"905 area of the Waph Merchant Ship, you are allowed to dock."
The Waph Merchant Ship, its Den Den Mushi calling the instructions, slowly approached a vacant docking area.
"Wow! Are all these golden statues and shimmering gates really made of gold?" young Anzi exclaimed, stepping onto the red carpet of the port, his eyes wide with envy.
"Gold! So much gold! That must be worth a fortune in Berries!"
He spun around, surveying the towering golden buildings that glinted under the sunlight. His gaze was full of desire and disbelief.
The middle-aged merchant, Uncle Jim, disembarked and patted his son on the shoulder with a hearty laugh. "Son, if you saw this much gold, you'd still be hungry for more. Human greed is bottomless."
"No way!" Anzi stuck out his tongue, unconvinced.
Uncle Jim chuckled and nodded.
Shirogai stepped off the ship last, his stride calm and composed. He glanced around casually at the crowd gathered in the port — pirates, merchants, nobles — dressed lavishly or plainly, each buzzing with excitement.
Here, social status seemed meaningless. Pirates and nobles walked side by side, some glancing at Marines passing nearby without fear or reverence. Marines and pirates mingled freely; the usual tension was absent.
The guards patrolling the area carried weapons and maintained stern expressions, but they ignored identities. Any disturbance would be dealt with swiftly by the security forces of the entertainment city, overseen by Gran Tesoro's own Chief of Security, Mr. Tanaka.
Even a Marine could be arrested in this territory and handed over to Gild Tesoro for judgement. Gild Tesoro, known as the Golden Emperor, was intimately connected with the highest echelons of the World Government. He controlled a vast portion of the world's Berries and maintained secret networks across the seas. He was, without doubt, one of the unspoken kings of the underworld, capable of affecting global power balances.
As they walked forward through the golden archways, Anzi turned back to Shirogai with excitement. "Shirogai, do you want to come with us to the casino first? I heard this place has the largest slot machines collection in the world!"
Shirogai offered a light, amused smile.
"Alright, I'll go with you guys."
At that moment, an arrogant female voice cut through the background chatter.
"Are you Shirogai Yamikuro, the so-called Fifth Emperor talked about by the underground papers?"
Shirogai turned slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
A young woman, draped in a lavish red robe and carrying an ornate peacock-feather fan, sauntered toward him, accompanied by a dozen broad-shouldered black-clad bodyguards.
She looked him up and down with a sneer of disdain.
"Of course I know him," she said, Her words suggested she believed herself superior, as though she was exposing a fraud.
Shirogai chuckled, amusement clear in his tone.
"Miss, I'm afraid you have mistaken me," he replied mildly, then turned to walk away.
"You!" the woman snarled, stamping her foot angrily at his retreating back. "You dare treat me disrespectfully? I will make you regret this!"
Shirogai didn't turn back. He continued walking, unconcerned.
The woman's bodyguards shifted uneasily among themselves.
"Miss, if we cause trouble here, we will be arrested," one of them muttered in low voices.
"Exactly. This is the Golden Emperor's territory, even Marines are held accountable." another added.
The woman glared at them furiously, but after a moment of hesitation, she stormed off toward a more lavish area of the city, her guards scrambling to follow.
Anzi glanced between Shirogai and the departing woman, visibly confused.
"Shirogai… are you all right? Who was that woman? Why did she call you the Fifth Emperor?"
Shirogai's expression remained calm.
"I don't know," he replied simply, "Maybe she mistook me for someone else."
Uncle Jim's voice lowered as he spoke next, cautious and concerned.
"That woman's ship isn't ordinary. The symbol on it seems connected to the underworld…"
Shirogai only smiled, dismissing any worry.
"Don't worry, Uncle Jim. I don't have any grudge with her."
Jim forced a polite smile, though inside he resolved to distance himself from Shirogai as soon as possible. He could not risk being drawn into unknown troubles because of their rescued guest.
Silently, Shirogai followed the small merchant group toward the guest entrance. A thoughtful smirk lingered on his lips — a self-delivered gift arriving on his doorstep.
That alone held potential beyond reckoning.
As they approached the entrance, a soft melodic voice drifted near.
"Ah, what a foolish woman," the voice teased.
Shirogai turned to find a striking woman with flowing red hair, dressed in an elegant but revealing deep purple dress. Her full lips curved into a subtle, enchanting smile as she approached.
"Shirogai Yamikuro, I believe?" she said smoothly, her tone polite yet alluring. "I am Baccarat, exclusive VIP receptionist of Gran Tesoro. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Her charm and grace momentarily stunned Uncle Jim and Anzi. They exchanged bewildered glances.
Another woman speaking to Shirogai — and treating him as if he were someone important. More importantly, she knew his name without introduction.
Uncle Jim's suspicion surged again — perhaps this castaway they rescued was not as humble as they believed.
Shirogai returned Baccarat's greeting with a slight nod.
"Nice to meet you."
As they walked inside under golden lanterns, Uncle Jim glanced at Shirogai with a mixture of awe and fear. He understood now that Shirogai might be a legendary figure — and that associating with him could invite peril as easily as fortune.
In Shirogai's calm stride, two different worlds brushed against each other — the humble merchant's hope and a pirate whose name might shake the underworld.