— — — — — — —
Is Chinjao strong?
There's no need to doubt it.
Just like there's no need to doubt how far the Worst Generation, who emerged in the same era as Luffy, can grow under the legends and pressure of monsters like Gol D. Roger, Shiki, and Edward Newgate...
The fact that they still became legendary monsters in their own right speaks volumes. Could they possibly be weak?
In the Kingdom of Kano, Chinjao is truly famous. That alone shows his strength.
Among the Eight Families, only Chinjao has risen to become a top-tier powerhouse on the seas. However...Chinjao isn't at his peak yet.
Or rather, he hasn't reached his limits.
At the very least, he's not strong enough to handle this situation.
Faced with an onslaught from the Opera Five Brothers, Chinjao was clearly at a disadvantage.
His body was covered in wounds.
And what about the five brothers? Not one of them was seriously injured.
Each of them was as lively as ever!
It couldn't be helped.
Let's not even talk about Gala and his absurd Phoenix Fruit powers.
Among these opponents, who wasn't a Mythical Zoan user?
Competing with Mythical Zoans in recovery ability? That's just plain foolish!
Counter, Cadenza, and Cabaletta took the lead in attacking.
Gala kept up a relentless harassment.
And Opera?
The strongest of the five brothers gripped his Azure Dragon Blade. Every time the opportunity arose, he would strike with three precise slashes.
Don't underestimate those three strikes.
The pressure Chinjao felt from those three slashes was heavier than from the other four brothers' attacks combined.
Opera's three strikes were like fighting a swordsman using the Three-Sword Style.
The suppression was overwhelming.
"Hmm," Joey observed, glancing at Queen Hana, whose expression was slightly uneasy. However, as the queen of the Kingdom of Kano, she quickly composed herself and smiled.
"Miss Hana, it seems the outcome has been decided," Joey said with a polite smile.
"Yes, it has," Hana replied, her smile unwavering. "I didn't expect the five brothers of Clan Leader Joey to be so strong."
Joey chuckled. "Their strength comes from their hard work, just as Mr. Chinjao's strength is unquestionable."
"Ahhhh!!!" Chinjao roared furiously, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
But it was no use.
In the end, his resistance was meaningless.
Chinjao was slammed into the ground, unconscious.
There was no helping it.
Fighting one versus five against Mythical Zoans?
Even most elites wouldn't stand a chance.
Not even someone like Chinjao, with the strength of a Level 9 Bronze-tier warrior.
Even if Chinjao were a Level 1 Silver-tier quasi-admiral or a Level 2 Silver-tier admiral, it wouldn't matter.
After all, these five are combat monsters, skilled in physical combat and masters of Haki. Add to that their demonic heritage, which makes them stronger the more they fight, and their top-tier weapons and armor.
Couple that with the powers of their Mythical Zoan Fruits...Together, these five are the epitome of destruction on the battlefield, true generals capable of slaughtering thousands.
Very few could face them without suffering losses.
Joey is an exception, of course.
His Greatsword Legion is a cheat-level force. In a head-on clash, even someone like Linlin could be taken down.
That said, the Greatsword Legion does have its weaknesses. If an enemy stays over 30 meters away, they're out of its range.
— — —
Boom!
Chinjao fell to the ground.
With that, the battle was truly over.
"Sigh," Hana said with a trace of regret. "What a pity. Well, as agreed, we'll trade 3,000 Gene Fruits."
Joey smiled warmly. "Of course, Miss Hana. However, you'll have to pick them up yourself. In two months, come to Cake Island to collect them."
Hana nodded. "Agreed."
Joey extended his hand with a smile. "A pleasure doing business with you."
Hana shook his hand and replied, "Likewise."
With that, the deal was sealed.
But Joey had no intention of delivering the goods himself.
What a joke! The Charlotte Family has no such tradition. Besides, too many eyes are watching. If something goes wrong, it could spell disaster.
It's safer for Hana to retrieve the goods herself.
After all, the Kingdom of Kano has a much grander reputation than the Charlotte Family.
The Charlotte Family's rise to power only began four years ago—they're still considered upstarts.
Compared to the Kingdom of Kano, a superpower with centuries, even millennia, of history, they're on entirely different levels.
With the agreement settled, Joey and his men departed.
Their business here was done, and there was no reason to linger.
Whoosh!
As the ships sailed away, Chinjao approached, his body wrapped in bandages. He looked downcast.
"Your Majesty," he said, his voice heavy with shame, "I've brought disgrace upon myself. I lost to a group of mere brats!"
"Ha ha ha," Hana laughed softly. "Uncle Chinjao, what's there to be ashamed of? Just win next time. They had the best weapons, the best armor, and the best Devil Fruits. It's no surprise they won. You just need to grow stronger."
"Hmm!" Chinjao nodded firmly. "After this battle, I can sense that I'm close to breaking through my limits!"
Clench!
He tightened his fist, his eyes sharp.
"In the next two years, I'll shatter this barrier!"
Hana smiled gently. "Uncle Chinjao, the future of the Kingdom of Kano depends on you and the other uncles. Great-Grandfather is getting old."
"Yes," Chinjao said solemnly, nodding in agreement.
The Kingdom of Kano has always been managed by one family.
The Eight Families of the Happo Navy are all relatives of Hana—royal kin.
And the strongest in the Kingdom of Kano is their Great-Grandfather.
Leadership has always stayed within the family.
