In the New World, high up in the sky in the Calamity City.
The monsters of the Pirate Alliance were pointing and gesturing over a giant world map.
They were dividing territory.
Now that the entire world nominally belonged to Roa, it was finally time to carve up the spoils.
The world had six seas in total. If the territory was only to be divided among the Flying Pirates, the Beast Pirates, and the Charlotte Family, it would be too easy—one sea each, with leftovers.
But the problem was that Roa's subordinates also wanted to join this grand feast.
Teach and Loki were the loudest in their demands. Doflamingo and Bege, though feeling they weren't qualified to sit equally with these monsters, made no secret of their own desire for a territory.
Furthermore, Charlotte Linlin refused to share a territory with Katakuri.
She was planning to create a New Charlotte Family.
Thanks to Pure Gold, she largely maintained the physical state of a woman in her forties, and having another batch of children was no problem at all. After all, in the original story, Charlotte Linlin's youngest child was born when she was sixty!
And there was another crucial issue: while the world was naturally divided into six seas by the Red Line and the Calm Belts, making division seem easy, the Grand Line's first and second halves were far too narrow compared to the Four Seas.
Although everyone had previously been active in the Grand Line, and the world called the Grand Line the greatest sea, when it came time to divide territories, they were only left with disdain for the Paradise and the New World.
They squabbled fiercely over the world map like old men and women haggling in a marketplace.
Roa, however, didn't pay much attention to this. He sat leisurely on his throne, his right arm around Hancock and his left around Robin, whispering sweet nothings to the two beauties.
"But, Roa,"
Robin whispered softly into Roa's ear with a touch of worry, "While I find it hard to imagine them ever betraying you, is it really okay to carve up the entire world like this?"
"Honestly,"
Roa chuckled, raising his hand to pinch Robin's distinctly defined nose bridge, "Are you trying to sow discord, Robin?"
"I'm just curious."
Robin lifted her hand and casually pushed Roa's hand away.
This was not a simple gesture. Among all the women around Roa, at least, no one besides Robin and Hancock dared to refuse any of Roa's casual actions.
"Well, I've told you, I'm not interested in ruling,"
Roa said casually, "If Imu hadn't done such a poor job, I wouldn't have even bothered to compete with him for this world."
"He did a poor job?"
Hancock scoffed, "Is it perhaps because there were still countries that lived happily under the World Government's rule?"
"Exactly!"
Roa looked indignant. "Imu's failure is that he wasn't just a bad person, he couldn't even be a good villain."
"Who's worse than you?"
Hancock poked Roa's face with her finger.
Subtly, both sides seemed to have grown accustomed to various intimate interactions.
It was no longer just the simple physical intimacy of the past but a further step—a communion of hearts.
"I'm just a gourmet who craves delicious food, you know."
Roa felt he was being slandered and said with a sigh, "My dream since childhood has been to turn this world into a gourmet world."
He vaguely recalled that his captain had burst into laughter when he heard this dream back then.
"You're certainly gluttonous."
Hancock rolled her beautiful eyes.
"I can't help it,"
Roa sighed. "People often assume that as their status, power, and wealth increase, they'll live a more comfortable life than before."
"But in reality, at least in this world, everything people can enjoy is limited."
"Once power, strength, and wealth reach a certain level, no matter how much they increase afterwards, the quality of enjoyment won't get any higher."
"It's like,"
Roa pinched Hancock's chin, "I already possess the most beautiful woman in the world. After this, no matter how much stronger I become, there won't be a more beautiful woman."
"Of course, I am the most beautiful!"
Hancock's cheeks were slightly flushed, but her spirits were high.
"Yes, so incredibly heart-stirring."
Roa couldn't resist lightly kissing the woman's red lips.
He had to admit, he was quite addicted to it.
"I see,"
Robin nodded, seemingly realizing something. "The pleasures brought by power and wealth are limited, and mean nothing to you, so you don't care. But, your evolution is infinite."
"That's right."
