Chapter 96: Gran Tesoro

——On the seas of the New World.

Floating upon the night sea was a "ship" so massive it could be mistaken for an island.

Even from a distance, its dazzling glow came from the enormous amounts of gold used in its decorations and the vibrant lights illuminating it.

And approaching this island-like vessel were ships of all kinds—civilian, government, navy, pirate—each with different allegiances.

Yet pirates did not attack civilians, nor did the navy capture pirates.

Because this was a government-sanctioned, weapon-free neutral zone.

Here, the navy was forbidden from laying a hand on pirates—by direct order of the Celestial Dragons. As a rule approved by the World Government, the marines had no choice but to comply.

——So why was this ship permitted by the Celestial Dragons, and why did so many flock to it?

The reason was simple: because this ship was—the "City of Dreams".

"WOOOOOOOOOH!!!"

"IT’S FINALLY STARTING!!"

At the entrance of this dreamlike city stood a massive water gate. Passing through it by ship, showered in swirling gold dust, revealed a floating stage surrounded by spectator seats packed with hundreds of thousands of people.

And what took place there? A show, of course.

Under the spotlight, performers appeared dressed in stylish attire—men in suits, women in dresses, female dancers in leotards.

The first sound to echo out was the beat of drums. Then the piano. Next, the bass. The instruments began weaving the rhythm, setting the tone for the music.

A gradual buildup, like an appetizer, raising the audience’s excitement.

But the real feast for the ears was yet to come.

All at once, the blaring sounds of saxophones, trombones, and trumpets erupted.

As the lively music played, the dancers began moving to the beat. The crowd roared with excitement.

But that alone wasn’t enough. Music and dance were thrilling, but in this city, they wouldn’t stop there.

Because this was the world’s greatest entertainment city. And with music and dance, what came next was only natural—song.

"——LADIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIES AAAAAAND GENTLEMEEEEEN!!!"

A single man emerged on stage, gripping a microphone as he called out to the audience with his booming voice.

"Tonight marks the beginning of our paradise!!! The golden city of dreams that fulfills every desire known to man!!!"

"WOOOOOH!! WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!"

"KYAAAAAAAH~♡"

The man stood about three meters tall, his slicked-back green hair gleaming under the lights, clad in a flamboyant gold-and-white stage outfit. His appearance alone sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Because everyone here knew exactly who he was.

He was one of the monsters of the New World, the owner of this City of Dreams—and a former pirate.

"Gran Tesoro’s Owner—'Golden Emperor' Gild Tesoro!!! Former Bounty: 777,000,000 Berries!!!"

"The world’s greatest entertainment city!!! GRAN TESOROOOOOOOOO—!!!"

"KYA—♡ TESORO-SAMAAAAA~♡"

"TESOROOOOOOO!!!"

Taking the stage himself, singing and dancing—was none other than the former captain of the Tesoro Pirates, Gild Tesoro in the flesh.

"To all you dear souls of the New World who’ve gathered in my city!!! Here, there is no night or morning!!! Lose yourselves in the fun and seize your dreams!!!"

"UOOOOOOOOOH!!!"

"——OKAY!!! NOW IT’S SHOWTIME!!! And for today’s grand occasion, we’ve got the best special guests in the world!!! Let me introduce them now!!!"

Tesoro hyped up the crowd as silhouettes appeared on stage to the rhythm of the music.

The first—a woman whose beauty was evident even in shadow.

"First up!!! The legendary beauty whose name shakes the New World!!! The ruler of pleasure island 'Desire Island'!!! Known as the 'Queen of the Red-Light District'!!! ——STUSSYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!"

"OOOOOOOOOH!!!"

Under the spotlight appeared a blonde beauty in a red dress.

"'Queen of the Red-Light District' — Stussy"

"Fufufu…♡ It’s been so long since I’ve been on stage♡"

She flashed her captivating smile, basking in the cheers—particularly from the older men in the crowd.

But she wasn’t the only guest.

Tesoro’s voice boomed again as another silhouette emerged—this one round and massive.

"Next!!! One of the 'Four Emperors' Kaido’s infamous 'Disasters'!!! A grooving, dancing, FUNKY giant!!! The 'Plague of… QUEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!"

