"What an overwhelming presence..."
As the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, everyone who didn't have a seat—regardless of strength—collapsed to the ground, eyes rolled back, minds blank.
The precision of this Conqueror's Haki control was extraordinary.
"Crack... crack..."
Ferocious black and red lightning stormed across the venue, writhing and surging like fangs and claws.
The sound of every heartbeat seemed to match the rhythm of the footsteps.
That terrifying feeling... of one's life no longer under their own control...
"There are no empty seats. Looks like everyone showed me respect."
A relaxed and magnetic voice rang out over the gathering.
Those seated, crushed under immense pressure, all turned respectfully toward the shadows near the high platform upon hearing that voice.
"Are you kidding me? This suffocating pressure—! Is this what the next-generation king feels like? I used to think the rumors were definitely exaggerated..."
"I can barely breathe. How could someone like this even exist in the world?!"
"No wonder he single-handedly overwhelmed an entire era..."
"With a monster like that, how did the Emperors even survive?!"
From the shadowed entrance, two silhouettes slowly stepped forward with thunderous footsteps.
"That's..."
"The strongest swordsman of the younger generation—said to have a chance at becoming the world's greatest swordsman—this man's right hand... Hawk Eyes Dracule Mihawk!!!"
"And the other, a monster with a natural disaster-like ability, who can summon sandstorms with ease...Crocodile!!!"
Following those two fearsome figures, a third presence emerged from the shadows with his hands in his pockets. The identity of this man was beyond doubt.
Everyone immediately stood up. Some were shaking so hard their knees nearly gave out, gripping the edge of the table just to stay standing.
Even Rayleigh gave Orin this bit of respect, setting down his bottle and rising slowly.
Wearing a dark red suit, a wide black coat draped over his shoulders, and Ace's saber at his waist, Orin walked into the venue with a warm smile on his face.
Yet despite that friendly expression,
The dark red lightning crackling around his body made it abundantly clear just how terrifying this man truly was.
Cracks formed underfoot from the pressure, and the tables groaned as if about to collapse.
Orin smiled as he slowly walked between Crocodile and Mihawk. The Conqueror's Haki dissipated, and he looked around in satisfaction before pressing down with both hands.
"No need to be so formal. Have a seat."
An invisible force swept across the venue, and everyone sat down uncontrollably in their seats.
As for those irrelevant underlings and bodyguards who had collapsed on the ground, they instantly vanished from sight.
"So this is the terrifying power of one of the strongest Paramecia Fruits circulating lately—the Warp-Warp Fruit?"
"Yeah... for ultimate deterrence in this sea, this ability alone is enough to make even the most arrogant underworld king bow in submission!!!"
"There's been a fierce debate lately—what's more threatening, the Quake-Quake Fruit or the Warp-Warp Fruit..."
Many underworld bosses who had never met Orin before were now reassessing his terrifying presence after witnessing his powers firsthand.
And with that, the little schemes in their hearts quietly died away.
Everyone sat upright and solemn.
Even though they dealt in the cruelest, most unspeakable trades, at this moment, they looked like obedient schoolchildren attending a strict lecture, eyes locked on the imposing figure on stage.
None of them even dared ask where their subordinates had gone.
Orin cleared his throat, utterly at ease—after all, he was only addressing a group of inferiors.
He was simply getting into the mood.
Beside him, Mihawk and Crocodile stood with arms crossed, cold expressions on their faces, also curious to hear what Orin had to say.
Under the gaze of all present, Orin began to speak, his tone steady and composed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe... This world should not be like this."
His voice was not loud, yet strangely persuasive—perhaps because Orin was strong enough to back it up.
"Look at how you all conduct business. Robbery? Backstabbing? Instigating civil wars?"
"Stop wasting time on this internal strife!!!"
Orin's gaze swept the room, and whether it was illusion or not, every person who had dabbled in such acts felt as though Orin knew everything—they lowered their heads in guilt.
"Since the leaders of the underworld have sincerely asked me to oversee the world's black market..."
Spotlights lit up at the perfect moment, shining down on eight of the underworld giants, including Sammi and Doflamingo.
These were Orin's true inner circle.
"Then let me draw some red lines for this chaotic and profit-driven industry!!! Anyone who crosses them—will be annihilated!!!"
Orin began with a bang. His stern voice and piercing gaze unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki even more terrifying than before.
Except for a select few like Rayleigh, nearly everyone felt like they were suffocating, the immense pressure splitting evenly among them all, pushing their minds to the brink.
Any more, and their spirits would shatter.
"I also understand that sometimes, profit can drive you to risk even your life—so go ahead, try me!!!"
Arrogant!
Overbearing!!
Defiant!!!
As Orin's words landed, his name weighed on every boss in the room like a mountain.
They knew that if they dared play games again, they would really be crushed to death.
This was nothing like the pressure from the World Government, that massive bureaucratic beast. Even the World Government, no matter how powerful, had to consider the economic influence these people wielded—controlling nearly half the world's wealth and markets.
Push them too hard, and they could shake the government's grip on the seas simply by manipulating markets and resources.
But Orin didn't care.
With the backing of the eight "kings" of the underworld, he was already the most powerful figure in the criminal world—and he had the strength to kill everyone in that room, anytime, anywhere.
He had no weaknesses to exploit.
Even if Sabaody Archipelago or the Kingdom of Duramos were destroyed, it wouldn't hurt Orin in the slightest.
It would only enrage this king!!!
At that point, any faction or nation responsible would likely be ground into paste—down to the worms beneath their soil.
No one wanted to be that sacrificial scapegoat.
Faced with Orin's newly imposed rules and market redistribution, everyone remained silent—despite the fact that their original shares were being respected.
Even when Orin proposed a small cut of pure profit be handed over, they merely glanced nervously at each other.
No one dared voice a single objection.