~â« Call my name~~~~~~~?â
Rainbow UFOs darted overhead, pulsing with the beat. The white light streaking across the sky morphed into a silhouetteâcurvaceous, playfulâwaiting for the crowdâs reply.
âNUEEEE-CHAAAAAN~~~~~~~!!!â
âYES!! ME!! The New Worldâs #1 idol!!! The Sealed Beast NuĂ©-chaaaan~⥠LIVE!! AT!! ONIGASHIMAAAAA~~~~~~~!!!â
âWOOOOOHHHH~~~~!!!â
âKYAAAAAA~~~~⥠NUĂ-SAMAAAAA~~~~âĄâ
âYeaaah~â« Now that Iâm here~ Tonightâno, the whole next yearâwill drown in CHAOTIC BLISS!! Ready or nooot~~~âĄâ
[Beast Pirates Vice-Captain (Headliner) | "Phantom Beast Nué" | Bounty: 3,080,100,000 Berries]
Spotlights revealed her: a black-haired beauty with crimson-and-azure wings, a mic strapped to her trident. The unclassifiable creature. Right hand to Emperor Kaido. The legend herselfâNuĂ©.
The crowd, already hyped from Queenâs set, erupted further. Even Queen, an All-Star, was merely her opener. Tobiroppo whoâd ignored his performance now waved glowsticks, clapped, and chanted like rookies.
âTo all 20,000 Beast Pirates and Kurozumi fam~~~!! Enjoy my show~!! Scream for me~~~!! Clap for me~~~!! On threeâHEY HEY HEY HEY~â«â
âKYAAAA~⥠NUĂ-SAMA ZAMASU~~~!! WE LOVE YOU~~~~~~âĄâ (Ulti, aggressively idol-obsessed)
âHEY HEY HEY HEY!!â (Page One, grudgingly)
ââŠYour sisterâs⊠intense.â
âSHUT UP!! If I donât do this, sheâll beat my ass later!!â
ââŠâŠâŠâŠâ
âMy, my. Not a fan of the noise?â (Black Maria, teasing)
âDonât say thatâsheâs got bat hearing!! You wanna get me killed!?â (Whoâs-Who, sweating)
Ulti and Page One chanted (the latter bullied into it by Sasaki). Even Whoâs-Who, usually aloof, participated silently.
Meanwhile, the final Tobiroppo wasâ
âCLAP!! CLAP!! Fellow oni? Clap or regret~â«â
âDANCE!! DANCE!!â
âCUTE & UNKNOWN~~~~~~!!â
ââŠNo issues back hereâŠâ
A brawny boy with an iron mask covering his lower face sighed in relief. Stage equipment, propsâall intact.
[Beast Pirates "Tobiroppo" â Jack | Bounty: 200,000,000 Berries]
Jack. Drafted as a stagehand for the night.
ââŠâŠâŠâŠâ
â! Where are you going, Lord Jack?â
"âŠIâm going to greet Kaido. Once the concert ends, the bosses and big sis will gather too."
"!!"
The subordinate gasped at Jackâs words. When Jack referred to "the bosses and big sis," he meant the three All-Stars and NuĂ©, currently on stage.
Add Jack and the other Tobiroppo to that, and you had a gathering that rarely happened.
The Beast Pirates, one of the Four Emperorsâ crews, ruled vast territories in the New World. From Wano to outlying islands, they collected tribute, crushed invaders, and recruited strong foes. Even lower-ranked "Tobiroppo Candidates" had responsibilitiesâlet alone the elite six (though only four remained). But on this one night, the Fire Festival, everyone returned to Onigashima.
Which meant one thing:
The Beast Piratesâ full might was assembling.
The Sanctum
Deep within the fortress, a room resembled a shrineâa place to kneel before the guardian demon of Wano.
Behind a rope-bound dais, only two beings had the right to sit.
"âŠâŠâŠâŠAaahhh~~~~âŠ"
The giant gulped from his gourd, wine spilling down his chin. Many titles defined him:
âA man whose mere existence inspires terror.
âThe undying, unkillable beast.
âThe worldâs strongest creature.
A near-10-meter colossus, hailed as the strongest Emperor in a one-on-one fightâ
[ "Four Emperor" | Beast Pirates Captain "Kaido of the Beasts" | Bounty: 4,611,100,000 Berries]
"âOi. Joker⊠and the rest of you. Tch. âBout time you showed up."
"Yes. The concertâs over, so everyone should be here soon. Jack tooâah, speak of the devil."
