The battle lasted for three days and three nights without a clear victor, and it was this evenly matched fight that laid the foundation for Shanks to become a Four Emperors.
"That concludes Shanks' movements. His next destination should be the Giant Race's country—Elbaf."
Hathaway's cool gaze fell on Nero, observing her reaction.
"Hmmph, I'm not interested in any of that. What a waste of time!" the Emperor concluded after hearing the entire account.
Hathaway sighed, accustomed to Nero's occasional tsundere behavior: "Alas, this is merely my, Hathaway's, musings."
"However, I heard that Shanks' actions this time have landed him on Totto Land's blacklist. Charlotte Linlin has completely forbidden Red Hair from entering Totto Land's territory."
"Moreover, Shanks seems to have had some contact with the World Government. This trip to Elbaf also appears to be due to some kind of transaction."
Nero frowned. Shanks and the World Government? What a strange combination.
However, she did not offer an opinion and continued to listen to Hathaway's report.
Hathaway lowered her eyes, her pupils subtly glancing at the silent Nero, then moved on to the next piece of news.
"Tesoro has agreed to Your Majesty's request to build a new Gold City at sea within five years, to serve as Nicuss's money bag and double the nation's assets. He has already departed Nicuss."
"Hmmph, I hope he isn't just going to squander these five years away."
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. We have dispatched a special commissioner to monitor him. If Tesoro fails to deliver the expected results periodically... I will find another Gold-Gold Fruit for Your Majesty on the high seas."
Her eyes clear, Hathaway's voice deepened slightly.
"Then let's leave it at that for now." Nero thought it over and decided this method of handling it was also good: "Oh, and for the new Gold City, I want it to be able to sail on the sea."
"Understood!" Hathaway nodded: "There's one more thing: the disposition of Doflamingo."
"Doffy? Wasn't it already decided that he would be executed?" Nero was a little confused. The life or death of a trivial plaything had been decided by a coin toss at the time. Did it really need to be brought up specifically?
"Yes, Lord Holio and a host of other ministers have all expressed that if this man's life is not important, they hope he can return to continue controlling the underworld."
"Hmmph, is that guy really so resourceful? To be able to get so many people to plead for him?"
Nero became interested: "Doffy also has a younger brother. Didn't I say to send him back to manage things? Yet that was rejected. Is it his charisma?"
"In a sense, that's not wrong..." Hathaway's gaze drifted towards Nero, "It's just Your Majesty's 'charisma'."
Hathaway didn't have strong feelings about Doflamingo. Although he was the mastermind in deceiving Nero, his initial positioning was different.
He was merely a diversion when she was bored, and Nero's temporary wallet. It was fine if he occasionally caused a stir. When she grew tired of him, she might just turn him into fertilizer while sipping tea and admiring flowers.
"Hmmph, fine, then I'll spare his life. However, he will still need to deliver results periodically."
Nero pondered for a moment and decided to pardon Doflamingo. Primarily, it was because he had completed the transformation from pirate to king to Shichibukai in a short period.
This journey could be called legendary. Since someone was pleading for him, Nero decided to see what else this fellow could do.
"Oh, and while he's spared from death, he won't escape punishment. Gouging out an eye will help him remember. Tell him this is my last act of grace."
"Understood. I will go and convey Your Majesty's decree immediately."
Hathaway bowed and withdrew. Nero also packed her gear, planning to go fishing with Koushirou.
Koushirou was quite an interesting fellow. At least in terms of sword forging, Nero considered him to be on the same level as herself.
Facing one of the few people who could keep up with her thoughts, they still had plenty to talk about together.
Sitting in the stone-carved carriage, Nero placed the fishing gear and bento: "Hmmph, we can go."
Zoro: "..."
Looking at the arm-thick iron chains on his body and Nero sitting comfortably in the stone carriage, Zoro once again felt that she was different from Kuina; she was truly just casually teaching him.
The kind where life and death were inconsequential.
"Do you really think I can pull this thing and take you up the mountain?" Zoro asked a soul-searching question.
"Is there a problem?" Nero asked, completely matter-of-factly.
"There's a huge problem, okay?! How could this possibly work?! I'll die!!"
"Hmmph... Stop whining. I don't care about any of that. Run for me!"
"You..."
Zoro gritted his teeth, but in the end, he reluctantly pulled the iron chains and began to move forward.
One step, two steps, one step, one step... *cough cough*. In short, Zoro began to exert himself, putting all his strength into each step, and the stone carriage slowly moved forward.
"Hurry up! I'll be late at this rate!" Nero urged from above.
"Then you should have left earlier!" Zoro articulated with great difficulty, one word at a time.
"I have a ton of things to do every day. You just need to focus on running. I have so much more to consider."
"Moreover, I've made adjustments based on your body. You can definitely bear this weight now. Hmmph, surpass your limits!"
"Is that so? My apologies." Zoro blinked, feeling he had misunderstood Nero. He had initially thought she was deliberately making things difficult.
But after apologizing, he felt something wasn't quite right, yet the weight from behind him left him no time to ponder, so he could only focus on continuing to exert himself.
After another hundred meters or so, Zoro felt a burning pain from where the iron chains wrapped around him, and his body momentarily felt drained of strength.
Shaking his head, he admonished himself, 'Zoro, this isn't your limit yet. Don't relax. You promised to become the Worlds Greatest Swordsman with Kuina.'
Zoro entered the woods. Nero waved to the side: "Kuina, your next task is here! Pull the carriage with Zoro. I'm going to be late for fishing!"
Zoro stumbled, nearly falling, and looked at Nero in disbelief. This carriage was to be pulled by two people?
Kuina emerged from the woods to see Zoro like an ox or a horse, and Nero dressed as if she were going on vacation.
Those endless chains were truly unbearable to look at... Her refusal was clear. Kuina took half a step back: "Never, even if I die!"
Nero was completely unfazed. One sentence was enough to deal with this situation: "Is that all your resolve amounts to?"
Kuina: "..."
The carriage speed finally picked up. Nero narrowed her eyes in thought, deciding that she really needed to add another cushion; her bottom felt a little bumpy.
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