Someone was helping Usopp create chaos?
The thought surfaced in Robin's mind almost immediately.
Then, just as quickly, she thought of the many hidden agents from different factions lurking aboard the Gran Tesoro.
Those people were likely not truly helping Usopp.
Rather, they were using him to achieve some other objective.
A trace of seriousness entered Robin's gaze.
Her expression remained unchanged as she looked at Usopp and asked,
"Is someone helping you?"
"Helping me?"
Usopp blinked, clearly confused by the sudden question.
"Of course not. How could I let outsiders know about something like this?"
"I don't trust anyone on this ship."
"I made several bombs myself and hid them in different locations around the Gran Tesoro. Once they go off, it'll definitely cause enough chaos."
He shook his head, then raised a hand to his mouth and lowered his voice even further.
Robin's blue-black eyes fixed on his.
She could tell he wasn't lying.
And yet—
that only made her more certain of her suspicion.
Someone was helping Usopp.
After all, helping someone wasn't always an act of kindness.
Sometimes, it was simply a way of getting someone else to unknowingly assist in accomplishing a goal.
In this case, the help was so subtle that even Usopp himself hadn't noticed it.
Setting aside how he had managed to obtain bomb materials in the first place—
there was also the matter of hiding them.
Did he really think the Gran Tesoro's security force was just for show?
By now, the locations of those bombs might not even be known to Usopp himself.
Robin came back to herself and looked at him.
"Usopp."
"For the sake of the time we once spent on the same ship, let me give you one warning."
"Don't think about escaping."
"Even if you somehow managed to get out, with your abilities, you wouldn't survive on the seas of the New World."
"To be honest… life on this ship isn't bad, is it?"
After saying that, Robin turned and walked away, paying no mind to the stunned expression on Usopp's face.
But after taking a few steps, she suddenly stopped.
"Oh, one more thing."
"I'm a member of the Magic Eye Pirates."
Clack… clack…
The sound of her heels gradually faded into the distance.
Only a dumbfounded Usopp remained where he stood.
Meanwhile—
Yuuki brought Uta and Gordon to the central district of the Gran Tesoro, near the massive concert hall by the entertainment district.
Brilliant, colorful lights flashed endlessly around the stage.
Wave after wave of thunderous cheers erupted from the surrounding stands, painting the night sky above the venue in a dreamlike glow.
At this moment—
the singer known as the "Most Beautiful Songstress," Karina, was performing on stage.
The roaring cheers from all sides were almost deafening.
Yuuki's group stood in the backstage viewing area, watching the concert.
"She sounds amazing."
Uta leaned both hands against the railing, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Karina on stage.
The woman stood there like the center of the world itself, drawing every gaze in the venue.
Behind her stood Yuuki and Gordon.
But neither of them were focused on the performance.
"You're really leaving?"
Yuuki asked calmly.
Gordon looked at Uta, who was completely captivated by the stage below.
A faint, almost imperceptible gentleness crossed his face.
Then he gave a small nod.
"Whether it was Elegia or Uta…"
"I've already done everything I could."
"The only thing I was still worried about was Uta."
"But now, it seems she has a stage of her own."
"And an entirely new world."
Gordon spoke slowly, then turned his gaze to Yuuki.
"I believe she'll become the greatest musician in the world."
"Even better than the songstress performing below."
Yuuki let out a soft chuckle.
"I believe that too."
Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Though I thought your desire for revenge would be stronger."
Before resolving the issue of Tot Musica, Yuuki had spoken with Gordon.
He had clearly sensed the man's desire to take revenge on Red-Hair Shanks.
To be more precise—
had Yuuki not interfered, the hatred for Elegia's destruction would ultimately have fallen upon Uta.
In the original course of events, Uta's future, nearly mad plan had been something Gordon silently permitted.
No matter how one tried to deny it—
the destruction of Elegia had indeed begun when the Red Hair Pirates brought Uta to that kingdom.
And yet now—
Gordon seemed as though he had laid down all hatred.
That genuinely surprised Yuuki.
Looking at Gordon's expressionless face, understanding flickered in Yuuki's eyes.
"So…"
"You've already made up your mind."
Gordon paused for a moment, then stared at Yuuki seriously.
"That has nothing to do with you."
"And nothing to do with Uta."
"This is between me and that man."
Because the concert venue was so overwhelmingly loud, Uta, who was still leaning against the railing ahead, didn't hear their low conversation.
Just then—
Buggy came jogging over from backstage, sweat covering his forehead.
"Captain!"
He hurried to Yuuki's side and bowed respectfully, though his eyes flicked curiously toward Gordon and Uta.
He had been enjoying himself in the entertainment district when the Magic Eye Cross hanging from his body suddenly reacted.
Yuuki's voice had directly sounded in his mind, summoning him here.
At first, Buggy had assumed something had gone wrong.
