"Those damn Nightfall Pirates!"
Curses rang out among the Whitebeard Pirates.
The two sides had completed their exchange at sea without another battle breaking out. There was no immediate clash, not because tensions had eased, but because the Whitebeard Pirates held themselves back.
Whitey Bay and the others had been starved to the brink. In their current state, they barely had any combat strength left. If a fight broke out right after the exchange, the Whitebeard Pirates would fall into a disadvantage.
Some had even considered launching an attack anyway, thinking they might seize the opportunity. But the moment they saw the condition of their comrades, those thoughts were forcibly suppressed.
What replaced them was fury.
Their family had been treated like livestock, starved and neglected. As captives, they were traded like goods.
To many of them, that humiliation cut deeper than death.
Worse still, it reflected their own weakness. Their inability to protect their comrades had dealt a blow to their captain's prestige, leaving them with a deep sense of shame.
The price they paid only added to that bitterness.
Seven Devil Fruits.
Three billion Berries.
Even for the Whitebeard Pirates, it was a heavy cost. Fortunately, their recent income from battle footage had helped offset part of the burden, but it still stung.
"Wait," Jozu said calmly, forcing the anger down. "No need to rush. We recover first. Reinforcements will arrive soon. Then we'll take everything back."
His steady tone anchored the others.
By nature, Jozu was composed, and among those present, he possessed the greatest strength. That made him the pillar of this battlefield.
"For now, endure it," he continued. "We're on the defensive. The Nightfall Pirates won't give us much time. They'll attack again soon."
As expected, the war reignited quickly.
With reinforcements arriving, more of the Whitebeard Pirates' affiliated crews joined the fight. This time, they adapted.
They no longer scattered their forces.
Instead, they gathered strength, assigning several powerful fighters to guard each island. Even if one position faltered, nearby allies could provide immediate support.
The goal was simple.
No more captures.
As the war dragged on, the Nightfall Pirates' reputation soared across the New World.
Their members gained fame through relentless combat, and their bounties rose accordingly.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, the Nightfall Pirates continued their outward expansion. Most opposing forces were crushed by their overwhelming strength.
Some even chose to abandon their islands outright, yielding them rather than suffering heavy losses.
Fighters like "Steel" Wallace and Shiryu of the Rain carved out terrifying reputations.
Against such opponents, resistance often felt pointless.
In the New World, pride had its limits. Losing a few islands was preferable to crippling one's entire crew.
The war with the Whitebeard Pirates continued to burn.
Though the Whitebeard Pirates were powerful, the Nightfall Pirates matched them blow for blow.
And as other battlefields quieted, more Nightfall Pirates' cadres and elite fighters were redirected to this front.
Their arrival intensified the conflict even further.
Overall, the balance still favored the Nightfall Pirates.
The main forces of the Whitebeard Pirates remained tied down in the chaotic central seas, leaving this front under constant pressure.
For six months, they endured.
Island after island fell.
In addition to the earlier losses, over a dozen more islands were seized by the Nightfall Pirates.
The cost was immense.
War spared no one.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties, and hatred began to take root.
Two captains of major allied crews under the Whitebeard Pirates fell in battle, slain by Shiryu of the Rain and Wallace.
Countless other pirates perished as well.
The Nightfall Pirates were not unscathed either. Several of their own strong members died on the battlefield.
In just half a year, total casualties exceeded fifteen thousand.
Yet from that bloodshed, transformation emerged.
The Nightfall Pirates grew stronger.
Their members were tempered by constant combat, their overall strength rising rapidly. Their core cadres, honed through battle, experienced significant breakthroughs.
Despite the losses, their numbers did not shrink.
They grew.
New recruits flooded in, drawn by their rising prestige. The number of those who joined far exceeded those who fell.
Victory bred momentum.
Peace within the Sageros Sea also attracted civilians, further stabilizing their foundation.
At last, the Nightfall Pirates achieved their objectives.
They halted the war.
Without warning, they withdrew.
The Whitebeard Pirates were caught off guard.
Scouts confirmed it. Aside from garrisons left on border islands, the Nightfall Pirates' main forces had retreated into the interior of the Sageros Sea.
