Chapter 214: Archipelago Unification!
Seeing that Suzaku hadn't immediately noticed hers among the massive stack of freshly printed papers, Nami practically vibrated with impatient energy.
Unable to contain her excitement for a single second longer, she leaned heavily over the heavy oak desk.
With a frantic, highly enthusiastic rustle of stiff paper, she anxiously shoved her newly issued bounty poster right into Suzaku's face, nearly smacking him in the nose with it.
Suzaku took the parchment from her trembling hands, caught entirely between amusement and exasperation.
He leaned back in his luxurious high-backed chair, smoothing out the wrinkled edges of the world government's official document.
His dark eyes quickly scanned the bold, black ink that declared her a global threat.
[Executive Officer — "Navigator" Nami]
[Bounty: 150,000,000 Berries]
"Oh?" Suzaku raised a single, expressive eyebrow, his voice laced with a thick layer of playful teasing.
"Not bad at all. It seems our cowardly little Navigator is now officially a great, terrifying pirate with a massive bounty of over a hundred million."
He tapped the glossy paper, pointing out the beautiful, highly flattering photograph of Nami winking at the camera.
"You'll definitely have to be incredibly careful when going out for shopping sprees from now on."
Suzaku's lips curled into a wicked, teasing grin as he handed the poster back to her.
"Desperate bounty hunters and underground assassins absolutely love targeting 'fat sheep' like you. Especially those who look like they have absolutely no real combat power to defend themselves."
"Hmph, I won't be afraid of them!" Nami puffed out her chest proudly, placing her hands firmly on her slender hips.
She let out a bright, silvery laugh that echoed clearly through the spacious room, her eyes sparkling with the allure of her newfound infamy.
"I am an official Executive Officer of the great, world-shaking Suzaku Pirates! My future bounty will definitely climb even higher than this!"
She flipped her vibrant orange hair over her shoulder, acting exactly like an untouchable queen of the sea.
"Just some filthy, low-level bounty hunters... I can handle them!"
However, the incredibly brave facade barely lasted for three seconds.
Her proud posture suddenly deflated, her shoulders shrinking inward as her overly active imagination conjured images of ruthless assassins lurking in dark alleyways.
She nervously twiddled her thumbs, looking at Suzaku with big, highly expressive, and deeply cowardly eyes.
"But... Captain, will they... will they really come looking for trouble with me specifically?"
After only two tough, boastful sentences, she had completely, helplessly revealed her true, money-loving but danger-fearing nature again.
Suzaku shook his head with a quiet, highly amused smile, completely ignoring her sudden panic.
His sharp gaze swept carefully over the last few thick bounty posters resting at the bottom of the tall stack.
Those specific documents were the newly issued bounty posters representing their rapidly expanding subordinate forces.
The fierce warriors of the Mink Tribe were likely being treated by the Marines as standard, unnamed crew members and weren't listed separately by the World Economy News Paper.
However, the colossal Giant Soldier Pirates, who had technically arrived late to the climax of the war, were prominently, terrifyingly listed for the entire world to see.
[Suzaku Subordinate Force — Giant Soldier Pirates]
["Blue Ogre" Dorry and "Red Ogre" Brogy (Captains)]
[Bounty: 1,200,000,000 Berries each]
[Giant Crew Members — Kashi and Oimo]
[Bounty: 200,000,000 Berries each]
"Ha... even these massive giants who didn't actually participate in the main, bloody battle against Kaido have seen their geopolitical value skyrocket overnight."
Suzaku chuckled softly, shaking his head at the sheer, panicked overcompensation of the naval headquarters.
"It seems the Marine top brass still places an incredibly great, historical importance on the raw destructive power of Elbaf giants!"
Suzaku casually stacked all the heavy bounty posters together into a neat pile and tossed them onto the corner of his desk.
He leaned deeply back into his chair, lacing his fingers together as he analyzed the deeper meaning behind the numbers.
The Marines obviously wanted to use the varying levels of these astronomical bounties to subtly sow discord and divide their ranks, didn't they?
By assigning different values to different executives, they hoped to breed jealousy and internal friction among the "monsters."