Roa smiled lightly. "That's why I say this world is too small. No matter how much I squeeze it, this world probably can't support my next evolution."
"So sooner or later, we must go into space, to explore a broader world."
"Space?"
Robin trembled slightly, then joyfully held Roa's arm. "If you leave this world, will the people living on this planet finally be able to usher in the dawn?"
"Wow, seriously, are you completely done hiding your intentions now?"
Roa said, amused.
Robin, however, simply looked into the young man's eyes and said earnestly, "If we chose to hide ourselves, it wouldn't be truly loving you wholeheartedly, would it?"
Roa just smiled and pulled the woman into his embrace, rubbing his chin against her forehead.
He knew this woman wanted to save the world, to stop him from bringing further disaster to the people.
But knowing it was one thing.
Having two such great beauties expose their hearts to him without reservation, trying their best to guess his preferences, and enveloping him with the most fervent love—
Roa was human, too. Although he was a bit mischievous, it was hard not to be attracted to them.
After all, humans are beings who judge by appearance, and Robin and Hancock were truly too beautiful.
Robin quietly rested her face against Roa's chest, listening to the surging sound of his heart.
She understood Roa more and more.
Honestly, Roa in his daily life wasn't a particularly cruel person.
At least, he got along well with his uncles, aunts, and older brothers, laughing and playing, sometimes even showing a youthful temperament.
His terror primarily stemmed from two reasons.
First, indifference.
The vast majority of people in this world didn't even count as people in his eyes. He didn't care how many died.
Second, evolution.
Evolution—that was probably the most obsessive thing for Roa in this world. Anyone who stood in that path would be removed without hesitation.
Because of his indifference, and because human suffering was the fuel for his evolution, Roa exposed his malice to the world without reservation.
Perhaps because she kept telling herself that she must love Roa wholeheartedly, when Robin realized this, she even felt a little sorry for him.
Isn't Roa completely being driven by his ability?
Thankfully, besides evolution, his biggest and ultimate goal, Roa wasn't without other hobbies. At least, he was very lustful.
Roa just glanced down and knew what Robin was feeling melancholic about.
He just wanted to laugh about it.
Robin, I think you completely don't understand.
For us male protagonists, the main plot is leveling up and collecting girls!!
While the monsters in Calamity City were fiercely arguing over dividing the world, the half of the world that had just been conquered was finally beginning to face hardship.
East Blue, Goa Kingdom.
Near the port that had been completely destroyed during the Sea King rampage, a temporary dock saw a fleet of ships hoisting their sails and heading out to sea.
It was a large-scale fleet, and more importantly, every ship was a warship.
However, the masts of these warships were now flying pirate flags!
While it was mandatory for all ships on the other side of the Red Line to fly pirate flags, this rule had clearly not yet reached the East Blue.
So, why were these warships flying pirate flags?
The reason was simple.
"This country is finished!!"
On the deck of the largest, best-equipped, and most extravagantly decorated ship in the center of the fleet, a man dressed in opulent clothes, with thick lips and a brown mushroom haircut, was speaking passionately.
"Lord Roa's heavy taxes will completely crush this country! Just like the countries in the West and North Blues!"
"If we stay in the Goa Kingdom, we only face death!"
"So we must go to sea! Becoming pirates is our only way out! In the sea on the other side of the Red Line, pirates are the only people who are unrestrained!"
The deck of the large ship was crowded with a group of well-dressed nobles.
The man everyone was gathered around, wearing a crown and with white hair and beard, was the King of this country. He stroked his beard, looking at the mushroom-headed man with satisfaction.
He tilted his head and said to a noble beside him, "Outlook, you've raised a very good boy. If it weren't for him, we might still be on the island waiting to die."
"You are too kind, Your Majesty,"
Outlook quickly bowed respectfully. "Sterry only offered an immature suggestion. Without your wise leadership, everything would be for naught."
"Hahahaha."
The old King laughed heartily. "Though I never thought I would one day go out to sea to be a pirate!"
