"Become my subordinate! I have need of your power!" Ryuuto stated, his voice devoid of emotion.
At that moment, World had no choice. A man with a blade at his throat has little room to negotiate. Having just escaped Impel Down, he had no desire to die. No matter how much resentment festered in his heart, World lowered his head in submission.
"Very good. I despise betrayal. I hope you will honor your word," Ryuuto said, slowly sheathing his Kui Dragon's Edge as he saw World yield. He gave him one last look before speaking.
"I will..." The word stung World deeply, making his voice unusually hoarse. If not for the betrayal of his own first mate, he never would have been captured by the Marines and frozen in Impel Down. For a moment, World's mind drifted, and he was lost in a daze of bitter memories.
"I am a generous man. I do not mistreat my subordinates." Ryuuto took two steps forward, then paused as if remembering something. He glanced at the fallen Binz before turning back to World.
No one objected to this claim, least of all Porche, who nodded in fervent agreement.
"Binz is in extremely poor health, but I can heal him," Ryuuto said, his voice soft but filled with absolute certainty.
Without waiting for World's surprised reaction, Ryuuto walked over to Binz and woke him.
"You, stay away from me!" The first thing Binz saw upon opening his eyes was Ryuuto smiling down at him. He scrambled backward in terror.
"Binz, it's over. World has already decided to join us. You don't need to be afraid," Ryuuto explained calmly.
Binz glanced at World, who gave a nod of confirmation. Only then did he relax and look back at Ryuuto.
With a flick of his right wrist, Ryuuto produced a yellow talisman.
"Eat this, Binz. It will cure your illness," Ryuuto said without preamble, holding the enchanted paper out to him.
As the strategist and soul of the World Pirates, Binz was a decisive man. Hearing Ryuuto's explanation, he immediately took the talisman and swallowed it.
Instantly, a warm current began to flow through his body, followed by a tingling, heated sensation.
Cough!
A moment later, Binz doubled over in a violent coughing fit, spitting up a glob of dark, clotted blood.
"World, I feel... so much better!" Binz took a deep breath, a feeling of relief and vitality washing over his entire body. He turned to his captain, his voice filled with excitement.
"Thank you! Thank you for healing Binz!" World immediately directed a grateful gaze toward Ryuuto.
And so, through a combination of power and benevolence, the World Pirates became the fourth division fleet of the Soaring Dragon Pirates. The first fleet commander was Hancock, leading the Kuja Pirates. The second was Foxy, leading the Foxy Pirates. The third was Buggy, leading the Buggy Pirates.
After a quick tidy-up, Ryuuto's group returned to Amazon Lily.
"Captain, you're back!" Having learned of Ryuuto and Hancock's return via Den Den Mushi, Vivi had gathered the women of Kuja at the port to welcome them. The towering figures of Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold stood on either side.
"Lady Hancock!" As always, the citizens of Amazon Lily erupted in cheers, for their queen had returned.
"Sister, who are these people?" Boa Sandersonia asked, her eyes fixed on World and his crew. Her senses screamed that World was as dangerous as a colossal beast.
"They have joined the Soaring Dragon Pirates," Hancock said simply, her beautiful long legs carrying her gracefully toward the palace.
Ryuuto, Nami, Rayleigh, and Porche followed, while the members of the World Pirates remained on their ship, awaiting further instructions.
Ryuuto already had plans for them.
After resupplying with food and fresh water on Amazon Lily, the group set sail once more for the Sabaody Archipelago. This time, their goal was to get their ship coated before descending to Fish-Man Island.
Ryuuto, Hancock, Nami, Vivi, Rayleigh, Crocus, Jean Bart, and Porche traveled aboard the Nostra Castello, sailing alongside the World Pirates' vessel.
After two days at sea, they arrived safely at the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Rayleigh, I'll leave it to you."
