The One-Slash Superman of the One Piece World

Inside the G-10 Marine Branch base, Vice Admiral Garp and Rear Admiral Roca were seated in a reception room, deep in conversation.

Meanwhile, Yorichi Tsugikuni and Kuzan weren't staying with Garp. After so many days in the New World, the Marines might not have said it aloud, but the fatigue weighing on their bodies was undeniable.

Garp had tasked Kuzan with overseeing the crew's resupply efforts and had granted all officers and sailors a day of leave. Once they completed their resupply duties, they were free to do as they pleased.

Yorichi also took a break from training today. The exhaustion that had built up in his body genuinely needed relief. It wasn't as if he enjoyed torturing himself for the sake of training.

It was a rare opportunity, so he decided to tag along with Kuzan, strolling through the streets of the Kingdom of Neil.

Though the kingdom was a chaotic crossroads of all sorts of people, the bustling crowds kept the marketplace lively and vibrant.

"Wow! It's so lively here!" Yorichi exclaimed, unable to hide his wonder.

"It's a bit different from what I imagined the New World would be like."

Yorichi and Kuzan ambled down the busy streets, taking in the country's prosperity. Yorichi had always assumed that nations in the New World would be plagued with pirates running rampant and chaos everywhere. After all, judging by the journey of Monkey D. Luffy, injustice seemed to lurk around every corner. On these seas, pirates were practically the strongest force in existence. Yet to his surprise, the Kingdom of Neil maintained rather good public order.

Even the towns were thriving and bustling.

"Well… I don't know exactly what kind of New World you imagined," Kuzan replied with a shrug. "But places like the Kingdom of Neil, bustling and prosperous, aren't all that rare in the New World."

"Still… what lies hidden behind that prosperity is a whole other story. It's not something that can be explained in just a few words."

Kuzan, who was well aware of the Kingdom of Neil's dark dealings, didn't have much affection for a nation that straddled both legal and criminal worlds. A country like the Kingdom of Neil simply didn't align with his sense of justice.

"Who cares what's hidden behind it all?" Yorichi said with a grin. "From where I'm standing, this country's king must be pretty capable."

"At the very least, he's managed to maintain stability on the surface. In a world overrun by pirates, pulling off something like that is already pretty impressive."

Yorichi didn't know the darker truths lurking beneath the Kingdom of Neil's surface. To him, the king seemed to be doing a commendable job, managing to build a thriving nation in such a dangerous world.

"Who knows…" Kuzan said, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He clearly didn't want to dwell on the topic. Spotting a nearby vendor selling grilled pastries, he brightened up and quickly changed the subject.

"Hey, Yorichi! The grilled pastries here are pretty good. The filling is made from a local specialty fruit. Want to try one?"

"Specialty fruit filling?" Yorichi's eyes lit up. "Sure, let's try it!"

"Oh, and by the way… I don't have any money, so you're paying."

The mention of unique local food sparked Yorichi's interest. He was never one to turn down a chance to try something new, even if the taste might be a little strange.

While Yorichi and Kuzan wandered the streets, soaking in the atmosphere of the Kingdom of Neil…

In the palace at the center of the island, King Nikola McCartney was hosting a lavish banquet to welcome a group of special guests.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

"Everyone, make yourselves at home."

"Captain Nuke, welcome to the Kingdom of Neil. Come now, let me toast you!"

The long dining table was draped in luxurious silk cloth. Rows of silver utensils glimmered under the lights, while slim, beautiful maidens moved among the guests, pouring glasses of fine wine.

Clad in an ornate royal robe, King Nikola McCartney raised his goblet high and stood, calling out to the guests seated below.

Nuke, captain of the Nuke Pirates, was a rugged, burly man with a fierce face. His bounty stood at two hundred million.

Though Nuke had only recently set foot in the New World, he'd already made quite a name for himself, having crushed two pirate crews whose bounties were one hundred and fifty million and one hundred and ten million respectively. His reputation in the underworld had exploded.

Before entering the New World, Nuke had repeatedly attacked merchant ships belonging to World Government member nations in the North Blue, earning himself a Marine bounty.

"Yihahaha!"

"Our dear King Nikola McCartney is truly gracious!"

"Such hospitality… it's almost making me feel a bit embarrassed."

"But let's skip the drinks for now. To tell the truth, my visit this time wasn't entirely uninvited. There's a matter I'd like to ask Your Majesty's help with. I hope you'll grant my request."

Nuke lifted his goblet and stood. The corner of his eye flicked toward one of the nearby maidens. He licked his lips, then turned back to the king with a sly grin.

