The world was once again in turmoil. This time, it was because of the reappearance of a legendary pirate — the Golden Lion. One of the three titans of the old era, many claimed that if not for a stroke of bad luck during the Battle of God Valley, the Golden Lion might have defeated Gol D. Roger and his crew. At that time, Roger and his men were hanging by a thread, yet they managed to turn the tide and claim victory, leaving the Golden Lion's forces decimated.
Fate had a cruel sense of humor. But regardless of the past, the Golden Lion remained a legendary figure, a pirate whose name struck fear into countless hearts. Even though he vanished for twenty years, his return to the seas guaranteed one thing — chaos.
And now, with the Golden Lion's support, Rhett Vane was officially hailed as the Fifth Emperor of the Sea in this Great Pirate Era, a title that carried the weight of countless legends. A pirate emperor at just fifteen. The thought alone made seasoned sailors shiver. In the turbulent waters of the New World, his reign had only just begun.
Perhaps, one day, he might claim the title of Pirate King.
But Rhett Vane didn't care about that.
Unbeknownst to him, the latest news hadn't reached his ship. The seagulls carrying the world's newspapers hadn't crossed his path yet, so Vane remained unaware of the recent incident involving Big Mom and the new bounty placed on his head.
Another two days passed. By evening, Vane stood at the bow of his ship, gazing ahead. A kilometer away, a colossal vessel glittered in the dimming light — its golden sheen unmistakable even from this distance.
It was the Golden City: Gran Tesoro. A mobile entertainment city like no other, stretching ten kilometers in length. The sheer scale of it numbed the mind. Pulled by two enormous sea turtles, Gran Tesoro was a floating metropolis, a haven for pirates, nobles, marines, and merchants alike.
"Is that the Golden City?" Esdeath asked, standing beside Vane as she stared at the massive ship that dominated the horizon, stretching from one end of the sky to the other.
"Yeah," Kalifa replied calmly.
Vane said nothing, his eyes narrowed.
Gran Tesoro was home to an unfathomable amount of wealth. Its ruler, Gild Tesoro — a man who controlled gold itself — held sway over the economic lifeline of the world. Gold was a universal currency, and Tesoro's influence reached even the Celestial Dragons, who protected his city in exchange for lavish tribute.
The World Government turned a blind eye to Tesoro's actions. With the Celestial Dragons' blessing, Gran Tesoro roamed the seas freely. In territories not ruled by the Yonko, no one dared challenge Tesoro.
As Vane's ship approached the harbor, the scene exploded in color and light. Ships of every kind were moored at the port — pirate vessels, navy ships, and the private yachts of nobles and merchants alike.
Gran Tesoro wasn't just a casino; it was an all-encompassing entertainment empire. Whatever you desired, it was here, including some darker indulgences better left unspoken. It was like an upgraded, lawless version of the Sabaody Archipelago.
As Vane and his crew entered the harbor, a cascade of glittering gold dust rained down from above, sparkling in the evening air.
"These gold particles are beautiful!" Kalifa reached out to catch some, but Vane grabbed her wrist.
"Don't touch it."
A thin layer of ice spread overhead like a shimmering umbrella, shielding them from the golden powder.
"Why?" Esdeath asked, puzzled.
"Because on this ship, Tesoro's god. That gold dust? It's how he controls everything. Once you have it on you, he can transmute you into solid gold," Vane explained.
"A Devil Fruit ability?" Esdeath's eyes narrowed.
"The Gold-Gold Fruit," Vane confirmed. "Just stick close to me. It won't affect me, and Tesoro won't risk picking a fight."
Vane didn't fear Tesoro. Though powerful and known as a monster in his own right, Tesoro was a mere underling when compared to the truly terrifying figures of the New World.
As they walked into the harbor, the onlookers erupted.
"Is that him? The Flame Sword Vane!"
"Yeah, it's really him… and those beauties with him…"
The gathered pirates — rough, battle-hardened men who had weathered years at sea — jeered and muttered. Vane's youth made them careless. There were hundreds of them, and none felt much fear.
And then they saw Esdeath and Kalifa.
"Well, well, what have we here?"
"Tesoro won't care if we rough 'em up!"
"Fifth Emperor? Who cares about that? I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
"Kill 'em!"
Challenges like these weren't uncommon. Even Whitebeard himself faced fools eager to test their strength. It was the nature of pirates.
"Tesoro Sama, should we intervene?" a woman with crimson waves of hair asked backstage. It was Baccarat, Tesoro's trusted aide.
Holding a microphone in one hand, Tesoro, dressed in a crisp white suit and golden shoes, grinned. His sunglasses caught the light.
"No need."
Each step he took on his golden stage rang out with rhythmic clicks. He hadn't planned to perform that night, but the news of Vane's arrival intrigued him.
"Let's see what the youngest Emperor is made of," Tesoro mused.
Before Vane could lift a finger, Esdeath stepped forward, summoning countless ice bullets and firing them with chilling precision. Screams tore through the crowd as the attacking pirates were mercilessly cut down.
"All men are scum! Just looking at them makes me sick," Esdeath sneered.
"Let's wipe out every disgusting man in this world," she spat.
"That's right!" Kalifa agreed.
"Well, except for you, of course, darling," Esdeath added with a smirk, giving Vane a sidelong glance.
Kalifa laughed. "Obviously. Vane-sama's the best man alive."
Vane sighed. "Enough chatter. Move."
The women fell in line, their little squabbles a familiar backdrop to Vane's daily life.
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