"Beast Pirates' Calamity — 'Plague Queen'!!! Bounty: 1,520,000,000 Berries!!!"

"KEEPIN’ YA WAITING, TRASH BAGS—!!!"

"QUEEN!!!"

"QUEEN-SAMAAAAA~♡"

A near-eight-meter-tall behemoth, Queen, moved with unexpected agility as he stomped onto the stage. Even in show business, he was a legend.

These two alone were already a dazzling lineup to celebrate Gran Tesoro’s grand opening.

——But the final guest would make even them pale in comparison.

Tesoro himself acknowledged her as the biggest star of all.

So, to match her status, he raised his voice louder than ever.

"Now for the grand finale!!! Seeing her live is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!!! OPEN YOUR EYES AND BEHOLD!!!"

"WHOA!?"

"That UFO… No way!!!"

The lights dimmed, the music swelled with anticipation—and then, appearing above Gran Tesoro… was a UFO.

Those who didn’t know gasped. Those who did widened their eyes in shock.

Even in the New World, there was only one person who could pilot a UFO.

Not knowing her would be strange.

"THAT’S RIGHT!!! For this historic first performance in the world’s greatest entertainment city!!! We present one of the 'Four Emperors'!!! Kaido’s sworn sibling and adorable No. 2!!! The World’s Greatest Idol!!! Her name is——"

A dramatic pause—then Gran Tesoro erupted in a fountain of gold as the UFO spun in circles, transforming into a radiant, rainbow-colored light.

And within that light—a petite silhouette.

As her figure became clearer, it was obvious her outfit was different from usual. A silk top hat, a cane, black-and-red striped knee-high socks, and a frilly dress with more lace than she typically wore.

And as she appeared, Tesoro roared her name.

"——'BEASTLY SPECTER' NUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

"Beast Pirates' Vice Captain (Grand Finale) — 'Phantom Beast Nue'!!! Bounty: 3,780,100,000 Berries!!!"

"YEEEEEEEEEEAH!!! EVERYBODY~ I’M HEEEEERE~♡"

"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!?"

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~♡"

Posing mid-air with one knee raised, flashing a wink—the New World’s idol had arrived, and the deafening cheers shook the stage.

Of course they did. Seeing her live was a rare opportunity.

Though her TDs (Transponder Snail Discs) circulated widely, she was still a pirate. Her activities were mostly limited to World Government-affiliated nations—and even then, she was feared.

But in the New World? She had countless fans.

And more importantly, everyone here had been handpicked by Tesoro—the New World’s wealthiest elites, pleasure-seekers, underworld figures, and pirates.

People who chose fun over fear.

So rather than being afraid, most were thrilled to witness her live.

"Tonight, we’re gonna have SO MUCH FUN~!!!"

And with that, the four began to sing. Moving to the rhythm, dancing in sync.

Nue, especially, put on a show—using her UFO and powers to soar through the air, landing center stage to dance cutely as she sang.

"I’ll keep dancing♫ SEXY NIGHT♫"

"SEXY!!"

Stussy’s part was alluring.

"We’ll play all night♫ FUNKY NIGHT♫"

"FUNK!!"

Queen’s part was wild.

"No time to be bored♫ GOLD TIME♫"

"GOLD!!"

Tesoro’s part was cool.

"I’ll lure you in♫ UNKNOWN GIRL♫"

"UNKNOWN!!"

And Nue’s part was adorable—each moving to the beat, their voices filling the air.

"GRAN TESOROOOOO~♫"

"YEAH!!!"

And when they all sang together, their voices blended in perfect harmony. To these seasoned professionals, such flawless performance came effortlessly.

Tesoro and Queen anchored the low tones, while Stussy and Nue soared with the high notes—their distinct voices weaving together in a harmony that enthralled the audience.

Yet, not everyone watching this historic debut of Gran Tesoro was cheering. Some gritted their teeth in frustration.

"I can't just stand still, no no no~♫"

"No one can stop us now~♫ NEW WORLD~♫"

"Vice Admiral... This is exactly what we feared..."

"We anticipated it, but... if true, this is a grave situation."

