"We cannot allow Grimm to hold the power of the Sea King any longer!"
The Elder with the curved sword and thick beard slammed his fist onto the table, his voice booming with rage. "We must seize Poseidon back at all costs."
"Whether that mermaid girl named Shirahoshi truly is Poseidon remains to be confirmed," the Elder with curly hair spoke last, "but we cannot afford even the slightest risk. Every possibility must be eliminated. If, in a few years' time, Shirahoshi turns out to be Poseidon and masters that power — combined with Grimm and his followers — then even the title of Pirate King might not satisfy his ambitions."
"Buru buru buru…"
The Den Den Mushi on the tea table began to ring. The blond Elder pressed the receiver, and a calm, steady voice came through: "Report from the New World Naval forces: Boa Hancock, captain of the Kuja Pirates, has set sail on another expedition. It is almost certainly due to heavy losses of supplies and resources following their battle with Whitebeard four months ago."
The blond Elder hung up, and the snail closed its eyes.
"Here is our chance."
He turned to look at the other four.
"Have Cipher Pol take over this operation immediately — this is a top‑secret matter of the highest order," ordered the white‑bearded Elder.
"And the Navy?" asked the bald Elder.
"An issue concerning Poseidon is far too great to let them know — not at this stage, anyway." The curved‑sword Elder's expression hardened.
"We only need to give them orders and expect them to be carried out without question. That is all that is required."
Spring of the year 1509 in the Sea Calendar
After four long months, their expedition finally came to an end. Hancock led the Kuja Pirates on their return voyage to Amazon Lily.
Standing on deck, Sandersonia glanced at the four newly added ships and smiled. "This journey has truly been more fruitful than I expected."
Leaving aside the wealth and supplies they had gathered, when they set out four months earlier, they had numbered only around three hundred crew members and sailed just one vessel.
Now, they had grown to one thousand five hundred strong, requiring four ships to carry them.
Their new recruits included not only female pirates defeated in battle but also many skilled warriors and poor women from territories under Grimm's rule. True to their tradition, the Kuja accepted only women — making them unique even among Grimm's various forces.
"Lady Sandersonia… could you teach me more combat techniques?" asked Koala, now only nine years old, tugging gently at Sandersonia's sleeve.
Sandersonia smiled and nodded. "Of course. We will begin as soon as we dock at the next island."
"Thank you!" Koala beamed happily.
Click.
The door opened, and Marigold stepped out after reporting the latest developments to Hancock.
"How is she?" Sandersonia asked, looking up.
"Her Ladyship is already impatient to return and see Lord Grimm," Marigold replied.
Sandersonia and the others exchanged knowing glances — it was exactly what they had expected.
Aboard another ship, Violet stood at the helm. With her Glare‑Glare Fruit and far‑reaching vision, she suddenly spoke up: "The News Coo are coming."
The sky above was quiet and empty, with nothing but the occasional seagull in sight — yet no one doubted her words.
Half an hour later, a flock of news birds indeed flew overhead, dropping bundles of newspapers onto the decks.
Violet picked one up. The front page was filled with four large photographs, arranged from left to right: Whitebeard, Grimm, Kaido, and Big Mom.
The headline was simple and bold: THE FOUR EMPERORS.
At last, the World Government had officially recognized the title.
Ever since the great battles four months earlier — Grimm against Whitebeard, and Kaido against Big Mom — the influence of these four figures had completely reshaped the balance of power in the New World.
Most notably, during his clash with Grimm, Whitebeard had physically dragged one entire island toward another — a feat that seemed to rewrite the very map of the world, like something out of legend. Both combatants were instantly elevated to godlike status in the eyes of many.
For months, the entire pirate world had debated these four men together. And now, the Government had finally made it official: they were to be known as the Four Emperors, the rulers of the New World.
What had once been a nickname among pirates was now an official term even the Navy used. Whenever their names were spoken, they were prefixed with the title: One of the Four Emperors.
Violet smiled as she read the words. "Emperor… well, that sounds far more impressive than my father's title as King. As expected of Lord Grimm!"
Inside Hancock's private quarters, the Empress sat upon her familiar snake‑throne, reading the same newspaper. Beside her stood Shirahoshi — now five years old, but already as tall and large as the former warlord Gecko Moria.
Yet her face remained soft, round, and smooth as an egg, with such an innocent, fragile expression that it stirred an instinctive urge to protect her.
Endowed with immense natural talent and raised under Hancock's guidance, she had already begun to touch the threshold of Haki at such a young age. Now she tilted her head curiously, watching the Empress read.
"Ah… to think I shall soon be reunited with my beloved husband…" Hancock whispered, clutching her head as she gazed at Grimm's picture, already lost in her own romantic daydreams. Shirahoshi blinked her large eyes, having long grown used to such behavior.
Moments later, Marigold hurried back into the room, clutching another newspaper and beaming with excitement. "Your Ladyship! Great news — wonderful news indeed!"
"Of course it is," Hancock replied, rising gracefully from her seat. "Tonight we shall hold a grand feast to celebrate Lord Grimm's achievement!"
"At once!" Marigold cheered.
Thousands of nautical miles away, on the island of Artemis in Grimm's territory:
Planck, Yasuo, and Jaina held the same edition of the newspaper. Below the headline, it read:
> Top Commanders of the Four Emperors' Crews
>
> Whitebeard Pirates: The Sixteen Division Commanders, including…
>
> Beasts Pirates: The Three Disasters — Jack the Drought, King the Conflagration, Queen the Plague
>
> Big Mom Pirates: The Three Sweet Commanders — Cracker the Biscuit, Katakuri the Mochi, Smoothie the Juice
>
> Holy Light Pirates: The Four Knights — Kel'Thuzad the Lord of Calamity, Jaina the Frost Witch, Yasuo the Unforgiven, Plank the Scourge of the Seas
"Tch… I don't care for this title," Yasuo muttered, tossing the paper aside as he walked out. "I'm going to check how my students are progressing."
Planck bit into a fresh orange and said, "Whitebeard was once hailed alongside Shiki and Gol D. Roger as a legend of his time. Now he shares the same rank with three younger men. Even if they call him 'First Among the Four,' it only proves that his era is finally coming to an end."
"Regardless," Jaina added, "the Navy and the Government recognizing these titles is still good news for us. Someone should inform Lord Grimm immediately."
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