Red Earth Continent.
The headquarters of Akatsuki has finally been completed.
This city has been named Rain Capital by Konan, and it is inhabited by the members of Akatsuki, serving as both a training and residential site.
This new Holy Land is completely different from the past Mary Geoise, as it actually serves as a sanctuary for training strong individuals, rather than symbolizing supreme status.
Even so...
Countless people on the sea still want to enter here.
If they manage to get in, they would realize that the conditions here are far from meeting expectations, even less prosperous than Doflamingo's Dressrosa.
Throughout the Rain Capital...
The only building that could be considered grand is the hall used by Akatsuki's members for meetings; other buildings have not been particularly renovated.
Uehara Naraku floats in the air, slowly observing the scenery of the entire Rain Capital, his gaze finally falling on a blue-haired woman on the ground.
Uehara Naraku slowly raises his finger.
In the next moment, clouds drift over the sky.
The clouds gradually gather above the Rain Capital, raindrops fall like threads, and the whole Rain Capital slowly starts to echo with the pitter-patter of rain.
The sound indulges one in nostalgia.
Uehara Naraku's figure descends next to Konan, and an umbrella materializes beside him, sheltering Konan's head.
"Naraku?"
Konan turns around in surprise, seeing Uehara Naraku standing in the rain, her brows slightly furrowing: "The temperature is very low here, don't stand outside in the rain..."
The Rain Capital is built on the highest point of the Red Earth Continent.
The temperature here is indeed much lower compared to other places, and the raindrops falling on people only make the water feel a bit chilly.
"..."
Uehara Naraku slowly nods, hiding under the umbrella, with the two of them slowly strolling through the rain as they used to.
This scene falls into the eyes of many people.
Hoshigaki Kisame stands on a high platform, looking down at the two figures, opening his mouth in a light chuckle: "It seems that aside from Sundays, the Rain Capital can't avoid rain either..."
"That's not so bad..."
The large figure of Princess Sirahoshi cautiously approaches and softly asks: "That... Mr. Kisame, will I be living here forever from now on?"
"You can leave."
Hoshigaki Kisame glances at Princess Sirahoshi, grinning lightly: "If you don't want to stay here, you can always choose to leave Akatsuki; it's not unprecedented for someone to leave Akatsuki before..."
"But... but..."
Princess Sirahoshi timidly glances around and continues cautiously: "Mr. Kisame... I... I don't dare..."
This Mermaid Princess...
Her courage is truly not very big.
Jinbe lands next to Kisame, looking solemn and earnest as he speaks: "Princess, do not leave Akatsuki lightly, this matter concerns the survival of Fishman Island..."
As one of the Ancient Weapons, Princess Sirahoshi has the qualification to become a formal member of Akatsuki, a matter that reassures King Neptune and Fishman Island.
A mere title of being a member of Akatsuki...
Is enough to protect the entire Fishman Island!
After all, every country and island on the sea now hopes to have a formal member of Akatsuki among their midst, to protect their way of life.
If no one protects them...
Before Akatsuki issues new policies, these countries have no voting rights at meetings, which means they can only be at the mercy of others.
And Fishman Island has more than one membership...
Now, with Hoshigaki Kisame and Jinbe included, Fishman Island possesses as many as three formal members of Akatsuki, making it so that, unless they offend major powers or unreasonable Akatsuki second generations, no one would dare to provoke Fishman Island!
Fishman Island is indeed lucky...
Similarly, the Women's Island Amazon Lily is very fortunate too.
To protect the island, the world's most beautiful woman, Boa Hancock, proactively applied to join Akatsuki, although this world beauty has ulterior motives...
"Lady Kaguya, it's raining!"
Boa Hancock's voice melodiously resounds in a luxurious house, her face showing a suspicious blush: "Lady Kaguya, the rainy feeling is nice... want to go out for a walk together?"
"..."
A trace of confusion appeared on Otsutsuki Kaguya's face.