Some suggested launching a counterattack.
Most rejected the idea.
No one wanted to continue the war.
The cost had already been too high, and even if they reclaimed a few islands, the Nightfall Pirates could simply strike again.
Reluctantly, the Whitebeard Pirates acknowledged the truth.
For now, they were not the stronger side.
The sudden truce puzzled many across the seas.
Why stop now?
What were the Nightfall Pirates planning?
No answers came.
Their internal information blockade remained airtight.
While the outside world speculated, development within the Sageros Sea continued at full speed.
The railway project of the Christi Kingdom had been completed.
The first line connected the capital, Gretel, to multiple towns, stretching all the way to Saint Louis Island.
What once took days could now be traveled in just two hours.
Powered by electricity and designed with Otto's involvement, the train was both fast and innovative.
Its impact was immediate.
Trade flourished. Movement increased. Towns along the route experienced rapid economic growth.
With the success of the first line, construction of additional routes began simultaneously.
Relations between the Nightfall Pirates and the kingdom's residents also stabilized.
Strict orders from above ensured discipline.
Any troublemakers were dealt with harshly, serving as a warning to others.
Gradually, coexistence formed.
Pirates shopped, ate, and moved within designated areas. As more railway lines were completed, their range of activity expanded.
At the heart of it all stood Saint Louis Island, the core of the Sageros Sea.
Another major project had already come to life.
The thirty-six arenas.
Completed early and fully operational, they quickly became the most popular attraction in the region.
For pirates, nothing was more appealing than combat.
With high prize money and widespread promotion, the arenas drew massive crowds. Residents and pirates alike gathered to watch.
Behind the scenes, the Nightfall Pirates controlled everything.
The arenas.
The betting.
The profits.
Trouble was nonexistent.
Everyone knew who stood behind it.
Even personal disputes found their way into the arena.
Death matches became a spectacle.
Two fighters would sign a contract, step into a sealed iron cage, and fight until one of them died.
The brutality captivated audiences.
The thrill, the blood, the raw violence.
It sent crowds into a frenzy.
From these arenas, new figures began to rise.
Talented fighters gained fame, and many chose to join the Nightfall Pirates, becoming fresh blood for the crew.
Inside the Master's Hall on Saint Louis Island, the core leadership gathered.
Marshall D. Teach sat at the head.
Beside him was Redyat, who had not appeared in some time.
Ares was absent, training elsewhere. His progress had reached a point where even high-purity Seastone no longer suppressed him as effectively.
Now, he trained directly in seawater, pushing his limits further.
Through direct presence or video Den Den Mushi, the main cadres assembled.
Redyat leaned back slightly, a smile forming.
"The Festival of Darkness… a Pirates Expo, huh? That's interesting."
Teach had kept the idea to himself for a long time. Now that he revealed it, reactions varied.
Some were excited.
Others were confused.
They had never heard of such a thing.
Mostima stepped forward to explain.
"The Pirate Expo is the grandest celebration among pirates. It's also known as the Festival of Darkness. When it's held, pirates from across the New World gather. The combined bounty of attendees can easily exceed ten billion Berries."
The room grew attentive.
"It hasn't been held for nearly six years," Mostima continued. "Only those with immense strength and prestige can host it. Otherwise, they won't be able to control the chaos."
Baccarat nodded thoughtfully.
"That makes sense. Pirates aren't exactly known for peaceful transactions."
"The Expo has two main components," Mostima said.
"First, exhibition areas. Pirates can apply for space to display their strength, recruit members, and trade their spoils for useful resources."
"Second, a grand auction. Rare and valuable items from across the seas are brought together. Many treasures that are never seen elsewhere appear there."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Every Expo greatly enhances the host's reputation. It's a perfect opportunity for expansion."
Teach chuckled softly.
"And to promote our own products."
His gaze shifted toward Otto.
Otto adjusted his glasses, clearly excited.
"Mechanical arms and bodies are ready for mass production."
These inventions would change the world.
And unlike other goods, some of them would never be sold lightly.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then, the decision became clear.
Teach leaned forward slightly.
"Then we begin preparations."
A faint grin spread across his face.
"Let's hold the Pirate Expo."