Rhett Vane leaned against the gilded rail of his pent-suite balcony, eyes narrowing at Vice Admiral Gion's casual confession. "So the entire top brass is sailing for Gran Tesoro?" he repeated, voice flat.

Gion's wrists were still bound in sea-stone cuffs, the metal draining her strength but not her spirit. She bit her lip, realising too late that her slip had given away the Marines' timetable.

Vane exhaled. "Marshal Sengoku, Garp, all three Admirals… If they fight as hard as Akainu does, even a Yonko crew would struggle."

The thought drew him into a wider reflection on the Celestial Dragons' carefully maintained balance. For decades the World Government had let the Four Emperors rule the New World rather than crush them, using stalemate to secure its own profit. A fifth Emperor—one who had risen in barely three months—threatened that equilibrium. The only logical response was overwhelming force.

---

The War Council

Inside the chart room Esdeath fairly vibrated with anticipation, blue hair flicking like a whip. "War it is," she declared. "I want the world to see Vane reach the summit."

Kalifa, however, looked uneasy. "With that many Admirals we're outnumbered."

"Then we avoid the main fleet," Vane decided. "Esdeath, you and Kalifa take the King and leave at first light. I'll delay the Marines myself."

Esdeath frowned. "Alone?"

"Not to fight—just to sink their flagships. Two well-placed strikes can turn the sea against them."

Kalifa nodded, understanding his plan: isolate, divide, then negotiate from strength. Gion, still a valuable bargaining chip, would travel with them.

Vane clasped Esdeath's gloved hand. "Find a safe rendezvous on Sabaody. I'll track you easily."

Esdeath squeezed back, fiery grin returning. "Don't die, captain."

"I have no intention of it," Vane said.

---

Parting at Dawn

Gran Tesoro's artificial sunrise glittered across the decks as the King slipped its moorings. Esdeath saluted; Kalifa waved; Gion stared at the planks, angry and conflicted. Vane watched until their sails vanished into the red-gold horizon.

On a nearby rooftop a column of molten gold rose and folded into the elegant form of Gild Tesoro himself.

"You're letting them leave?" Tesoro asked, voice brimming with curiosity.

"To keep your city intact," Vane answered. "Your power is greatest inside these walls, but we'd level the place in a real fight."

Tesoro smirked. "True. I could turn every spire into a tidal wave of gold—yet one splash of seawater and it's nothing but mud. A rather inconvenient weakness."

Vane's eyes glinted. "All abilities have a cost, Tesoro. Remember, we are partners, not prey."

Tesoro inclined his head. "Then shall we give the Marines a proper welcome?"

---

The King's Treasury

Vane stepped to the edge of the roof and raised a hand. Hundreds of radiant sigils spiralled open in the air behind him, each one a blazing disk of complex script. From every circle slid a different weapon—spears, halberds, arquebuses, shimmering with golden light.

Tesoro's breath caught. "What Devil Fruit is that?"

"Not a fruit," Vane replied quietly. "Simply the riches of a king."

The first rays of real dawn crept over the horizon, scattering through the floating arsenal and firing beams of amber across the harbour. To any observer it looked as if the sun itself had crowned a new monarch.

Tesoro grinned, awed despite himself. "Pirate Emperor, indeed."

Far out to sea three dark specks—Marine warships—pushed toward Gran Tesoro, white sails swollen with purpose. Vane's golden circles tilted, tracking their approach like watchful eyes.

"Time to greet our guests," he said, voice calm and certain as the tide.

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Looks like no bonus chapters again today, enjoy the 2 daily ones instead!