Losing 1,000 Gene Fruits didn't bother Hana. Though they lost the battle, Chinjao's potential to grow stronger outweighed the loss.
The difference between one powerful warrior and 1,000 ordinary soldiers was clear.
In her heart, Hana thought, "Charlotte Joey... You truly are terrifying. The Charlotte Family, the Big Mom Pirates—you're not taking it one step at a time. You want to reach the top in one giant leap."
A faint laugh escaped her lips as she murmured, "Who would've thought that a family of pirates could rise to this level in just 14 years?"
With that, she shook off her thoughts and turned to leave.
In this world, life doesn't stop for anyone's absence.
As the Queen of the Kingdom of Kano, Hana had plenty of responsibilities to deal with.
The Charlotte Family might be important, but analyzing and strategizing over them? That was a job for her advisors. If the Queen handled every matter herself, what was the point of having a council?
— — —
Elsewhere, Joey stood at the edge of his ship, gazing out at the vast, blue sea.
The waves splashed gently as their ship gradually sailed out of the West Blue.
To be honest, there were still so many places Joey hadn't explored.
But before he could dwell on that thought, Gala ran up to him.
"Big bro! The Five Mafia Bosses of the West Blue have sent a message. They want to make a deal with us!"
Joey raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "They want to trade with us?"
"Yeah, that's right!" Gala nodded, equally puzzled.
Joey narrowed his eyes, pondering.
The Five Mafia Bosses—pillars of the West Blue's underground world. They controlled nearly all of its shadowy dealings.
On the surface, the West Blue had the Kingdom of Kano. In the shadows, it had the Five Mafia Bosses. Together, they were the undisputed kings of the West Blue, reigning over both light and dark.
But here's the thing...
The Charlotte Family had never dealt with them before. Why approach now?
"Hmm..." After a moment's thought, Joey said, "Tell them to come."
"Got it, big bro!" Gala quickly left to relay the message.
Joey stayed where he was, his gaze fixed on the endless waves.
As night fell, a pitch-black ship approached their vessel.
The design screamed "mafia"—sleek, ominous, and dripping with style.
A tall, thin man stepped off the ship and walked toward Joey, who was lounging casually on a sofa.
The man bowed respectfully. "Chief Joey, I am Carlo, representing the Five Mafia Bosses. We hope to establish a trade agreement with you."
Joey crossed one leg over the other, a sly grin forming on his face. "A trade? Interesting. The last time we reached out, the Five Mafia Bosses didn't seem interested in working with the Charlotte Family."
Carlo didn't flinch at the remark. He simply smiled and replied, "Chief Joey, times have changed. Business is business, after all."
"Fair enough," Joey said with a nod. "So, what kind of deal are we talking about?"
Carlo exhaled in relief. The hardest part—getting Joey's attention—was over.
Initially, the Five Mafia Bosses had dismissed the Charlotte Family's Gene Fruits as insignificant.
But time changed everything.
As more Gene Fruits spread through the Kingdom of Kano, the gap between elite forces and ordinary soldiers became glaringly obvious.
The bosses couldn't ignore it anymore.
Carlo began, "Chief Joey, you've been reaching out to nations like Dressrosa and Alabasta. Clearly, you're aiming to play a role in the next World Council two years from now."
"The Five Mafia Bosses control seven nations, and they're willing to align with your decisions at the council. Additionally, each family is prepared to purchase 200 Gene Fruits, offering 10 Devil Fruits in exchange for every 200."
"Oh?" Joey's interest was piqued.
This wasn't just a one-off transaction—it was an offer for a long-term partnership.
He chuckled. "Interesting. With such generous terms, it would be rude of me to refuse. Tell the bosses they can send representatives to Totto Land with the Devil Fruits in two months. We'll finalize the exchange then."
"Understood!" Carlo's face lit up.
For him, this was the best outcome. Securing the deal would bring immense benefits to the Five Mafia Bosses.
— — —
After Carlo departed, Custard couldn't help but remark, "Mom only manages to gather 5 to 10 Devil Fruits a year. These guys just offered 50 in one go, even if they're low-quality or unknown ones. That's insane!"
Broyé chimed in, "It's not that surprising. These mafia families have ruled the West Blue's underworld for centuries. Their resources must be terrifyingly vast—just like the Kingdom of Kano. They've had time to accumulate insane wealth."
The crew nodded in agreement.
It was true.
Any nation or organization with centuries—or even millennia—of history was bound to be rich.
Just look at the World Government. Who knows how deep their coffers run?
"Alright," Joey said, cutting into the conversation. "Prepare to set sail. Our next destination is the Grand Line—Little Garden. We need to pick up those two."
The crew's expressions sharpened with determination.
They all knew this mission was crucial. The 10,000-strong Giant Tribe was the key to everything.
As the ship adjusted its course, Joey glanced toward the horizon, his voice low but resolute.
"This journey might be coming to a temporary pause, but it's far from over. There's still so much left to do—visiting the Longarm Tribe, the Longleg Tribe, the Three-Eyed Tribe, the Snake-Neck Tribe, the Skypians, Ohara, and beyond..."
Shaking his head, he muttered, "But for now, we can't delay any longer. Mom's already warned me—Rocks Pirates are on the move. It's time to act."
"...God Valley!"
"Time to return home to prepare my next move."
.
.
.
+80 advanced chapters at: patreon.com/_Coreal