If the Konoha Council and Kozuki Family are the most classic examples in the anime world of leaders who played a great hand terribly-
then Sakazuki and Gin are the leaders with the most miserable fates.
When it comes to major events, they're the ones carrying the team, risking their lives.
But their teammates are either useless or traitors.
However, it feels like Sakazuki has it worse.
Because no matter how tough Gin has it, he at least has Vodka, who is wholly devoted to him.
Well, provided Vodka isn't a mole himself.
But what about Sakazuki?
Not only are there no useful teammates around him, there isn't even one who's obedient.
Even a guy like Rob Lucci can shit on his head.
"It's not easy, Sakazuki-san."
Thinking this, Jin's tone couldn't help but carry a hint of sympathy.
...
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki looked puzzled.
'What the hell is this?'
'Is this kid actually sympathizing with me?
After a brief moment of silent thought, Sakazuki replied calmly:
"The Marines can't come up with that much money immediately. I'll apply for funds from the World Government. You can just wait on Sabaody for now."
Sakazuki recalled Rayleigh's bounty.
'Wasn't it over 4 billion Berry?'
'Heh, the government is going to bleed a little.'
To be honest, spending over 4 billion on an old-timer who's already retired is a bit of a loss.
But Sakazuki would be happy to see those old parasites lose some blood.
"Straightforward! I like leaders who don't waste words."
Jin laughed.
It had to be said, if the leader of Konoha were Sakazuki, Jin felt he might not even bother with a rebellion.
…
Somewhere in the New World, on the ship of the World Economy News Paper.
"Purupuru purupuru purupuru~"
The Den Den Mushi in the president's office suddenly rang.
Morgans, who is over three meters tall, picked up the receiver.
"Hello~ This is [Big News] Morgans~"
The person on the other end spoke for less than thirty seconds.
The expression on Morgans' feathered face instantly shifted from calm to shock, then to excitement, and finally to ecstasy.
"Big news! This is truly big news!"
"Don't worry, I'll report it faithfully!"
"This is so exciting. I doubt Red-Hair, one of the Four Emperors, will just sit back and do nothing, right?"
Morgans chattered on for a while before hanging up. He took several deep breaths to barely calm down.
The next second, Morgans violently pushed open his office door and shouted at the office workers:
"Listen up, everyone! Overtime tonight! This will be the biggest news since the Summit War!"
…
A beach on an island in the New World.
A ship of not overly large size was docked there.
But the emblem on its flag was enough to make ninety-nine percent of the forces on this sea tremble with fear.
The Red Hair Pirates!
On the Red Force, Rockstar, a member of the Red Hair Pirates, who was still drunk from yesterday's party, walked to the ship's railing to relieve himself.
Splash splash splash~
As he pulled up his pants, a large number of newspapers fell like scattered blossoms, covering the deck of the Red Force completely.
"F-free?"
Seeing this, Rockstar sobered up considerably.
Because any experienced pirate knew that only when a world-changing major event occurred would newspapers be distributed freely to every island like this.
Rockstar picked up a newspaper.
The first thing he saw was a boy who looked no older than fifteen, with handsome features but an exceptionally arrogant expression.
The second photo next to it showed an old man, with his head bowed, severely injured.
Still a bit drunk, Rockstar rubbed his eyes, 'The old man looked familiar.'
When he got a clear look...
Rockstar was jolted completely awake. Large drops of cold sweat fell on the newspaper as he said in a hoarse voice:
"R-Ray... Rayleigh-san..."
"Captain! Captain!! Something terrible has happened!!!"
Five minutes later, a violent Conqueror's Haki caused the entire island to shake violently.
It was enough to show how furious the owner of this Haki was.
...
Calm Belt, Amazon Lily, the Island of Women.
"Nee-san, Rayleigh-san, he...!"
Marigold, the youngest of the Gorgon Sisters, handed the newspaper to the world's most beautiful woman with a shocked expression.
The Queen of the Island of Women, one of the Warlords of the Sea, Boa Hancock.
"That old man was actually... and by such an unknown brat..."
Hancock's peerlessly beautiful face rarely showed shock.
"Nee-san, should we do something?"
Sandersonia, the second of the three sisters, requested.
When the three sisters escaped from Mary Geoise, Rayleigh had helped them.
He had done them a great favor.
Hancock bit her right thumb with her teeth, lost in thought.
…
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 60.
Marine's territory.
A Marine battleship with a dog head biting a bone as its figurehead slowly docked.
Any Marine could recognize it at a glance.
It was the exclusive ship of the [Hero of the Marines], Monkey D. Garp.
And currently, what filled Garp's ship wasn't cannonballs, but stacks of cash piled up like a small mountain!
Garp, standing on the dog's head, didn't look pleased.
Because he saw it.
Docked at the pier, the pirate ship that should have belonged to his grandson-
The Thousand Sunny.
And on the deck of the Thousand Sunny lay a boy a few years younger than Koby, and three little girls whose combined age probably didn't exceed 20.
The blue-haired one had his head on her lap, massaging his shoulders.
The black-curly-haired one was pressing his legs.
The brown-straight-haired one was beside him peeling grapes, feeding them to him one by one.
He's living a happy and carefree life.
"Damn, that's corrupt!"
Helmeppo muttered under his breath.
But inside, he was envious.
Even when he was a military second-generation in the East Blue, he never enjoyed such treatment.
"Garp-san, is it really that boy who defeated the [Dark King] Rayleigh?"
Koby, standing on Garp's other side, looked incredulous.
He couldn't believe it.
That boy who looked even younger than him could actually defeat a legendary pirate.
"Huh?"
At that moment, Koby noticed the boy waving at him.
On the Thousand Sunny, lying on Konan's lap, Jin grinned strangely at Koby:
'Deserter King, when it comes to cheating, I, Jin, acknowledge you as the strongest.'