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Chapter 180 The City That Never Sleeps
Chapter 180 The City That Never Sleeps
Jin stood below the steps, his expression icy: "Mr. Kaido, according to intelligence, it was Uchiha Shiraha's fleet that made the move. That golden beam of light wiped the entire Whole Cake Island off the map in one strike, its destructive power far exceeding that of the Ancient Weapons."
"Uchiha Hakuha————"
Kaido gripped the newspaper tightly, his knuckles almost crushing the paper.
"I heard we were about to cooperate with Doflamingo, but he ruined it. Now he's gone and killed Linlin—is he next coming to Wano Country to find me?!"
He abruptly stood up, his Conqueror's Haki surging wildly around him: "Order the Beasts Pirates to prepare for battle! Reinforce Onigashima's defenses! That man—he's ten times more terrifying than I imagined! But it doesn't matter, only Haki can overcome everything!"
Somewhere in the New World, on a beach.
Red-haired Shanks sat on the beach, also holding an evening newspaper in his hand. He held the newspaper with one arm, his red hair blowing in the sea breeze, and the usual gentle smile on his lips had long since disappeared.
The cadres beside him, including Yasopp, Beckman, and Lachru, all looked solemn and remained silent.
"Charlotte Linlin—is she gone?"
Beckman slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, his sharp eyes fixed on the golden beam of light in the report: "Destroying an island in one strike—such power is unheard of."
Lachiru stopped eating the meat and gasped for breath: "This is terrifying—a whole island as big as Whole Cake Island has simply vanished."
Shanks gently put down the newspaper, his single arm lightly stroking his eyes, a complex mix of emotions and longing flashing in them.
"White Feather----"
He murmured the name, a faint smile returning to the corners of his mouth.
"Just like before, once we make a move, we will never hold back."
Beckman looked at him: "Didn't you say you wanted to maintain the balance of the ocean and wait for that moment? Now—"
"I have no idea."
Shanks shook his head, picked up the flask, and took a sip: "—That golden light was truly powerful, but he still underestimated the hidden power of this world."
He paused, looked into the distance, and said with a hint of anticipation, "It seems we'll be able to meet soon. Let's see if we can get him to stop this situation from breaking down. This era is really getting more and more interesting."
The wings of the newsbirds are still frantically shuttling through the skies above the new world, carrying one piece of world economic news after another to every island, every ship, and every power.
"One of the Three Sovereigns has fallen! The world order is changing!"
"Everyone on Whole Cake Island has disappeared!"
"A mysterious golden beam of light destroyed the island in one strike!"
"Uchiha Hakuha has become the most terrifying existence in the new world!"
Panic, shock, awe, worship, fear —
Countless emotions spread wildly across the entire ocean.
Some people fear that Uchiha Hakuha's next target will be them, because they don't know why Uchiha Hakuha destroyed Whole Cake Island.
Some were amazed by the stunning beauty and terrifying power of the golden beam of light;
Some speculate that it was divine punishment, an ancient weapon, or a force that could overturn the world.
Some people began to enthusiastically praise him, believing that a new era of kings had arrived.
And at the heart of all these storms—
The deck of the Dawn remained leisurely.
Uchiha Hakuba looked at the exaggerated headlines and images in the newspaper, his dark eyes remaining completely calm. He simply smiled faintly and casually placed the newspaper aside.
"Morgans is still as good at stirring up emotions as ever."
After finishing the last bite of lobster, Matsumoto Rangiku waved her hand dismissively, "Who cares! The old lady's gone anyway, let the news write whatever they want! Let's keep drinking and eating!"
Retsu Unohana smiled gently and poured herself another cup of herbal tea: "No matter how noisy the outside world is, it has nothing to do with us."
Artoria picked up another piece of cheesecake, her emerald eyes regaining their usual gentleness: "The verdict has been delivered, the sins have been absolved, what remains is our journey."
"The balance of the new world has been broken, and things will only get more exciting from now on."
Uchiha Hakuba raised his eyes and looked at the boundless sea in the distance. The shock, fear, discussion and speculation in the outside world were nothing more than an insignificant episode in his journey.
He picked up the wine glass in front of him, and the glass clinked together with a crisp sound.
"Don't worry about how noisy it is outside."
