— — — — — — —
After some time watching 'The Dance of Flowers!'
"Huh?"
As Joey watched the mesmerizing dance, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glimmer passed through his eyes.
Moments later, he returned to his usual calm demeanor, though his mind quietly pondered: "Interesting... an illusion, perhaps?"
Joey had never underestimated this world.
Though this world lacked certain specialized training systems, it was far from ordinary.
Here, diverse powers thrived: from physical techniques, Devil Fruits, and Haki, to peculiar energies like ghostly auras, illusions, and witchcraft.
"So beautiful!"
"Yeah!"
"Absolutely stunning!"
The dance had drawn the four young girls into its spell, leaving them utterly captivated.
As for Opera and the other four brothers?
Heh. These were five guys who had no interest in women and lived by the sword.
Did you really expect them to care about something like this?
"Sigh."
Watching his brothers' disinterest, Joey sighed helplessly and muttered, "Let's see... Perospero's already 12, Katakuri's 11, and these little brats are all 8 now. It's about time."
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Joey's gaze took on a sharp edge.
At that moment, the five brothers shuddered in unison, as though sensing an ominous presence targeting them.
Little did they know…That presence was none other than their own elder brother.
Joey kept his usual warm smile and said nothing, for some things didn't need to be spelled out.
After all, they were his brothers. Wasn't it natural for him to make some decisions on their behalf?
Joey thought silently: "It's not like I'm harming them. I'm just planning to arrange some wives for them!"
The family needed to grow, after all. That was the most important thing.
"And who better to spearhead this effort than my capable younger brothers?"
Watching the dance absentmindedly, Joey's mind was racing: "By 18, they'll start courting. Marriage will follow, expanding the family's influence, and of course, producing heirs."
"Perfect plan," he thought, fully satisfied with his decision.
Whether his brothers agreed or not?
They could deal with it.
"If you find someone on your own, fine. But if you don't, and I'm taking care of it for you, you dare to complain?"
Gala, sensing the growing unease, turned to Opera. "Opera-nii, don't you feel like something's off?"
Cadenza nodded. "Gala, I feel it too."
"Yeah."
Counter and Cabaletta also nodded repeatedly.
Opera didn't respond. Instead, his eyes were fixed on their eldest brother.
The five of them exchanged uneasy glances.
And when they saw Joey's smile directed their way, they froze.
A chill ran down their spines.
Absolutely. Their big brother was targeting them. They didn't know why, but being under his scrutiny always led to trouble.
"What do we do?"
"I don't know!"
"Did we do something wrong lately?"
"No! I don't think so!"
They looked as though they were on the verge of tears.
What the hell?
Why were they suddenly being targeted by their big brother?
Joey smiled as he withdrew his gaze.
There was no need to explain too much now.
He'd arrange everything when the time came.
— — —
As time passed, the Dance of Flowers gradually drew to a close.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Joey smiled and applauded. "What an enchanting performance. Even my little sisters were utterly entranced. It's captivating enough to charm even young girls."
"Oh my," Hana chuckled lightly, covering her mouth. "Joey-sama, weren't you enchanted as well?"
Joey replied warmly, "Beauty is meant to be admired. But losing oneself in it... now that's dangerous, wouldn't you agree, Miss Hana?"
Hana nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right."
The two of them exchanged formalities, though beneath the surface, both were maneuvering to gain the upper hand in their negotiations.
Unlike weaker nations Joey could easily overpower, the Kano Country was a global superpower, and its strength was undeniable.
Currently, the Charlotte Family and the Kano Country were on even footing.
This wasn't a game.
If the World Government's Great Naval Recruitment could uncover monsters like Fujitora and Ryokugyu, surely these superpowers had their own trump cards as well.
The Kano Country was no exception.
Joey tapped his fingers lightly on the table as Hana proposed, "Supporting this deal isn't an issue, but only 3,000 Gene Fruits? Isn't that a bit too few?"
Joey chuckled. "Miss Hana, 3,000 Gene Fruits is already a significant quantity. You're aware of how low the production rate is. This represents two, maybe even three years of output from the Charlotte Family."
Two or three years?
Hana inwardly cursed: "Liar. Does he even blink when spouting nonsense?"
Indeed, Joey was bluffing.
Negotiations were like that. Lies were part of the game.
As their discussion continued, Joey's teacup emptied. Without a word, the teapot floated mid-air, pouring tea into his cup before gently settling back on the table.
"Hmm?"
Hana's sharp gaze caught the subtle act.
It was a warning.
Joey's silent message was clear: he could act freely without anyone knowing, including taking her life if needed.
Though she recognized the threat, Hana remained composed and smiled. "3,000 fruits are too few. Let's settle this through strength, shall we? Though barbaric, it's effective."
Joey nodded. "If you win, I'll raise it to 4,000."
"Agreed."
The two locked eyes briefly, each assessing the other.
Soon after, they arrived at a grand training arena.
The Kano Country, understanding the importance of power, had always invested heavily in nurturing strong warriors.
Standing at the edge of the arena, Hana gestured. "Chinjao, if you would."
"HAHAHA!"
A man with a pointed, conical head stepped forward, laughing boldly.
"The pillar of the Happo Navy—Chinjao!"
Though his name wasn't as renowned as it would later become, Chinjao's strength was undeniable.
Even Garp had needed special training to counter him.
At 40 years old, Chinjao was already a near-legendary powerhouse.
Joey surveyed the scene.
"Not bad," he thought, noting the eight warriors representing the Kano Country's elite Happo Navy.
"Opera," Joey called out with a smile. "You and your brothers handle this."
"Yes, Big Bro!"
The battle began.
.
.
.