"I'll only ask you one thing — are you willing to join 'Coral'?"
In the silent arena, only Victor's calm question echoed.
Splish, splash...
'Black Gear' Jigg's tears streamed uncontrollably. The man before him, he wasn't making fun of him, nor was he feigning composure. This man was serious!
"'Machine Guild Pirates' (All hands)! Assemble!!!"
Jigg stood up, roaring with all his might!
The tear-streaked pirates silently passed through the spectator stands, gathering quietly below the stage. 'Arc Gun' Bill and four executives, led by the red-haired brute Downey, stood in the center of the arena.
Jigg slowly walked to the front of the executives, then turned to look at Victor.
With a thud, he struck the ground with his right fist and knelt on one knee before Victor. Then came a chorus of thuds as all the pirates and executives, like Jigg, half-knelt on the ground.
"From today on, there will be no more 'Machine Guild Pirates'! All 247 of us are willing to join 'Coral' and pledge loyalty to Lord Victor! We will go through fire and water without hesitation!" Jigg cried out from the bottom of his lungs, his voice hoarse.
"Greetings, Boss!" all the executives and pirates roared in unison.
Victor showed a relieved smile and said gently, "Then, from today on, 'Coral' is your home."
The spectators in the stands and the curious onlookers in the distance were completely stunned by the scene before them. If it had been merely a bloody struggle, they would have simply treated it as future gossip. But this scene today had an indelible impact on their hearts.
Victor, this man is truly a born leader! And what kind of magnificent waves will such a man stir up in this vast sea?
...
The next day, Tanall Town.
The members of the 'Machine Guild Pirates'... no, they should be called the 'Coral' Shipwright Team, all beamed with silly smiles, happily restoring Tanall Town's pier to its original state and beginning to enthusiastically renovate the abandoned park on the west side of town.
On the pier, Victor shook hands with the old mayor, smiling, "Mayor, thank you for agreeing to temporarily house these fools."
The mayor waved his hand with a chuckle: "Lord Victor, don't mention it. Since they've all joined 'Coral,' and Tanall Town is also under 'Coral's' protection, then we are all on the same side. Besides, that abandoned park has been abandoned for a long time, so having the shipwright team build a residential area there will also greatly benefit us."
Victor smiled and nodded, then turned to Jigg, and said seriously, "Jigg, I'm giving you your first mission now—to temporarily station in Tanall Town and await my instructions, and during this time, protect this town well."
Jigg had now changed into a blue shipwright uniform, and his tangled, wire-like beard was neatly trimmed. A little nervous, he snapped to attention and shouted loudly, "Boss, you can rest assured! If anyone dares to rob Tanall Town, our shipwright team will twist their heads off and kick them like balls!"
Victor chuckled and patted Jigg's knee (he couldn't reach his shoulder), saying gently, "Don't be so nervous, it's a very simple mission, isn't it? Give me a month. In a month, I will make that shipwright named Morrison give you an explanation."
Jigg's eyes reddened again: "Boss! I don't care anymore, you don't have to bother!"
Victor shook his head: "A man, if he's been bullied, of course he has to get his revenge. That's a rule that's been in effect since ancient times! You call me Boss, so I have to get even for my Big Brother."
Jigg was so moved that tears and snot ran down his face, and he wailed loudly.
Mai Hime, standing a little further away, looked at the scene, somewhat lost in thought.
Perona curiously waved her small hand in front of Mai Hime's eyes, teasing, "Mai, are you mooning over Big Brother Victor again?"
Mai Hime snapped back, lightly slapping Perona's hand, then shook her head and sighed, "No, this humble one sees the shadow of a certain lord from the past in Victor."
Robin was also a little curious: "Miss Mai, who are you talking about?"
Mai Hime hugged her famous sword, Seimasun Hime, and said in a melodic tone, "Once upon a time, there was a remarkable yakuza boss in Wano Country named 'Hyogoro of the Flower'. He was the number one yakuza in Wano Country ten years ago, the undisputed leader who unified the underground society of Flower Capital, and highly respected by the bosses of the other five towns. He was also very kind to the common people. He was a true chivalrous man with both strength and prestige. Not only this humble one, but even Lord Kozuki Oden greatly admired him."
Perona said with some excitement, "A yakuza boss as powerful as Big Brother! Big Brother would definitely feel an instant camaraderie if he met this 'Hyogoro of the Flower'!"
Mai Hime sighed, a wistful smile on her beautiful face: "Yes... Unfortunately, he refused to obey 'Kurozumi Orochi' and was killed by Orochi... Hyogoro of the Flower has forever become a legend."
Perona put her arm around Mai Hime's trembling shoulders and whispered, "...You miss him very much, don't you?"
Mai Hime tried desperately to hold back, but tears quietly fell.
Master... This humble one misses you so much...
...
Red Line
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Inside the magnificent palace, the World Government's highest authority, the 'Five Elders', were meeting with Fleet Admiral Sengoku of Navy Headquarters.
Sengoku, cloaked in a white cape emblazoned with the word 'Justice', stood before the Five Elders.
"So, I ask you, gentlemen, have you selected the last member of the 'Warlords of the Sea'?"
The old man with blond hair and a short beard sat on the long bench and said unhappily, "Sengoku, you're overstepping. This matter is not for you to inquire about!"
The old man with braided hair waved his hand: "No matter, the candidate has been decided. 'Heavenly Yaksha' Donquixote Doflamingo, we have decided to let him join the 'Warlords of the Sea'."
Sengoku frowned: "That 'Sea Ruffian'? In terms of strength, he certainly meets the standard. So, I will notify the reporters..."
The bald old man holding an ancient long sword chuckled: "Wait a moment, Sengoku. While we have confirmed Doflamingo's entry into the 'Warlords of the Sea', we have also decided on another matter simultaneously."
The long-haired, long-bearded old man by the window turned around and slowly said, "That is to strip Gecko Moria of his 'Warlord of the Sea' title!"
"What!? Just because of one defeat..." Sengoku was truly shocked. He said loudly, "This will cause a huge uproar! And do you have suitable replacements?"
The bald old man with a 'map head' coldly stated, "That's none of your concern. We have our own plans. You only need to announce Doflamingo's entry into the 'Warlords of the Sea'. A month from now, we will personally announce the stripping of Gecko Moria's title to the public, and simultaneously reveal the new 'Warlord of the Sea' candidate."
"You are to notify all 'Warlords of the Sea' immediately. In one month, the first 'Warlords of the Sea' meeting will be held in Pangaea Castle. No one is to be absent!"
Bang—! The palace doors closed. Outside, cold sweat trickled down Sengoku's forehead.
To be stripped of a Warlord title simply because of one defeat, was this a warning to the other Warlords? And who would the new successor be? 'Salt Stream King'? 'Night Owl'? Or that 'Ferocious Chains'?
In any case, this sea was definitely going to stir up enormous waves! Five Elders, what exactly are you thinking?
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