Joker, flanked by the Tobiroppo and NuĂ©âs two child attendants, stepped forward. Right on cue, Jack entered.
"Yo, Jack. Nue dragginâ you around again?"
"âŠYeah."
"WHAAAT!? LUCKY BASTARD!! IâLL MURDER YOU!!"
"Shut it. Like you could take me, UltiâŠ!"
"THE HELL I CANâT!!?"
"Sis, STOPâ"
Jackâs smirk vanished as Ulti shifted, her body swelling into a monstrous hybrid form. Jack mirrored her, their auras clashing. Page Oneâs warnings went ignoredâ
"âEnough."
A voice like grinding stone cut through the tension. Jack instantly reverted to human form; Ulti followed suit, paling.
"Big Bro KingâŠ"
Clad head-to-toe in black, with wings and a flaming sword strapped to his backâthe first All-Star.
[Beast Pirates All-Star | Captain of the Pteranodon | "Wildfire King" | Bounty: 1,230,000,000 Berries]
"Oh, King! Long time."
"Joker. Quit spectating. Donât make me babysit these brats."
"Fufu~ But itâs fun watching them. My bad~âĄ"
Kingâs glare didnât faze her. With a sigh, he took his place beside Kaido and delivered his report:
"Kaido. That pirate crew that invaded our turf last week surrendered. Wanna fold âem in?"
"Tch. Finally broke, huh? Stick âem on guard duty⊠AahhhââŠwhatâs their name again?"
"Iron Boy âScotch.â 77 million bounty," Joker chimed in. "You annihilated them drunk last Tuesday."
"âOh. Right."
"How cruel~ Forgetting the weaklings you crushed~"
"Weaklingsâ faces arenât worth remembering."
"SO TRUE!! I forgot the pirates I crushed last month!! And the report!!"
"DAMMIT, SISâ"
Page Oneâs scream drowned as Whoâs-Who stepped forward:
"Kaido. What about the other matter?"
"Hah. The fourth All-Star spot? Still open. I donât give a damn who takes it, but NuĂ© says none of you scrubs are strong enough yet. Pass her test, and itâs yours."
"âŠStill that damn test."
"So... Nueâs promotion exam, huhâŠ"
"âŠâŠâŠâŠ"
Whoâs-Who and Sasaki fell into thoughtful silence at the news. Both were former captains of other pirate crews, outsiders recruited by Kaido into the Beasts Pirates. Precisely because of that, they had their eyes set on the higher position of All-Star. For pirates like them, confident in their strength, the Beasts Piratesâwhere power dictated rankâwasnât a bad place to be.
If they could become All-Stars immediately, theyâd jump at the chance. But hearing it was Nueâs promotion exam gave them pause. Her training regimens were notoriously lethal, requiring serious resolve just to surviveâlet alone pass. Youâd need strength rivaling the current All-Stars to even stand a chance.
Though he didnât voice it, Jack was another one aiming for the title. But unlike them, heâd been raised in the crew since childhood. He knew firsthand how terrifyingly strong the All-Star "big bros and sis" were, so he figured it was too soon for him to rise.
Yet at the same time, he also believed heâd be the next All-Star. Jack never defied his superiors, but against enemies? Heâd charge headfirst at anyone, a reckless madman with no regard for his life.
That very recklessnessâa kind of stubborn dedicationâwas also what earned him respect. Of course, his overconfidence led him to bite off more than he could chew, resulting in frequent failures.
Thatâs why the All-Stars King and Queen mockingly called him "Flop Jack." And since heâd been scolded like this since childhood, he still shrank under their reprimands. To his underlings, who knew his cruelty and ferocity, this might seem surprisingâbut it was only natural he couldnât defy the Beasts Piratesâ top brass, monsters far scarier than him.
As the three mused over the promotion, two more figures entered the room. One of them was the very person theyâd just been discussing.
"âHuh? No oneâs taking it? You guys are all so cautious!!"
"Muhaha! Thatâs âcause they know they ainât got what it takes!!"
"Nue-sanâŠ"
"The hell you say, QueenâŠ!!"
The newcomers were Nue, the Beasts Piratesâ Vice Captain, and the All-Star Queen, fresh off their live performance. While none of the Tobiroppo dared retort to Nueâs blunt remark, they had no issue snapping back at Queen.
Queen took his place beside Kaidoâopposite Kingâwhile Nue floated through the air, perching atop the railing near Kaidoâs seat.
But the others couldnât help but stare at Nue. Because for onceâshe wasnât in her usual form. Instead, she appeared as a tall, stunning adult woman.
"Hey, Nue. How long you plan on keepinâ that look?"
"Hm? âOh, right, right! Sorry âbout that, hiding my strongest, cutest, most beautiful form from everyone. âThere!"
At Kaidoâs prompting, Nue released her ability, her figure warping like an illusion before shrinking back into her petite, loli form. Stretching her arms, she grinned.
"Mmm~~!! Nothing beats the real thing, right? Way cuter, way more soothing for the soul!!"
"Obviously, Zamasu~~⥠Your true form is peak beauty, Zamasu!!"
"Youâre always adorable, Nue-samaâĄ"
"My, my, your charm only shines brighter, dearâĄ"
"Ehh~~⥠Stooop, youâre making me blush~~⥠I mean, I do think Iâm the cutest in the world, but⊠Hey, wanna autograph? My treatâĄ"
"Squeeâ⥠Nue-samaâs autograph!! Thisâll be my 18th one, but Iâm still thrilled, Zamasu!!"
"Youâre⊠happy about having 18âŠ?"
As Nue pulled out colored paper and pens (from who-knows-where) to sign, Page One muttered under his breath at Ultiâs fangirling. Notably, the only ones cheering for Nueâs true form were the women; the men wore strained smiles, silently enduring the exchange. Not that they thought she wasnât cuteâbut if asked whether her adult or usual form was "better," theyâd clam up.
Truthfully, neither was their type to begin with. But the urge to snark was hard to suppress. While Nue did have fans, some quietly preferred her occasional adult appearances during concertsâa minority often labeled "heretics" by the mainstream. These fans kept their preferences secret, sharing them only with like-minded comrades.
Ulti, a diehard orthodox fan, had once flattened a subordinate (and Page One) for suggesting the adult form might be more popular. Worse, if Nue ever caught wind of such talk, itâd be troubleâso avoiding the topic was an unspoken rule. The only one who could openly mock this was Kaido. Not that he cared much about her idol antics or looks, but he never held back if he felt like commenting.
After taking a swig of booze, he cut in:
"Oi, got somethinâ to tell ya all."
"Iâm getting an autograph here, so shove it!!"
"Do you even know what âpriorityâ means, sis?!"
"Tch. Whatever. Listen up. Lately, thereâs been some upstarts causinâ trouble in the New Worldâour territory included."
Ultiâs snap at even Kaido made Page One sweat, but the Emperor brushed it off and continued.
The Tobiroppo could guess who he meant. In this sea ruled by Emperors, only a handful of rookies stood out. Most either fled, died, or bent the knee. But those who refused to bow, sailing under no Emperorâs flag? Among them, one name loomed largest.
"âThat âRed-Haired Shanksâ rookie."
"! The Red-Hair PiratesâŠ"
"Theyâre said to be quite formidable⊠Is this an order to crush them?"
At the name "Red Hair," everyone pictured the same manâthe one with three scars across his left eye.
"Red-Haired" Shanks. Captain of the rapidly rising Red-Hair Pirates, whose duel with the Warlord "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk had set the New World abuzz.
Since theyâd trespassed into Beasts Pirates territory, Black Maria assumed Kaido was issuing a kill order. But she was wrong.
"Nah. Opposite. Donât. Lay. A. Finger. On. âEm."
"!! You canât meanâ"
The crew stared in shock. Kaido, who crushed defiance without mercy and recruited anyone with backbone, was telling them to stand down? That alone spoke volumes.
"...There a reason we shouldnât wipe out Red Hair?"
"Tch. Iâd have crushed âem and dragged âem in by now⊠but I caught wind of somethinâ interesting. âJoker, fill âem in."
"Gladly."
At Kaidoâs command, Jokerâthe crewâs intelligence officer and a government spyâsmirked and unveiled the truth:
"Red-Haired Shanks⊠is a former member of the Roger Pirates."
"âŠâŠ!!?"
The name Roger left them speechless. In this world, there wasnât a soul who hadnât heard of himâthe Pirate King, Gold Roger. The man who ignited the Great Pirate Era. A legend whoâd once humiliated even the Beasts Pirates. His crew, though small, was packed with monsters.
And Shanks had been one of them.
Now it made sense. Whoâs-Who and the others finally understood why this "Red-Hair" could duel Hawk-Eyes Mihawk and shake up the New World. A former Roger Pirate? No wonder Kaido was wary.
