"Today, the Doctor is going to show us something amazing."
He snapped his fingers.
In an instant, the entire Sky Island lit up with dazzling light! Cloud shell lighthouses, gold-plated shipping lanes, hidden defense cannons nestled in the clouds... The full scope of Rhett's territory was laid bare against the night sky. Most spectacular of all, the blood mist had condensed into a giant map in the sky, clearly marking every piece of territory he owned in the New World.
"Well?" Rhett grinned. "Good enough to be your 'new home'?"
Ganryu stared blankly for a long moment, then slammed his sake bottle down on the table. "Damn! Rhett really is an 'Emperor of the Sea' now?!"
Shanks laughed. "Big Brother always was."
Max Marx wiped his eyes and muttered under his breath, "If Captain Roger could see this..."
Rhett said to the group, "You old-timers, now that you're here, I'm giving you jobs. You're all going to work your asses off for me. I have a lot of places that need guarding. For those of you who still want to sail, you can patrol my territory and maintain our family's assets."
The banquet atmosphere froze for one second, then exploded into even louder laughter and cheers.
"Hahahaha! You little brat, now you're bossing around us old-timers?" Ganryu slapped the table, laughing so hard that sake splashed everywhere. "Fine! I've got nowhere else to go anyway. Might as well cause some trouble with you!"
Max Marx took a swig of sake, wiped the foam from his beard, and grinned. "Rhett, you're really scheming here! We old-timers aren't working for free. How's the pay?"
"Pay?" Rhett raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. Blood mist in his palm condensed into a sparkling gold check. He slapped it onto the table. "You want money? Tesoro! Give each of them one hundred million berries as pocket money!"
Tesoro's mouth twitched. "Yes, Captain..."
"I have no concept of money, hahahaha." Rhett smirked.
The room erupted in laughter again.
Tesoro also stood up and smiled. "Seniors, the Captain really needs more people. His territory is even larger than Whitebeard's. No one can handle it all alone. Just Sky Island, what used to be Big Mom's territories, the Golden City, the underworld... those alone keep us busy enough. And that's not even counting the fortresses in the New World and the other Sky Islands."
"Tch, Rhett, you trying to be the next Rocks?" Jacksonbana rubbed his chin and eyed him carefully.
Rhett shrugged. "Rocks is nothing. I'm building a 'new era'! Besides, what's money when we're all having fun?"
"Hmph. Big talk." Enel crossed his arms and snorted, but there was a hint of approval in his eyes.
Moria suddenly stood up. His shadow twisted into a giant bat shape on the floor. "Kishishishi... If we're going big, let's go all out. I propose we convert Thriller Bark into a 'Ghost Fleet' specifically to hunt World Government ships!"
"Seconded!" Ganryu slammed the table. "I've wanted to take out those Cipher Pol 9 bastards for years!"
Tesoro snapped his fingers. A gold sake pitcher automatically refilled everyone's cups. "Then it's settled. Former Roger Pirates, welcome back together. As a member of the younger generation, I am truly honored."
Rhett: Touching. Say what you will, but having a vice captain like this was just heartwarming.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Perona floated in mid-air, hands on her hips. "You old men, don't just sit around drinking. Lord Rhett's businesses have rules, you know. You have to follow them!"
"Rules?" Ganryu blinked.
"Of course there are rules." Rhett grinned. "Rule one: No one is allowed to bully our family. Rule two: Live happily. Rule three—"
"What's rule three?" Max Marx leaned in.
"Rule three," Rhett laughed, "is that you never run out of sake when you're off duty!"
"Hahahaha! Now that's a rule I like!" Max Marx snatched the sake cup right out of Rhett's hand. "I've been wanting that cup for ages."
Shanks watched this scene, a hint of nostalgia flickering in his eyes. He said quietly, "Big Brother, if Captain Roger could see this, I think he'd be laughing pretty hard."
"THWACK!!!"
"Don't get all sentimental, you little brat." Rhett looked out at the sea of clouds in the distance, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. "Him? Who knows what the future holds?"
Tesoro stood up and stamped his gold scepter on the ground. "Then, from today onward—"
"Welcome to the Fog Empire!"
Inside the banquet hall, cups clinked and laughter shook the rafters.
And at the highest point of Sky Island, the Golden Bell chimed silently, as if to proclaim—
Rhett's gaze swept over everyone and finally settled on the night sky in the distance. The blood mist churned silently, as if answering something.
---
During the days of this lively gathering,
(Special correspondent for the World Economic News — Moore, writing)
"The Mist Lord Rhett — The Dawn of a New Era! The World Government Finally Recognizes True 'Justice'!"
— "He is the future of the seas!"
Dear readers! Allow me, Moore, with trembling hands, to write this report that will surely be recorded in history! While those corrupt nobles were still scheming and backstabbing for power, a true king had already made the World Government bow its arrogant head with his unparalleled wisdom and boldness!
"A Member Nation"? No! This is the choice of the era!
Why did the Five Elders compromise? Because they finally realized — the cost of opposing Lord Rhett is far higher than the price of hypocritical compromise! Look at the reactions of those so-called "Emperors of the Sea"! Whitebeard did not state his position. Kaido did not state his position. Even Big Mom did not state her position! And our Lord Mist Lord? He lounges lazily on his throne in Sky Island, not even deigning to wear a crown!
"He made Mary Geoise tremble!"
According to reliable sources (note: from a Cipher Pol 9 agent who wishes to remain anonymous), the Five Elders' conference room was lit for three consecutive days and nights! Saturn's scepter shattered seven marble tables! Why seven???? Because they discovered that—
Lord Rhett doesn't need the title of "Warlord"! He doesn't need the empty glory of being an "Emperor"! He showed the world, in the most elegant way, that the rules are written by the strong! While the Navy is still struggling over the "legalization of pirates," the Mist Lord has already made his country the first pirate-affiliated member nation.
The Mist Lord stated that he loves peace and is unwilling to see the suffering of the people. His abilities are limited, and he hopes that everyone will work together for the greater good. The grand blueprint of the future, he said, should be written by all of you.
Moore's closing words:
While the remnants of the old era are still using labels like "pirate" and "Marine" to divide their camps, the Mist Lord Rhett has long been standing on a much higher plane! He is not a puppet of the member nations. He is the creator of a new order that the World Government was forced to acknowledge! Finally, allow me to write this prophecy with trembling pen —
"One day, even 'ONE PIECE' itself will become nothing more than a footnote beneath his throne!"
Some people were happy, naturally. Some people were not. Oh, so hard to guess.
Everyone dies.