After entrusting the Nostra Castello to Rayleigh for the coating process, everyone disembarked, eager to explore the bustling islands. Nami, Vivi, and the other women were especially excited for a massive shopping spree.
Having been frozen for thirty years, the World Pirates' memories were stuck in the past. The vibrant, lively scene of the modern Sabaody Archipelago left them completely mesmerized.
"You two certainly caused quite a stir," Shakky said with a light laugh, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Ryuuto and Hancock in her Rip-Off Bar.
"I do believe I saw that Garp died at your hands as well," she added playfully, exhaling a perfect ring of smoke.
"You can't put it like that, Auntie Shakky. Perhaps Garp was simply betting everything on his grandson," Ryuuto replied calmly, shaking his head.
"Fufufufu, what an interesting answer," Shakky chuckled, a wide smile spreading across her face.
"Hancock, by the looks of it, you've made your decision. Are you going to travel with Ryuuto now?" Shakky then turned her gaze to Hancock, asking softly.
"Mhm. Wherever Ryuuto goes, I will go," Hancock replied, a blush coloring her cheeks as she hugged Ryuuto's right arm possessively.
"That is the destiny of our country's queen," Shakky said after a moment of silence, taking a deep drag from her cigarette with a wistful expression.
"Auntie Shakky, you weren't always so sentimental, were you? Decades ago, the Roger Pirates treasured you," Ryuuto remarked, swirling the cocktail in his hand.
"That's all in the past. Now, there is only Shakky, the bar owner," Shakky said, now propping her chin with both hands as she gazed at them, her tone gentle and nostalgic.
"Heroes grow old, and beauty fades," Ryuuto declared, downing his cocktail in one gulp. "A person gets one life. You have to make a storm, leave your mark on this world!"
Hearing this, Hancock stared intently at Ryuuto. Though she didn't fully understand his ambitions, she could feel that this man carried an extraordinary burden on his shoulders.
"Now that's a real man. In that case, I wish you a safe journey," Shakky said, raising her own cocktail and drinking it down in a single motion. Her thoughts drifted back to Hachinosu Island.
Seeing this, Ryuuto said his goodbyes, and he and Hancock left the bar.
"Captain, look! Do you like this outfit?" As soon as they returned to Grove 18, Nami, dressed in brand new clothes, twirled for him excitedly. Her hair was tied up, and she wore a stylish set consisting of a collared, dark blue short-sleeved shirt and a blue skirt that fell just to her knees, giving her a look that was both playful and sophisticated.
"Me too, Captain!" After Nami finished, Vivi called out eagerly, drawing the sharp gazes of both Hancock and Nami.
"Something feels... off about Vivi," Nami thought to herself, hands on her hips as she scrutinized her friend.
Today, Vivi had broken from her usual style, wearing a pair of light-blue skinny jeans and a small tank top that hugged her chest, making her figure stand out.
"So vibrant and youthful," Ryuuto couldn't help but admire. The two of them exuded an aura of pure youth.
Of course, Porche had also changed into new clothes, but she went unnoticed.
World and his crew had headed straight for a bar. They sat inside one of the giant bubbles unique to Sabaody, downing huge mugs of beer.
"Boss World, are we really just going to join the Soaring Dragon Pirates like this?" Sebastian grumbled, clearly displeased.
"Don't ever say that again. I gave my word, and I will keep it. You know I hate betrayal more than anything!" World slammed his mug on the table, his voice a sharp reprimand.
"Sebastian, look at this! A bounty of three billion! He's one of the Four Emperors! I did some digging. The former Four Emperors were Whitebeard, Kaido, Red-Haired Shanks, and Big Mom. Many of them were already legendary pirates thirty years ago!" Binz, now restored to health, jumped onto the table excitedly. "I think this is great! We're subordinates of an Emperor now. There's no shame in that."
"I have no objections! I'll follow whatever Boss World decides!" Gairam said in his deep, rumbling voice.
"I'm fine with it too. After being frozen for thirty years, we need to reacquaint ourselves with the world," Nightin added with a carefree tone.
