New World — Pirate Paradise — Hachinosu (Hive Island).
Inside the massive skull-shaped fortress hall, the strongest pirate crew of Hachinosu — the Wang Zhi Pirates — had occupied this place for decades.
More than thirty years ago, during the legendary God Valley Incident, when the great overlord Rocks D. Xebec fell, the Rocks Pirates collapsed instantly.
Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Big Mom — all those terrifying officers dispersed and carved out their own legends across the seas.
One of those officers, Wang Zhi, chose to return to Hachinosu, reclaiming Rock's stronghold and becoming the new ruler of Pirate Paradise.
He lived through the era of Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion, then endured the Four Emperors Era of Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Red-Hair Shanks.
Now, Hachinosu rested deep inside Whitebeard's vast territory.
Whitebeard, remembering old ties, never drove them out — but the Wang Zhi Pirates and the many pirate crews living on Hachinosu still paid tribute as a symbolic "protection fee."
Wang Zhi did not wish to abandon Pirate Paradise, yet he could not seize further territory from Whitebeard.
Thus, he became known as:
"The Strongest Pirate Beneath the Yonko."
He once watched the Rocks Pirates' rookie Kaido rise step by step into a Yonko of the New World.
He then watched Shanks, a brat who came from nothing, step over him and become the youngest Emperor — solidifying the current Four Emperors balance.
Sometimes, Wang Zhi wondered:
If he had decisively abandoned Hachinosu years ago, before Shanks matured, and expanded elsewhere —
Would he have become a Yonko instead?
Would he have claimed the territories now belonging to the Red-Haired Pirates?
But if that had happened, perhaps the now fully grown Red-Haired Pirates would have eventually toppled him — taking not only his Yonko title, but his life.
On Hachinosu, protected by Whitebeard's influence, he lived freely and safely.
Even so — his strength truly fell short of the Yonkos.
Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido — they were monsters among monsters.
And Red-Haired Shanks… he was something even more frightening — a prodigy whose growth surpassed even Kaido's.
Shanks' Conqueror's Haki had already surpassed the others — nearly equal to Roger, perhaps even approaching Rocks himself.
So now, Wang Zhi would rather provoke the aging Whitebeard…
than ever antagonize Shanks in his prime.
"Captain, now that the Beasts Pirates and the Red-Haired Pirates are locked in a death struggle, why don't we go take a look?"
A lean middle-aged man with small black wings spoke, eyes shining with ambition and greed.
"If we can strike while both sides are weakened and wipe out one of the Yonko crews, we could take their territory and become the new Emperor."
Recently, Hachinosu's forces had been repeatedly warned and suppressed by the Whitebeard Pirates.
Their resentment grew.
They feared Whitebeard — but despised their own restraint even more.
"Captain, with Souta Kiryuu igniting a full-scale war in the New World, this is the best chance for the balance of power to shift."
A long-faced man added.
They had followed Wang Zhi for more than twenty years — aging alongside him.
Wang Zhi was already in his sixties or seventies.
They were now in their fifties.
If they didn't fight now, they would die as eternal second-rate legends.
"Captain, why not reach out to Big Mom or Kaido? If they help us break free from Whitebeard, we can expand our territory.
Or we can join Kaido and Big Mom to seize the regions behind Hachinosu."
A massive small-giant spoke, veins bulging across his arms.
With Souta Kiryuu and Kaido recently forming an alliance, it was clear that the future of the New World belonged to Souta Kiryuu.
Red-Hair Shanks would eventually be crushed.
Whitebeard would eventually fade.
That would be the moment for the Wang Zhi Pirates to rise.
If they didn't align with Souta Kiryuu soon, they would be left behind.
"Silence. Calm yourselves."
Wang Zhi's voice echoed.
He sat high on his golden throne, wearing a golden helmet.
Three long black beards draped across his chest.
Black tattoos resembling beasts coiled around his thick arms.
A great two-handed sword rested beside him.
He studied the latest intelligence reports.
He wanted to see whether Souta Kiryuu would strike the Marine Headquarters next.
If Kaido and Shanks both suffered heavy losses, and Souta Kiryuu clashed with the World Government…
Then the timing would be perfect for the Wang Zhi Pirates to rise in full.
He wanted to wait — set the perfect trap.
But Whitebeard's warnings… and Kaido's explosive temper —
If they rashly attacked Shanks, Kaido might strike them down just for interfering.
"What, we just stay here? Even the Wittan Pirates and Zika Pirates have gone to attack G-14 Fortress!"
The small giant, Amuro Lei, growled, fists tightening.
Hachinosu was the land of pirates — countless ruthless crews lived here.
Now the majority of them had answered Souta Kiryuu's call:
Drive the Marines out of the New World.
Turn the New World fully into the sea of pirates.
Yet the Wang Zhi Pirates — rulers of Hachinosu — had done nothing.
If they remained passive, they would lose their reputation — and any claim to becoming a Yonko.
If Wang Zhi continued to hesitate…
They would regret following him for decades.
"…Very well."
Wang Zhi finally spoke, voice low.
"When the Arlong Dragon Fleet appears — I will decide whether we strike the Red-Haired Pirates, or G-14 Fortress."
There was no longer any chance to play safe.
The New World was already in chaos.
It was time to fight —
to seize the throne of the Emperor of the Sea.