"Your ability isn't suited for moving the island!"
Hades smirked as he glanced at Douglas Bullet's impatient expression, offering him a reminder.
This mission had two key objectives: rescuing the oppressed people and relocating the island back to their territory. While Bullet was unparalleled in combat, after completing the rescue, he simply lacked the means to assist with the island's movement.
Hearing this, Bullet froze momentarily before turning his expectant gaze toward Caesar. It was obvious—he wanted an assignment that would allow him to set sail. However, at this moment, only Fujitora and Caesar possessed the necessary powers to move the island, and neither responded to Bullet's unspoken plea.
"Bullet, you'll be the strongest fighter protecting the island while we're gone. Stay here!"
"If we leave the island unguarded, it'll be an easy target for opportunists."
Bullet clenched his fists, but he understood the reasoning. "Fine, Captain."
As for internal affairs, Caesar turned to Wei Na. "In my absence, Wei Na will oversee the kingdom's governance. All political matters will be handled by him during this period."
No one objected to the decision. Wei Na was the most capable administrator among them, and he silently nodded in acknowledgment.
With that, the roles were set. Of course, not everyone would be gone for an extended time—the newly relocated island had to be integrated into the continental plate, a task requiring Caesar's gravitational and electromagnetic fields. Additionally, the new arrivals needed time to assimilate with the existing citizens.
Caesar's ambitions stretched beyond mere population growth. A nation's strength wasn't just in its numbers—it was in the unity and loyalty of its people. Simply relocating refugees wasn't enough; he needed to ensure they became part of a cohesive whole. A fractured country was doomed to collapse, but a united one could rise to greatness.
Lily, meanwhile, had her own assignment—moving an uninhabited island from the New World to the skies above the Middle Kingdom. Caesar recalled ancient ruins on that island; it could serve as an excellent research facility. But for now, that would have to wait until the relocation was complete.
A Kingdom Rejoices
With their tasks set, the Caesar Pirates dispersed. Those who were not required to stay behind left the Middle Kingdom in various directions, embarking on their missions.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, six months had passed.
Caesar's plans, however, were momentarily interrupted by unexpected news—his queen, Regina, was pregnant once again!
The announcement brought immense joy to the kingdom. After the birth of the First Prince, Second Prince, and Princess Alice, this was yet another blessing. The people of the Middle Kingdom were elated.
The Caesar family had become an unshakable pillar in the hearts of the citizens. They didn't just see Caesar as their ruler—they saw him as their guardian, their hope. His growing family symbolized stability and prosperity, and the people celebrated Regina's pregnancy with great enthusiasm.
Banners adorned the bustling streets, carrying messages of blessings for the queen. Some citizens even organized spontaneous celebrations, treating the occasion like an official holiday.
Yet, amidst the joy, two women were less than pleased—Lily and Wei Na.
Though their children—Carlos, Lucius, and Alice—had begun their education a year ago, they couldn't help but feel envious of Regina.
Now that Regina was expecting again, Lily and Wei Na made their dissatisfaction clear, their eyes filled with resentment whenever they looked at Caesar.
"Caesar, what do you think? Will Regina have a boy or a girl this time?"
"I hope it's a boy! Then she'll have both a son and a daughter."
Their voices carried an unusual tone—one that Caesar couldn't ignore.
He sighed, setting aside the kingdom's half-year summary report. "Honestly, boy or girl, it doesn't matter. Look at Carlos and Alice—they're both doing great. What's important is that the child is born healthy."
But Lily and Wei Na weren't convinced.
"That's true, but the new baby won't have siblings their age."
"Exactly! Isn't that a bit unfair?"
Caesar pondered for a moment before finally understanding their true intentions.
He sighed again. "So what you're saying is..."
Lily and Wei Na stared at him expectantly.
Of course, Caesar had no objections. Siblings close in age were good for a child's upbringing—just look at Carlos, Lucius, and Alice. Their strong bond was undeniable. And, from a strategic perspective, growing his family also meant strengthening the future of both the kingdom and the Caesar Pirates.
More than that, his children weren't ordinary. Their lineage carried extraordinary physical abilities and powerful psychic potential. Expanding his bloodline meant expanding strength.
A month later, both Lily and Wei Na were pregnant as well.
While overjoyed, Caesar also felt a sense of responsibility. Not financially—the king of a flourishing kingdom had no such concerns—but in terms of power.
The issue was Devil Fruits.
At present, he had several in his possession, but none matched the caliber of the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Fruit), the Pika Pika no Mi (Light Fruit), or the Mythical Zoan Angel Fruit. If his next generation was to be raised as true rulers, they needed top-tier abilities.
Where could he find such legendary Devil Fruits?
This became a pressing question—one that had to be solved before his children were born.
A Chance Encounter with a True Rival
With the kingdom stable and preparations set, Caesar resumed his work. Two months later, he successfully rescued hundreds of thousands of oppressed civilians and transported them to a newly claimed island, preparing for the next phase of expansion.
However, as he neared the Middle Kingdom, his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) suddenly alerted him to something unusual.
He sensed numerous powerful presences in the vicinity.
One of them was particularly striking—a presence that rivaled his own strength.
Caesar remained vigilant, keeping his Haki spread wide as he approached. Given the delicate situation, he had to ensure the safety of the refugees.
His instincts led him to a pirate ship sailing alone, roughly ten nautical miles away, heading toward the Middle Kingdom.
His eyes narrowed as he recognized several auras on board. These weren't just any pirates.
Meanwhile, aboard the ship, the lively crew drank and sang, unaware of the silent observer in the sky.
Suddenly, the lookout spotted something unusual. A black speck in the sky, growing larger by the second.
He squinted, adjusting his telescope. What he saw made his jaw drop.
"H-Hey! There's a flying island behind us!"
Gasps echoed across the deck as more crewmembers turned to look. The size of the island was staggering.
The lookout's mind raced. Only a handful of people in the world could achieve such a feat.
His face paled. "Could it be... the Golden Lion, Shiki?!"
At his words, the ship fell into silence. Then, powerful Haki signatures flared.
The captain's eyes gleamed. "No… it's not Shiki. It's him."
The first mate nodded grimly. "Looks like we've run into Caesar, moving another island."
For over six months, news had spread of the Caesar Pirates expanding their territory, relocating entire islands, and rescuing civilians. The World Government had yet to intervene, given that Caesar had carefully avoided their allied nations.
But this encounter was different.
The pirates exchanged glances.
This wasn't just a meeting—it was a collision of supreme forces.
And it was only a matter of time before chaos erupted.
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