— — — — — — —
On an island in the New World, where pirates frequently gathered.
Inside a bustling casino—
A blind middle-aged man sat at a table, enjoying himself as he played a game of dice.
He had been winning several rounds in a row, but the dealer, taking advantage of his blindness, deliberately claimed that he had lost.
Yet, Issho kept a calm and collected expression as if he was completely unaware.
Eventually, he lost all his money, sighed in disappointment, and left the casino.
Stepping onto an empty street, he turned slightly and said, "You've been following me for a while now. Why not come out and have a chat?"
He had sensed someone tracking him for quite some time.
If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't detected any hostility from this person, he would have acted long ago. There was no way he would have tolerated being followed so passively otherwise.
The next moment, a man with dark hair and sharp eyes stepped forward, smiling as he spoke. "Haha! Sure, why not?"
"Before we get down to business, can I ask you a question?"
"Oh?" Issho raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What is it?"
"Nothing much." The man chuckled. "With your level of Observation Haki, you must have easily sensed the dice results in every round, right? You knew you weren't actually losing."
"So why didn't you expose the dealer and take back what was rightfully yours?"
"And don't tell me you didn't want to cause trouble or that you don't care about money. You're flat broke now."
"Besides, neither the dealer nor the casino is particularly honorable. It's not like you have any moral obligation to let them cheat you."
This was something the man—Uchiha Kaito—couldn't quite wrap his head around. There seemed to be some contradiction in Issho's behavior.
"Uh…" Issho was momentarily stunned before shaking his head with a light chuckle. "I just didn't see the point. I wasn't there to win money—I was just enjoying the thrill of gambling."
Kaito blinked. "...Alright, I can't say I understand your way of thinking."
Shaking his head, he straightened his posture and looked directly at Issho. "Let me introduce myself. I am Uchiha Kaito, captain of the Uchiha Pirates."
"I know." Issho nodded. "Some people in the casino said your name while running away."
"Your crew has been quite active in the New World lately. It's hard not to know who you are."
"So, what does the newly crowned Emperor of the Sea want with a nameless blind man like me?"
Issho was genuinely curious. However, he held no hostility toward Kaito just because he was a pirate.
He had learned a great deal about the Uchiha Pirates and their actions.
This crew was unlike any other. They had never harmed innocent people or committed atrocities.
On the contrary, they were relentless in eradicating evil. Whether it was corrupt nobles, wicked pirates, or mountain bandits, they all fell under their justice.
Recently, Issho had even heard that the Uchiha Pirates were reforming the territories under their control, striving to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
And from what he had seen so far, they weren't just making empty promises—they were actually doing it.
The common people under their rule were truly living better lives.
It was unbelievable.
This was the reason Issho felt no hostility toward Kaito and even held a degree of admiration for him and his crew.
Of course, those who had committed crimes—whether nobles, merchants, or even ordinary civilians—did not have such luck.
These individuals were dealt with in accordance with their sins and received the punishments they deserved.
Issho didn't see anything wrong with that.
Wasn't this true justice?
He had even wondered—if the entire world were to fall under the Uchiha Pirates' rule, and they cleansed it with their methods, would all the filth in the world finally be eradicated? Or would they become the new Celestial Dragons?
"Haha! It seems we really have made a name for ourselves recently!" Kaito grinned at Issho's words. "This isn't the best place to talk. Let's move somewhere quieter."
"Alright."
Issho nodded in agreement.
Without another word, Kaito raised his hand, and in the blink of an eye, they vanished from the spot, reappearing on a deserted beach on the other side of the island.
Sensing the sudden change in scenery, Issho was momentarily surprised. Then, he turned to Kaito and remarked in awe, "I've always heard that the Uchiha Pirates have mastered spatial teleportation."
"Now, I finally got to witness and experience it firsthand. It's truly remarkable and utterly unfair!"
"You don't even need to touch your target or get their consent—you can just teleport them instantly?"
"With such an ability, your crew is practically invincible!"
With this power, they could always ensure their enemies had no escape when fighting, while also making sure that they themselves could never be captured or threatened.
It was terrifying.
No wonder the Uchiha Pirates had risen to prominence so quickly.
"Haha! It's nothing special!" Kaito chuckled. "Just a little trick."
Issho simply nodded but remained unconvinced. Then, he got to the point. "So, why did you bring me here? What is it that you want to talk about?"
Kaito didn't beat around the bush. "I've looked into your past and your abilities. I also know what you stand for."
"Are you aware of the reforms we're implementing in the territories under our control?"
"Yes." Issho nodded firmly. "I must say, your crew is unlike any other."
"In fact, to me, you aren't even pirates. You are visionaries, men of ideals, and I respect that."
"You have accomplished what I always wished to do but never could."
At this moment, Issho had a faint idea of why Kaito had sought him out.
"Oh?" Kaito's smile widened. "Hearing that from you makes me truly happy."
"Let me be direct—I aim to overthrow the World Government and establish a new world order."
"To eliminate pirates, eradicate most of the world's corruption, and replace the current power structure with the policies we are currently testing in our territories—policies that will ensure all civilians can live peaceful, happy lives."
"For that, we need strong, like-minded individuals who share our vision."
"And I believe, Issho, that you are one of those people."
"So, I formally invite you to join us. Become one of us and help us build a better world."
"What do you say?"
.
.
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