New World — Totland, Whole Cake Island.
In the heart of a massive gothic castle shaped like a towering layer cake stood a luxurious pink chamber fit for a princess.
There, on an enormous bed sat—or rather lay—a broad-shouldered man, eyes empty and lifeless. His hands and feet were bound by pure seastone shackles, and nails infused with the power of the Book-Book Fruit further anchored him in place.
"Ma ma ma ma! Black hair really does suit you! Very spirited!"
"Much more charming than that old fool Sengoku when he dyed his hair black!"
Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, chuckled gleefully as she admired the once-legendary "Iron Fist" Souta Kiryuu. His hair and beard had been dyed black, making him look decades younger. He almost resembled the fierce, gallant warrior who once brought down Rocks D. Xebec.
Now, that same heroic figure had fallen into her hands—completely at her mercy.
Kiryuu shut his eyes. A single tear slid down the side of his face, tracing the wrinkles of a man who had long lost the will to live.
That monstrous woman… Charlotte Linlin—how dare she!
To inject him with an aphrodisiac strong enough to drive a Sea King into heat—what cruelty, what degradation! Even his iron will had crumbled before Big Mom's shameless tactics.
For the proud marine hero, the humiliation was unbearable. Just thinking of her bloated, monstrous body made despair twist painfully in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to erase this disgust from existence—erase himself along with it.
Perhaps it would be better to die. Yes… better to die.
That thought—raw and final—took root in his weary soul.
"Hmph! You think you can die that easily? Eat! Eat it, damn you!"
Big Mom smacked him hard across the head. Two Homies grabbed his jaw and forced his mouth open as she spoon-fed him thick meat stew with brutal insistence.
"Starve yourself to death? Not on my watch!"
As Kiryuu gagged and choked, she grinned wide enough to show her broken teeth.
"I'll seal you inside a book—my precious collection! I'll watch you every day!"
She had already taken what she wanted from his body—blood, essence, and more. She'd dosed him several times, drawing samples for her secret experiments. In her dealings with the mysterious pirate Araryū Higashino, she had even offered a portion of Kiryuu's blood and flesh as part of their pact.
"Pururururu…"
Her personal transponder snail began to ring just as she leaned back to admire her "trophy."
With a grunt of irritation, Big Mom sealed Kiryuu back into the enchanted book and answered the call.
"Finished with Kiryuu yet? Doraggu has already teamed up with the Navy and me to move against you. Playtime's over—release him while you still can."
Araryū's calm voice crackled through the line, blunt and fearless.
Big Mom's eyes bulged with fury. "What?! You said you'd buy me a few months!"
She wasn't nearly done with her "toy." Her husbands in the past had lasted at least until they'd birthed her offspring—sometimes longer. One month was nothing!
"You've only got yourself to blame," Araryū's voice chilled. "Your sloppy secrecy let Doraggu uncover your little stunt. Listen—if your plan worked, fine. But if you got what you came for, release Kiryuu. He's no use to you now."
The frost in his tone cooled her temper a little. She might be a Yonko, but she wasn't stupid. Without Araryū's mediation, even her Totland Empire couldn't withstand a joint assault from the Revolutionaries and the Marines.
"I want compensation," she hissed. "Several airships and a batch of artificial Devil Fruits. Then I'll let him go."
"That's acceptable," Araryū replied coolly. "And keep quiet about your child. To the world, Kiryuu and you are both too old to conceive—understand? If Doraggu catches wind of it before the birth, don't expect me to save you."
Big Mom seethed. "Spare me your lectures!" Click.
The transponder snail went silent. She grabbed the massive book again, smirking.
Before releasing this "treasure," she would indulge herself one last time.
Elsewhere, Araryū waited a full hour before responding to Doraggu's inquiry. When he finally did, he spun a convincing tale—claiming Big Mom had extorted an enormous price before agreeing to release Kiryuu out of respect for Araryū's face.
Doraggu sighed in relief and even promised Araryū additional compensation. He suspected manipulation, but it was a lesser evil. Launching an open rescue with admiral Aokiji would have been a costly, risky endeavor—and if the World Government caught even a whisper of collusion, Aokiji himself would be doomed.
Letting Araryū act as a middleman had saved them all from chaos. In a world this brutal, even finding someone willing to negotiate was a small miracle.
Araryū, having profited from both sides, resolved the "Iron Fist Kiryuu" crisis elegantly. Big Mom and Doraggu were both satisfied—for now.
According to Lafitte's report, negotiations with Whitebeard's remnants were also advancing smoothly. Araryū's envoy had convinced Marco that Blackbeard Teach no longer existed as an independent will—the body now served only as Araryū's puppet.
If the remnants dared to challenge that reality, the Araryū Pirates would meet them in open war.
The news ignited bitter debate among Whitebeard's remaining captains. But their loyalty to their fallen father prevailed. For the sake of reclaiming Whitebeard's body, Marco overruled internal objections. Each division captain and allied commander was given freedom to choose—stay or leave.
He himself made the decision—to meet Araryū face-to-face. Together with the Ice Witch, he would land on Beehive Island and negotiate directly for Whitebeard's remains.
"I must admit," Araryū murmured with a faint smile, "Marco truly is a good son."
Hearing that the remnants were en route stirred a quiet satisfaction in him. This was what it meant to hold power—to command respect from all corners of the sea.
Doraggu's requests, Big Mom's submission, Marco's initiative—this was the authority of a true sovereign.
"Negotiations with Whitebeard's men are nearly settled," Nico Robin reported with her own subtle smile. "They've agreed to serve under the Araryū Pirates while retaining their flag as a subsidiary crew. The remaining Devil Fruit users will also offer their blood willingly."
The alliance of a former Yonko's remnants would elevate Araryū's empire to unmatched heights across the New World. Even Jinbei the Knight of the Sea, once sworn to Whitebeard's protection of Fish-Man Island, would now heed Araryū's call.
Without betraying their ideals, Whitebeard's sons would become Araryū's sword—one forged to strike at the World Government itself.
For they, too, had vengeance to take on the Five Elders.