Although it ity that the Shadow-Shadow Fruit was wasted on someone like Moria, Cudius didn't really care. Whether Moria lived or died wasn't his problem.

  Stussy also uood that Moria wasly a pressing issue. She had simply missed Cudius over the st couple of days and used the topic to start a versation.

  After chatting a bit more about Moria, Stussy ged the subject. "By the way, Yhness, are you aware of something that's been going around in the New World retly?"

  Cudius raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"

  "There's a term that's started making waves in the New World," Stussy said softly. She paused for a moment, seemingly choosing her words carefully, before tinuing, "They're calling it the 'Pirate Emperor.'"

  Hearing this, Cudius' eyes lit up, as if something had clicked in his mind.

  The term "Pirate Emperor" was new, but it wasn't hard to see where it was heading, it was likely the precursor to what would ter bee the "Four Emperors." In the past, there had been no such terminology, only vague categorizations of pirate power levels.

  Even during the time of Rocks D. Xebee of the most formidable pirates in history, the term "Pirate Emperor" wasn't used. Xebec had been called the "Pirate Overlord," and that was the extent of it.

  Later, Golden Lion Shiki became the most powerful pirate after Xebec's era. At his peak, even Whitebeard—Edward e—was slightly overshadowed by him. Pirates like Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, who were still climbing the ranks, were no match for Shiki back the, even Shiki had only ied the title of "Pirate Overlord," not "Pirate Emperor."

  "What exactly are y to say?" Cudius asked quietly, his tohoughtful.

  "The current structure of the New World's pirate fas is being increasingly clear," Stussy expined. "And without a doubt, the most dominant force is Whitebeard's crew. The Whitebeard Pirates hold tless territories in the New World. Just their fg alone is enough to ehe safety of aire try.

  "Take Fish-Man Isnd, for example. Two years ago, it was devastated by the chaos of the Great Pirate Era. But now, uhe prote of Whitebeard's banner, while it hasn't fully recovered, things have improved signifitly. That should give you an idea of how mufluence Whitebeard has."

  Cudius nodded in agreement. Stussy's observations were accurate. Although there were many pirates in the seas, the only one who could truly be called a "Emperor" was Edward e—Whitebeard.

  Kaido was strong, yes, but his recklessness and ck of a cohesive strategy meant he hadn't yet established dominance. Charlotte Linlin's development was more ahan Kaido's, but her territory, Totto Land, wasn't yet the impregnable fortress it would bee. Moreover, her children hadn't matured into the powerful force they would eventually be, leaving her empire somewhat inplete for now.

  Meanwhile, among the rest of the promi pirates, the standouts were "pretenders" like Dofmingo and Crocodile, individuals whose reputations often exceeded their actual strength. They were from the same tier as Moria, yet had mao elevate their standing through ing and ambition.

  It was as if the current pirate ndscape was a case of "in the nd of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." This situation was rgely due to the efforts of the Marines and the Wover, who had systematically eliminated many of the true heavyweights of the previous geion.

  From Ochoku to Captain John, from the Golden Lion Shiki to the Red t, and finally to powerhouses like Byrnndi World and Dougs Bullet, the Wover had dismantled one major pirate after another.

  This left a vacuum, where newer pirates like Dofmingo, Crocodile, and Moria were able to rise to prominence, despite being far from the level of someone like e.

  This created an iing dynamic: while the pirate forces were somewhat depleted, the Marines remai the peak of their strength, maintaining their position as the dominant for the seas, even in the midst of the Great Pirate Era.

  As for Shanks? He was still a "salted fish," as Cudius liked to put it—a te bloomer, to say the least.

  At the moment, Shanks and his Red-Haired Pirates were likely still a small-time crew with minimal influence. He had yet to gain the fame or status of figures like Dofmingo or Crocodile. His only real cim to fame was being a former crewmember of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, which gave him some level of credibility among the major pyers.

  A, within a few years of entering the New World, Shanks would skyrocket in prominence. Six years before the main story began, he would asd to the position of "Emperor of the Sea."

  His meteoric rise roof that the Four Emperors wereablished all at o gradually, much like the system of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

  Returning to the topic, Cudius nodded and said, "When Roger was alive, it was undeniably his era. But now that Roger is gone, and others like Shiki have fallen, this is without a doubt e's time.

  "I don't see that ging for at least another decade or two. Unless someone like Bullet or World mao emerge agaie's position as the dominant for the seas is secure. But I doubt the Wover will make any aggressive moves against him for the sake of stability."

  Stussy nodded. "Even the Wover has its limits…" she trailed off, not finishihought.

  Cudius smirked. "So what's the point of this whole 'Pirate Emperor' thing? Is it just people hyping up e?"

  "More or less," Stussy replied. "In the eyes of the pirates, e is already being called the 'Pirate King' ihing but name. Many believe that if there's ever going to be another Pirate King, it has to be him."

  Cudius paused for a moment, then said, "That's true—if he wa."

  e eculiar figure. Despite his immense power, he had no i in g the title of Pirate King. Yet his sheer strength allowed him to domihe pirate world, suppressing any challengers.

  As long as e stood unshaken, no one else could cim the throhis had left the title of Pirate King vat for over two decades since Roger's death.

  This was undeniably Whitebeard's era.

  "This is just the beginning. It wouldn't surprise me if, iure, we see a sed, third, or even fourth 'Pirate Emperor,'" Cudius remarked with a smile.

  "Perhaps. But pared to the situation with Moria, this is undoubtedly a much bigger issue. Even if you think the Wover won't take a, I believe they'll have to respond in some way. Doing nothing would damage their authority," Stussy said softly.

  Cudius stroked his , sidering her words. Just as he was about to respond, the butler ered the room, holding a Den Den Mushi.

  For a moment, Cudius felt a sense of déjà vu. The same waters, the same sario…

  "Yhness, there's an urgent summons from Mariejois. You're required to return immediately for an importaing," Nia said quietly.

  Cudius groaned, c his face with one hand. Was it really so difficult to catch a dinosaur in Little Garden? Once again, his pns were being derailed.

  "Well, that was fast," Cudius muttered helplessly. "I barely finished saying the Wover wouldn't act, and now this happens. Stussy, it seems you've jinxed me."

  Stussy chuckled mischievously. "Hehehe, I'll be heading baariejois as well. I 't wait to see you there."

  ***

  I'm thinking of pig up a new ff to transte, but I'm a bit stumped. If you know of a good ff that hasn't been worked o and think it'd be worth transting, drop me a link, and I'll check it out.

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