New World. On a winter island covered in white ice and snow, the sky was gray. The cold wind howled, and large white snowflakes drifted down.
On top of a towering snow mountain, a black skull flag was planted. On the left eye of the skull, there were three blood-red stripes, looking like scars.
At the peak of this snow mountain, there was a huge circular sinkhole. The members of the Red Hair Pirates were holding a banquet here, and the sound of cheerful musical instruments gradually drifted into the distance amidst the wind and snow.
"Marine Admiral Akainu, leading ten large warships, launched a Buster Call against the great Pirate Silver Axe, who killed the king of Broccoli Island.... After the Broccoli Kingdom lost its king, factional struggles intensified, and domestic riots and conflicts frequently occurred..."
Sitting on a chair beside a long dining table, Benn Beckman looked at the World Economic News in his hand. He couldn't help but exclaim:
"Recently, the world's situation is truly becoming more turbulent! Don't you think so? Captain..."
As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Red-Haired Shanks beside him. The latter rested his right elbow on the table, holding a small sake cup in his hand, and murmured in a low voice:
"Perhaps! I always feel that with just one catalyst, this era will completely descend into chaos..."
Just as Red-Haired Shanks was about to say something, he seemed to sense something. He slightly raised his head and looked towards the distant gray sky.
Immediately after, Benn Beckman, who was a beat slower, extinguished the cigarette in his hand in the ashtray. He narrowed his eyes and said, "It seems like an incredible guy has arrived...!"
Swish!
A black figure swooped down from the sky and soon appeared in the eyes of the Red Hair Pirates members.
"Yo! Isn't that Sephiroth? What brings you here!" Red-Haired Shanks said with a laugh.
"To bring you a music album, have a drink, and catch up... Don't tell me you don't welcome me?" Sephiroth asked back with a smile.
"Music album...?" A hint of confusion first flashed across Red-Haired Shanks's face. Then, he seemed to have thought of something, but was still a little uncertain, saying, "Are you saying..."
"That would, of course, be Uta's music album that I told you about before!" As he spoke, Sephiroth took out a video den den mushi, placed it on the long table, and pressed the play button.
"The new era is the future right before our eyes;
If everything in the world can be changed;
If it can be changed;
Obstacles and dislikes, all swept away..."
As the music played from the video den den mushi, the figure of a girl with half-red, half-white hair also appeared in the projected image. Red-Haired Shanks stared at the images with explosive special effects in the projection. He couldn't help but raise his right hand, patting Sephiroth's shoulder forcefully, and said with a loud laugh:
"Hahaha! Before, I just thought you were joking when you said Uta was releasing an album... I didn't expect that she actually released one now!"
"Actually, an album was completed a few years ago, but Uta wasn't quite satisfied. Therefore, she spent a few more years creating a new album."
"Hahaha-! So that's it... Come on, let's drink! Let's drink! You absolutely must not leave sober today!" Red-Haired Shanks said with a loud laugh as he pulled Sephiroth to sit on the chair next to him and placed a large bottle of strong liquor in front of him.
"Speaking of which, you're a Four Emperor now, after all! Why are you staying in a place like this... With your current status and position, finding a rich island to station on should be absolutely no problem, right?" Sephiroth complained somewhat speechlessly.
Upon hearing this, Red-Haired Shanks scratched his head and sighed slightly.
"Well! There's nothing bad about it here. After all, ever since I was given the title of Sea Emperor, among the Pirates, there are always young people who want to come and challenge me. To avoid causing trouble for others, I simply found a deserted island to use as a base..."
The two drank and chatted casually.
After a long while, seeing that Shanks was already getting drunk, and Sephiroth himself was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, he tentatively spoke: "Oh right, I want to discuss something with you."
"What is it?" Red-Haired Shanks asked as he picked up a newly opened bottle of strong liquor and, with a "Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!" sound, directly drank half the bottle in one go. This made one wonder if he was really drinking alcohol or just water...
"It's like this, our Umbrella Corporation's mineral prospectors found a large rare earth mine on an island under your command called Greml. The Company wants to obtain the qualification to mine those minerals, so we want to get your permission..."
Upon hearing this, Red-Haired Shanks put down the liquor bottle in his hand, his face showing confusion. "Ah! Mineral mining!? My territory doesn't seem to have anything valuable, how could there be that thing... rare earth mine? What kind of mine is that? I don't think I've heard of it..."
"Rare earth ore is something that can be used to improve the performance of metals..." Sephiroth gave a general explanation but did not elaborate.
"I don't understand this stuff very well, and I actually don't interfere too much with the islands under my command... Therefore, as long as your Umbrella Corporation doesn't use any coercive means to obtain the consent of the island residents, I don't mind you mining that whatever mine..." Red-Haired Shanks said with a serious expression.
"Of course not, the Company will negotiate with the island residents and pay to purchase the mining rights... I just mentioned it to you in passing! After all, this is doing business on your territory. It wouldn't feel right not to tell you..." Sephiroth explained with a smile.
"Hahaha! Small matter, small matter! I'm certainly happy for your Company to do business on my territory... Come, cheers!"
Saying that, Red-Haired Shanks picked up the liquor bottle on the table and gestured towards Sephiroth.
"Cheers!"
Seeing this, Sephiroth also had no choice but to pick up a bottle of strong liquor, clink it with the other party's, and then directly tilt his head back and pour the entire bottle of liquor into his stomach.
"Hahaha-! Refreshing, one more bottle!"
"..."
Purupuru! Purupuru! Purupuru~!
Just as both of them were already drunk and their eyes were hazy, the den den mushi in Sephiroth's black suit jacket pocket suddenly rang.
He let out a slight hiccup and picked up the den den mushi's receiver:
"Hello!? Who is it!?"
"Sephiroth, something bad has happened! Come quickly and save us..."
Perona's voice, full of anxiety and unease, suddenly came from the den den mushi's mouth, startling Sephiroth.