"I concur," the Scientist said after observing the others.
"It seems no one disagrees. Then let's shake this world to its core once more!" World stood up, raised his massive mug of beer high, and roared before pouring the entire contents down his throat.
Three more days passed.
"Ryuuto, mission accomplished. I worked overtime, but the ship is finally coated!" Rayleigh announced cheerfully, wiping non-existent sweat from his brow.
"Thank you, Rayleigh," Ryuuto replied sincerely.
"Oh, right. This Log Pose points to Fish-Man Island. It's for you." Rayleigh suddenly pulled a Log Pose from his pocket and tossed it to Nami. "Alright, you can set off now! If you need any help down there, look for Hachi. He went back to Fish-Man Island a few days ago." With that, Rayleigh gave a small wave and turned, slowly walking back into the depths of the mangrove grove. His parting gesture seemed tinged with a hint of melancholy, as if he were entrusting the future to Ryuuto.
"Well then, let's depart!"
As everyone entered the magical bubble surrounding the ship, Ryuuto stood at the prow and gave the order. Nami immediately spun the helm, and the Nostra Castello plunged into the sea.
Splash!
A huge spray of water erupted as the Nostra Castello stabilized and began its journey through the depths.
Moo...
A sudden sound echoed through the water as Mohmoo appeared, its tail swishing as it swam after them. The giant sea cow circled the Nostra Castello curiously. It was the first time Mohmoo had ever seen a ship travel underwater.
"Wow, so this is the world beneath the sea!" Nami exclaimed in awe. Schools of colorful fish swam all around them, and in the distance, the immense roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove stretched down from the islands above.
"It's so magical! I never knew the mangrove roots on Sabaody were this long!" Vivi was equally thrilled.
World and his crew, however, were unfazed. This wasn't their first time passing through Fish-Man Island on their way to the New World.
"So it was all planned," World muttered to himself, watching Mohmoo swim alongside the Nostra Castello. He recalled the Sea King he had encountered that day and realized it was one of Captain Ryuuto's companions.
"Ryuuto, you're going to tell me what's going on with Vivi," Hancock said, standing beside him with a decidedly unfriendly tone. Having one Nami around was bad enough; now a Vivi had suddenly been added to the mix.
"Well... that's a bit of a long story," Ryuuto stammered, his mind racing for an explanation.
"Captain, what's that?" Nami, holding a pair of binoculars, suddenly spotted a cake-shaped pirate ship in the distance and shouted to Ryuuto.
"Something like that? Let me see!" Hearing Nami's call, Ryuuto felt an instant wave of relief. He used it as an excuse to move toward her. "Let me take a look."
Taking the binoculars from Nami, Ryuuto looked through them and immediately recognized the iconic Jolly Roger of the Big Mom Pirates. The grinning skull with red lipstick wore a Napoleon hat and had a poof of pink hair.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Big Mom Pirates. Right, this should be the time they come to claim Fish-Man Island's allegiance," Ryuuto thought to himself.
While Ryuuto was observing them, the crew on the cake-shaped ship was also observing the Nostra Castello.
"Wait, am I seeing this right? That Jolly Roger..." Pekoms said, his voice laced with disbelief as he peered through his own binoculars.
"What are you mumbling about? Spit it out," Baron Tamago said with a hint of annoyance, taking a sip of his coffee.
"It's a flag with a soaring black dragon!"
"A black dragon? Don't tell me that's... the Black Dragon... Ryuuto!" Upon hearing this, Baron Tamago shot to his feet, so startled that he spilled his coffee.
On Ryuuto's ship, excitement took over. "Nami, bring us alongside them!" he commanded loudly.
"Looks like that ship is in for some trouble, judging by the captain's expression," Binz remarked from his perch on World's shoulder.
The Nostra Castello's engines roared to life, and the two pirate ships began to close the distance between them.