How utterly, completely ridiculous.
Those old fools sitting in their pristine offices in Marineford had absolutely no idea about the true nature of his crew.
They didn't know that for Suzaku, the higher the bounty of his summoned companions, the happier and more powerful he would actually become.
Suzaku closed his eyes for a brief moment, shifting his focus inward to look at the glowing, ethereal interface floating in his mind.
He watched the glowing numbers of the [Multiverse Summoning System].
The counter of his highly coveted Legend Points was still rapidly ticking upwards as time passed, fueled by the global panic their victory had caused.
The fools in the World Government wouldn't ever know that the greater his infamy spread across the seas, the more Legend Points he would passively gain.
And the more points he accumulated, the vastly stronger his foundation for becoming the absolute ruler of this world would be...
...
The next day arrived, bringing a profound, unprecedented peace to the war-torn nation.
In the crisp, early morning of Wano Country, the bright golden sunlight carried a refreshing, highly pleasant hint of sea breeze saltiness.
The warm light spilled gently through the intricately carved wooden window lattices of the grand Suzaku Mansion.
It cast beautiful, geometric shadows directly onto the heavily polished, massive mahogany dining table.
The air inside the luxurious dining hall was completely filled with the mouth-watering, heavenly aroma of a traditional breakfast.
It was a meticulous masterpiece prepared entirely by Rem's own delicate, highly skilled hands, carrying a scent profound enough to make any seasoned gourmet weep tears of joy.
Suzaku was quietly enjoying this incredibly rare, highly precious moment of absolute tranquility after days of endless slaughter and political restructuring.
He was dressed in a comfortable, loose-fitting morning kimono, his usually sharp aura completely relaxed.
Using an elegant silver fork, he gently brought a small, perfectly cooked piece of golden Tamagoyaki to his mouth.
The fluffy, slightly sweet egg melted instantly on his tongue, bringing a look of profound, relaxed satisfaction to his handsome face.
"Lord Suzaku."
A sudden, incredibly soft, and profoundly respectful voice sounded from the grand entrance of the dining hall.
Albedo, dressed impeccably in a highly elegant, pure white dress that trailed beautifully across the polished floorboards, stepped in completely silently.
Her majestic black wings were neatly folded behind her back, and her raven-black hair cascaded perfectly over her shoulders.
On her stunning, flawlessly beautiful face, there was a heavy, unmistakable hint of deep fanaticism.
It was an obsessive, burning devotion that only ever appeared in her golden, heterochromatic eyes when she directly faced Suzaku.
"I have flawlessly followed your supreme will and guided the colossal Zou, 'Zunesha,' to securely anchor in the deep outer seas of Onigashima."
Her official report was incredibly precise, crisp, and highly efficient, befitting the Overseer of the Guardians.
"The primitive Mink Tribe residing on the back of the island... were very 'sensible' upon receiving your orders."
A very subtle, highly dismissive sneer ghosted across her beautiful lips when mentioning the animalistic warriors.
"They have proactively, immediately left the safety of the elephant's back to deeply assist in the heavy, manual construction of Onigashima's new industrial zone."
Suzaku didn't look back at her, keeping his focus on the peaceful morning view outside the window.
He simply reached out and took another slow, highly appreciative sip of his steaming, perfectly brewed black tea before saying slowly:
"Albedo."
"I am here, my Lord!"
Albedo instantly stiffened, her posture becoming absolutely rigid with military precision as she awaited his divine command.
"Your specific choice of words needs to be corrected immediately."
Suzaku gently but firmly put down his delicate porcelain teacup, the slight clink echoing loudly in the quiet room.
His voice was perfectly calm, entirely devoid of anger, yet it carried a heavy, completely unquestionable absolute authority that demanded immediate obedience.
"They are absolutely not mere tools, nor are they lowly, expendable subordinates to be casually described as 'sensible' by you."
He finally turned his head, his dark eyes locking directly onto her golden ones, ensuring she understood the fundamental philosophy of his rule.
"From the very moment they bowed their heads and solemnly swore absolute loyalty to me, they completely became our rightful citizens."
