Sin Island was known as the paradise of criminals in the West Blue.
There were no rules here. Crime was the norm, and no one came to enforce the law. What existed instead was endless violence, betrayal, and bloodshed.
In short, this was a place that openly sheltered evil.
Sin Island gathered criminals from across the West Blue, and even from other seas. Many were wanted fugitives, hunted by kingdoms and authorities, yet none of those powers dared to step foot here. The reason was simple. Sin Island had deep connections behind it, and the combined strength of the criminals who lived here was enough to deter any kingdom from attempting an arrest operation.
More importantly, Sin Island constantly supplied fresh blood to the West Blue underworld. Many infamous criminals had started their rise here. Underworld bosses frequently came to recruit on the island, because anyone who survived in this environment usually had a special skill or ruthless temperament suited for underground competition.
And today, Sin Island was hosting an extraordinary event.
The Dark Council was convening.
Traditionally, the Dark Council existed entirely in the shadows. Only the true giants of the underworld knew of it, let alone attended it. Invitations were issued selectively, and if the Council did not deem a force worthy, that force would never even learn of its existence.
But this time was different.
Although it still belonged to the underworld, the Dark Council was stepping into the open.
Over the past month, the West Blue underworld had been thrown into chaos. Leaders of multiple major forces had either vanished or been assassinated. Some organizations were swallowed whole, others barely survived through hastily installed successors. The aftershocks of that purge had yet to settle.
Along with the bloodshed came rumors.
Information about the Dark Council began spreading rapidly through underground channels. Many forces learned that this would not be an ordinary gathering. It was the first council held after the great reshuffle, and its outcome might decide the future structure of the entire West Blue underworld.
The number of invitations alone far exceeded expectations.
Although some forces chose not to attend and instead observed from the shadows, all of them were watching closely. Everyone understood one thing. This Dark Council was not symbolic. It was meant to be formally established.
And behind it stood the giants of the West Blue underworld.
The one leading them was a mysterious figure known only by the codename "Hades," the man responsible for igniting the recent massacre that swept through the underground world.
That alone forced attention.
Three underworld giants had already died. Their territories were either divided up or inherited in weakened form. If even figures at that level could be erased, smaller forces stood no chance of resisting.
At the same time, the creation of the Dark Council stirred unease and anticipation alike. Many realized that this was, in essence, a shadow government for the West Blue underworld. Most opposition had already been eliminated.
Whether a force would join depended on the outcome of this meeting and the benefits on offer. The giants had already chosen their side, and that choice carried weight. To the smaller powers, it was a clear signal of the coming storm.
Deep beneath the center of Sin Island lay a massive underground hall.
It had been newly expanded, with additional seating installed to accommodate the unprecedented number of attendees. A concealed entrance led inside, guarded discreetly. As long as one presented a valid invitation, they would be guided down without issue.
The meeting was scheduled for 8 p.m.
By that time, nearly everyone who had received an invitation had arrived.
Invitations themselves could be traded, since each represented a force and allowed three attendees. No one could say how many strange or dangerous figures had entered under borrowed identities.
The hall was dimly lit, elegant rather than oppressive. The layout had clearly been planned with care. From their seats, attendees could see one another clearly.
Familiar faces stood out immediately. Even those who had never met in person had heard of each other's names. Important figures from all corners of the West Blue underworld were present.
Some chose to conceal themselves beneath black robes, unwilling to expose their identities.
The seating arrangement was deliberate.
The hall was divided into three sections arranged in a triangular pattern. The number of seats in each section differed, clearly reflecting the strength of the forces assigned there. Fewer seats meant greater power. This had been explained in the invitations, and once the underworld giants took their places, the rest followed suit.
Though a few were dissatisfied with where they were seated, none dared voice it. The forces around them were of comparable strength, and provoking trouble here would be foolish.
More than half of the invited forces were already present, even before the meeting officially began. That alone demonstrated the influence of the West Blue's underworld giants, some of whom operated entirely behind the scenes.
Laffitte's diplomacy had played a crucial role, as had the shared concern over the future direction of the underworld.
In truth, Teach had underestimated the weight these giants carried.
To many smaller forces, their decision was a weathervane. And at the center of it all stood the mysterious "Hades," the one pushing for the Dark Council's creation.
Whether the giants joined willingly or under pressure no longer mattered. Together, they represented nearly half of the West Blue underworld, not counting the countless lesser forces under their influence.
Suddenly, a heavy thump echoed through the hall.
The lights brightened.
The previously dark stage at the front lit up, revealing a figure standing calmly at its center.
It was Stephanie.
Given her abilities, the role suited her perfectly.
