Inside the G-10 Naval Base, Vice Admiral Garp and Rear Admiral Rocca were chatting in the reception room.
Meanwhile, Yoriichi Tsugikuni and Kuzan weren't with Garp. After so many days in the New World, although the officers hadn't voiced any complaints, the physical exhaustion they were carrying was unmistakable.
Garp had assigned Kuzan to oversee the replenishment of supplies and had generously granted the entire unit a day off. Once resupply duties were done, the soldiers were free to do as they pleased.
Training was also paused for the day. Yoriichi's body had been accumulating fatigue, and it was time for some proper rest—he wasn't a glutton for punishment, after all.
Seizing the rare opportunity, he decided to accompany Kuzan for a stroll through the streets of the Kingdom of Neil.
Though the area was known for its unruly mix of people, the sheer foot traffic made the local markets exceptionally lively.
"Whoa! It's really bustling here!"
"This is not quite the New World I imagined."
Walking shoulder-to-shoulder down the main street, Yoriichi couldn't help but comment as they took in the vibrancy of the kingdom.
He had expected nations in the New World to be rife with pirates and chaos—after all, judging by Luffy's journey, lawlessness seemed to define every stop. Across these seas, pirates had become the most dominant force. Yet, to his surprise, the Kingdom of Neil appeared to enjoy remarkably good order.
The towns were even thriving.
"Well, I don't know what kind of New World you imagined," Kuzan replied,
"But places as prosperous as the Kingdom of Neil? There are actually quite a few."
"Still... what lies beneath that prosperity? That's not something you can sum up in just a few words."
Kuzan knew the truth about the Kingdom of Neil. As a country that dabbled in both the light and the dark, Neil didn't sit well with his sense of justice. He had no fondness for a kingdom that walked both sides of the law.
"Well, whatever they're hiding, I say this king's not half bad," Yoriichi said casually.
"At the very least, he's kept things looking stable. In a world infested with pirates, that's already quite an achievement."
Yoriichi didn't know what secrets the kingdom harbored. From what he could see, the king was doing a fine job. To build a nation like this in a sea ruled by chaos? That alone deserved credit.
"Who knows…" Kuzan replied ambiguously, clearly not eager to delve deeper into the topic. Just then, he spotted a street stall selling grilled pastries and turned to Yoriichi with a grin.
"Hey, those grilled cakes over there are pretty good. The filling's made with a local fruit specialty. Want to give one a try?"
"Fruit filling?"
"Sure, let's!"
"Oh, but I'm broke—you're paying."
Yoriichi's interest was piqued. He never turned down unique local food, even if the taste was a little strange. He welcomed the chance to try something new.
While Yoriichi and Kuzan were soaking in the local flavor and culture of the Kingdom of Neil...
Inside the royal palace at the center of the island, King Nicola McCartney was hosting a grand feast to welcome a group of very special guests.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Everyone, please make yourselves at home!"
"Captain Nuke, welcome to the Kingdom of Neil. Come, this toast is for you!"
The banquet table was draped in luxurious silk, with rows of silverware glinting softly under the chandelier light. Slender, graceful maidens went around pouring fine wine for the guests.
Wearing an ornate ceremonial robe, King Nicola McCartney raised his goblet and stood, calling out warmly to the guests below.
Nuke—captain of the Nuke Pirates—was a rugged, broad-shouldered man with a fierce face and a bounty of 200 million berries.
Although he had only recently entered the New World, he had already made a name for himself. He had crushed two rival pirate crews with bounties of 150 and 110 million berries, respectively, quickly earning a notorious reputation in the underworld.
Even before reaching the New World, Nuke had been on the Navy's radar, repeatedly ambushing World Government merchant vessels across the North Blue.
"Rihahahaha!"
"Our dear King Nicola McCartney really knows how to throw a welcome party!"
"With this kind of reception, you're gonna make me blush."
"But let's hold off on the wine for a second. To tell you the truth, I didn't come uninvited just to freeload—there's actually something I'd like to ask of His Majesty."
With a grin, Nuke raised his goblet, casting a sidelong glance at the maid beside him. He licked his lips before speaking, his tone slick and seemingly good-natured.
King Nicola caught the look in Nuke's eye. Seeing him posture like that while being offered a toast sparked a flicker of unease in the king's heart. Still, he responded with a dazzling smile and asked pleasantly:
"And what might that be, Captain Nuke? If there's anything I can help with, I'd be happy to oblige."
