That morning, one of the Beasts Pirates' ships set sail from Wano's waters. The mission was clear—find Drought Jack.

There was no choice. Jack had been stranded on some unnamed island after being blasted into the sea during his last encounter with Rhett Vane. As for which island? No one knew for sure. All they had was a vague sea region to search.

"Tch. I still can't believe it," Queen muttered with a sneer. "That bastard Jack actually got wiped out by Vane and stranded like a rookie."

For one of Kaido's top All-Stars, it was a disgrace.

If the rest of the New World heard about this—even just a mid-tier pirate crew—they'd laugh their guts out.

"What a coward," Queen snorted. "Getting dumped on a random island like that."

"The real problem," King said calmly, glancing toward Kaido who sat drinking in the corner, "is that Vane's not done. He's moving again."

Kaido, though clearly drunk, didn't respond. By now, his drunkenness was a constant, like the air they breathed.

Queen grunted. "What the hell did Vane gain from killing Kurozumi Orochi, anyway?"

"No idea," King replied, his voice as still as ever.

"But he didn't come here for vacation," Queen said. "This is Beasts Pirates territory. He came here for a reason."

King's eyes narrowed. "You don't think… he's planning to take over Wano?"

Queen blinked, then let out a cold chuckle. "Hah. You're actually using your brain for once."

"…Could be."

---

By now, the news of Orochi's death had spread across the country.

But the identity of his killer was still officially unknown—though not for long. That night, several of Orochi's courtesans had seen it clearly: Vane standing over his corpse, boot pressing down on Orochi's face. They had been in the room.

The truth would come out soon.

Not that Vane cared.

He wanted them to know.

Because Wano… was going to be his.

This land would be the foundation of his empire. A new beginning.

---

That afternoon, Gion stood silently on a hill, watching Vane walk into the distance. She exhaled quietly.

He's getting closer to the throne of the sea, step by step…

He was growing too quickly—faster than she had expected. And though she'd spent so much time with him, she still couldn't completely understand him.

But today, something became clear.

Esdeath wasn't from this world.

Gion had finally pieced it together.

That terrifying ice ability she used—it wasn't Haki or a Devil Fruit. It was something else entirely. Something called an Ice Teigu, a weapon from a different world altogether.

The implications were terrifying.

---

While Vane moved alone, a secret meeting unfolded in a grand hall within the Flower Capital.

Gathered around a lavish table sat some of Wano's most powerful nobles. They weren't mourning Orochi—they were plotting.

Yes, officially the meeting was to honor the fallen shogun. But in reality, they were focused on something else entirely.

The throne.

Orochi's death had left a power vacuum, and in a place like Wano—a monarchy ruled through fear and tradition—whoever sat on that throne wielded absolute power.

Everyone in that room knew it.

And everyone wanted it.

"We must discuss Orochi-sama's successor," one old noble said, voice dripping with fake reverence. "We cannot let his will fade into nothing."

"Indeed, Wano cannot survive without a shogun," another said.

"Perhaps someone from this very room should step forward," a third offered, eyes gleaming.

"I think I'm the natural choice."

"You?! Orochi-sama entrusted ME with the future of Wano!"

"Don't be ridiculous. I've been his closest ally for decades!"

The room devolved into chaos—shouting, finger-pointing, backhanded accusations.

In truth, no one cared about Orochi. He'd ruled through fear, greed, and cruelty. If they could give him a half-decent funeral and move on with a slice of power, that was more than enough.

But then…

The doors creaked open.

A lone figure stepped in.

"Who are you? This area is for high-ranking lords only—"

The guard's voice cut off in a gasp as Vane knocked him out cold, the man collapsing in agony at his feet.

The nobles fell silent.

Then Vane stepped forward, unfazed by the stares, and said calmly:

"There's no need to argue. The throne of Wano… will go to me."

The room erupted in murmurs, laughter, disbelief.

But before anyone could speak again—three golden magic circles lit up behind Vane, each spinning with eerie precision.

A barrage of summoned weapons shot forth like bullets.

In a flash, the room went quiet again.

Every noble present had been pierced through the head. None survived. Not one of them even got a word out.

Vane stood alone in the silence, gazing at the carnage.

"You were all just parasites. In your hands, this land would've been no different than under Orochi."

He turned and walked out of the lavish chamber, stepping over bodies without hesitation.

Now, he had another task.

It was time to declare to the world:

Wano belongs to Rhett Vane.

---

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