Among the spectators were Marines, a squad sent to observe Gran Tesoro.

But seeing the Beast Pirates perform here turned their suspicions into certainty.

"Tesoro... has allied himself with the Beast Pirates!!"

That’s right—Tesoro, whose wealth could even sway the World Government, was now collaborating with Kaido’s crew.

Faced with this reality, the Marines found no joy in the dazzling spectacle before them.

"The greatest showtime~♫ We’ll give it to you nowwwww~♫"

And though the performers noticed their unease, they smirked inwardly—knowing full well the Marines could do nothing to stop them.

---

Gran Tesoro is a massive golden ship stretching 10 kilometers in length. Recognized as an independent nation by the World Government, the ship is the property of the "Golden Emperor," Gild Tesoro.

Of course, there’s a reason why a former pirate like him could secure government approval and rise to such heights.

First—the power of money.

Tesoro used his wealth to buy out the World Government. By paying an exorbitant amount of tribute, he had Gran Tesoro recognized as a sovereign nation and purchased amnesty for himself and his subordinates.

Thus, though he was once a pirate, he no longer is. While he keeps former pirates as underlings and maintains ties with them, he is now one of the underworld’s most influential figures—a tycoon who controls 20% of the world’s currency.

You could say this is also thanks to the power of his Goru Goru no Mi… but even that alone wouldn’t have been enough to secure such status in the New World.

The reason he was able to build Gran Tesoro and amass his power stems from a pivotal opportunity—one that came in the form of a tanned beauty, now one of his top executives.

On this grand opening day of Gran Tesoro, she has been entrusted with entertaining the most important guest.

This woman is none other than the Goddess of Fortune, a user of the Lucky-Lucky Fruit (Raki Raki no Mi), a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that manipulates luck.

Gran Tesoro VIP Concierge — Baccarat

"Alright, next bet is~~~~~ Even!! FANTASTIC!! Nue-sama wins again!!!"

"Wheee~!! As expected of me!! Next one’s Odd!!"

"—Then I’ll take Even."

"Very well!! Let the game begin!!"

"Mmm!! OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH!!!"

At the center of the VIP area, a massive game of Even and Odd was underway.

The dealer, Dice, known for his monstrous strength in Gran Tesoro’s VIP section, shook a giant custom-made cage with dice inside before slamming it onto the floor—only to then split it open with the giant axe on his back—

"OHH!! YEEESSS!!!"

"Dude, you’re STILL not using that axe?!!"

"Splendid!! The roll is One-Six—Odd!! Once again, Nue-sama wins!!"

"Yaaay~!!"

Instead of the axe, Dice split the iron cage with a headbutt, revealing the dice—Odd, another victory for Nue.

Watching from behind, the Beast Pirates crew wore expressions of disbelief, torn between mocking Dice’s antics and being stunned by Nue’s winning streak.

Nue had already finished a show, snatched first place in the circuit race, hit the jackpot on casino slots, and now dominated the high-stakes Even and Odd game.

She had already raked in hundreds of millions of berries, leaving other casino-goers in awe of her absurd luck. "As expected of an Emperor’s right-hand—her luck is insane."

But Nue, sitting cross-legged on a cushion, swayed back and forth before suddenly stopping.

"—But winning so much is getting boring."

"! My apologies… Is it not to your liking?"

"Hmmmm… Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE winning~ But honestly, steamrolling every game isn’t that fun. Gambling’s thrill comes from the risk of winning OR losing… Don’t you think so too? —Miss Lucky?"

"...!!"

Nue’s crimson eyes locked onto Baccarat. They were the eyes of a predator—deep, piercing, as if seeing right through her. Baccarat felt her heartbeat spike. Had Nue realized she was using her powers?

Though Nue grinned, the pressure was suffocating—like being stared down by a beast. One wrong move, and it’d be DEAD END.

"Ku… HAHAHAHA!! Oh man, you got me, Nue-san!!"

"! Tesoro-sama…"

But before Baccarat could sweat out a response, someone burst into laughter—Tesoro himself, seated beside Nue, who had also been playing.

"Guess our hospitality was a bit too obvious, Baccarat."