Suzaku's tone was incredibly firm, establishing the absolute law of his new, rising empire.
"They must be strictly treated according to the high, respectable standards of our own people. There will be no needless oppression under my banner."
Albedo was visibly, completely stunned for a brief moment.
Her beautiful eyes widened in sheer surprise at his profound, highly compassionate declaration regarding beings she considered infinitely beneath them.
And then, deep within those golden heterochromatic eyes, the terrifying, obsessive light of absolute fanaticism grew even deeper, burning hotter than a dying star.
She was completely overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of his majestic benevolence.
She immediately bowed incredibly deeply, her torso bending until her head nearly touched her knees.
Her pristine white skirt flared out beautifully across the polished floor, looking exactly like a pure white lotus flower in glorious, full bloom.
"Yes! I completely, utterly understand your profound wisdom, Lord Suzaku!"
Her voice trembled with raw, unrestrained adoration.
"Your boundless, supreme benevolence shall surely spread across the four seas and conquer the hearts of all living beings!"
After slowly, gracefully straightening up her posture, she immediately changed the subject back to pressing military matters.
However, her tone now carried a heavy, terrifying hint of sharp, territorial possessiveness regarding her master's newly acquired belongings.
"Furthermore, Lord Suzaku, the brutal Kaido's vast legacy absolutely isn't strictly limited to the borders of Wano Country."
She stepped closer to the table, her mind operating with the ruthless, calculating efficiency of a supreme commander.
"He forcefully occupied the dangerous waters of the New World for many long, bloody years."
Albedo's eyes narrowed dangerously, a dark aura briefly leaking from her form.
"There are still dozens of highly valuable, resource-rich islands scattered in the surrounding, treacherous waters that were previously under his direct command."
She placed a slender hand on her hip, her expression turning into one of absolute, aristocratic disgust.
"Now that the Beasts Pirates have been completely wiped out and the shocking news has spread globally, the sea is in chaos."
"Many filthy, opportunistic flies from the underworld and other pirate crews will likely want to greedily lay their dirty hands on your rightful property."
Her voice dropped an octave, dripping with highly concentrated, lethal intent.
"We must immediately, violently send our elite people to physically occupy them and slaughter anyone who dares touch what is yours!"
When she deliberately said the derogatory word "flies," Albedo's terrifying, demonic killing intent almost became a physical, suffocating presence in the dining hall.
"Hmm, that is indeed a very significant, highly annoying logistical problem."
Suzaku calmly wiped the corner of his mouth with a pristine white linen napkin, completely unbothered by her sudden burst of bloodlust.
Rem, who was standing quietly and faithfully by his side, immediately understood his silent need.
She stepped forward gracefully and smoothly refilled his empty cup with fresh, steaming black tea without making a single sound.
He looked down quietly at the thick, swirling steam rising slowly from the hot cup, his dark eyes highly focused.
He looked exactly as if he were merely pondering a most ordinary, mundane daily problem, rather than the geopolitical restructuring of the New World.
"There's naturally, absolutely no valid reason to simply let others have even a tiny share of the vast territory we've rightfully, bloodily conquered."
He tapped his finger against the mahogany table, identifying the core issue of a maritime empire.
"But... those individual islands are far too incredibly scattered and far apart across highly dangerous weather zones."
He frowned slightly, calculating the immense drain on their current resources.
"This massive distance makes constant fleet travel highly inconvenient, the basic management costs entirely too high, and our military response efficiency far too low."
He pondered in absolute silence for a long, heavy moment, the entire room waiting with bated breath for his supreme decision.
Then, a sudden, highly audacious spark of absolute madness ignited in his dark eyes.
He slowly looked up.
He looked directly at the beautiful, blue-haired girl standing beside him, who always stood quietly in attendance like a perfect, flawless model of a loyal maid.
"Rem."
"Rem is here, Lord Suzaku."
Rem immediately, sharply stopped her graceful movements of arranging the silverware.
She turned and bowed deeply to Suzaku, her sky-blue eyes filled with absolute, unwavering devotion as she patiently waited for his supreme instructions.
Suzaku smiled slightly, a highly confident, incredibly domineering curve appearing on his handsome face.