"The banquet continues."
"As for the rest of the new world—"
He smiled slightly and spoke softly.
"Soon, they will remember our names."
The sea breeze, carrying a salty, damp scent, brushed against the gleaming hull of the Dawnbreaker. Uchiha Hakuba leaned against the railing at the bow, his fingertips lightly tapping the cool wooden handrail, his dark eyes reflecting the ever-shining golden light on the distant horizon.
Seven days have passed since the battle on Whole Cake Island.
No matter how fierce the storms of the New World, they couldn't stir up the slightest ripple on the Dawn. Uchiha Hakuba and the others had long been accustomed to the overwhelming discussions from the outside world. Every day, they continued to drink, make merry, and chat. Matsumoto Rangiku's sake jug was never empty, Unohana Retsu would plant exotic flowers and plants on the deck in her spare time, and Artoria would practice a set of sword techniques in the early morning. The whole ship was as leisurely as a vacation cruise ship on the sea, completely unlike a terrifying fleet that had just destroyed the power of the Four Emperors and stirred up the entire New World.
On this day, a dazzling golden light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.
At first, it was just a faint glimmer, like the afterglow of the setting sun on the sea. But as the Dawn continued to move forward, that golden light became more and more dazzling, until finally it transformed into an overwhelming golden wave that completely dominated everyone's vision.
Matsumoto Rangiku was the first to put down her sake jug. Her hazy, drunken eyes widened suddenly, her cherry-like lips parted slightly, filled with disbelief: "Th-what is that?! It's glittering gold—is the entire island covered in gold?"
She rushed to the railing, rubbed her eyes, and when she finally saw the outline of the enormous thing, she gasped, her voice rising several decibels: "A ship?! It's actually a ship?!"
As soon as the words were spoken, everyone on the deck looked up. The relaxed atmosphere was instantly shattered, replaced by extreme shock and astonishment.
What appeared before them was not an island at all, but a colossal warship made entirely of gold!
The size of this ship far exceeds that of any pirate ship seen before; even Whitebeard's Moby Dick and Big Mom's ships appear small in comparison.
Every inch of the ship's hull is covered in extremely pure gold, reflecting a dazzling light under the sun. The waves crashing against the golden gunwales create sprays that seem to be tinged with gold, creating a scene of extravagant beauty and extreme madness.
The ship is adorned with countless magnificent buildings, including palaces, pavilions, casinos, taverns, and dance floors, as if a bustling metropolis has been brought directly to the sea. The masts soar into the clouds, with huge gold gems inlaid at the top. The sails are woven from gold thread, and when they flutter in the wind, they resemble golden clouds drifting on the sea.
On both sides of the ship, countless lifelike golden beasts are carved, with dragons, tigers and elephants coiled on them, their fangs bared and their momentum fierce, as if they are about to leap off the ship at any moment and tear apart any enemy who dares to approach.
The entire ship is a golden empire floating on the sea, a city that never sleeps, a place of endless extravagance and debauchery.
"My God—this is way too much!"
Matsumoto Rangiku was completely stunned. Her usual languid smile vanished without a trace. She patted her cheeks to make sure she wasn't dreaming, then exclaimed, "We've been to Shandora, the Golden City, a legendary metropolis overflowing with gold! But compared to this ship, it's nothing! This isn't a ship; it's a monster made entirely of gold!"
Retsu Unohana walked slowly to the railing, a hint of surprise appearing in her gentle eyes. She gently raised her hand, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and sighed softly, "I have never seen such a luxurious ship, using gold to this extent. Just what kind of crazy person is the owner of this ship? No, this must be the power of a Devil Fruit."
She had seen the extravagance of Soul Society and the rare treasures in the homes of nobles, but this floating golden city that never sleeps before her eyes still exceeded her comprehension. Every inch of gold spoke of extreme desire and wealth, and the air seemed to be filled with the smell of money.
Artoria's hand, gripping the sword hilt, paused slightly. Her emerald eyes were fixed on the colossal golden ship, a hint of disdain in her expression. "The entire ship is forged from gold; its defensive capabilities should far surpass those of ordinary warships. Moreover, its sheer size suggests it couldn't have been built by an ordinary force. The owner of this place must be a powerful figure in the New World, possessing immense wealth. Or perhaps one of those Celestial Dragons?"