"...I have no excuse."

"Nah, normally, that’d be fine. It’s just that Nue-san here is no ordinary gambler. —My apologies, Nue-san. Baccarat meant no harm. Hope you’ll let it slide."

"Ahahaha!! Of course!! I’m not even mad~♪ I was getting free wins, after all~♪ Besides, if we’re pointing things out, Tesoro, your flattery’s pretty obvious too, y’know?"

"HAHAHA!! Nah, I mean every word. —But I doubt I could lie to you even if I tried. You really are something else at gambling."

"Hmm~ Maybe? Kaido and I used to hit up casinos a lot back in the day. But whenever we lost, the casino would just… shut down for the day. So I guess I have been on a winning streak, huh?"

Nue cheerfully reminisced, while the Beast Pirates and nearby patrons grimaced. "That’s not ‘shutting down’—they got wrecked."

"HAHAHA!! I see, I see!! No way I’m beating you at gambling!! So, where to next? We’ve got other games if you’re interested—"

"Hmmm~ I think I’m good on gambling for now."

"WHAAAT?! Then—PUNCH ME INSTEAD!!!"

As Nue pondered her next move, Dice suddenly begged to be hit. But before he could get closer—

"Don’t you DARE creep on Nue-san!!!"

"!!"

Ulti leaped in, smashing a headbutt straight into Dice’s face. The impact left his face swollen—but his flushed expression wasn’t just from pain.

"Kyaaa~♡ So kinky~~!!"

"EW!! You’re a FREAK!!"

"Huhhh?! That was a PERFECTLY normal reaction!!"

While the Beast Pirates (Queen included) and Tesoro’s crew groaned at Ulti’s actual normal response, nobody bothered commenting on Dice’s… unique preferences.

"Maybe golf next? They’ve got a big ball here too."

"Guhaha!! Yes, and I am the mightiest golf ball—WAIT, NO!!"

"What?! Human golf?! Then let ME be the ball!! Hit my balls!!!"

"Ew… What’s wrong with him… Pe-tan!! Do something about this freak!!"

"Don’t drag ME into this!!"

Ulti, utterly disgusted, clung to her fellow Flying Six, Page One, who just sighed in exasperation.

Meanwhile, Nue kept thinking. But honestly, it was understandable—Gran Tesoro had everything.

Luxury hotels, the world’s largest casino, a grand theater, an aquarium with exotic fish, pools, a racetrack, golf courses, a giant Ferris wheel, an amusement park, restaurants, bars—every leisure facility imaginable. The title of "World’s Greatest Entertainment City" was no exaggeration.

But after some thought, Nue’s stomach growled.

"I wanna eat something tasty!!"

"Then allow me to escort you to our finest restaurant—Baccarat."

"Right this way, everyone."

Tesoro gestured for Baccarat to lead them while he stayed behind, likely to greet other VIPs.

"Oh, right. How much in chips do I have?"

"Baccarat."

"Currently, it’s exactly 1 billion berries."

"Ahaha, not bad~♪ Then half of that—"

Nue grabbed a case holding half the chips and tossed it to the crew.

"Here, you guys!! Take 500 million and go have fun!!!"

"WH—WHAAAAAT?! FOR REAL, NUE-SAN?!"

"We can just… go wild with this?!"

The crew was stunned—thrilled but hesitant.

But Nue just smiled. She wasn’t the type to skimp on her crew’s enjoyment.

"Of course!! Gambling, booze, good food, rides—go nuts with women, men, whatever!!"

"WOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH!!! NUE-SAN’S THE BEST!!!"

A kingly reward. The crew cheered as they stormed out of the VIP area into the city. Thanks to Tanaka’s Nuke Nuke no Mi, they could bypass the VIP’s doorless entrance.

"Alright, let’s go."

"This way, please."

"Enjoy yourselves. I’ll catch up later."

"Okay!! See ya~!!"

With only the top officers in tow, Nue followed Baccarat’s lead. Seeing Tesoro bow gracefully, she waved back lightly. Apparently, they’d be dining within the VIP area. Baccarat guided them down a colossal hallway fit for giants.

No trouble arose—or rather, none was allowed to. Every potential spark had been snuffed out in advance.

