Stussy died a pitiful death. Esdeath had tossed her into the sea without hesitation. A splash followed by a trace of red signaled the arrival of a Sea King, drawn by the scent of blood. In an instant, the monstrous creature swallowed Stussy's body whole.
Just a mouthful for a Sea King, but probably the best thing it had eaten in a while. Most of what those beasts consumed wasn't exactly fresh. Stussy, on the other hand, was premium meat.
Kalifa looked away, shivering. Her understanding of Esdeath deepened again.
This woman was ruthless—merciless to her enemies, but fiercely loyal to her own.
"Handled," Esdeath muttered, clapping her hands clean. Killing had become routine. It was like swatting a rat—no guilt, no second thoughts.
The World Government once relied on Stussy not only as an agent, but as a queenpin of the underworld in the New World. In the underground world—where criminal dealings flourished out of sight—pirates committed crimes openly, but these people did it in the shadows.
Then again, in this lawless sea, what even counted as a crime?
In the pirate world, power defined justice.
"There's no real power in the underworld," Vane had once said. To him, the so-called "dark world" was nothing special.
He didn't care for it.
If he wanted to, Rhett Vane could wipe out the entire underground world in one go.
Of course, the one person with the deepest ties to the underworld was Donquixote Doflamingo. Most of his business ran through those black-market pipelines.
During this time, Vane worked on ways to enhance his body. Relying on standard training was too slow. Besides, he didn't want to end up like Garp or Sengoku—overbuilt upper bodies with awkwardly undertrained legs. No doubt they were powerful, but Vane had a different aesthetic in mind.
He liked how he looked—sharp features, clear skin, naturally lean and defined. He didn't need to be a hulking mass of muscle.
He needed strength. Real strength.
That's when Vane discovered something useful. By channeling the power of the Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit), he could strengthen his body through controlled micro-vibrations—muscle by muscle, part by part. The subtle tremors compressed and hardened the muscles, enhancing both durability and raw power.
He believed a man's body should be strong and refined.
And once again, the Gura Gura no Mi proved its worth.
Time passed, and the next destination loomed ahead—Grand Tesoro, the Golden City.
The greatest entertainment capital in the world, unmatched in extravagance and luxury.
Like Sabaody, Grand Tesoro was a favored haven for the Celestial Dragons. A paradise of wealth and indulgence.
Its ruler, the Golden Emperor Gild Tesoro, wielded the power of the Goru Goru no Mi (Gold-Gold Fruit), a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allowed him to control and shape gold at will. His ability resembled a Logia—it was fluid, near-elemental, and awakened to a terrifying degree.
But Vane faced one issue—how to find it. Follow current novels on Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
Grand Tesoro was no island. It was a gargantuan ship over ten kilometers long, pulled by two titanic sea turtles, sailing freely across the New World.
Finding it was like spotting a single ripple in a stormy ocean.
Without a clue, Vane's ship, The King, sailed forward. After leaving Big Mom's territory, they wandered aimlessly.
During that time, three pirate crews had tried to rob them. They failed.
The pirate world wasn't a fantasy of adventure—it was brutal, bloody, and filled with death. People killed or were killed. Women were often the ones who suffered the most at the hands of savage crews.
Vane dispatched all three groups without hesitation. He personally threw them overboard, letting the sea take them. No mercy.
Before each died, he asked them if they knew where Grand Tesoro was. One pointed vaguely in a direction. Vane took the answer, then ended him.
With that lead, The Sovereign adjusted course.
They came across a lavish warship belonging to a Celestial Dragon, entering the New World from atop the Red Line. Apparently, the noble sought a vacation at Grand Tesoro.
Gild Tesoro regularly paid tribute to the Celestial Dragons—enough to keep them happy and well-entertained in his golden paradise.
There was only one Celestial Dragon aboard, accompanied by four CP0 agents.
Vane killed them all—The Celestial Dragon included. He no longer felt the need to hold back. Killing them wasn't just an act of rebellion—it was a necessary purge.
The Celestial Dragons were parasites. Their tribute system—the "Heavenly Gold"—had ruined countless families and driven even more into piracy.
Worst of all was their slavery.
Vane felt no remorse. Their deaths were justified.
Among their belongings, he found a highly ornate Den Den Mushi.
It was exclusive to Celestial Dragons—and it could directly contact Gild Tesoro.
With that, Vane had his way in.
Grand Tesoro was no longer out of reach.
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