"Since they are geographically far too incredibly distant to efficiently manage in their current locations..."
He paused, letting the sheer absurdity of his next command build in the silent room.
"...then let's simply make them not far anymore."
He spoke the impossible, world-breaking words incredibly easily.
His casual tone was exactly as if he were merely saying 'bring that wooden chair over here to the table'.
"It will be incredibly hard, physically exhausting work for you this time, my dear Rem."
He looked deeply into her eyes, conveying the absolute trust he placed entirely in her capable hands.
"My grand, definitive idea is for you, Ram, and Ulquiorra to immediately set out together on the heavy cruiser, the Pola."
Suzaku stood up from his chair, his imposing figure towering in the morning light.
"I want you to heavily utilize your newly acquired 'Float-Float Fruit' ability."
He pointed a commanding finger toward the vast, open window, gesturing toward the endless, churning ocean beyond the horizon.
"I want you to physically, literally bring back absolutely all the massive islands that originally belonged to the Beasts Pirates' vast territory."
His voice grew louder, vibrating with the sheer scale of his terrifying ambition.
"Along with their very bedrock foundations, their mountains, and their cities... I want you to uproot them and bring them all back directly to me!"
"!!!"
Even someone as fiercely fanatical, highly intelligent, and inherently powerful as Albedo felt her breath completely hitch in her throat.
Her golden, heterochromatic pupils shrank violently into tiny, terrified pinpricks the very moment she heard this impossible, god-like plan!
Mov... moving entire, massive islands across the treacherous New World?!
Suzaku's index finger tapped lightly, rhythmically on the polished wooden table, tracing invisible, massive lines.
He was acting exactly as if he were casually pointing at a future, completely redrawn world map that only he could currently see.
"I want you to physically stack those floating islands tightly together, exactly like massive, highly fortified building blocks."
He swept his arm in a wide, encompassing gesture.
"Arrange them perfectly in the immediate, secure waters heavily surrounding Wano Country and Onigashima."
The sheer, terrifying magnitude of his vision was completely, utterly breathtaking.
"From this day forward, this entire, massive sea area will physically become a single, connected, impenetrable entity!"
His eyes burned with the brilliant, terrifying fire of a true, undisputed conqueror.
"An unprecedented, highly fortified... Archipelago Empire completely of our own making!"
He looked back down at the stunned, silent Rem and continued, his voice echoing with absolute finality.
"This highly efficient way, absolutely all of our vast territories will be constantly, securely close at hand."
He laid out the flawless, brilliant logistical benefits of his insane endeavor.
"Whether it's the rapid, massive mobilization of crucial resources, impregnable military defense against Marine Buster Calls, or the safe, fast movement of our people..."
"There will be absolutely no more geographical obstacles dividing our supreme power."
Suzaku stood tall, his silhouette framed perfectly by the rising sun, looking like a god descending upon the mortal realm.
"I officially, proudly call this grand, world-shaking plan—'Archipelago Unification'."
The entire, massive dining hall fell into an absolute, suffocating, completely stunned silence.
Only the soft, distant sound of the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs could be heard.
However, only Rem, after recovering swiftly from her initial, completely natural surprise, reacted differently.
An incomparable, blazing light of absolute trust and profound, tearful brilliance began rapidly shining in her beautiful sky-blue eyes.
Her beloved Captain had once again, effortlessly conceived a grand, terrifying blueprint that completely transcended all bounds of mortal imagination.
He was reshaping the very geography of the world just to protect his people.
And she, a humble maid, would actually be the most critical, highly trusted executor of this divine, impossible blueprint.
Rem stepped back and bowed incredibly deeply once more, her posture absolutely flawless.
Her sweet voice was incredibly clear, completely steady, and entirely firm, without a single, tiny hint of fear or hesitation in her soul.
"Rem completely, utterly understands your supreme will."
She slowly looked up, a breathtakingly beautiful smile of immense, overwhelming happiness and profound, absolute pride blooming radiantly on her face.
"I swear upon my life, I guarantee the monumental mission will be flawlessly completed, Lord Suzaku."
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