The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets
Right at that moment, Black Maria arrived at the door of their room and reported.
"My Lord, the Governor-General power transfer ceremony is ready. We are awaiting your arrival."
"Alright, I understand," Ryōsuke replied calmly.
He looked at Ulti on the bed.
"Ulti, freshen up. We're heading out soon."
"Yes, My Lord."
Ulti struggled to get up and head to the bathroom. Her body still ached a little, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her heart. Now, she was going to be the Governor-General's wife.
Not long after, the two arrived at the Beast Pirates' assembly hall.
The Tobi Roppo, the three Lead Performers, Kaido, and a multitude of Headliners—all high-ranking executives and top-tier combatants—had already gathered at the scene.
Ryōsuke looked at the crowd present and directly led Ulti to the main seat that originally belonged to Kaido.
Yamato was already waiting there, looking a bit displeased. It went without saying that she knew exactly what Ryōsuke had taken Ulti away to do last night.
Ulti's entire aura had changed. There was an indescribable feeling about her—she no longer felt like a young girl.
She had a bit of a Black Maria vibe now.
That was exactly the feeling.
Yamato now understood that after doing *that* kind of thing, one was no longer a girl, but a woman.
Jack the Drought, one of the three Lead Performers, wore a look of utter bewilderment.
After waking up from his coma, he learned that the Beast Pirates were changing hands.
He had received the notice from his subordinates.
Today was the power transfer ceremony. Lord Kaido was stepping down, and the mysterious man who had knocked him out in a single strike was taking over.
To think that Yamato had actually brought back such a terrifying person and successfully forced Kaido to step down.
Moreover, since Kaido and the other two Lead Performers, Queen the Plague and King the Conflagration, had no objections, he naturally wouldn't have any either.
Even if he did object, there was no way he could resist.
After all, Lord Kaido was currently in a miserable state, tightly wrapped in white bandages from head to toe. Rumor had it that many of his bones had been shattered.
The mere fact that he could appear at this ceremony was a testament to Lord Kaido's formidable physical resilience.
Seeing that the new Governor-General was in position, Black Maria spoke solemnly.
"Starting today, the new Governor-General of the Beast Pirates is Uchiha Ryōsuke. Who is in favor, and who is opposed?"
Kaido was the first to step forward and state his position.
"I have no objections."
Since he had lost, he would accept his total defeat. That was his style.
Naturally, no one below dared to dissent. After all, Lord Kaido was injured to such an extent, and since he himself had no objections, no one else would dare question it.
On the contrary, they were more eager to see how this lord would lead the Beast Pirates to even greater glory.
Seeing that no one opposed him, Ryōsuke felt quite pleased.
"I will say a few brief words. Since I have become the new Governor-General of the Beast Pirates, the crew will naturally undergo reforms."
"I will establish the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets here on Onigashima, and I shall be the empire's first Emperor."
"All forces under the Beast Pirates will be reorganized into the military of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets. You will no longer be pirates. Anyone who is unwilling may leave."
"After all, my army will not be as undisciplined and unruly as you are now."
The people below were stunned. Was he founding a nation?
The latter half of his statement meant they would no longer be pirates. Kingdom armies were highly formal and strictly disciplined, unlike their current carefree and unrestrained lifestyle.
For a moment, they didn't know what to choose.
Ulti, however, was thrilled and excited. Although she couldn't be the Governor-General's wife anymore, becoming an Imperial Consort sounded pretty amazing too.
After last night's 'battle,' both her body and heart completely belonged to this lord.
X Drake felt an even stronger sense of foreboding. This man's ambitions were absolutely massive.
He had to be stopped as soon as possible.
"My Lord, even if we found a nation, I'm afraid the World Government will not agree to it."
"After all, we have always been pirates. They will continue to treat us as pirates in the future."
The others felt the same way. It was impossible for the World Government and the Marines to just write off all their past deeds simply because of a single sentence declaring they were no longer pirates.
It was unrealistic.
Ryōsuke spoke indifferently.
"Since when do the World Government and the Marines have a say in the affairs of our Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets? Their opinions are completely irrelevant."
"What matters is that my word is law."
X Drake was shaken to his core. *What a domineering man.* A sense of unease welled up within him. To despise the Marines and the World Government to such an extent—this man was definitely a major threat.
It felt like the world was about to undergo a massive upheaval.
Kaido was also stunned. This brat actually wanted to found a nation, but not a pirate paradise like he had intended.
This made him extremely dissatisfied.
"Brat, are you really going to give up being a pirate to play some make-believe game of kings and emperors?"
"In this world, pirates are the most free! What the hell kind of name is the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets? It's nowhere near as badass as the Pirate Empire."
"You'd be better off establishing a Pirate Empire and turning it into a paradise for pirates."
He naturally had no objections to founding a nation, but he would never agree to abandoning their identity as pirates.
The others shared the same sentiment. Lord Kaido's words had struck a chord in their hearts.
"Lord Ryōsuke, why not do as Lord Kaido said? Establishing a Pirate Empire would be much better."
"Lord Kaido is right."
"There's no need to give up our status as pirates."
"That is what our pirate crew should be doing."
Ryōsuke waved his hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
Only after the hall fell completely silent did he speak with a tone of displeasure.
"Are you the Governor-General, or am I?"
"Kaido, you actually think I'm playing a game of make-believe, and that the name 'Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets' doesn't sound good. Then let me explain it to you."
"I want the territory of the Sun Never Sets to forever bathe in the light of the sun. Do you understand what that implies?"
Kaido was taken aback. He truly didn't understand what that meant.
"What do you mean by that? Is it somehow grander than my vision of establishing a Pirate Empire?"
Black Maria rested her chin in her hand, deep in thought.
As she pondered, it suddenly clicked for her. *The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets... that is truly a massive ambition.*
She spoke up with a smile.
"My Lord, are you planning to establish an empire with a colossal territory?"
"If you want the sunlight to constantly shine upon the nation's soil, then you must conquer the territories in the second half of the Grand Line, and perhaps even the first half. Only then can you ensure that the sun is always shining upon your lands."
"I wonder if I am correct?"
The pirates below were dumbfounded upon hearing Black Maria's simple explanation.
This time, they completely understood.
So that was what it meant.
Indeed, only by doing so could they ensure that the sun would never set on the empire.