But then—

"!"

"Nue-san? Why’d you stop? You see a princess or somethin’?"

"Don’t make me hit you."

As Ulti said, Nue had suddenly halted, turning toward a different path. Page One scowled at Ulti’s usual weird phrasing, but Nue ignored them entirely.

Instead, she grinned—"Aha♡"—and strode off in a direction not on Baccarat’s itinerary.

"!! W-Wait, Nue-sama! That’s not—"

"I know. Just saying hi to an old friend♡"

"But that area is—!!"

"Ahaha♡ Sorry, but—you’re not gonna stop me, right?"

"...!!"

Baccarat paled, frozen by the pressure. She wasn’t a Haki user, but for once, she foresaw the future: Interfere further, and something terrible will happen. Status meant nothing here. To this beast, she was a pebble—no, a bug. Not an enemy, just expendable.

She’d been under Tesoro for less than a year. This was her first time facing the sheer presence of a top-tier pirate allied with an Emperor.

In truth, Nue was lax with subordinates—the Beast Pirates encouraged strong personalities—but Baccarat didn’t know that. All she felt was dread. Swallowing her pride, she followed silently. As the VIP concierge, her only duty was to prevent disaster.

Luck was on her side. Nothing bad would happen.

—Or so she thought, until she saw them.

A group with bubbles encasing their heads.

"Hm…? Who’re those guys…?"

"! L-Lord Camael! Perhaps we should return to your suite? Watching the races with lovely companions would be—"

Celestial Dragons.

The "noblest" in the world. Tyrants who could do anything with impunity.

They, too, were VIPs here. Gran Tesoro’s government approval hinged on their favor. Paying tribute and offering a playground? Of course they’d visit.

Which made this the worst possible encounter.

"The Phantom Beast, Nue." A pirate who’d dare lay hands on a Celestial Dragon.

They could NOT meet.

Every official and Tesoro’s underlings knew this. Baccarat tried to stop Nue. The Dragons’ black-suited guards urged retreat. But—

"I asked who these peasants are. Why are they in my exclusive suite?"

"That’s—"

"Ugh… You’ve ruined my mood!! You there, vermin!! This is our floor!! Leave now, and I might forg—"

"Yeah—shut up♡"

"!!!"

The moment the Dragon spoke, Nue’s smile dripped venom—and the entire family collapsed, eyes rolled back.

"L-Lord Camael!?"

"Was that…!?"

Government agents and Marines trembled.

Conqueror’s Haki.

A power found in one in millions. The mark of a king.

And now, they had to face this monster here?

But someone stopped them—their superior.

"—I’d drop it if I were you~"

"! B-But—"

"I get it, buuut~ Provoking her’s just gonna… backfire~"

A man in a yellow pinstripe suit, towering at 3 meters, stepped forward. Teardrop sunglasses. He signaled his men to lower their weapons.

"Poke a beast, and it’ll rip your throat out… Ain’t that right, ‘Phantom Beast’ Nue…?"

"—Ahahaha♡ Someone gets it!! Long time, Borsalino. Or should I call you… Admiral Kizaru now?"

The man’s back bore the word "JUSTICE."

One of the Navy’s Three Great Powers.

Navy Admiral "Kizaru" (Borsalino)

"Cut me some slack~ My old wounds ache just seein’ you… Couldn’t you’ve stayed away~?"

"Eh~? Why? I missed you!! A pretty girl like me showing up should make your day! Right?"

"Then maybe don’t knock out Celestial Dragons~ We’ve got reputations to uphold~"

"—Aha♪ What if I… do it anyway?"

"!"

Nue’s Haki flared—just a fraction—and Marines stumbled back. Her eyes gleamed with bloodlust.

Where most pirates would flee at the sight of an Admiral, Nue thrilled at the challenge.

The one actually reluctant? Kizaru. He sighed, showing zero fighting spirit.

"This is a neutral zone. Navy ain’t s’posed to attack pirates here~"

"Ehhh~?! So we’re NOT fighting?!!"

"Honestly, if you and I were to fight, it’d be nothing short of a war... and neither of us could back down once it starts... So how about you just walk away...?"