"As for Your Majesty,"
The mushroom-headed man named Sterry came closer, showing utmost respect, "Even as a pirate, you will surely be the King of Pirates!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The old King immediately beamed with joy at the flattery.
The atmosphere on the deck was joyous.
In short, to save themselves, the nobles of this country hurried out to sea with a vast amount of treasure.
They hadn't yet realized that pirates were only less restricted; no one ever said that becoming a pirate meant safety.
The Goa Kingdom's nobles weren't the only ones with this idea.
In Loguetown.
"Hahahaha! Hand over all your treasures!!"
A group of unruly scoundrels brandished their weapons, rampaging and looting a street in Loguetown.
"Jack! What are you doing!"
An old man, cruelly slashed down, screamed in terror. He looked at the leading man in disbelief. "You grew up in this neighborhood! Why are you doing this!"
"Because I'm setting sail, old man!"
Jack, who was already a small-time hoodlum, kicked the old man away without a care.
"Hahahaha! This is the age of pirates! Who wants to stay on this island waiting to die!"
"Once I form a powerful pirate crew, I'll join the Celestial Disaster Company! By then, the whole world will be mine to roam!"
Amidst the frenzied laughter, people screamed and scattered.
"Where are the Marines! Why aren't the Marines coming!"
"What Marines! They've either been all cut down by that giant or have become soldiers under the Celestial Disaster Company! No one will protect us anymore!!"
"Help!!"
Despair was spreading.
In fact, not just in the East Blue, but in the South Blue, in Paradise, and this half of the world near the Red Line, masses of people surged onto the sea, hoisted pirate flags, and became new pirates!
After all, everyone knew that Roa was relatively lenient towards pirates alone.
While many were forced by circumstance and simply wanted to save themselves, there were definitely plenty of frenzied ambitious people as well.
Then, after outwardly conquering this half of the world, the Celestial Disaster Company had also started to act again.
Cocoyasi Village.
The villagers were all gathered and lined up in a long queue.
"Squeak squeak squeak, one by one. Lord Roa's only requirement for you is to pay taxes,"
The laughter was exceptionally strange. A man wearing a long trench coat, a hooded cap, and three streaks of mustache on each cheek, looking like a rat, spoke with a grin.
"Whoever doesn't pay taxes will only face death!"
Behind him stood a group of Marines armed with live ammunition, their cold muzzles pointed at the intimidated citizens.
In the queue, Nami gritted her teeth.
The Marines were now accomplices of that man Roa!!
And this tax—
Paying it just once almost emptied their cupboards!
What about next time?
What would they do when they couldn't afford the tax next time?
Everyone knew that paying taxes was just a slow death.
But no one dared to resist.
Just this group of degenerate Marines was already something the villagers couldn't contend with.
Not to mention the Celestial Disaster Company behind these scum.
Everyone could only obediently hand over the money.
"Squeak squeak squeak."
Former Marine Branch Colonel, the rat-like man nicknamed Nezumi (Rat), cackled weirdly.
Although the tax base issued from above was already high, he had secretly added a little extra.
Being a pirate was more enjoyable than being a Marine!
"Hmm?"
Colonel Nezumi suddenly froze. He saw the two sisters in the crowd who truly stood out.
"Oh!!"
The wretched, rat-like man's eyes instantly lit up.
Heard that the great Lord Roa was very fond of beautiful girls!
Regardless, in this half of the world, the Celestial Disaster Company had also begun collecting taxes.
Everyone knew that this half of the world was also gradually heading toward collapse.
But no one could stop it.
Because it seemed like all hope had vanished from this world.
And at the same time.
Calamity City.
Judge suddenly received a communication.
"Lord Judge! We've been attacked! It's a group of pirates!"
A somewhat dull voice came through the specialized communicator.
"Attacked?"
Judge was genuinely stunned, instinctively looking at the communicator in his hand.
"Are you saying the base on the moon was attacked? Pirates in space?"
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