Chapter 47: Already Provoked an Emperor
Inside Ryugu Palace, Jinbe had taken the opportunity to speak privately with King Neptune.
He explained Luffy's invitation—the offer to join the Straw Hat Pirates. More importantly, he explained his concerns.
"Before I can properly join them," Jinbe said, his voice heavy with responsibility, "I must first settle matters with the Big Mom Pirates. If I simply leave, they might take their anger out on Fishman Island."
King Neptune listened, then laughed—a deep, rumbling sound that filled the chamber.
"Jinbe. You still carry everything on your own shoulders, don't you?"
He shook his massive head, still smiling.
"Don't worry so much. Let things unfold as they will."
He gazed out through the palace's coral windows, toward the distant lights of Fishman City.
"And even if we lose the Big Mom Pirates' protection... we will simply fly a different flag."
Jinbe's eyebrow rose. "A different flag?"
King Neptune's smile widened.
"The flag of the Straw Hat Pirates."
His voice carried absolute certainty.
"They have become the spiritual symbol of Fishman Island. Our people will follow wherever that flag leads."
Jinbe stared at him for a long moment—then laughed himself, a genuine, relieved sound.
"Now THAT is an excellent idea."
The two were still chuckling when the Left Minister came running, panic etched across his features.
"Your Majesty! King Neptune! Terrible news!"
He gasped for breath, then spilled everything—the treasure, the recovery, and one crucial detail.
Among the recovered treasure was the Jade Hand Box—the legendary container from the palace treasury. But years ago, after the Energy Steroids were stolen, the Left Minister had secretly replaced the real Jade Hand Box with an explosive replica. Anyone who opened it without the proper key would trigger a devastating blast.
King Neptune exhaled slowly.
"Well... that's manageable. When Luffy and the others return, we'll explain the situation and retrieve the box safely."
The Left Minister nodded, relief flickering across his face—then immediately vanishing.
"But what if they open it before returning?!"
King Neptune's expression froze.
"Ah. That would indeed be problematic."
Before they could panic further, a soldier rushed in.
"Report! King Neptune! Left Minister! Luffy and the others have returned!"
The Left Minister grabbed the soldier's shoulders.
"Are they unharmed?!"
"Completely unharmed!" the soldier confirmed.
"Thank the seas!" The Left Minister grabbed King Neptune's arm and hauled him bodily from the chamber. "We must warn them immediately!"
A few minutes later, in the main hall, everyone had gathered.
Luffy had just finished recounting his encounter at the candy factory. His tale concluded with what he clearly considered a stroke of genius.
"—so I gave them all the treasure! Problem solved!"
Silence.
Absolute, utter silence.
Then—
"NANI?!"
The collective scream shook the palace walls.
Luffy blinked, genuinely confused by the reaction.
"What? It made sense!"
He spread his hands, explaining his logic with the confidence of someone who had definitely thought this through.
"They said they'd destroy Fishman Island if they didn't get their snacks! That's insane, right? Who destroys an island over SNACKS?!"
He crossed his arms, nodding firmly.
"Now, if it was MEAT, I'd understand. But snacks?"
He waved a dismissive hand.
"Anyway, don't worry! To protect Fishman Island, I've already provoked her completely!"
Zoro nodded beside him, equally calm.
"With any luck, they'll focus on us now. Fishman Island should be safe."
Jinbe's eyes had gone impossibly wide.
"Provoked... BIG MOM?!"
Usopp, Chopper, and Brook stood frozen, expressions of pure terror slowly dawning.
"The Four Emperors..." Usopp whispered. "He provoked a FOUR EMPEROR!"
"We're all going to die!" Chopper wailed.
Brook's skeletal frame trembled. "To think my second life would end so soon! Yohohoho... wait, why am I laughing?!"
Robin, ever composed, simply laughed quietly beside Itachi.
Itachi turned to her.
"This 'Four Emperors' you mentioned before... how strong are they exactly?"
Robin considered the question carefully, then began explaining with the thoroughness of a scholar.
"Imagine the most powerful pirates in the world. The ones at the very top, ruling the New World like kings."
She held up a hand, ticking off fingers.
"There's 'Red-Haired' Shanks—one of the Four Emperors. His crew is relatively small, but each member is exceptionally powerful. They're known as the most balanced and dangerous crew among the Emperors."