Boa Hancock's face was full of happiness, excitedly yelling sharply: "Ahhh, Lady Kaguya's confusion looks so cute too!"
"..."
Otsutsuki Kaguya's face looked even more confused.
Since this woman called Boa Hancock came to the Rain Capital, her place had become lively, with Boa Hancock's seductive voice echoing every day...
This woman...
What is her deal anyway?
Compared to Boa Hancock's life in the Rain Capital, Doflamingo's life is much calmer, as the King of Dressrosa, he can choose to remain in his palace, yet Doflamingo chose to reside here permanently.
Because for him, this is a symbol of victory.
Moreover, as the ringleader of the underworld, Doflamingo personally captured many old leaders of the underground world and locked them in Impel Down, which caused him quite a bit of trouble.
If Doflamingo hadn't stayed in the Rain Capital...
Then, before Yakushi Kabuto completely cleaned up the underground world, Doflamingo would have needed a long time to face these troubles on his own.
Now Doflamingo lives quite at ease, he even invited his lover Violet to the Rain Capital and married her, planning to have a son to revive the Donquixote Race!
In the future...
Doflamingo plans to have his son join Akatsuki before he retires. What goes on in his mind is truly hard to fathom...
Perhaps because...
Doflamingo saw the lives of other Akatsuki second-generation members?
Indeed...
Even though Akatsuki has not been ruling the world for long, a group of so-called Akatsuki second generations has already emerged.
Currently, the most famous Akatsuki second-generation member on the sea is probably Straw Hat Pirates' Monkey D. Luffy, as everyone learned about his background because of a war.
Father Monkey D. Dragon, grandfather Monkey D. Garp, brothers Portgas D. Ace and Sabo, all of these are formal members of Akatsuki.
Monkey D. Luffy's strength is also advancing rapidly, everyone knows this little guy is destined to join Akatsuki in the future.
What an enviable fate...
Even before Akatsuki ruled the world, Monkey D. Luffy's revealed family background was already astonishing; after Akatsuki took over, Monkey D. Luffy's life still seems to be going quite well...
Originally he should have been on the execution platform...
But due to his father's and grandfather's surrender, plus the fact that the Straw Hat Pirates hadn't committed any real crimes, and thanks to Nico Robin's private plea, Luffy was released after the war ended.
However, Monkey D. Luffy's life isn't great...
The main reason is that his dream of becoming the Pirate King was cut short, now they can only call themselves the Straw Hat Sailing Crew, with the main goal of finding ONE PIECE.
The entire sea, with former Pirates, is all searching for ONE PIECE.
Because whoever finds ONE PIECE gets a chance to join Akatsuki, although this differs from the past idea that finding ONE PIECE grants the world, it's still a nice reward...
Nevertheless...
Private looting is not allowed on the sea.
If sailors want to set out, they must prepare their own supplies and money, including tolls for various islands and some other miscellaneous fees.
To raise funds...
The Thousand Sunny earns money by taking freight along the way while navigating the sea.
Even Captain Luffy cannot avoid becoming a dockhand, every time on a new island, he needs to help their clients load and unload goods.
Of course, they haven't forgotten their old trade.
Occasionally, they'll hunt and find some sea treasures for quick money.
"What kind of devilish life is this..."
Nami looks pensively at the money in her hands, her face showing a hint of distress: "I've counted several times already, we only earned 300,000 Belly from this delivery... even less than what Nojiko and I made from growing oranges..."
"Then let's throw a party!"
Luffy cheerfully raises his arms: "Now that we've earned some money, we can sail for a long time again!"
"Party my foot!"
Nami angrily lands a punch on Luffy's head.
Then the navigator lets out a sigh, squatting in a corner of the deck: "If only that big shot would return the money stolen from us..."
"About that..."
Nico Robin gives Nami a subtle look, whispering: "Well… it's best not to slander the leader of Akatsuki..."