Due to the rise of the Araryu Pirates, a chain of world‑level wars erupted: the Sorbet Kingdom Great War, the Divine‑Demon Island War, and the New World Grand Turmoil.
The brutal "Native Extermination Contest" was deliberately broadcast everywhere.
Some member nations finally saw the true cruelty of the Celestial Dragons. Even the Sorbet Kingdom, a loyal member nation, had not been spared.
This threw the internal politics of many member nations into panic.
Combined with the explosive growth of the Revolutionary Army, several member nations were either toppled or already entertaining the idea of defecting from the World Government.
The most terrifying event was the G‑18 Fortress War, detonated by Higashino Araryu, which wiped out all World Government and Marine Headquarters influence in the New World.
Every New World member nation fell under pirate rule.
The World Government lost all the Heavenly Tribute coming from the New World, and the Revolutionary Army had toppled even more nations, causing the Celestial Dragons' income to drop again and again.
Rebuilding Mary Geoise, restoring and expanding Marine Headquarters, all of it required oceans of money.
So the World Government set its eyes on the Yamikane Family, the richest clan in the underworld, intending to bleed them dry and refill their coffers.
This time, one of Stussy's primary missions was to assassinate "King of Loan Sharks" Du Feld.
Once the Yamikane Family experienced even the slightest internal succession struggle, the World Government could swoop in and drain them to make up for the New World's lost Heavenly Tribute.
If the opportunity arose, the World Government even planned to swallow the entire Yamikane Family, a centuries‑old underworld dynasty, in one bite.
They aimed to take over the underworld banking network.
Of course, the underworld factions and the pirates weren't about to accept a banking system run by the World Government.
Which meant, inevitably, a new financial titan would arise to rebuild a new black‑gold order, maintaining the balance between pirates, the underworld, and official powers.
At the moment, the World Government probably just wanted to make a massive profit by squeezing the Yamikane Family, not truly control them.
···
Aside from Stussy and Morgans, the other four Underworld Emperors had no intention of siding with the "One God, Two Emperors."
They preferred remaining ancient families with centuries of heritage, not rulers who shone brightly for a few decades before collapsing.
When facing a dominant pirate emperor of the era, they would simply concede some profits.
After all, no emperor remained on top for more than 50 years. Someone new always replaced them.
But the underworld clans would endure.
In this era, however, Higashino Araryu had appeared, a monster even more tyrannical and powerful than Rocks.
These Underworld Emperors had already decided to give up most of their interests to feed Araryu.
Once he grew old and faded, the next generation's emperor would rise.
And their underworld families would rise again with the tide.
If the next emperor resembled someone like Roger, who chased freedom and adventure, or a blunt-force idiot like Kaido, or pleasure‑loving emperors like Whitebeard and Shanks, then the New World's underworld business would remain securely in the hands of these ancient dark families.
···
These Underworld Emperors and the various elite guests of the New World all respectfully greeted Higashino Araryu and Big Mom.
They had brought many rare gifts to pay tribute to these two giants.
Inside the main hall of the Super Tea Party.
Araryu sat at one end of an enormous long table, with Big Mom at the other. The table stretched hundreds of meters.
Only the most prominent figures of the New World had the right to sit here.
Araryu had not expected that even as a guest, he would receive tribute gifts on par with Big Mom's—and in some cases, even more precious.
This was likely because the Araryu Pirates soared high above the world, making them hard to approach.
So the guests seized this rare chance to curry favor with the Dragon God Emperor.
"Delicious! So good!"
Bonney clambered onto the massive table, devouring the Homies—food with eyes, noses, and mouths that could speak.
Her eating posture was feral, but no one dared scold her.
She was the beloved princess of Higashino Araryu and Bartholomew Kuma.
Seeing Bonney eat with such fearlessness, the white‑haired girl Yamato abandoned etiquette, jumped onto the table, and began eating as well.
The Charlotte siblings watched the two girls, torn between distaste and curiosity.
Especially when looking at the white‑haired little girl wearing seastone cuffs and shackles.
What kind of divine crime had she committed to be treated that way by Araryu, yet still allowed to sit at the main table?
Charlotte Pudding glanced at Araryu in confusion. Was his temper really that good?
Or… did he actually like rough, unrestrained girls?
Should she act a bit more wild, then?
Reading expressions was her specialty, and she was already analyzing what personality and demeanor she should present in front of Araryu.
"Can you two at least try to show some manners? Everyone's watching you. Do you seriously feel no embarrassment?"
Araryu scolded the two little gremlins with amusement, not a trace of real blame in his tone.
This instantly told the Underworld Emperors and VIPs that these two girls were deeply favored.
"That girl's from the Oni race… Is she Kaido's daughter?!"
Big Mom noticed the horns on the white‑haired girl's head, plus the exaggerated seastone cuffs and shackles. She guessed the identity immediately.
The age was a bit off, but still.
"Kaido's daughter, huh!"
Morgans quickly snapped several photos of young Yamato. Even he knew little about the secluded Beast Princess.
A large portion of the big shots present already knew the "Tyrant's Daughter" Bonney had an ability that could manipulate age.
Which meant this white‑haired loli was likely Yamato, reduced in age by Bonney.
Immediately, countless gazes locked onto her, eager to gauge the strength of Kaido's daughter.
"Ehehahaha! Yeah, she's Kaido's kid. She's mastered Haoshoku coating and even has a Mythical Zoan. A total monster."
Araryu swirled his wine glass lazily as he spoke.
A chorus of gasps erupted along the table.
Katakuri, the strongest Sweet Commander, stared in disbelief at the white‑haired girl greedily stuffing food into her mouth.
He himself hadn't mastered Haoshoku coating.
He hadn't expected Kaido's daughter to be so terrifying.
And she possessed the even rarer Mythical Zoan, while his Mochi‑Mochi no Mi was fundamentally a tier below.
Smoothie's brows tightened. A girl even stronger than she was, here for a political marriage?
Was Kaido insane?!
Why give away a daughter who had Haoshoku coating and a Mythical Zoan?
Wouldn't that power be more valuable kept within the Beasts Pirates?
Smoothie suddenly felt her own marriage value drop a whole level.
Maybe Araryu wouldn't even look twice at her strength.
She had been proud of being a Sweet Commander.
Now her confidence was crumbling.
"Gah‑hahahaha! Massive news! I knew it wasn't something simple!"
Morgans took photos nonstop, preparing a Zero‑Bounty Professional Wanted Poster for Yamato.
The nickname was going to be: Dragon God's Little Bride, a Mythical Zoan goddess radiating Haoshoku.