Chapter 9: Golden Lion’s Real Envy

Whitebeard: "Shut up, you stupid lion. You're still as damn annoying as ever. I swear, I really want to sink you into the sea right now."

Whitebeard's mood was foul.

Teach's betrayal was an open wound—one that would never heal.

Fisher Tiger: "Blackbeard? Judging from that name, Whitebeard, it sounds like your so-called 'son' is deliberately going against you."

Fisher Tiger frowned as he continued reading the newspaper.

Fisher Tiger: "By the way… what are the Seven Warlords of the Sea? I've never heard of that title before."

Of course, he hadn't.

When Fisher Tiger was alive, the Warlord System hadn't even existed yet.

Lucas: "The Great Pirate Era turned the New World into a pirate paradise. The rise of the Four Emperors created four enormous factions, each ruling their own territories. To counterbalance their power, the World Government established the Seven Warlords of the Sea."

Lucas: "They took powerful pirates and legitimized them—giving them free rein to plunder as they pleased, so long as they served under the World Government. This way, they could control part of the pirate world and keep the Four Emperors in check."

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, wait, wait. You're telling me the World Government officially allowed pirates to plunder freely? What kind of nonsense is that?!"

Lucas: "Oh, I'm not joking. The World Government was completely serious. Seven powerful pirates were granted this special status, forming a three-way balance of power between the Marine, the Four Emperors, and the Warlords. This system kept the world relatively stable for over a decade."

Pirate King Roger: "This is insane!"

Roger wasn't sure whether to laugh or be outraged.

Pirate King Roger: "Wait a minute—"

Roger suddenly focused on a part of the newspaper.

Pirate King Roger: "It says here that Blackbeard Teach defeated Whitebeard's second division commander, Fire Fist Ace… and then handed him over to the World Government?! @Fire Fist Ace, is this talking about you?"

Fire Fist Ace: "Yeah… it's me."

Pirate King Roger: "You lost? …Wait, how old is this Blackbeard Teach guy?*"

Fire Fist Ace: "He's about the same age as Marco and the others. Several decades older than me."

Pirate King Roger: "Alright, then that makes sense. You're still young, Ace. Losing to an older, more experienced pirate isn't something to be ashamed of."

Whitebeard: "Shut up, Roger! You thick-skinned fool, can't you see what's really going on here?"

Pirate King Roger: "Huh? See what?"

Lucas: "Just keep reading, Roger. You'll understand soon enough."

Lucas sighed.

How could Roger be this oblivious?

Golden Lion Shiki: "This Blackbeard Teach is quite the character! He had the strength to be a commander, yet he spent decades hiding his true potential. That kind of patience and restraint… it reminds me of myself!"

Lucas: "No, you've got it wrong, Shiki. Blackbeard wasn't being patient. He was gambling. He bet his entire life on a Devil Fruit that he had no guarantee of finding. It was a reckless, absurd gamble, and by sheer luck—he won. But if he had lost, he would have wasted decades doing nothing."

Lucas: "The crazy part? He's that strong even though he barely trained. If he had actually put in effort, he could have become a Four Emperor like Red-Haired Shanks, relying purely on his physical abilities and Haki."

Fisher Tiger: "Jinbe… became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

Whitebeard: "Don't blame him, Tiger. He didn't have a choice. The Warlord title gave him real power—it allowed him to protect Fishman Island."

Whitebeard: "But in the end… he still gave up that status for the Whitebeard Pirates."

Fisher Tiger: "As he should! The Whitebeard Pirates are the ones who truly protected Fishman Island! Without your flag, Fishman Island would have become nothing but a hunting ground for pirates and slave traders!"

Fishman Island was technically under the World Government's jurisdiction. They paid Heavenly Tribute library every year to maintain that status.

And yet…

The World Government had never once protected them.

It was only because of Whitebeard's declaration—because his flag flew over Fishman Island—that no one dared to touch it.

Fisher Tiger: "So, Blackbeard handed Ace over to the World Government in exchange for the Warlord title? Was that position really worth betraying Whitebeard for?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "The Warlord title? Hah! What a joke. A real pirate doesn't care about legal plundering or the World Government's approval. The Great Pirate Era started by Roger is just full of garbage! Only weaklings care about becoming a Warlord!"

Lucas: "Don't underestimate the Seven Warlords, Shiki. They were granted incredible authority. They were allies of the World Government, with privileges that even some nations didn't have."

Fisher Tiger: "Ally? Wait… could it be that Blackbeard wanted to become a Warlord just to gain the World Government's protection?"

Lucas: "No! If you keep reading, you'll see. Teach's ambitions go far beyond that."

Lucas sighed again.

Why was Fisher Tiger asking for spoilers like an impatient child?

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hold on! Straw Hat Luffy… broke into Impel Down to rescue someone?! And then escaped with a horde of prisoners?! Is this real?!"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! Shiki, your record has officially been broken! And it was broken by the very same brat who defeated you! How does that make you feel?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "With his level of strength… how is that possible?!*"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! Face reality, Shiki. Luck is part of strength!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Damn it! That brat is ridiculously lucky! If I had his luck, I would have conquered the world by now!"

Golden Lion was truly envious.

For years, he had poured every ounce of his cunning, strength, and strategy into his ambitions.

Yet every time—every single time—he had been crushed by sheer bad luck.

But that brat?

He waltzed into Impel Down, picked a fight with the entire prison, and somehow walked away rescuing other.

If Shiki had that kind of luck, the world would have been his decades ago!

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