The unexpected clash between the Magic Eye Pirates and the Flying Pirate Fleet brought a rare sigh of relief to the Marines.
The fact that the Magic Eye Pirates had managed to fly over the Red Line had led many factions to suspect they had allied with the Flying Pirate Fleet.
One was a legendary pirate crew of the past.
The other—a mysterious rising force that had defeated Admiral Kizaru and escaped the joint pursuit of two other Admirals.
If these two ambitious pirate crews had truly joined forces—
It would have been a disaster for the Marines… and for every other power at sea.
Now, however—
Their battle in the New World made one thing clear:
Any possibility of cooperation was gone.
For the Marines—
This was one of the few pieces of good news they had received recently.
First Half of the Grand Line
The world-shaking events at Sabaody Archipelago had little impact on the Straw Hat Pirates, who had just departed from the Kingdom of Alabasta.
Because Baroque Works had already been dealt with in advance by Yuuki—
Their journey from Little Garden to Alabasta, guided by the Eternal Pose Robin provided, had been far smoother than before.
Instead of encountering countless trials—
They had been able to properly rest and recover in Alabasta.
Of course—
They still met Ace, who was pursuing Blackbeard Teach.
After parting ways—
The Straw Hats set sail once more.
And this time—
They didn't even get the chance to meet Vivi again, now that she had resumed her duties as princess and ruler.
Under the bright, open sky—
Robin leaned against the railing on the upper deck, flipping through recent newspapers in her hands, her eyes flickering thoughtfully.
After causing such a massive incident—
The Magic Eye Pirates had still managed to escape that level of encirclement.
Even Robin found it hard to imagine.
A quiet sense of shock rose within her.
After rereading several articles—
She folded the newspapers and looked down at the Straw Hat crew laughing and playing on the deck below.
On this ship—
Robin felt something she had never experienced before.
No schemes.
No betrayal.
No deception.
Just simple, genuine bonds.
It was a kind of pirate crew she had never seen—
And once—
Something she had dreamed of having.
But…
A gentle smile rested on her face—
Yet her eyes remained calm.
Unchanging.
Because she knew—
Even the most beautiful things would one day come to an end.
She understood her own identity.
If the Marines or the World Government discovered her—
This peaceful crew would be torn apart instantly.
Swallowed by despair.
Even now—
Robin still didn't understand why that man had placed her on this ship.
After observing them for some time—
She only grew more puzzled.
She couldn't see anything particularly special about the Straw Hat Pirates.
If there was one thing worth noting—
It was their reckless captain, Luffy.
And the fact that his older brother—
Was the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
When Robin first saw Ace in Alabasta—
Her immediate thought was that he must have been Yuuki's true target.
But soon—
She dismissed that idea.
If that were the case—
There would have been no need to send her here.
Her gaze returned briefly to the lively crew below—
Before she rested her chin on her hand, her wheat-colored fingers lightly supporting her face.
Her eyes drifted back to the folded newspaper.
To say she felt any "belonging" toward the Magic Eye Pirates—
Would be a lie.
At the time—
She simply didn't want to die.
Joining them had been the best option.
But now—
After reading these reports—
She had to admit one thing:
Joining the Magic Eye Pirates—
Had not been a mistake.
At the very least—
There were few crews in this world bold enough to openly defy the World Government—
And still escape unscathed.
From that alone—
She could tell:
They would not abandon her easily.
They had killed a Celestial Dragon—
Then revived him—
And broadcast the entire act to the world.
A blatant act of mockery.
Robin understood better than anyone—
Just how shocking and unimaginable that was.
Meanwhile—
The Straw Hat crew didn't truly grasp the weight of what those newspapers described.
At most—
They could judge the Magic Eye Pirates' strength through bounty numbers.
Compared to the true giants of the sea—
The Straw Hats were still far too immature.
Far too weak.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps sounded from the staircase behind her.
Sanji dashed up in a blur—
Carrying a tray.
"Robin-swan! Here's your coffee and cake!"
"I made it just the way you like—less sugar!"
He dropped to one knee, utterly smitten.
"Thank you."
Robin smiled gently and took a sip.
One Week Later — The New World
Gran Tesoro.
A colossal ship stretching nearly 10,000 meters in length—
Also known as the Great Tesoro.
Constructed almost entirely of gold—
It wasn't just a ship—
It was a city.
A kingdom at sea.
The world's greatest entertainment hub.
A nation recognized by the World Government.
A neutral, demilitarized zone—
Even called an "Absolute Sanctuary" beyond direct government interference.
Boom! Boom!
As the Magic Eye Pirates entered the harbor—
Golden fountains erupted on both sides.
Golden dust rained down from above—
Welcoming every arriving vessel.
Under the glow of countless lights—
The drifting gold shimmered like starlight.
The entire atmosphere reeked of luxury and indulgence.
Music echoed through the air—
Colorful lights shimmered even in daylight.
"This is… GOLD?!"
"This is insane! They're filthy rich!"
Buggy's eyes bulged, practically sparkling with greed.
Cabaji and Mohji gulped repeatedly—
Their jaws hanging open at the golden buildings.
Like country bumpkins.
"The world's greatest entertainment city…"
"Even more outrageous than the rumors…"
Even Marianne couldn't hide her surprise.
Seeing their reactions—
Tanaka, bound in ropes and battered, let out a cold laugh.
"Hah! Bunch of ignorant fools."
"Do you even know where you are?"
"Lord Tesoro controls 20% of the world's wealth!"
"Even the World Government bows to him!"
"Untie me now—"
"You have no idea who you've offended!"
Whoosh!
Mohji appeared in front of him instantly—
And drove a fist into his chest.
"AGH!"
Tanaka screamed.
"Prisoners don't get to talk big."
Mohji said coldly, then turned respectfully toward Yuuki—
Who was lounging on a chair, reading.
"Captain, what are our orders?"
Buggy, Cabaji, and Marianne all turned to look.
They already understood—
This wasn't a sightseeing trip.
Snap.
Yuuki closed his book—
And casually waved his hand.
A gust of magic swept across the deck—
Blowing away all the gold dust clinging to them.
Tanaka's pupils shrank.
He realized something—
Even that hidden trick… had been noticed.
"Controlling twenty percent of the world's wealth…"
"Impressive."
Yuuki spoke calmly.
"'Golden Emperor,' huh? Sounds grand."
"But if someone could truly control that much wealth without restriction—"
"Then they'd have to be part of the World Government."
He glanced down at Tanaka.
"In the end…"
"You're just Celestial Dragons' dogs."
Then—
He looked toward his crew.
"Prepare to dock."
"Let's go meet this 'Golden Emperor.'"
"Yes, Captain!"
Cabaji and Mohji grinned eagerly, cracking their knuckles.
Marianne calmly packed away her drawing board—
As if she had expected this all along.
(End of Chapter)
Next Bonus Chapter at 5600 powerstones.