"Ah… this—this, this, this… what the hell is going on!?"
The Golden Emperor, Gildas Tezoro, stood frozen in disbelief.
Beside him, Baccarat, the elegant woman gifted with the power of the Lucky Fruit, and Tanaka, who wielded the ability of the Phase-Phase Fruit, both stared blankly ahead—stiff as statues, their minds unable to process the scene before them.
Everything had fallen apart in an instant.
Their original plan had been simple—invite Kildas, the strongest mercenary they could recruit, to counterbalance Fairy Tail's overwhelming might. Even if he couldn't defeat them outright, his power could at least hold them off and serve as a deterrent.
But who could have predicted this outcome?
The so-called "trump card" they had relied upon… had turned out to be one of Fairy Tail's own.
Kildas—standing side by side with the Fairy Tail guild—was laughing warmly, while his daughter Kana chatted cheerfully with Yuuto's companions as if they'd known each other for years.
Even a fool could see their bond was anything but ordinary.
"Lord Tezoro…" Baccarat whispered in disbelief. "Those two—Master Kildas and Miss Kana—they're… also members of Fairy Tail?"
Tanaka swallowed hard, his face pale. "You're kidding… The man who destroyed Pirate Island's Hive alone… he's one of them too? Just how terrifying is this Fairy Tail—this so-called new Four Emperors guild?"
His voice trembled. "They're not just one of the Four Emperors anymore—they're beyond that. A group of emperors that even the rulers of the sea can't rival!"
Gildas Tezoro's expression shifted from shock… to a trembling, almost feverish excitement.
As he stared at the Fairy Tail guild assembled before him, he realized: this was the power he'd always yearned for.
A force strong enough to face the World Government itself without fear.
But then… he clenched his fist.
With all his wealth and influence, he still knew—he could never reach that height alone.
"Everyone, stop standing around!" Nami shouted suddenly, breaking the silence. "I smell good food!"
"Yeah! Let's go in and eat while we talk!" Erza added, her eyes bright.
"Yaaay—!" the girls cheered in unison.
Ignoring the dumbfounded trio at the doorway, Fairy Tail's members marched straight into the lavish hotel lobby, already chatting and laughing like they owned the place.
"Kildas," Yuuto said, walking up to him with an easy smile. "About what happened on Pirate Island—thank you."
"No need for thanks, Guild Master," Kildas replied quickly, waving his hand. "It's my duty wherever the guild is concerned."
Yuuto's grin widened. "Then let's keep building Fairy Tail—make it flourish across this world."
"Of course!" Kildas thumped his chest proudly. "You have my full support, Guild Master!"
"Good," Yuuto said, nodding. "But for now… let's enjoy our vacation."
The two men laughed, walking side by side toward the still-stunned Tezoro.
Before Yuuto could even speak, there was a loud thud.
The Golden Emperor himself—Gildas Tezoro—had dropped to his knees.
"Guild Master Sugisawa Yuuto!" he declared, voice shaking. "Tezoro humbly pledges himself to Fairy Tail! I will follow you through fire and water without hesitation!"
The entire hall went silent.
Tezoro, the Golden Emperor who ruled this vast city, now bowed his head to Yuuto.
After learning that even Kildas was part of Fairy Tail, he had no more thoughts of resistance—only awe and fear. Before the might of this guild, even he, with all his gold and empire, was no more than an ant.
If Fairy Tail wished, they could crush him in an instant.
And so, Tezoro made his decision—
If he couldn't defeat them, he would join them.
Better to live under their banner than die like Doflamingo.
Yuuto blinked, momentarily taken aback.
He had only planned to tell Tezoro that this visit was purely for vacation—nothing more. He hadn't expected such an "earnest" reaction.
Still, he didn't doubt Tezoro's financial prowess. The Golden Emperor's ability to generate wealth was legendary. And with him on Fairy Tail's side, Yuuto knew the problem of funding Vegapunk's research would soon be solved.
However, before accepting his surrender, some conditions had to be made clear.
Yuuto took out a stack of documents Robin had organized earlier—the commissions relating to the Golden City—and handed them to Tezoro.
"If you want to bear Fairy Tail's banner," Yuuto said calmly, "the first and most important rule is conscience. Review these first—and think carefully."
He left the papers in Tezoro's trembling hands and turned away, entering the grand hall with Kildas beside him.
That night, the first full assembly banquet of Fairy Tail in the One Piece world officially began.
A Week Later
Fairy Tail's "Golden City Team-Building Vacation" came to a successful end.
The guild members dispersed afterward, each team departing from the Golden City to handle their own missions and affairs.
As for Kildas's relationship with the guild—Yuuto decided to keep it confidential for now. Revealing it prematurely might ruin the element of surprise. In the right moment, that secret could be a powerful card to play.
And finally, there was the matter of Gildas Tezoro.
"Well done," Yuuto said approvingly.
In the week since their talk, Tezoro had flawlessly handled all the commissions Yuuto had assigned him.
"Thank you, Guild Master Sugisawa!" Tezoro said, dropping to one knee again, eyes filled with reverence.
"However," Yuuto said evenly, "if you wish to become a true affiliate of Fairy Tail, you'll need to relinquish some of your holdings. Can you accept that?"
"Of course, Guild Master! My subordinates are already liquidating assets. From now on, the Golden City will focus primarily on milking the nobles—our 'fat sheep.'"
Tezoro's voice trembled with both fear and excitement.
"Very good," Yuuto replied with a grin. "I look forward to your progress."
Two Months Later
Buru-buru-buru—!
The Den Den Mushi crackled to life.
"Guild Master Sugisawa," came Shakky's calm voice on the other end, "I found the person you were looking for."
Yuuto's eyes gleamed. "Excellent work. I'll head there immediately."
The corners of his mouth lifted into a satisfied smirk.
With Tezoro now part of Fairy Tail, Vegapunk's research funding was fully secured. All that remained was the matter of relocating Egghead Island itself.
Destroying an island would be easy.
But moving one—transporting it whole—was an entirely different challenge. Even with his control over gravity magic, Yuuto couldn't accomplish that alone.
For such a feat, he needed a specialist—someone with experience in moving entire landmasses.
And there was only one man who fit that description:
The legendary pirate of the previous era, rival of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Emperor Whitebeard himself—
Shiki the Golden Lion.
Yuuto's grin widened.
"Yamato, Junti—come with me!"