As the King of Knights, she had never seen such extravagance with gold. Rather than building ships, it was as if they had created a kingdom of gold on the sea, which was crazy, extravagant and ostentatious to the extreme.
Uchiha Hakuba looked at the golden Tesoro before him, his dark eyes showing no greed, only a faint hint of amusement.
He naturally recognized the ship, and even more so its owner—Gild Tesoro, the user of the Gold-Gold Fruit, who controlled 20% of the Berries in the New World. He was the undisputed emperor of the underworld, known as the "Golden Emperor," who single-handedly built this city that never sleeps on the sea. Using wealth as his weapon, he controlled countless forces, and even the Navy and the World Government had to give him some respect.
The Whole Cake Island incident shocked the world. Given Tesoro's intelligence capabilities, it was impossible that he was unaware of Uchiha Hakuha's existence. And the Tesoro just happened to appear on the route that the Dawn was traveling. Whether it was unintentional or deliberate, it goes without saying.
Uchiha Shiraha chuckled lightly: "Indeed, before seeing so much gold, everyone said Shandora was the Golden City, but this is the real place of madness. Power is built with gold, desire is woven with wealth, and the whole city is moved to the sea. It should be much more fun than the territories of the Three Emperors."
Matsumoto Rangiku blinked and looked at Uchiha Shiraha: "Shiraha, should we go up? It looks really lively inside, and it's all gold. I'm really curious."
Her eyes gleamed as she stared at the Tezzolo, her mouth practically watering. For her, who loved wine, endless wealth meant endless fine wine, a temptation she found hard to resist. These rich guys probably wouldn't mind if they mooched some wine.
Unohana Retsu shook her head slightly and said with a smile, "Rangiku is still the same as always. This place, though seemingly prosperous, is actually rife with undercurrents. Beneath the gold lies countless conspiracies and killings."
Artoria nodded slightly and looked at Uchiha Shiroha: "Shiroha, I'll do whatever you say. If we're going to board the ship, we'll go together."
Uchiha Shiraha raised his eyes and looked at the magnificent golden palace at the highest point of the Tesoro, which was the residence of the Golden Emperor Tesoro. He could clearly feel an aura of domineering wealth emanating from that palace.
Clearly, Tezzolo was already inviting them.
"Since we're already here, and it's almost dark, we should definitely go up and see this city that never sleeps on the sea."
Uchiha Hakuba raised his hand and waved it gently. The Dawn Ship slowly approached the Tesoro Ship, its oars cutting through the golden sea as it sailed toward the Golden Empire.
"Let's see why this Golden Emperor invited us aboard."
Soon, the Dawn docked at the Tesoro's private pier.
Stepping onto the gold-cast dock, the cold touch sent shivers down her spine. Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't help but lower her head and step on it, exclaiming in amazement, "It really is a ship made entirely of gold, even the dock is made of gold. It's so extravagant."
I feel like all the gold I've ever seen in my entire life combined doesn't equal what I've seen in just one day.
The docks were bustling with people: wealthy merchants in luxurious clothes, pirates with weapons, nobles from all over the world, and guards in uniform under Tesoromo. Everyone walked on gold, their faces showing greed, awe, or intoxication.
The air was filled with boisterous laughter and chatter, creating a dazzling and decadent atmosphere. Even though the sun hadn't completely set, the Tesoro was still brightly lit, with golden light and streetlights reflecting each other, truly embodying the phrase "city that never sleeps."
"This is way crazier than Shandora!"
Robin sighed softly, "The gold of Shandora is the sediment of history, but the gold here is burning desire."
Artoria looked around warily, observing her surroundings, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone here is bound by gold. Wealth is everything here. Power, status, and life can all be measured in gold. This is a world controlled by money."
Uchiha Hakuba strolled along the gold-paved street, exuding a faint aura. Ignoring the gazes of everyone around him, he looked up at the tallest golden palace at the end of the street, a faint smile curving his lips.
"Gild Tezzolo————"
"You built this cage with gold, thinking that by controlling wealth, you control everything."
"It's a pity, those Celestial Dragons didn't rule the world with money."
"In the face of absolute power, no amount of gold is more than a pile of useless scrap metal."