"Even if it's something tricky, I have a few friends—some from the Whitebeard Pirates. If I asked nicely, I'm sure they'd lend a hand."
"And if that doesn't work, well, I do have ties with a few Marine Headquarters officers. With a little greasing of the wheels, I'm sure we could work something out."
"So tell me, Captain Nuke—what is it you need my help with?"
At those words, Nuke didn't answer. Instead, he let out a lewd chuckle and suddenly yanked a maid beside him into his arms. Ignoring her screams and desperate struggles, he roughly grabbed at her collar, his intentions all too clear.
Just as he was about to take things further, a thunderous shout rang out from the high platform above:
"Stop!"
"Captain Nuke, I've extended my hospitality to you—what exactly are you trying to do here?"
Nuke froze mid-motion. Slowly raising his head, he stared coldly at Nicola McCartney, a smirk crawling up the corner of his lips.
"Your Highness," he said, voice low and lazy, "I've fought my way from the North Blue all the way into the New World. Frankly, I've grown tired of life at sea."
"My crew's sick of it too."
"What we want… is to settle down somewhere. Find a place to call home."
"And this Kingdom of Neil? Looks pretty good to me. Prosperous, lively. But more importantly…" He glanced down at the terrified maid in his arms. "The women here are top-notch. I'm impressed! Hahahaha!"
"My demands are simple, really. I hope Your Highness won't disappoint me."
As he spoke, he leered at the woman in his grasp, letting out a crude laugh. Around the grand hall, dozens of Nuke's pirates stood up from their seats one by one, drawing their blades and turning their eyes toward Nicola McCartney.
They weren't here for pleasantries.
Nicola McCartney had never been slow to catch on. From the moment the Nuke Pirates barged into the royal palace uninvited, he'd known they were trouble. He had hoped that invoking Whitebeard's name and the Navy's would give them pause—but clearly, it hadn't worked.
The Nuke Pirates had only recently entered the New World, yet they had already repelled multiple naval pursuit forces. Emboldened by these victories, their arrogance grew unchecked. The vast seas had done nothing but feed their ambition.
Now, they no longer feared the Navy.
As for the Whitebeard Pirates?
"Sorry, never heard of 'em."
Despite the fury roiling inside him, Nicola McCartney—long adept at navigating the murky waters between law and lawlessness—kept his composure. With a wide, affable smile, he replied:
"Oh? That's all you're asking for?"
"Easy enough."
"In my personal capacity, I'll gift you and your men a private estate—somewhere you can settle comfortably here in the Kingdom of Neil."
"Now then, since I've agreed to Captain Nuke's request, perhaps everyone can put their weapons away?"
"Come now, let's drink! Cheers! Hahaha!"
But Nuke only smiled wider, shaking his head.
"No need, Your Highness."
"I'm not interested in some estate."
"I think your royal palace will do just fine. I like it here."
"So go ahead—gift us the palace instead, won't you, Your Highness?"
Even as he spoke, a strange sludge began to bubble up at his feet. The mud spread rapidly outward, seeping across the floor of the grand hall until it covered the entire chamber.
The elevated platform where Nicola McCartney stood was no exception—the muck slithered up the steps, and by the time he realized what was happening, it had already reached his feet.
A Devil Fruit power!
Nicola's eyes finally betrayed a flicker of panic. He immediately shouted:
"Captain Nuke! I accept your terms!"
"I'll vacate the palace at once and leave with my family!"
But the mud beneath him surged upward, enveloping his legs, waist, and chest—until it formed a thick pillar of sludge with Nicola trapped inside. He thrashed wildly, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free.
Within seconds, his movements slowed… then stopped altogether.
The pillar collapsed with a sickening squelch, and Nicola McCartney's corpse slammed down onto the table with a heavy thud. The elegant tablecloth beneath him was soaked with foul-smelling mud.
Captain Nuke gazed calmly at the scene before him, his grin stretching wider and wilder by the second.
"Eeeehahahaha!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"If you'd actually left, I'd have been terribly disappointed!"
"I hear your wife and daughter… are both quite the beauties."
*********
Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 250 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!
For advance chapters, please do visit and consider joining me on Patreon, it really helps me out and I'd love to have you along for the journey!
p(a)treon.com/Lnee
*remove () to open it