In the plaza of the Golden City, the giant screens continued to broadcast the increasingly brutal, chaotic battle raging on the distant island. The spectators' initial excitement and greed were quickly cooled by the harsh reality of the slaughter.
As the shock faded, clarity took hold. Quick-thinking kings of World Government member nations and veteran pirate officers began to realize a terrifying truth: Something was very, very wrong. They had stumbled into a situation far beyond their level.
"Crazy... this is insane... this isn't a game we can play," a West Blue king muttered, his hands trembling as he set down his glass. He turned to his head guard, whispering urgently. "Quick! Get on the Den Den Mushi! Tell our people to retreat immediately! Forget the treasure chest—our lives are more important!"
"But Your Majesty, the five billion—"
"Idiot! You need to be alive to spend it! Do you want our kingdom's elite forces entirely wiped out?! Retreat!"
This wasn't a game. It was a carefully planned arena—a meat grinder set up by Rhett, using five billion Berries as bait to filter out the weak. Just look at the heavyweights on that island and the sheer devastation they were causing. Even Crocodile had been eliminated in the blink of an eye! Doflamingo was still standing at the edge of the battlefield, completely stunned by the unfolding chaos.
Their own men would be annihilated by a casual, stray attack from any of those top-tiers. If they stayed, their elite forces wouldn't claim the prize; they would simply become cannon fodder.
All across the plaza, pale-faced monarchs and sweating officers grabbed their Den Den Mushis. A wave of hushed, frantic calls swept through the crowd.
"Give up the chase! Come back to the Golden City now!"
"Retreat! Forget the treasure!"
A few greedy fools still screamed, "Fight to the death! Bring back the five billion!" but they were vastly outnumbered by the realists.
The pirates were even more direct, shouting into their receivers: "Captain! Stop fighting! The men can't hold on!" "Boss! Forget the money! Get out of there!"
Back on the island, the small-time pirate crews and royal guards who were barely hanging on heard the orders with overwhelming relief. They immediately began pulling back from the warzone, leaving only the truly ambitious—or truly foolish—to charge forward.
That was when Tesoro's men made their move.
Mr. Tanaka, the Pass-Pass Fruit user, dressed impeccably and wearing a professional smile, quietly materialized beside the leaders who had just ordered a retreat. He used no force. He simply stepped out of the floorboards and offered them either a business card or an elegant invitation, depending on their perceived worth.
"Your Majesty... Sir," Tanaka's tone was incredibly polite. "Having witnessed such intense competition, I'm sure you've gained a new understanding of power and the true state of the New World. We of the Golden City and the Blood Dawn Pirates have always appreciated those who know how to read a situation."
He completely ignored those who were paralyzed by terror. Instead, he focused on the leaders who, despite the panic, still retained a spark of ambition, strategic thinking, or composure. If they showed too much fear, they only got a business card. But if a king remained relatively calm, and his retreating forces maintained discipline in the face of overwhelming power, they received the golden invitation.
To the pirates, Tanaka would smoothly pitch: "Your men have shown great courage. But on today's seas, fighting alone puts you at a severe disadvantage. Would you be interested in becoming an affiliate crew under the Blood Dawn Pirates? We offer protection, resources, and... a broader future." He cleverly avoided the word "recruitment," using terms like "joining" and "affiliate" to preserve their pride.
To the kings, his approach was more diplomatic: "A great kingdom needs powerful friends. The Blood Dawn Kingdom is committed to building strong alliances with far-sighted nations. Perhaps we could find a time to discuss bilateral trade, military exchanges, and the possibility of jointly responding to... certain unreasonable demands from the World Government."
This calculated one-two punch was devastatingly effective.
Pirate crews who had just realized their own insignificance accepted the invitations almost without hesitation. Why risk dying a nameless death at sea when you could latch onto the Mist Lord's golden coattails?
The member nation kings were equally intrigued. Many had suffered long enough under the World Government's heavy tribute and the Celestial Dragons' arrogance. Forging a special relationship with a kingdom that possessed such terrifying military might and infinite wealth gave them a desperately needed trump card.
In a quiet corner of the plaza, the viewing party had smoothly transitioned into a massive recruitment and diplomatic coup for Tesoro's faction.
The capable pirates were ecstatic; they thought they were leaving empty-handed, but instead, they gained a powerful backer. The kings were thrilled; this wasn't just diplomacy, it was a lifeline. They might be bound to Rhett's interests in the future, but right now, who cared?
And Tesoro was the happiest of them all. The Blood Kingdom and the Blood Dawn Pirates' fleet were expanding at an unprecedented speed.
The philosophy was simple: those who could witness such a terrifying spectacle without losing their heads were the ones worth cooperating with. You only do business with smart people. Stupidity, in the New World, was a form of evil—even with good intentions, idiots only made things worse.
So, with everyone else benefiting, who was the unhappiest person right now?
Exactly. Shiki the Golden Lion.
Meanwhile, all of this was being broadcast straight back to Marine Headquarters via surveillance Den Den Mushi.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face was beyond dark—it was black as the bottom of an iron pot. You could practically scrape the fury off his skin.
"Damn it! That bastard Rhett!" Sengoku roared, slamming his fist onto his desk so hard the Den Den Mushi jumped. "He's not playing a game at all! He's using this slaughter to eliminate unstable factors, absorb new blood, and violently expand his influence! He's openly poaching from the World Government!"