In this era, the Vesper Pirates and the Ice Demon Pirates seemed destined to become casualties of the ongoing power struggle. Both Vesper and the old Ice Demon were past their prime, their strength fading as they began their inevitable decline.
Neither of their successors was strong enough to carry the banner of their respective crews, while Rocks was in his prime, filled with ambition and a burning desire to unify the New World.
"Captain Vesper, it's just Rocks! Fight him head-on and scare them off! What's all this talk about a shift in the times? Don't tell me even those so-called Supernovas are catching your attention now?
"Speaking of which, the Hell Pirates stole my Marseille Island. I was already planning to deal with them personally. Who's coming with me?"
Jevalle had come looking for help, but he had no patience for talk of an era's upheaval. To him, it only proved that Captain Vesper was growing old, too cautious in his decisions.
"Captain Vesper, even if there is a great reshuffling, it's us who will be cleaning out those who don't know their place! The Vesper Pirates are still the strongest!"
Salem, a pirate with a bounty of one billion Belly, was stationed on Lihai Island, commanding a fleet of dozens of elite ships. A man of both strength and intelligence, he had no regard for the rising Supernovas.
His real rivals were the other potential Emperor crews and the Rocks Pirates. The Ice Demon Pirates, who clung to their territory rather than expanding, weren't even worth considering.
Since the Vesper Pirates established their dominance, Salem had taken on a steward-like role, managing their vast domain and assigning tasks. His lack of battlefield action caused his bounty to stagnate, while the bounties of his adversaries, who constantly waged war, soared past his own.
Even the captain's son, Shirokiri, had surpassed him in bounty due to his reckless antics. The outside world had begun to believe Shirokiri was the strongest of the Nine Kings.
In truth, Salem was slightly stronger than Shirokiri and far more intelligent. This constant underestimation gnawed at him, but because Shirokiri was the captain's son, he had no choice but to endure it. In a petty act of defiance, he named his pet monkey 'Shirokiri' and ordered it around, finding some amusement in the irony.
"According to Kandor, head of the World Dark News, six Supernovas attempted to form a secret alliance. However, only three pirate crews successfully joined forces.
"Meanwhile, Rocks has brought the John Pirates under his banner and crushed the Sky Pirates. Luckily, Golden Lion Shiki hasn't been swayed yet. If Rocks ever gains the ability to fly, his crew will become even harder to deal with."
Vesper spoke calmly, his right hand idly tracing the pages of the Pirate Code upon his throne.
"As for the Hell Pirates, we don't need to concern ourselves with them. Killing a Celestial Dragon isn't something one walks away from unscathed. The World Government and Marine Headquarters have already dispatched an Admiral to the New World to hunt them down."
To Vesper, the Hell Pirates were insignificant. They had dared to kill a Celestial Dragon and now had the Marines on their tail. There was no need for the Vesper Pirates to waste resources—Kandor would simply leak their location to the Marines, ensuring their inevitable demise.
"So, what's our next move?"
Madam Ravena, her face heavily adorned with makeup, spoke in a sharp tone. She commanded a fleet of hundreds, responsible for maintaining the supply lines between all the Vesper Pirates' territories. Because of this, she had earned the special title of "Mistress of Trade" and ruled over Tranquil Island.
"Our next step is to curb the growth of the Rocks Pirates. We'll do as he does—suppress the Supernovas, and more importantly, steal his victories. Any pirate he seeks to recruit, we will recruit first.
"From now on, all missions will be carried out in pairs. No one is to confront a Supernova alone without knowing their full capabilities."
Vesper was wary of his crew underestimating their enemies. To secure his title as one of the Nine Kings, he had even knighted someone with a mere two-hundred-million bounty. While the crew appeared grand, its top combatants were lacking. In direct combat, a mid-tier Vesper Pirate couldn't hold their own against the captains of other rising Emperor candidates.
This meant that Vesper himself was the sole pillar holding up their Emperor status. If he fell, so would his empire. A new ruler would rise in his place.
Similarly, if another Emperor candidate set their sights on the Ice Demon Pirates' frozen kingdom, their reign would end the moment their aging captain perished. The icy wasteland was unappealing to most, but once they lost their title, their influence would crumble.
The Ice Demon Pirates' successor was pitifully weak, nowhere near the level of the old captain. Centuries of their legacy were on the brink of collapse. Even the Ice Giants under their command were at risk of being forced out of the New World entirely.
...
"Well, no helping it. If we need two people, who's coming with me to take down Wang Zhi?"
Orion called out, and before he even finished speaking, Jevalle immediately agreed to team up. With no chance to go after the Hell Pirates, he was more than willing to shift his focus to the Rocks Pirates instead.
"Keep an eye on Golden Lion Shiki as well. His Devil Fruit ability is extremely useful. Even if we can't claim him, we must ensure that Rocks doesn't either."
Vesper gave his final orders, reminding his subordinates not to let their Emperor status make them complacent. They were to avoid reckless engagements—any confrontation had to be decisive and eliminate future threats. He also emphasized the importance of calling for reinforcements when necessary.
Unlike Rocks, who treated his crew like warring insects in a jar, allowing them to kill each other until only the strongest remained, Vesper ruled with structure and discipline. He was a true Emperor of the seas.
...
Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates—still fearing pursuit from the Vesper Pirates—had already disappeared into the skies, hiding in some unknown, remote corner of the world.
"Redfield, use your Observation Haki in tandem with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's electrical waves to scan the area. We can't let any of the World Dark News' bald-headed newsbirds get near us. Kill any that approach!"
Brook had extensive knowledge of how news networks tracked pirate movements. He suspected that Golden Lion Shiki had been relentlessly hunted due to overlooking this aspect of security.
"Captain Brook, we've received a message from Mortomas. The Marines have been tracking us relentlessly. We need to stay vigilant!"
Antonio relayed the information, but Brook had already accounted for this possibility.
Aside from dealing with the bald newsbirds to avoid exposure, he had also arranged for a Den Den Mushi gift package to be sent to the Marine Admiral's ship.
Whoever received it was in for quite a surprise.
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+122 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg