Chapter 233: The Beginning of the Eternal Night City Project
As Luo Han activated his aura sensing to examine the "warm" energy in Cole…
"What the hell?!"
Luo Han shouted suddenly, startling Cole. "What's wrong, Han-ge?!"
"You lucky bastard…" Luo Han looked at Cole with envy. "Your Devil Fruit ability is probably awakening!"
"Awakening…?" Cole asked, puzzled. "What's that?"
"Something good!" Luo Han let out a breath. "Don't worry. Once your ability awakens fully, you'll go back to your old self."
"But then I won't have this appetite anymore!" Cole sighed. "Can I keep it though? This constant craving for meat feels amazing! Hehe!"
Watching Cole drool while talking, Luo Han simply shook his head and said nothing.
Forget it. Luo Han walked to the bow, gazing at the fast-approaching Island One.
After a while…
"Damn it…" Luo Han muttered again, feeling unbalanced inside.
Cole's Kun-Kun Fruit ability had actually absorbed all the talent flames Luo Han had infused into his body.
Luo Han could no longer sense the merged talent flames of Charlotte Linlin or the gigantic Sea Kings. Instead, a new talent flame was forming inside Cole.
That new flame was the source of the warmth Cole felt.
To be able to consume even intangible things like talent flames… there was no other explanation but Devil Fruit awakening.
What made it worse—Cole awakened simply by eating nonstop!
Too unfair. Luo Han sighed. He felt like he'd only awaken his Mind Fruit after finding the lantern fish and obtaining Pure Gold to solve his aging problem.
Everyone has their fate. That's just how life is.
...
Island One
Roughly the size of Sabaody Archipelago, it looked like a giant gear from the sky. Ellis had shaped the Yarchiman Mangrove trees this way to make docking easier.
Granted, this was as much control over growth as she had—don't expect anything like Wood Release or Thousand-Hand Buddha techniques.
Aside from the raised roots at the island's center, the rest of the surface was flat and smooth, formed by tightly woven roots.
Bubbles already floated up from the root plains, just like Sabaody.
...
Before long, Luo Han and the others landed on Island One. Soon after, Ellis and Akatsuki arrived with their forces.
Leaving their crews to prepare for a grand banquet that evening, Luo Han, Ellis, Cole, Tucker, Akatsuki, Sora, and Aishi sat on a patch of open ground.
The meeting for future plans began.
"First of all, I'm glad to see you all again," Luo Han said with a smile. "We've all grown over the past four years—no need to say much more."
"Let's start with a report. Everyone share which islands you currently control."
"I'll go first, Boss Luo Han," Tucker volunteered. "I control five islands, all producing stone, glass, and other materials. They're mostly near the Calm Belt, in Cole's territory, and rarely visited by other pirates."
"I've ordered the stockpiling of all building materials. After four years, it should be enough to support Ark Island's development for a while."
Tucker paused. "That's about it."
"Good." Luo Han looked at Akatsuki and Cole. "Who's next?"
"I'll go," Akatsuki said. "I control eight islands producing steel and various metals. I watch over one, and the other seven are guarded by my subordinate pirate crews. Ochoku (Wang Zhi)and Kyo (Silver Axe) provide additional support."
"That's all. Nothing more to add."
...
After some time, Cole still hadn't spoken.
"It's your turn, Cole!" Luo Han snapped, frustrated.
"Huh? What?" Cole blinked, confused.
"These past four years—what islands have you taken over?"
"Taken over?" Cole looked puzzled. "I haven't taken any. I've just been staying on Bot Island… aside from battles."
"…"
Luo Han facepalmed. Hopeless.
He turned to Akatsuki and Tucker. "Do either of you know what Cole's been up to?"
"I do!" Tucker raised his hand. "I'm stationed closest to him."
He laughed awkwardly. "Cole controls eleven islands… all famous for their food. They're not resource islands."
"Oh right!" Cole suddenly lit up. "Han-ge, the food there is amazing! I never ate the same dish twice! I even brought a bunch back for tonight!"
As he spoke, he started drooling again.
Sigh… Luo Han gave up. Until Cole's awakening was complete, food was the only thing in his world.
"Alright, now that we've shared," Luo Han said with a grin, "let me tell you our next move."
"First, we're going to build an island city cluster centered around Ark Island. We'll call it Eternal Night City."
"In my vision, Eternal Night City will be open to everyone—pirates, civilians, even the World Government. It'll be a hub for trade, entertainment, food, and information."
"Everyone?" The group frowned. That part stood out.
"That's right. Everyone," Luo Han smiled. "Even Marines and CP agents."
"But that'll cause constant conflict!" Ellis didn't like the idea of endless fighting.
"First—Eternal Night City includes only the islands Ellis created. Ark Island itself will remain restricted."
"Second, I'll enforce one absolute law."
Luo Han's expression darkened. "No killing allowed in Eternal Night City. Break the rule, and you'll pay with your life."
"Can you really enforce that?" Sora asked. "Everyone will send spies—and Eternal Night City will be huge."
"Haha, yes—I can."
Luo Han laughed. "In fact, I want spies. That's how we'll build our intelligence network."
"Intelligence only comes through communication," he told Sora seriously. "And you'll be in charge of setting up Eternal Night City's intel department."
"Do whatever you want. We've got the funds. I'll get you the people."
He meant it.
By letting Sora run intelligence—and making it clear to the World Government—the Five Elders would feel "in control" and send more agents, unknowingly growing Luo Han's network from within.
A beautiful plan.
Sora nodded. "Understood."
Though the others were puzzled, only Ellis frowned slightly.
"How will you attract people?" Sora asked. "This place is hard to access."
Everyone fell silent. Good point. An empty city was meaningless.
Luo Han smiled. "No rush. I already have a plan. Once the infrastructure's ready, we'll start."
"For now…" Luo Han said, "if you encounter any destroyed nations or islands during your travels, rescue the civilians and bring them here."
"People will come. Once word spreads that Eternal Night City is the safest place in the New World, they'll flood in."
Fair enough. If Luo Han had a plan, the rest had no objections.
"Akatsuki!"
She blinked, caught off guard.
Luo Han smiled. "After today, you can return to Fishman Island and bring back any fishmen who want to come here."
"You can choose any one of the Islands 2 through 7 for them—except Island One and Eight, which I have other plans for."
"Really?" Akatsuki's eyes lit up—so brightly it felt like she could melt Luo Han.
"Yes, really," he answered sincerely.
"…Thank you!"
Those two simple words held deep emotion.
Ellis could imagine how excited the fishmen would be to have their own "Sabaody-like" island. It had always been their dream.
"Haha," Luo Han chuckled. "Just remember—Ellis made the island. It's empty for now, so you'll have to design it yourself."
"Of course!" Akatsuki raised her arms in delight. "I'll make it even more beautiful than Sabaody!"
Everyone chuckled—it was rare to see her this joyful and unguarded.
"…"
Hearing their laughter, Akatsuki blushed, dropped her hands, and returned to her usual calm expression. But her eyes still shimmered with happiness.
"Besides your island, there are five left."
"One will become a gourmet capital."
Luo Han looked at Ellis, Sora, and Aishi . "Do any of you want to build your own?"
"No!" all three replied at once.
They had no interest in city-building.
"Boss…" Tucker raised his hand. "I'd like to try."
You? Luo Han looked at him, surprised. But he didn't say no.
"Alright. But your main job will be guarding the central lake on Ark Island. Something very important is hidden there."
"You must not let anyone steal it."
"Understood, Boss Luo Han!" Tucker said firmly. "I'll protect it with my life!"
"Good."
"As for your island, have your crew design it. You make the final calls."
"Yes, Boss!"
With that, Eternal Night City's foundation was set. Now Luo Han had to address his personal issue.
"Han-ge…"
Cole couldn't hold it in anymore. Looking at Luo Han's middle-aged appearance, he asked, "You still haven't found the lantern fish?"
The lantern fish…? Ellis, Aishi , and Tucker paused—so that was what Luo Han had been looking for all along?
Why? The three wondered.
Akatsuki knew he was searching for it, but not the secret of Pure Gold. Only Sora looked serious.
"This must never reach the World Government," she warned. "The Celestial Dragons would go mad."
"What do you mean?" the others asked, growing tense.
Sora fell silent. Luo Han clearly didn't want to explain.
"You just need to know—finding the lantern fish will solve my body's problem," he said simply.
"Really?!" Aishi asked, thrilled.
"Really."
Hearing his answer, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and didn't pry further.
"So next, I'll continue the search alone."
"You all stick to the plan—build the cities, and if you're free, go charm more people into moving here."
"Once I leave, Ellis will be in charge. With her strength, no one can mess with this place."
"You don't want Aishi and me to come with you?" Ellis frowned. She was worried—Luo Han's condition was still unresolved. If the World Government attacked again…
"Luo Han…" Aishi simply didn't want to be apart from him.
"Relax!" Luo Han smiled at them. "This is the only place I haven't searched yet. The lantern fish is definitely here—I'll find it soon."
Seeing his confident smile, they said no more.
Cole, meanwhile, shrunk down awkwardly, regretting that he'd spilled the secret earlier.
Too bad he was too big to shrink much.
Luo Han chuckled, then addressed the group: "This is a secret. Don't let anyone else know."
"Understood!" they replied seriously.
They knew this was no joke.
...
That night—
A grand banquet of over a thousand people took place in the plaza Ellis had prepared on Island One.
Before the party started—
Luo Han flew 20 meters into the air. The pirates below immediately went quiet.
Looking down, Luo Han felt a surge of pride.
To have thousands of eyes waiting silently for your words… what a heady feeling.
"Fame! Power! Wealth!"
"Shout it out! Which one of these do you sail for?!"
His booming voice echoed across the island.
Everyone looked at each other—was it safe to answer?
Silence…
"Wealth! I want wealth!" someone shouted at last, hesitantly—then firmly.
"…I want fame!" another chimed in. "I want the World Government to offer a fifty billion bounty for my head!"
BOOM! The pirates erupted. Cries of wealth, fame, power—desires burst forth like a tidal wave. Their eyes gleamed green with greed.
"Hahahaha!"
Luo Han laughed, and his voice easily overpowered them all.
When they finally quieted down, he said:
"You followed me, Cole, and Akatsuki because we are the ones most likely to rule the New World."
"You want to ride our coattails to fame, power, and wealth."
"So now I'll tell you exactly how we plan to rule it."
Eyes widened.
Ever since the fall of the Rocks Pirates, the Blue Demon had been the only one seriously seen as a contender for dominance.
Now he was finally making his move.
Their choice had been right. Only by following someone like this could they glimpse the summit of the world.
They dreamed.
Luo Han continued, "All the islands around here—including these—will be known as Eternal Night City. And you are its pirate crews."
"I want to make this place the capital of the New World. A city like no other."
"It won't happen overnight—but it will happen, with your help."
"More details will come later."
Luo Han stretched out his arms and shouted, "Let the banquet begin!"
BOOM! A thunderous cheer erupted.
Fired up with ambition, the pirates chanted the name "Blue Demon" and dove into celebration.
Whew... Luo Han exhaled. Got them fired up—mission complete!
Tap, tap. He landed back on the ground.
"Didn't think you had it in you," Ellis teased. She remembered how his only word for Reverse Mountain was "big."
Hehe. Luo Han smiled politely and said nothing.
Time to eat.
...
(END CHAPTER)
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