"Well, he was just an apprentice~! But even back then, he wasnât half badâand now heâs way stronger. So unless youâre All-Star level, picking a fight might be⊠yâknow, risky? Be careful, guys!!"
"Sheâs right. Nue remembers âem. Now that I think âbout it⊠Rogerâs ship did have a red-haired brat. And some snot-nosed kid, tooâŠ"
"âŠSo youâre saying we canât handle him?"
"THE HELL WE CANâT!!"
"Sis, chillâ!!"
Sasakiâs calm question sent Ulti into a rage, forcing Page One to restrain her. King crossed his arms and added coldly:
"Theyâve slipped past our surveillance before. If you spot them, report it. One of us will handle it."
"Oh! Speaking of which~ I mightâve forgotten to redeploy UFOs to some sectors after the concert. Tehe~âĄ"
"THE HELL, NUE-SAN!? âTEHEâ MY ASS!!"
"Mystery solved in record time, I seeâŠ"
Queenâs screech echoed as Joker sighed and Kingâs eye twitched. Nue just stuck out her tongue with a winkâzero remorse. Kaido exhaled through his nose.
"Nue. I told you to use the Wano UFOs for the concert."
"But I needed them for the new stage effects!! And I did leave subordinate crews in those areas! How was I supposed to know theyâd get breached!? Theyâd have gotten through anyway!!"
"Tch. Whatever. Point isâdonât engage Red-Hair unless youâve got two or three of you together. Stay sharp."
The Tobiroppo reluctantly nodded. A chance for glory, sureâbut also a surefire way to get wrecked. With their current skirmishes against other Emperors, unnecessary risks were off the table.
"âOh, right. Kaido-san, I brought the tribute. Check it later."
"Yeah, me too."
"Already submitted mine, zamasu!"
"Ah⊠Almost forgot."
"Slackinâ ainât an option."
"âŠMineâs already in."
One by one, the Tobiroppo reported their "tributes"âprofits from their territories, protection money, or seized goods. More profits meant bigger cuts for themselves, but falling short meant punishment. Entire islands under their banner had been wiped out for failing to pay.
But the Tobiroppo? They always delivered. Their hauls dwarfed even the top subordinatesâ.
"Worororo⊠Good. Iâll review âem later."
"You guys are amazing~! Always handling everything for usâĄ"
Kaido and Nue beamed. Having competent underlings was a blessingâespecially when said underlings brought gourmet dishes and premium booze. Nue dug in gleefully.
"Mmm~! This meatâs so tender it melts my cheeksâĄ"
"âThatâs my ranchâs A5 WagyuâŠ"
"The veggies are so crisp!!"
"Grown in my fields, zamasu!!"
"The fish is perfectly springy~!"
"I spear-hunted that legendary bastard myself!!"
"And this sake? DivineâĄ"
"Five-year reserve. Too good for the trash we usually serveâthis is for Kaido-san and Nue-san!!"
"Oh! This wooden bowlâs floral pattern is gorgeous!!"
"I carved it just for you, Nue-sanâĄ"
"âŠâŠâŠâŠ"
"Hm? Whatâs up, Jack? Got something to say?"
"âŠNah. Just⊠those chopsticksâŠ"
"Huh? Oh! Pure gold! No wonder they felt heavy! These must be from the gold you mined, right!?"
"Hmph. Worth notingâI prepared this entire meal."
"! King, you bastardâŠ! Stealing credit!? My ranch provided the ingredients!!"
"Cheap move, zamasu!!"
"âŠThe hellâs wrong with you guysâŠ?"
Queenâs baffled mutter summed it up. The Tobiroppoâeven Ulti and Page Oneâhad gone overboard currying favor. King was cooking now? Then again, Queen himself performed in concerts, so who was he to judge?
Amid the chaos, Kaido turned to Nue.
"Hey. Didnât you have somethinâ to say earlier?"
"Oh, right! Gonna go wreck Mariejois. Whoâs cominâ with~?"
"WHAT!? THATâS WORLD NEWS-LEVEL INSANE*!!"
"Me! Zamasu!!"
"SIS, THINK!! SHEâS NOT SHOPPING!!"
"Aaaand itâs settled! Ulti and Page One are in!!"
"WHY AM I DRAGGED INTO THIS!?"
"âŠWe are keeping this quiet⊠right? âŠRight?"
"Sheâs unhingedâŠ"
Even the All-Stars broke into cold sweats. As new winds stirred the New World, the Beasts Pirates prepared to shake the globe once moreâand the Fire Festivalâs night deepened.
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