Second finger.
"There's Kaido of the Beasts—said to be the strongest creature alive. He commands a vast army of artificial Zoan users and controls Wano Country from the shadows."
Third finger.
"There's Big Mom herself—Charlotte Linlin. Her crew is built around her massive family. She has dozens of children, each with powerful Devil Fruits, commanding fleets of subordinate pirates. Her territory is enormous, and her network of alliances spreads across the New World."
Fourth finger.
"And finally, there's Marshall D. Teach—Blackbeard. The newest Emperor, but possibly the most dangerous. He wields two of the most powerful Devil Fruits in existence and has spent decades gathering information on the world's secrets."
Robin folded her hands.
"Each Emperor commands tens of thousands of soldiers. They have allies, subordinates, and territories that span entire oceans. To challenge one is to challenge a force that could destroy nations."
She smiled at Itachi.
"Does that help?"
Itachi processed this information, mentally translating it into terms he understood.
Kage of the villages. Each with their own powerful strength. Elite forces beneath them. Alliances and subordinate clans.
He nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Then, internally:
Luffy really knows how to start trouble.
He sighed silently.
Perhaps I should have accompanied them.
Shirahoshi, utterly oblivious to the gravity of the situation, swam excitedly toward Luffy.
"Luffy-sama! That's AMAZING!"
"THIS IS NOT THE FOCUS!" Usopp leaped into the air, spinning to face her.
Shirahoshi's enormous face crumpled. Tears welled in her eyes.
"Long-nose-sama is so scary..."
"I'M USOPP!" Usopp hopped up and down. "USOPP!"
He saw her crying and immediately deflated.
"But... I'm sorry..." He reached out awkwardly to comfort her.
Jinbe paced back and forth, massive arms crossed.
"This is extremely problematic."
He stopped, turning to Luffy.
"Before this spirals completely out of control, we need to leave Big Mom's territory as quickly as possible."
He fixed Luffy with a stern look.
"And for the love of the seas—STOP PROVOKING EMPERORS!"
Usopp had already attached himself to Itachi's leg.
"But if Brother Itachi is with us, maybe we'll be okay!"
Chopper joined him, latching onto the other leg, tears streaming.
"Brother Itachi will be fine, but WE might not! Waaah!"
Itachi looked down at the two crying crew members attached to his legs, utterly still for a moment.
Then—gently—he reached down and patted both their heads.
"It's alright. I don't know much about these Emperors yet."
His voice was calm. Certain.
"But I won't let any of you die."
Chopper's crying paused. He looked up.
"Brother Itachi..."
Brook had somehow attached himself to Itachi's thigh as well.
"Itachi-san! To hear such words in my final moments!"
"Uh... you two..." Itachi tried to move, but found himself thoroughly trapped.
Robin solved the problem with a flick of her wrist—several arms sprouted from nowhere, gently prying Chopper and Brook loose.
"Don't be so rude to Itachi." Her smile was warm, but her tone left no room for argument.
She turned to Itachi.
"Are you alright?"
Before he could answer, Zoro shrugged from his corner.
"It's done now. Nothing to do but face what comes."
Sanji exhaled smoke, nodding.
"Yeah. What's done is done."
Nami had been silent throughout this exchange. Too silent.
Now she rose from her seat, a smile on her face that made even Zoro's eye twitch.
"That's right~" Her voice was sweet, almost musical. "What's done is done. No use crying over spilled milk~"
She walked toward Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, weather staff in hand.
Luffy, oblivious, started to agree.
"Yeah! No matter who comes, we'll just—"
BZZZZZZZZT!
One hundred million volts of pure Nami-fueled rage lit up the hall.
When the light faded, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji lay on the ground, smoking, covered in bumps and burns, occasional sparks still dancing across their bodies.
"WHY DID YOU GIVE AWAY THE TREASURE?!" Nami screamed, her composure completely shattered.
Jinbe and King Neptune stared in shock.
"SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT!"
Itachi observed the scene with quiet fascination.
Nami... is terrifying.
He glanced at the smoking forms of his crewmates, then back at Nami's furious expression.
I still can't tell who the real captain of this ship is.
Luffy raised a trembling hand from the floor, his face a roadmap of bruises and burns.
"O...kay..."
His voice cracked.
"Let's go... to the New World..."
(End of Chapter)
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