She held a microphone and wore a striking red off-shoulder dress. Her long blue hair fell down her back, topped with a small hat. Instantly, numerous gazes locked onto her.
Stephanie remained unfazed.
"First of all, welcome," she said smoothly. "Everyone here should already understand why this meeting is being held, so I'll skip the formalities and get straight to the matter of the Dark Council's establishment."
Some were surprised by how quickly she moved to the main topic, but when they glanced at the giants' section and saw no reaction, they understood this was expected.
"This Dark Council exists to stabilize and develop the West Blue underworld," Stephanie continued. "Its purpose is to integrate our forces and prevent interference from external powers."
"For member forces, internal disputes will generally not be interfered with. Competition, growth, and renewal are part of the underworld's nature."
Several leaders nodded.
"However," she added, "if a conflict escalates to the point that it causes widespread chaos or threatens the overall stability of the West Blue underworld, the Dark Council will intervene and impose sanctions if necessary."
Such situations were rare, usually involving clashes between giants or large alliances. If allowed to spiral out of control, everyone would suffer.
Seeing no objections, Stephanie moved on.
She explained the structure of the Dark Council in detail. The Dark Executive Council. The Dark Senate. The Dark Bank. The Dark Court. The Dark Arbitration Court. The Dark Audit Office.
Each department's authority was significant. At the center stood the Speaker of the Dark Council, the public voice of the underworld. Even that role was subject to checks, as complaints and oversight were handled through the Dark Court.
Officials could be selected from member forces or recruited externally, but strict neutrality was mandatory. Any abuse of power would be punished.
The longer she spoke, the more interest spread through the hall.
Intelligence sharing alone was invaluable. Access to funding through the Dark Bank, with interest rates far below those of loan sharks, was even more tempting. For some, joining the Council itself offered a new path forward.
The Dark Parliament drew particular attention.
Its voting system gave smaller forces a voice and prevented the Dark Council from becoming the private tool of a few giants. The structure clearly mirrored the World Government, with the Dark Board resembling the Five Elders, the Dark Parliament echoing the World Conference, and the Speaker acting as a bridge between them.
This was no impulsive plan.
It was a blueprint for ruling the West Blue underworld.
Just as excitement began to rise, a voice cut through the hall.
"So in the end, the Dark Council intends to control the entire West Blue underworld," the man said. "That means our identities and intelligence will be under your control."
All eyes turned toward a corner of the hall.
A man in a black robe stood there.
"That's correct," Stephanie replied calmly. "Though only part of the intelligence is required. Internal information will remain confidential."
She smiled faintly. "As for your identity, you are the leader of Ghostfire."
The hall erupted.
Ghostfire was the most infamous assassin organization in the West Blue. Rumor said none of their targets had ever survived.
The man's fury was unmistakable. Those around him quickly moved away.
"In that case," he said coldly, "there's no need for this Council to exist. I'll kill everyone here and reshuffle the underworld myself."
As he spoke, more than twenty figures rose throughout the hall, all bearing the Ghostfire mark on the backs of their hands.
Tension spiked instantly.
Before anyone could react, the Ghostfire leader lunged toward the stage.
Stephanie did not move.
Darkness swallowed the hall.
In seconds, faint sounds echoed. Then the darkness vanished.
Every Ghostfire member lay dead, pierced cleanly through. Their leader's body lay at the foot of the stage, a blade through his chest.
A shadowed figure stood over him, one hand resting on his head before slowly withdrawing.
"Hades."
Fear spread through the hall like poison.
"Continue," Hades said calmly.
He flickered away, reappearing among the giants and taking a seat as if nothing had happened.
The air remained heavy.
Stephanie resumed the presentation.
No one interrupted again.
Hours passed. Questions were asked. Answers were given. The Dark Council's framework became clear.
At the end, Stephanie smiled.
"Is anyone willing to join the Dark Council?"
A moment of silence followed.
Then one leader raised his hand. "I'll join."
After that, it was inevitable.
One by one, the factions agreed. Some out of conviction. Some out of fear. None dared refuse with Hades present.
When it was done, Hades stood.
"I am Hades," he said. "And I will serve as the first Speaker of the Dark Council. Does anyone object?"
No one spoke.
"In three months, the first Dark Conference will be held at the Council's headquarters on Kagres Island," he continued. "Before that, we will conduct a joint operation."
Murmurs spread.
"I have obtained Ghostfire's remaining base locations," Hades said coldly. "Their main base is on Snail Island. As punishment, Ghostfire will be completely exterminated."
Silence.
The meeting ended.
As the leaders departed Sin Island, they understood one thing clearly.
The West Blue had changed.
The era of the Dark Council had begun.