"Ehh~... What a pain... Well then, I guess I’ll just have to work extra hard to prepare so we can have that war nice and soon~♡"

"Ooh, scary~... In that case, I’d better get ready too... or things might get real messy~..."

"Do your best~♡ It’d be boring if the gap between us got too big—where’s the fun in that? ♡"

Both Nue and Borsalino remained unfazed and inscrutable. Their exchange sounded like a casual chat between a neighborhood elder and a child, yet the content was far too dangerous. The invisible pressure radiating between them left the surrounding marines, officials, and Bacara unable to do anything but watch in silence. Just listening to the verbal sparring between an Emperor’s right hand and a Navy Admiral was terrifying enough.

"Well, now that the greetings are over, guess it’s about time—oh, right! Since we’re here, why don’t we grab a bite together?"

"...What kind of nerves do ya gotta have to say somethin’ like that? I’m honestly baffled..."

"Aww, too bad. If we went now, you could’ve joined in on some Queen Golf—with Queen himself as the ball~"

"Hoh... Now that sounds interestin’~... Speed equals weight... A swing at the speed of light—"

"WH—HEY, HEY, HEY!!! YOU’RE TRYIN’A KILL HIM!!! —Wait, NO!! More importantly, STOP TREATIN’ HIM LIKE A BALL, NUE-SAN!!!"

Queen desperately interjected at the absurd joke. If Nue and Borsalino started swinging armed Haki-infused golf clubs, even one or two hits would be bad enough—but eighteen holes? That’d be a death sentence. Even as a joke, the mental image was too horrifying to ignore.

"See ya later~"

"Honestly, I’d rather not meet again..."

"Didn’t expect them to part ways so easily..."

"’Cause I just came to say hi. Though I wouldn’t have minded a fight~ ♪ —C’mon, Bacara-chan, let’s go. All that rehearsing, prepping, and playing around at the show’s got me starving~♡"

"Y-Yes... Right this way."

Despite the ominous back-and-forth, their parting was surprisingly casual. Nue turned back the way she came as if nothing had happened, with Queen, Ulti, and Page One following. Bacara, too, steadied himself and resumed guiding them.

But after a short walk, just as they settled into a private dining room, Nue suddenly went "Ah!"—as if remembering something.

"Oh yeah, I was so busy today I forgot to check the paper. Bacara-chaaan, you got one~?"

"I’ll fetch it right away."

The moment she asked for the newspaper, Bacara stepped out and returned within minutes—likely because today’s edition covered events related to this very place.

"Here you are."

"Thanks~! —Hmm... Headline’s Gran Tesoro, huh... Then there’s war, revolts, pirate incidents... Ahaha! The world’s as lively as ever~!"

Nue cheerfully flipped through the paper. She’d always loved newspapers. Back in her apprentice days, she was in charge of collecting them, and she’d read them out of habit—a routine that stuck even now. To her, the daily chaos of the world was as entertaining as a novel.

Even stories that’d make ordinary people frown didn’t faze her. News was both information and entertainment. The World Economic Journal occasionally stretched the truth for drama, but someone like Nue, deeply connected to the underworld, could easily spot the lies—or just ask Morgans directly. Truth or fabrication, it didn’t matter. She enjoyed it all the same.

"Gotta check the bounties too~... Let’s see...?"

"Did Page One’s bounty go up, Princess?"

"Nope~"

"What a shame, Princess... In that case, Page One! Time to cause some chaos and bump up that bounty! Let’s slip your name into an assassination note for those Celestial Dragons earlier—"

"HEY!!"

After skimming the news, she moved on to the bounty posters. For pirates, bounties were a measure of prestige—proof of their infamy and the government’s acknowledgment of their threat level. A higher bounty meant greater renown, so pirates took pride in their increases and sized up rivals by theirs.

That said, bounty amounts reflected danger, not necessarily strength. A high number didn’t always mean a stronger fighter, and vice versa.

Still, crossing 50 million berries marked a pirate as legitimate. Breaking 100 million added serious clout, and reaching the hundreds of millions made you a household name—someone undeniably formidable.