Nikola McCartney noticed the look in Nuke's eyes. And seeing how Nuke, despite being toasted, still kept up this arrogant act, his heart sank. But on the surface, he forced a dazzling smile and said:

"And what might Captain Nuke need from me? If it's within my power, I'll certainly help!"

"Even if what you ask is a bit difficult, I have plenty of connections. I know some friends in the Whitebeard Pirates. With their help, I'm sure we could arrange something for you."

"And if it comes to it, I also know a few high-ranking Marine officers at Headquarters. With a bit of negotiation, perhaps we could find a way to help you."

"So, Captain Nuke, what is it you'd like from me?"

Instead of replying, Nuke suddenly leered and grabbed the maiden beside him, yanking her into his arms. Ignoring her frantic struggles and screams, his hand clamped onto the front of her dress.

Just as he was about to go further, King Nikola McCartney's voice thundered from the high dais above:

"Stop right there!"

"Captain Nuke, I've shown you hospitality out of goodwill. What exactly do you think you're doing?!"

Nuke froze mid-motion and slowly lifted his head, glaring at Nikola McCartney with cold eyes. A sinister smirk curled his lips.

"Your Majesty, I've fought my way here all the way from the North Blue. I'm getting tired of life at sea."

"My crew is tired of it too."

"We're looking for a place to settle down and live a comfortable life."

"And I think the Kingdom of Neil is perfect for that. It's prosperous, and more importantly, the women here are of exceptional quality. I'm very satisfied! Ha ha ha ha!"

"My request is simple. I hope Your Majesty will be generous enough to give me this chance. Don't make things difficult."

With that, Nuke lowered his eyes and stared at the trembling woman in his arms, chuckling darkly. Meanwhile, dozens of Nuke Pirates throughout the hall stood up from their seats, drawing long blades and turning their eyes toward the throne where Nikola McCartney sat.

They were here to stir up trouble.

Nikola McCartney had never been a naive man. From the moment the Nuke Pirates forced their way into his palace, he knew these men were up to no good.

He'd thought that dropping the names of Whitebeard and the Marines might deter them. But judging from the current situation, it had done nothing at all.

The Nuke Pirates had only recently arrived in the New World, and repeated victories over pursuing Marines had left them arrogant and emboldened. The vast seas constantly fueled the ambitions of men like them.

By now, they no longer even regarded the Marines as a threat. As for the Whitebeard Pirates? Sorry they didn't care.

Though Nikola McCartney was seething with fury, he was also the same man who'd kept the Kingdom of Neil balancing between lawful and unlawful worlds. He knew how to control his emotions when needed.

Seeing the Nuke Pirates reveal their true colors, Nikola McCartney forced a broad smile and said:

"Oh! Such a small request?"

"That's easy enough!"

"I'll personally gift you and your men an estate. That way, you'll have a place to stay here in the Kingdom of Neil."

"Now then, since I've agreed to Captain Nuke's request, surely your men can put away their weapons."

"Come now, let's drink! Ha ha ha!"

But Nuke's grin only widened. Shaking his head slowly, he said:

"There's no need for you to gift me anything, Your Majesty. I'm not interested in an estate."

"I think your palace would suit me just fine. I rather like it here."

"Why don't you hand over this palace to us, Your Majesty?"

As he spoke, a patch of thick mud suddenly welled up beneath Nuke's feet, spreading outward in all directions. In moments, it covered the entire great hall.

Even the high dais where Nikola McCartney sat wasn't spared. Mud quickly slithered up the steps, creeping toward the king. By the time Nikola McCartney realized what was happening, the floor around his feet was already swallowed by the mire.

A Devil Fruit power!

Nikola McCartney's eyes finally betrayed a flicker of panic as he cried out:

"Captain Nuke, I agree to your request!"

"I'll leave the palace immediately with my family!"

But the mud around Nikola McCartney's feet surged upward like a living creature, wrapping around him and forming a towering pillar of mud. Trapped inside, Nikola McCartney struggled desperately, but no matter how he thrashed, he couldn't break free.

Slowly, his frantic movements grew weaker. In a matter of seconds, he fell completely still.

The mud pillar collapsed, and Nikola McCartney's lifeless body fell with a heavy thud onto the banquet table. The fine silk tablecloth was soon soaked with foul-smelling mud.

Nuke stared at the scene, his grin stretching wider and more wicked than ever.

"Yihahaha!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

"I'd be terribly upset if you left, you know!"

"I've heard your wife and daughter are both beautiful women."