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The Jolly Roger—crossed bones, bull horns, and cat eyes—flapped in the wind as the ship sailed towards Sabaody Archipelago, the final stop in Paradise.
This was Arthur's second ti approaching Sabaody, but he felt no excitent—only anticipation for Jessica's cooking.
——
On deck, a long table had been set.
"Mr. Arthur—!" A pirate scurried forward, placing plates of fragrant food before Arthur, then offered him a newspaper, hovering nervously nearby.
An hour ago, after Arthur knocked out Pizarro—the crew, having long resented their captain, had tossed him overboard. Arthur had rely glanced at the scene, then returned to his al, uninterested in intervening.
Brute force and intimidation weren't effective leadership strategies. He wouldn't tolerate open rebellion, but petty squabbles among the crew weren't his concern.
If he wanted loyal followers, he'd give them freedom—as long as they completed their assigned tasks, they could do as they pleased.
Everyone had dreams—aspirations. Arthur would support them—And those who betrayed his trust, despite that freedom? They would face the consequences.
Pizarro, being thrown overboard by his own crew—It was a fitting end for a tyrant, a fate he'd likely never imagined. Arthur had rely nudged him in the right direction.
And in these waters, so close to Marineford, patrolled by warships, Pizarro's chances of survival were slim.
"Bring all the Belly on board, then you're free to go," Arthur said, scanning the newspaper as he ate.
"Yes, sir!" The pirate scurried off, eager to comply.
Reading the newspaper was a daily ritual for Arthur, a way to stay inford about current events. He hadn't missed an issue since escaping Impel Down.
This issue contained several interesting stories.
"'Hundred Beasts' Kaido escapes Marine custody—again! Sinks prison ship, whereabouts unknown." Arthur considered the implications.
Kaido, it seed, was on a quest for worthy opponents, his legendary durability already evident. He could break free from any chains, shatter executioner's blades, snap spears—No one could kill him.
This was his second escape from a prison ship—He'd been captured before.
Of course, the Marines often exaggerated their victories, downplaying the pirates' strength. Kaido's capture was likely due to exhaustion after a clash with Whitebeard. Without multiple top-tier fighters, capturing him was impossible.
"Pirate infighting! Big Mom's crew suffers a devastating blow from 'Flying Pirate' Shiki! Whole Cake Island in ruins! Rebuilding efforts underway!"
This confird Shiki's strength hadn't diminished significantly. He had faced Big Mom's entire crew—and erged victorious.
Perhaps Big Mom hadn't reached her peak yet.
Or perhaps she was too preoccupied with her "family," her endless tea parties, and her insatiable appetite for sweets—weakening her. It didn't matter.
Arthur didn't look down on those with dreams—But he certainly didn't respect Big Mom's thods.
Of all the Powerhouses vying for control of the Grand Line, he held two in particular contempt—Big Mom being one of them.
She had two grand ambitions—creating a harmonious nation where all races coexisted peacefully on Whole Cake Island, and becoming Pirate Queen.
And how was she pursuing these dreams? By marrying, eating cake, having children, and forming political alliances through marriage.
Eating, breeding, politicking—She was no different from a farm animal.
She had imnse power, a massive, loyal following, absolute control over Totto Land—her influence second only to Shiki's Grand Fleet—before its destruction at Edd War.
Arthur despised wasted potential.
Shiki, if not for that freak storm and tsunami—would have conquered the New World, perhaps even challenged the World Governnt itself.
Arthur scoffed.
Big Mom, if not for her overwhelming strength, would be crushed by the coming storm, the chaos of the new era.
"Marine Headquarters announces its first major recruitnt drive! Admiral Zephyr to oversee training!"
The headline on the second page was bold, accompanied by images of Zephyr, Garp, and Sengoku.
"A show of force? Or an attempt to intimidate the pirates?" Arthur wondered, his brow furrowing slightly.
The Marines, ever vigilant, had sensed the shift in the winds—the coming storm of Roger's return.
These recent events—Kaido's escape, Shiki's attack on Big Mom, Roger's resurgence—they were all warning signs. A major recruitnt drive was their response, a desperate attempt to bolster their forces for the coming war.
"Pointless. They can't stop the tide. The Great Pirate Era is coming. Nothing can stop it." Arthur chuckled. This recruitnt drive wouldn't change anything—It would only delay the inevitable.
Those fools, chasing Roger's nonexistent treasure—how many of them had true dreams, a pirate's spirit? Most were just following the trend, seeking cheap thrills.
How many had the pure, unwavering ambition of Luffy—to beco King of the Pirates?
Luffy wasn't a true pirate—more of an adventurer. But his unwavering dedication to his dream, it earned respect, even from Arthur.
The rest? They were like garbage polluting a clear stream—a disgusting infestation.
"Once I've claid my territory in the New World, I'll give those 'pirates' a proper baptism." A cold smile touched Arthur's lips.
——
"Mr. Arthur, all the Belly on board—fifty million," the pirate reported, returning with a chest overflowing with cash.
"Good." Arthur nodded, setting aside the newspaper, picking up the chest, and walking to the bow, his gaze fixed on the distant Yarukiman Mangrove trees.
Sabaody Archipelago was in sight.
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