A high bounty always had a reason behind it. As one of the few with a bounty exceeding three billion, Nue never overlooked intel. Most of her crew only bothered with the hundred-million-plus names, dismissing the rest as unworthy of memory—but Nue enjoyed browsing them all.

"Hmm... Some minor increases today... But the interesting ones are—"

She only memorized the lower bounties if the person showed promise or stood out. And just as she was about to dismiss today’s haul as unremarkable—her hand froze on the last poster.

"............"

"Huh? Nue-san?"

Her expression shifted to something deadly serious.

Her crewmates blinked in confusion, calling her name—but a few seconds later, she burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Ku... Fufufu... AHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"What’s so funny, Princess?!"

"Someone that entertainin’ on there...?"

Page One took a wild guess, but he wasn’t wrong.

Because the face and name on that poster—Nue recognized them. In her mind, she practically sang the words with glee.

—ROGER’S BLOODLINE IS HERE—!!!

---

──The Grand Line, the "Great Pirate Route."

A pirate ship sailed through the first half of these treacherous seas, wreathed in towering flames.

But the ship itself wasn’t burning. Strangely, the fire didn’t consume the vessel—nor the crew aboard.

The only ones being scorched were the bounty hunters who had dared to attack.

"Dammit…!! He’s too strong…!!"

"Swords and bullets just pass right through him…!!"

"Is this the power of a Logia…?! A Devil Fruit?!"

"—Sorry!! But this ain’t even a fight!!"

The flames were the creation of a single man.

The bounty hunters could do nothing but scream as they were engulfed, blown back into the sea. They had come for the massive bounty on this man’s head, but their blades and bullets phased harmlessly through his body.

The treasure of the sea—the Devil Fruit. And among them, the rarest and most formidable: the Logia-type.

In the first half of the Grand Line, this power was near invincible.

"—Fire Fist."

"GYAAAAHH—!!?"

Distance meant nothing to the man’s right fist.

The inferno that erupted from it was his signature technique—a colossal blaze that swept away all who stood in his path.

The bounty hunters shrieked as they plummeted into the ocean, regretting the moment they had set their sights on his head. No one could conquer fire. Even the fiercest beasts feared it. There was no winning.

In these seas, those who made a name for themselves had the power and reason to back it up. The man who had just proved this watched as the hunters fled, cursing their misfortune—until a voice called out from behind him.

"Oi, Ace!! Be careful, damn it!! What if you burn the whole ship down?!"

"Haha, my bad!! But my flames won’t touch the crew or the ship!"

"That’s only ‘cause you’re controlling them, you idiot… Tch."

The masked man—Deuce—could only sigh at his captain’s carefree grin. But it was true. In all their voyages together, not once had Ace’s flames harmed a single crewmate or scorched the ship.

"So, Captain. We drove off the bounty hunters—what’s next?"

"Yeah. That’s obvious, ain’t it?"

With the battle over, the captain turned to his crew—Deuce and a handful of others—and issued his decree.

"Alright, you bastards!! LET’S PARTY!!!!"

"OOOOOH!!!"

In an instant, the deck erupted into a raucous celebration—barrels of booze, heaping plates of food, and rowdy sea shanties filling the air.

This feast was both a victory celebration and a milestone for their captain.

Because today, thanks to those bounty hunters, they had learned something monumental:

Their captain had finally gotten his first bounty.

"Alright, Captain! Say a few words now that you’re a wanted man!!"

"Give us a speech, Boss!!"

The crew—outcasts and misfits who wouldn’t fit in anywhere else, the kind of pirates even other pirates would shun—cheered raucously for their captain.

"Alright, you bastards!!"

With a bounty poster in one hand and a drink in the other, the captain made his declaration.

"I’m gonna climb to the top!! —And I’ll surpass even the Pirate King!!!"

As his words rang out, the crew raised their tankards in unison.

And on the fluttering bounty poster, it read:

『SPADE PIRATES CAPTAIN - PORTGAS D. ACE: 50,000,000 BERRIES』

A pirate from the East Blue. A 17-year-old super rookie known as "Fire Fist Ace."

And unbeknownst to the world—he was the son of the man who had ushered in this golden age of piracy.