"Tch… trouble‑maker, am I?"
"Isn't it you who's killed the most people?" Charlotte Linlin shot back.
Grimm looked on with disdain. Truth be told, if you added it all up, Big Mom and Kaido had slaughtered far more people than him.
Grimm only killed in massive bursts occasionally, but their accumulated body counts were several times higher.
Besides, Grimm never harmed civilians. Everyone he killed was a soldier — someone who had taken up arms and accepted the risk of death the moment they did so.
Kaido growled in frustration, "In such a boring world… if you don't fight, you might as well just destroy everything!"
"Mad dog… I haven't finished speaking yet. Can't you listen properly?" Grimm replied coldly.
"You looking for a fight?" Kaido's temper flared instantly. "Don't think just because that old bastard Garp is here I'll hold back!"
Charlotte Linlin, who was still at least willing to listen, spoke up. "You want us to stop fighting each other? Does that mean you want us to turn our full attention toward the Marines and other pirates instead?"
She was indeed the most experienced and senior of the three, instantly understanding the true meaning behind his words.
"If we do that, all three of us can expand our territories and strengthen our forces without distraction. And with Whitebeard — who already holds massive power from the previous era — added to the equation… the entire New World would effectively become the domain of just the four of us."
"Whitebeard has completely lost his ambition," Grimm said calmly. "All he wants now is to sail around with his 'sons.' Of course, if any of you have your eyes on his land, we could always take it from him together. But honestly? Unless you provoke him, he won't bother you at all."
Behind him, Hancock's eyes shifted thoughtfully. "So that's why he said from the start it didn't matter if Whitebeard came or not…"
"Dividing up the New World was inevitable sooner or later," Charlotte Linlin said, eyeing Grimm sideways. "The world already calls us the Four Emperors. What's the point of doing this formally now?"
"Simple enough. Here's the agreement, and here's the map." Grimm wasted no words and spread the chart out. "Yellow areas are unclaimed land. Red areas are what I want. White areas belong to Whitebeard. You two mark what you need."
---
Half an hour later…
Charlotte Linlin marked her desired territories in green. Kaido marked his in blue.
With the agreement signed, the summit concluded successfully.
"For fifteen years, there will be no war between us," Grimm announced. "Small squabbles and fights don't count — but anything involving territory must follow this agreement strictly. We rule the seas as true Emperors."
Suddenly, his tone shifted, and his face turned icy cold with killing intent.
"But… after fifteen years, the situation will change completely. Because by then… Whitebeard will be finished. And when that happens… who attacks whom first? Well… we'll see then."
"Right. You can leave now." Grimm stood up, dismissing them.
"Fine then! It's a deal!" Big Mom stood up immediately and headed downstairs. If this works, I can build Totto Land much faster. As for the agreement? Hehehe… whatever. I'll just build my kingdom first and worry about the rest later.
Kaido said nothing. Uncharacteristically calm, he turned and left the banquet hall. Grimm was actually a little surprised; he expected the mad dog to throw another tantrum.
"World Government agents… are you still here? Hurry up and report this to your superiors!" Grimm leaned back in his chair, glancing sharply at the disguised maids from the corner of his eye.
The women froze. Their cover was blown, but the fact that Grimm hadn't killed them was already a miracle. They scrambled to the windows and jumped out.
---
Half an hour later — World Government Headquarters, Mariejois
"…So this is Grimm's goal?" Inside the room of the Five Elders, the blond Elder narrowed his eyes at the agent reporting before him. When the agent nodded, the Elder rubbed his temples with one hand. "He disappears for six months… and the moment he reappears, he starts chaos again!"
"Before we could even settle accounts with him, he's already planning how to divide the New World!" The bald Elder snorted furiously. "Just like Roger in the old days… damn those people of the 'D' clan!"
"And this… this plan they call the Era of the Four Emperors…" The curly‑haired Elder spoke, his gaze sharp and piercing. "…How… should we respond?"
Grimm. Charlotte Linlin. Kaido. Whitebeard.
Three of the four had agreed to the plan. As for Whitebeard — exactly as Grimm said — he was already enjoying his retirement.
And the fifteen‑year timeline? The Elders understood the hidden meaning: 'Let Whitebeard live out his days in peace for fifteen years. He'll die naturally soon enough anyway.'
The long‑haired Elder thought for a long time before speaking slowly.
"Isn't Grimm's plan essentially just a temporary truce between the Emperors? Then… we simply need to find a way to make them fight each other instead."
"Hmm? And how do we do that?" The other four leaned forward, interested. The agent, understanding his place, bowed and withdrew.
---
What defines the Four Emperors?
In the years to come, history would call them the rulers of the New World — monarchs reigning over the seas. Emperors, not Kings. That distinction was crucial.
Emperors possess vast territories, immense manpower, and total independence from World Government authority. With those two assets, their power naturally becomes unmatched.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido agreed to Grimm's plan: temporarily cease fighting each other, focus entirely on expansion and recruitment, plant their flags over every island and nation possible, and direct their aggression toward the Marines and other rival pirates.
Anyone not part of a Four Emperor crew who dared enter the New World had only three choices: Surrender… Die… or Join the Marines.
Grimm himself naturally needed to expand his forces and territory too — how else could he eventually overthrow the World Government? And the New World was obviously the perfect place to begin.
Back in the silent banquet hall, Grimm closed his eyes and activated Holy Insight, observing the state of Dressrosa.
For all intents and purposes, Dressrosa was now his territory. King Riku refused to admit it, but the reality was undeniable: Grimm's popularity and influence among the people had already surpassed the King himself.
Yasuo and Planck would be arriving soon. Knowing those two, they were probably just late because they had gotten lost at sea again.
Grimm had already assigned them their tasks.
Planck was in charge of the economy. His orders: Make Dressrosa prosperous. By any means necessary. Trade, business, robbery, theft… I don't care. Just show me real development within five years.
Yasuo was responsible for military training. Even if you don't use your sword aura, teach every soldier how to be wild, fierce, and unstoppable.
Dressrosa sat at a strategic crossroads. Once fully developed, it would undoubtedly become one of the greatest trade hubs in the entire New World.
Population growth and quality of life were priorities too.
---
Three months later…
Jaina successfully established a permanent portal connecting the Sanctuary and Dressrosa. Travel between the two locations became instantaneous and effortless.
There remained only one last key figure: Kel'Thuzad. The great lich was currently in a secret location, working tirelessly to complete the construction of Naxxramas. Estimated completion time? At least another ten years.
__________________
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