The Golden Tower stood as a shimmering monument of power on Ambry Island. On its top floor, the atmosphere was thick with tension, though not from a physical battle. Several enormous projection screens floated in the air before Takuro, glowing with a cold, artificial light. These screens were filled with a chaotic mess of "urgent issues" that had been meticulously compiled by the new coalition leaders: Dragon, Whitebeard, Gild Tesoro, and even Vice Admiral Tsuru.
Takuro stared at the data. His crimson eyes scanned the headache-inducing lines of text and endless columns of numbers. There were reports of pirates running rampant in specific sea sectors, requiring immediate military suppression. Former member nations of the World Government were declaring their independence and demanding formal recognition from the new regime. There was news of a plague outbreak in a slave settlement at Mary Geoise that required urgent medical supplies. On top of that, disputes were breaking out over who would control the Marine Scientific Unit, and a draft for a new global tax law sat waiting for a signature.
As he read, Takuro's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. His face twisted with undisguised irritation. To a warrior of his caliber, these were not the spoils of victory; they were chains made of paper.
"So noisy!" Takuro shouted. He violently waved his hand, sending out an invisible wave of Ki. The force of his energy made the projection screens flicker intensely, nearly collapsing under the pressure of his aura. "You bring these trivial things to me? What are you all even good for if you can't handle a few papers?"
His voice was transmitted through a high-tech communication device, echoing loudly in the temporary command center back at Mary Geoise. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, rubbed his temples as the sound blasted through the speakers. He remained calm, trying to appeal to the logic of their new "ruler."
"Mr. Takuro, please understand," Dragon explained patiently into the communicator. "These issues involve vital resource allocation, the division of power, and the legal foundations of our society. They must be ultimately decided by you. These choices concern the very stability of the new order we are trying to build."
"Stability? What do I care about stability?" Takuro interrupted, his tone harsh and biting. "I beat the World Government and crushed the Five Elders because they were in my way, not so I could become your nanny! Listen up, and listen well!"
Takuro stood up, pointing a finger at the flickering screens. He was about to issue his first official commands as a ruler, and he did so with the savage directness of a Saiyan.
"First," Takuro began, his voice booming. "Any pirates who think they can cause trouble while the world is changing—I don't care who they are or where they're hiding—send me their coordinates. I'll personally fly out there and sink them along with whatever island they're standing on! We'll kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. Let's see how many brave souls want to make trouble once I start erasing crews from the map!"
He didn't wait for a response before moving to the next point. "Second, about those kings who want independence. That's fine. Let them have their little kingdoms. But if any of them take advantage of this chaos to oppress commoners, or if they refuse to come and 'report' to us... well, they'll face the consequences of my fist."
"Third," he continued, waving a hand dismissively. "If people are sick, get them treated! If you lack supplies, go buy them! If you don't have the money, go find Tesoro! He has more Berries than he knows what to do with. Don't bother me with such small, trivial matters ever again!"
Takuro took a breath and looked at the section regarding the military. "Fourth, the Marines want the Scientific Unit? Give it to them! As long as they do their jobs honestly and don't provoke me, they can have as many of those iron lumps and Pacifistas as they want. I have no use for toys."
"Fifth, the taxes," Takuro said, his eyes narrowing. "Set them however you want. I don't care about the numbers. Just don't let me hear that a single person starved to death because they couldn't pay. Whoever sets rules that end up killing people—I'll go and 'have a chat' with them personally. And they won't like what I have to say."
"Finally, and most importantly," Takuro emphasized, a dangerous glint appearing in his crimson pupils, "From now on, you all handle these boring details yourselves! Unless an old monster like Imu pops out of the shadows again, or you find clues to the Dragon Balls and that purple fruit, do not disturb me! Do you understand?"
A heavy silence fell over the other end of the communicator. In the command center, Dragon, Whitebeard, Tesoro, and Vice Admiral Tsuru were stunned. Takuro's "governing principles" were incredibly irresponsible, yet they were also utterly simple and crude. It was as if he was treating the management of an entire world like a gang of thugs fighting for territory.
However, as the silence stretched on, the leaders began to think. In this extraordinary period where the old order had just been shattered, everything was in ruins. The world was waiting to be rebuilt, and right now, everything relied on absolute military power. Perhaps this unreasonable approach—focusing only on core conflicts and ignoring the bureaucracy—was actually the most efficient way to move forward?
The direction was now very clear. Externally, they would suppress all defiance with overwhelming force. Internally, they would ensure basic survival and stability for the common people. For everything else, the authority was delegated to those who actually knew how to lead.
Whitebeard was the first to break the silence. He let out a low, rumbling laugh that shook the room. "Kuralalala! It's crude, but it certainly suits my taste! Let's do it this way! Whoever doesn't obey will be beaten until they do. It's a simple world!"
Dragon gave a wry, tired smile. He knew this wasn't exactly the "refined democracy" he might have dreamed of, but it was the clearest instruction they could get. It was certainly better than Takuro completely washing his hands of the world and leaving them in total chaos. He sighed and spoke into the device. "...Understood. We will handle things according to these principles."
Gild Tesoro, ever the businessman, bowed gracefully toward the projection screen. "As you wish, Lord Takuro. I will ensure that the funds and supplies are in place immediately. My gold is at your service."
Vice Admiral Tsuru also nodded slightly. She didn't voice any objection. For a veteran like her, a ruler with clear goals—even if his methods were barbaric—was far easier to work with than a weak or incompetent leader who meddled in things they didn't understand. By delegating authority back to the Marines to maintain order, Takuro was actually giving her the tools she needed to keep the peace.
"Alright, that's that!" Takuro said with a look of satisfaction. He ended the call abruptly. With another wave of his hand, he cleared away all the floating projections. The room became instantly quiet, the silence a welcome relief from the chatter of the world's problems.
He sat back down and picked up the strange, purple Devil Fruit he had been examining earlier. He began playing with it, tossing it lightly in the air and catching it. Compared to dealing with boring government affairs and tax laws, studying the mysteries of this fruit and searching for the legendary Dragon Balls was much more interesting to him. His journey was far from over, and he had no intention of letting paperwork slow him down.
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