Before setting sail, the Millennium Falcon underwent another full overhaul.

The giant shipwrights' craftsmanship was superb—

But no matter how good they were, what they excelled at were ships meant for giants.

And the scale between ordinary humans and giants was a full tenfold difference.

So the first thing Magnus did after arriving in Sphinx was to have the fishman shipwright Dean make adjustments to the details of the Falcon.

During this time, Magnus gave his new crewmates an extended leave.

Sphinx, after a year of development, had grown prosperous. Not only was the entertainment scene thriving, but the island was also developing its own distinct fashion and culinary flavors.

Magnus regretted one thing: his old chef never returned. These days, the meals on the Falcon were prepared by him and Ripley.

Not bad—just a bit better than average.

This sea offered plenty of entertainment.

But good food and good wine… those were truly irresistible.

Magnus sat alone in the White Wolf Pirates' base in Sphinx, sipping wine and nibbling on snacks.

Everyone else was out.

Ripley, Tsuki, and Linlin had been taken shopping for clothes and cosmetics by Lily, while Rocks and Newgate had been dragged off by Roya and Ed.

Magnus thought for a moment, and his face darkened slightly.

Those two old dogs better not be corrupting Rocks and Newgate.

But as soon as he started to sit up, he lay back down again.

Forget it.

They're the future sea emperors—there's no way they'd be swayed so easily.

Rocks and Newgate were his crewmates, not his slaves. Some things they'd inevitably encounter someday—better to let Roya and Ed expose them to it properly than leave it to chance.

Magnus was reviewing Sphinx's financial reports.

The island had always been profitable, moving stolen goods for pirates and running various underground businesses. Last year alone it brought in three hundred million Beli.

For a small nation of just three hundred thousand people, with agriculture as its main industry, that was extraordinary.

Before Duke and his crew came along, that figure was lower—but even after paying the White Wolf Pirates their cut, it was enough to fund the nation's transformation.

Pity the former king and nobles squandered the chance.

Well, if they couldn't do it, he would.

The twenty billion Beli tribute money was a windfall. Left unspent it would take several lifetimes to burn through.

Even investing it, Sphinx's economy was too small to absorb that much capital quickly.

But money that sits idle loses value.

So Magnus decided to start a newspaper.

Modeling himself after one of the future underworld kings, "Big News" Morgans, he would raise his own news seagulls and control intelligence across the world.

Naturally, Magnus wouldn't appear as the paper's owner—he'd just be its silent investor. The simplest way was to acquire an existing company.

As for who to put in charge…

Someone with no obvious connection to the White Wolf Pirates.

"Didn't expect this…"

Magnus thought it over and could only sigh.

He was painfully short on people he could trust.

And with the World Government constantly scheming, he couldn't afford to let just anyone into his inner circle.

Then he remembered what Kureha had said.

"Stussy?"

When Kureha had brought up the subject, Magnus' expression was odd.

In the future, the Stussy clone would join CP as a double agent.

And now, CP had approached the real Stussy.

Yet Stussy already longed to join the White Wolf Pirates herself.

Could she be trusted?

Of course not completely.

But his old crew were all people he'd lived and fought alongside—they were utterly loyal. If he couldn't trust them, then he had no one.

The veterans handled logistics; Rocks and the others were pure fighters.

Rocks had ambition, but no head for administration.

Ripley was simple, like most giants.

Newgate was a family man.

Linlin still needed his guidance—but with her favorability already at 80, reaching 100 was only a matter of time.

As for Stussy…

Magnus didn't know her well yet.

But if Kureha vouched for her, he was willing to give her a chance.

He didn't hesitate long.

At the Goat Clinic, it was another busy day for Stussy.

The island's most famous clinic charged pirates dearly but treated ordinary folk cheaply.

Since becoming a doctor, she found herself wracking her brains over tough cases she'd never worried about as a nurse.

Sometimes Stussy questioned her choices.

Did she study medicine just to patch up poor people?

What she wanted was to become the White Wolf Pirates' doctor, climb into Magnus' bed, and live a life of luxury—

Not grind herself down here.

But habits were a scary thing.

Even now, treating a snot-nosed kid in rags, she managed a smile.

"Just a common cold. Keep warm at night, take these three times a day after meals."

"That's ten Beli."

She sighed as the kid left.

"Next!"

And then she saw a hulking pirate, scarred and brutish, step in.

"Miss Stussy, are you free tonight? I've reserved a private room at the finest restaurant in town. Won't you dine with me?"

He even produced a wrinkled rose and stared at her expectantly.

Inwardly she screamed get away from me, you pig!

But outwardly she kept her professional smile.

"Sorry, I still have patients…"

"Patients? Do you?"

The big man sneered and glared around.

The other waiting patients fled under his murderous gaze.

Some looked indignant, but others warned, "That's Demon Clint! Eighty million Beli bounty! You'll get yourself killed!"

Clint grinned smugly.

"Now you're free, aren't you?"

Sphinx might have Magnus' protection, but with so many people coming and going, troublemakers still showed up.

And Clint didn't think he was wrong.

He wasn't killing anyone or wrecking anything—just asking a pretty doctor to dinner.

What's the harm?

He was a pirate worth eighty million.

Taking her onto his crew would just be her good fortune.

But Stussy knew exactly what he was thinking.

Ten pirates out of ten were like this.

Greedy for gold and women.

Yet she still shook her head.

"I'm working. And this clinic belongs to the White Wolf Pirates. If you're not a patient, please leave."

Everyone on the island knew the Goat Clinic was under Magnus' banner.

Even the ignorant usually backed down when she invoked the name.

But Clint's anger flared.

"Shut up, you bitch!"

He lunged for her.

"White Wolf Pirates? Just a bunch of old men! Even if Magnus himself stood before me, I wouldn't flinch!"

But just then—

"Oh? Is that so?"

A calm voice floated in from outside.

Magnus had been on his way to speak with Stussy, but stumbled on this scene instead.

He walked slowly forward.

But even from a hundred meters away, Clint froze, drenched in cold sweat, paralyzed by instinctive terror.

When Magnus reached him—

"Not afraid, huh?"

Clint finally roared and swung at him.

"Die!"

But Magnus didn't even raise a hand.

He merely looked at him.

And Clint froze mid-swing—encased in ice, motionless.

Gasps filled the room.

Eighty million, and he couldn't even resist?

"That's… Magnus. The White King…"

At last, someone whispered his name, and all was explained.

Six hundred million against eighty?

No difference. Both were nothing.

"So, I heard he's worth about eighty million?"

Magnus turned to Stussy and smiled.

"Then I suppose that bounty can serve as your compensation. How about it, Miss Stussy?"

"Really!?"

Stussy nearly squealed, barely holding her composure.

This is a man! Eighty million, just like that…

"Of course. But actually, I came here to ask you something else.

"Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?"

"…Of course."

"After you're finished working, of course."

(End of Chapter)

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