By now, the whole world knew—the Beasts Pirates, under Ian's command, had completely taken over the New World.
Other monstrous pirate crews, the Marines, and even the World Government had been driven out.
Though the Beasts Pirates' power had yet to spread across every corner of the New World, with no one left to oppose them, it was only a matter of time.
The moment this reality sank in, many nations in the New World immediately announced their allegiance to the Beasts Pirates.
Among them were even several allied nations of the World Government.
There was no helping it—circumstances outweighed pride.
Who in the New World could possibly stand against the Beasts Pirates now?
No one.
Outside the Beasts Pirates, it was nearly impossible to find even a single pirate in the New World with a bounty exceeding five hundred million.
While waves surged endlessly in the New World, unrest was stirring elsewhere across the seas as well.
Somewhere on an island in the North Blue—
"An Emperor? That damned brat!"
Charlotte Linlin roared in fury. "What exactly did he do? Shouldn't he have fought the World Government to the bitter end? How did it all just end so suddenly and quietly?"
She had been waiting for Ian to clash with the Government, hoping both sides would suffer heavy losses so she could swoop in and reap the benefits.
Perospero's face twisted with unease. "Maybe… Ian made some sort of deal with the Government?"
"I doubt any deal could make the World Government willingly surrender the New World."
Katakuri's voice was cold and certain. "The only answer is this—at some point, hidden from the world's eyes, Ian must have crushed the Government's offensive. They had no choice but to acknowledge his control over the New World."
"…No way."
Perospero's tongue stiffened as it slid across his candy cane. "If the Government really acted, they'd have gone all out. For Ian to repel their full might… just how terrifying are the Beasts Pirates now?"
"Which is why, Mama," Katakuri said firmly, "I believe we shouldn't return to the New World anytime soon."
"Damn it!!"
Big Mom howled in frustration, her rage spilling like a storm. "That rotten brat! If only he had accepted my marriage proposal back then, none of this would've happened!"
If that little monster had become her son-in-law—
It was impossible to think about it now.
But no matter what they said, it was already too late.
The only thing left was to rebuild her Totto Land here in the North Blue.
Meanwhile, in the same North Blue—
Led by the Moby Dick, countless allied pirate crews followed, forming a massive fleet sailing quietly across the waters.
"Has the New World truly fallen completely into his hands?"
Vista let out a sigh. "Even the World Government, giving everything it had, couldn't do anything to him? That guy Ian—"
He didn't even know how to describe him anymore.
Even as an enemy, even as someone who could be called their mortal foe, Vista still felt the urge to say it: Ian was truly terrifying.
How could there be such a powerful pirate? How could there be such a monstrous young man?
"It seems," Marco sighed as well, "that humiliating decision we made turned out to be the right one."
Otherwise, they would now be the ones shouldering the pressure of the Beasts Pirates.
There was no doubt about it. Even with Pops still here, facing the Beasts Pirates as they were now, they would have no chance of victory. They'd be completely wiped out.
Marco glanced back at Whitebeard quietly drinking his sake.
For now, they would remain in the North Blue.
On the deck, however, a tall, graceful young girl clenched her fists in silence, her flawless face twisting with barely contained rage.
In the West Blue—
Within the palace of a certain kingdom.
The king and his nobles all trembled as they knelt on the ground in fear.
Several monstrous figures had suddenly appeared together.
"Emperor of the New World, huh?"
Redfield held Ian's wanted poster in his hand. "Looks like this brat has completely surpassed Roger now."
"At the very least, even Roger couldn't force the World Government to retreat," Crocodile remarked casually. "It seems that for a long while, we won't be returning to the New World."
"Doesn't that mean that bastard Ian is only one step away from becoming the Pirate King?"
Moria gnashed his teeth, his voice dripping with resentment.
Crocodile turned his head and shot him a sidelong glance. "What, are you thinking of heading back to the New World to try and stop him?"
"…"
Moria was struck speechless.
Of course, he hated the Beasts Pirates with every fiber of his being.
But he also knew the truth—right now, the gap in power between them was far too great. To act recklessly would mean nothing but certain death.
"No matter how much you refuse to admit it, the fact is clear. On the world's stage today, there are only two real actors left. Only Ian and the World Government have the qualifications to dance."
Crocodile exhaled smoke as he spoke. "The rest of us… can only sit back and watch."
"So we wait. Wait for the day Ian and the World Government destroy each other."
"And if that day never comes?"
Shiryu of the Rain asked with a curious grin.
"Then we can only lament the tragedy of being born in the same era as Ian."
Crocodile said it casually, almost as if it were obvious.
"Hahahahaha!"
Redfield and Shiryu both burst into laughter at the same time.
It was true—if it really came to that, what else could they do but curse their own misfortune?
After all, Ian shone like the blazing sun itself. No one could ever overshadow his light.
"That's why," Crocodile added, "to avoid such an ending, we need to act now."
"The West Blue isn't bad, is it? The World Government is probably too busy with its own troubles to bother with us for now."
"Also… we might as well try reaching out to the Charlotte family."
Another force in the East Blue.
"An Emperor, huh?"
Red-Haired Shanks sighed. "Hard to believe the World Government has been pushed to this point."
"Ian's power has already reached a level that's somewhat exaggerated."
Vice-Captain Beckman spoke slowly while puffing on his cigarette. "But at least for now, it seems there's still some time before the final battle begins."
"They're still waiting for the ancient weapons, right?"
Red-Haired Shanks said, "Whether it's the government or Ian, they're waiting for a power capable of ending everything in one strike."
"Shanks, at this point, there's probably no one left who has the qualifications to compete with Ian for the title of Pirate King."
Beckman glanced at his partner.
If he wanted to, he should have been the strongest contender for Pirate King.
Shanks, however, seemed not to hear Beckman's meaning at all, only smiling as he said, "What will this world become, I wonder?"
Who will reshape this world next—Ian, or the World Government?
In any case, the world had undoubtedly entered a brand-new era.
The New World was now dominated only by the Beast Pirates.
But the monster pirates driven out by Ian from these seas had not settled down quietly.
**********
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