"You were supposed to be out of energy, weren't you?"
"...Yeah."
"Then how did you manage that last warp?"
"I was drained, but not completely drained."
A cautious man like him would never truly leave himself without a trump card.
And in the end, things still turned out well.
Even under the joint assault of two Emperors, despite Orin engaging them head-on, they still managed to come out on top!
While enjoying the sea breeze and eating to replenish his strength, Orin was also recovering his body.
At this point...
In a few years, he should be worthy of being called an Emperor himself.
After all, Luffy was chased out by Big Mom, didn't even truly injure her, and still got hailed as an Emperor of the Sea.
If that's the bar, then Orin claiming that title should be a walk in the park.
Especially since—
The guy who elevated Luffy to the status of Emperor... is now one of Orin's own subordinates.
As he thought about it,
Orin turned to look at another group aboard the ship.
Their appearances varied wildly, most of them dressed in strange attire, standing obediently on the other side.
They were members of the Underworld.
Orin still had use for them, so he brought them along when he warped back to the Oro Jackson.
Otherwise, if his people had been captured by Kaido and Big Mom, they probably wouldn't have survived.
"Hey, you lot..."
The moment Orin spoke, everyone instantly perked up. Led by Stussy, the Underworld leaders bowed respectfully before him.
Even though they knew he likely hadn't fully recovered his stamina,
No one dared to act out.
After the Whole Cake Island incident,
Even the most unruly Underworld thugs had to seriously weigh whether their bones were tougher than those of two Emperors.
Watching these "big shots" standing obediently and even too afraid to light a cigarette, Orin chewed on some fruit.
"You guys will disembark at the next island."
"Yes, Orin-sama!"
The big shots responded eagerly.
Even though they had technically joined Orin's camp, deep down, they were absolutely terrified of this boss. It was the kind of fear that left mental scars.
Now that they were being given a chance to leave the ship, of course they were overjoyed.
As they quietly celebrated, a golden-haired beauty stepped forward. Draped in a shawl and short skirt, she looked like a gentle big sister.
"Orin-sama, your injuries haven't fully healed yet. If we can stay here a bit longer—"
At this point, Stussy was still relatively loyal. No matter which side she stood on—World Government or Vegapunk—she had no reason to oppose Orin.
The World Government had a good relationship with Orin, and he was the ruler of a World Government-affiliated nation.
And Vegapunk? Orin was one of his biggest investors now. Many experimental projects, especially the shady ones, relied on Orin's massive funding.
So her words were a genuine suggestion out of concern for Orin's condition.
"Injured? Who said that?"
With an apple in one hand, Orin's pale, indifferent eyes swept across her.
"Fighting just two measly Emperors—do you really think that's enough to leave me wounded for long?"
"Emperors?"
Stussy found the term unfamiliar.
The title of "Four Emperors" wouldn't be coined for several more years—not until Shanks reached his peak and joined Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom in that elite group.
But now, Orin had casually coined the term first, and Morgans just happened to overhear it.
That headline-loving birdbrain would probably splash it across the next issue of the newspaper, setting the already boiling seas ablaze.
"Don't mind that. What I really mean is this..."
"Unless I die—I'll always be at full strength!!!"
With a massive influx of food and the recovery of stamina, Orin now had the energy and time to repair his body.
As long as the injury wasn't fatal, he could recover over 90% of his health within a single day.
How to put it...
The Warp-Warp Fruit he'd developed—
Was practically a budget version of the Ope-Ope Fruit.
Scanning the obedient, catlike Underworld bosses in front of him who didn't even dare to breathe too loudly,
Orin pulled a Den Den Mushi from his coat.
"Beru beru beru beru..."
Click.
A birdlike face instantly appeared on the other end, glowing with excitement.
"Orin-sama!!! You're literally walking headline material!!!"
"The next issue of the World Economic News will sell so fast the printing machines will explode!!! Hahaha!!!"
Morgans couldn't help sharing his joy, but when he saw Orin's silent, calm face and those crimson eyes staring back,
His laughter gradually faded until he coughed awkwardly.
"So then... Orin-sama, what are your instructions?"
"Nothing major. Just two things."
Morgans wasn't surprised at all. He was used to this.
Every time Orin called, it was always for two things.
"First, do not list my name under the Four Emperors."
"Uh... yes, Orin-sama."
Morgans paused, confused, but still replied mechanically.
In his understanding, the Four Emperors were the rulers of the sea, the highest status among pirates.
Especially now, when the Pirate King was dead and no new king had emerged...
Then it hit him.
Right...
Mere Emperors?
How could such a title apply to a monster boss who fought two Emperors alone and called himself king as a teenager?
What... was he thinking?!?!
What an insult!!!
He almost made a huge mistake!!!
Once he figured it out, he started seriously pondering—
What title could possibly match the legendary life of Orin—no, his legendary youth?
As Morgans brainstormed new headlines, Orin was already moving on to the second item:
"The second thing—I want you to notify all prominent figures in the Underworld. Anyone who has pledged loyalty to me must attend the upcoming Underworld Conference."
"Anyone who dares to skip must either surrender all their businesses and get out of the Underworld... or die."
"I... am going to redraw the lines of profit and order in this world."
As soon as those words left his mouth,
Whether it was Morgans, Stussy, all their faces changed. They looked at Orin in shock.
Did they hear that right?
The Underworld...
Was it really about to be unified?
After this wave of transformation, the Underworld—an empire of countless lucrative industries—might truly undergo a massive regime change!!!
"Th-Then Orin-sama, what's the time and location of this meeting?"
"The meeting will be one month from now. As for the location..."
"Let's go with the Sabaody Archipelago."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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