Chapter 38 — The Entire World Must Pay Me!
Dressrosa, atop the ruined coast.
Akira's voice rang out—calm, yet rumbling like thunder.
"If they refuse, Dressrosa's port will permanently deny all cooperation with them."
The air froze instantly.
Behind his sunglasses, Doflamingo's face was drenched in cold sweat.
Even his signature "fufufufu"—stuck in his throat.
Insane.
This man was truly, utterly insane!
Inwardly, Doflamingo screamed.
Who does he think he is?!
Rocks D. Xebec?!
Those names he just listed—
BIG MOM!
Shanks!
Whitebeard!
All the emperors and underworld titans ruling the New World!
And this man—
This single man—
Dared to challenge ALL of them at once?!
Is he planning… to take on the entire world alone?!
"Akira!!"
Just when Doflamingo felt he would faint from sheer pressure, an angry shout exploded from behind him.
Peach Rabbit.
She could no longer hold back—she had to stop this madness!
"What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Her phoenix eyes burned, sharp as blades.
She stepped forward, gripping the hilt of her sword "Konpira."
"The Marines invited you to join the Shichibukai!"
Her voice trembled with anger.
"That invitation was meant to stabilize the New World!"
"Not to let you ignite a war!!"
A fierce, overwhelming aura burst out of Gion's body.
"If you insist on doing this—!"
"Then the Marines and the World Government will immediately end all cooperation with you!!"
Her last resort—
The World Government.
But—
"Hahahahaha…"
Akira laughed.
Long, loud, thunderous.
As if he had just heard the funniest joke in the entire Grand Line.
"Peach Rabbit."
Akira slowly turned.
His three-meter-tall figure radiated a crushing, imperial pressure.
"Don't tell me…"
In his eyes shone a mockery so blatant it stung.
"That I care about your worthless 'Shichibukai' title?"
"Y-You—!!"
Peach Rabbit's breath hitched.
"Listen carefully."
Akira stepped closer.
His cold, overpowering gaze spilled downward like a weight.
"It's not I who needs the Marines."
"You are the ones who wish to step foot into the New World."
"And you need my permission."
"In my eyes—"
Akira's voice was quiet, yet every syllable struck Peach Rabbit's chest like a hammer.
"You Marines are no different from Big Mom or Shanks."
"All of you come into my territory…"
"For business."
He raised one finger.
And pressed it lightly against Peach Rabbit's chest, which rose sharply in shock and fury.
"Don't behave like you're something special."
"..."
Peach Rabbit's mind blanked.
This level of domination—so raw, so tyrannical—crushed every argument she had prepared.
"To be clear."
Akira lowered his hand.
His gaze swept across the island, slowly being stitched together by Pica and the workers.
"From today onward—"
"Dressrosa will become the central monopoly route between the New World and the Old World."
"This island will generate endless profits for me."
His gaze drifted toward the crashing waves beyond the cliff.
"If anyone is unhappy."
"If anyone disagrees with these rules…"
"Then let them come and challenge me."
A cold smile curved upon Akira's lips.
"I'll deal with them myself."
"..."
"..."
An endless silence descended.
Doflamingo was soaked in cold sweat.
He didn't dare utter a single word.
As for Peach Rabbit—
All the color drained from her face.
She wanted to retort—
To say this man was delusional, arrogant beyond reason…
But the moment she opened her lips—
A memory struck her like a hammer.
Last night.
At the villa.
She had heard it.
She had sensed it through her Observation Haki—
Akira and those three women "training" continuously, never once slowing down.
And this morning—
She saw it with her own eyes.
The monstrous increase in power.
Akira—
Yamato—
Baby 5—
Viola—
All of them had grown so drastically that it broke every rule of training she had ever known.
"This monster…"
"At this rate…"
Her heart pounded erratically.
"Not just the Four Yonko…"
"Even the World Government…"
"He might truly be capable of defying all of them…"
Bang!
Peach Rabbit involuntarily stepped back.
Words died in her throat.
For the first time in her life—
She realized something terrifying.
This man's arrogance…
May actually be justified.
Her phoenix eyes trembled as she stared at Akira's back, overwhelmed.
"His ambition…"
"It's this enormous?!"
…
"You understand now?"
Akira no longer cared about the two "tools" he had rendered speechless.
"If you understand, then act quickly."
"Y-Yes! At once, Lord Akira!!"
Doflamingo felt like he had been pardoned.
He hurried off to carry out the orders as fast as possible.
In moments—
Only Akira and Peach Rabbit remained at the ruined coastline.
The sea breeze tossed her disheveled hair.
Her heartbeat was still chaotic.
Then—
Akira extended a hand toward her.
"?!"
Peach Rabbit's entire body stiffened.
She stepped back, grip tightening on her sword.
"W-What do you want now?!"
"Give me your Den Den Mushi for contacting Sengoku."
Akira spoke impatiently.
"Hand it over."
"..."
Peach Rabbit hesitated deeply.
She had no idea what new insanity this man intended.
But she was now essentially a "captive."
She had no choice.
Reluctantly—very reluctantly—she handed over the encrypted Marine Den Den Mushi.
Right in front of her—
Akira dialed the direct number of the Fleet Admiral's office.
Purururururu—
Purururururu—
Click.
Connection established.
"Peach Rabbit?"
Sengoku's steady, authoritative voice came through.
"How is the situation?"
Akira smiled.
He cleared his throat, then spoke casually.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"Good afternoon."
"..."
"..."
Silence.
Three full seconds of silence.
Then—
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford—
Sengoku's hand tightened on the snail.
Eyes widening.
That voice…
Akira?
Sengoku's heart dropped straight into the abyss.
Peach Rabbit…
Had she been compromised?!
"Is that you, Akira?"
His tone immediately turned icy.
"Yes. Fleet Admiral, good of you to recognize me."
Akira showed no fear, no courtesy—nothing.
"I'm calling to inform you of two things."
"First."
Akira glanced sideways at Peach Rabbit, who was trembling with shame and fury.
"The Vice Admiral you sent—Peach Rabbit—I am very satisfied with her."
"Her training here is going very well. She is in excellent condition."
"So—"
"I will not be returning her to the Marines."
"From now on, she will serve as my representative in Dressrosa."
"AKIRA, YOU BASTARD!!!"
Peach Rabbit exploded like a volcano!
Her entire body trembled with rage, almost drawing her sword!
"Y-You—!!"
On the other end, Sengoku also burst to his feet.
His outrage boiled over—
But Akira cut him off coldly.
"Second."
"I know the Marines want to secure a foothold in the New World."
"But you have no territory."
Akira's voice relaxed into a tone dangerously close to benevolence.
"I'm a generous man."
"So let's do this."
"Green Bit—the island next to Dressrosa."
"I will lease it to the Marines as an outpost."
"You may station one Admiral there permanently."
"?!"
Sengoku froze.
His anger evaporated, replaced instantly by confusion.
He's… inviting an Admiral to live next door?!
What is he planning?!
"But."
Akira continued—voice smooth as poison.
"The rent must be paid."
"Every year—10 billion Berry."
"To cover Dressrosa's postwar reconstruction and maintenance costs."
"..."
"Ten… billion?!"
Sengoku nearly dropped the Den Den Mushi.
"THAT'S EXTORTION!!"
"No, no."
Akira chuckled softly.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, that's not the right way to phrase it."
"This price—comes with protection at the level of a Yonko."
"It's a good deal."
"In fact…"
Akira's voice turned razor-sharp.
"I'm certain the Fleet Admiral will not refuse."
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