But judging by the scene, it didn't seem to be bad news.
"This song is almost over."
"Bring Karina up here."
Yuuki gave the order softly, offering no explanation.
"No problem, Captain!"
Buggy slapped his chest and hurried off.
A short while later—
Karina's performance below came to an end.
Another singer took over the stage as Karina disappeared from sight.
"That singing style—that technique—it's Miss Karina!"
Uta snapped out of her daze and turned toward Yuuki and Gordon, excitement written all over her face.
"Oh?"
"You know Karina?"
Yuuki asked, mildly surprised.
"Of course!"
"She's an incredible singer!"
"When I was on the island, I could pick up transmissions through the visual Den Den Mushi, so I've heard her performances before."
"And the newspapers praise her all the time."
"I never thought I'd actually get to see her here."
"Yuuki, you're amazing!"
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
He had known Karina was famous aboard the Gran Tesoro.
But he hadn't expected her fame to extend this far.
He had clearly underestimated that thief.
"You'll get to meet her in a moment."
Yuuki smiled.
"Really?!"
Uta's eyes lit up with anticipation.
Not long after—
Karina arrived backstage.
The moment she saw Yuuki, her heart tightened.
She immediately quickened her pace and approached.
"Lord Yuuki."
"I never expected you to come here."
"Thank you for waiting."
She wore a black strapless, form-fitting outfit that revealed her snow-white shoulders and long legs.
Under the stage lights, her entire body seemed wrapped in a soft glow, exuding irresistible charm.
Yuuki casually waved a hand.
Then he gestured toward Uta.
"This is Uta."
"She'd like to sing a song on the stage below."
"I'll have to trouble Miss Karina."
"Ah!"
Uta let out a startled cry.
Her face filled with shock as she stared at Yuuki in disbelief.
"As a musician, a stage like that is not something you should miss."
Yuuki smiled at her.
Uta instinctively grabbed the ends of her red-and-white twin tails.
She had always sung alone on Elegia.
Facing such a magnificent stage and such a huge audience—
of course she was nervous.
But more than nervousness—
there was excitement.
A yearning to try.
She glanced toward Gordon.
Seeing him give her a reassuring nod, her heart steadied.
Karina had already noticed the cute-looking girl standing beside Yuuki.
Now, hearing his words, countless thoughts ran through her mind.
Ever since Yuuki had taken control of the Gran Tesoro, he had almost never appeared in public.
Even she, a singer once highly valued by the former ruler, had only met him once.
The fact that he was here now made one thing clear—
this girl named Uta was someone he deeply valued.
The concert program had already been finalized.
Changing it now would definitely cause dissatisfaction among the audience.
But—
when the ruler of this ship spoke, that was hardly a problem.
"Of course. Leave the rest to me."
Karina smiled without hesitation.
Then she gently took Uta's hand.
"There's no need to be nervous."
"Just tell me what kind of support you need."
"The musical arrangement, lighting, atmosphere—I can handle all of it."
"And don't worry about the crowd."
"You don't need to pay attention to them at all, little sister Uta."
In just a few short sentences, Karina had already calmed Uta's nerves.
The two headed toward the backstage preparation room.
Watching Uta leave, Gordon withdrew his gaze.
"Please send me back to Elegia."
"You don't want to say goodbye to Uta?"
Yuuki asked.
Gordon shook his head.
Flash—
Silver magic light flickered.
Space magic enveloped Gordon, and he vanished.
Only then did Buggy, who had been waiting nearby in his gaudy outfit, finally speak.
"Captain, what's going on?"
"From now on, the amusement district and concerts will be under Uta's management."
"She's our new member."
Yuuki answered without turning around.
"And besides…"
"It's about time the Magic Eye Pirates made a move."
Clink clink clink—
The metal ornaments hanging from Buggy jingled as his emotions instantly shot upward.
His current life was already beyond anything he had ever dared dream of.
He even counted so much money every day that his hands went numb.
And yet—
for some reason, he always felt like something was missing.
"Captain!"
"What are we doing?"
Buggy rubbed his hands together excitedly.
Yuuki's lips curled into an amused smile.
"How about holding a selection for the Ten Circle Generals?"
The Ten Circle Generals?
Buggy blinked.
He vaguely remembered hearing Cabaji and Mohji mention the title before.
The Magic Eye Cross hanging from him was different from the ones carried by Marianne, Cabaji, and Mohji.
Theirs had specific numbers engraved on them.
"On the Gran Tesoro?"
Buggy asked instinctively.
He had never truly understood what his captain was planning.
But one thing he could always sense—
Yuuki was about to stir up trouble.
"No."
Yuuki shook his head lightly.
"At Sabaody Archipelago."
Buggy's lipstick-smeared mouth twitched.
As expected—
the captain was about to cause a huge commotion.
But as a pirate—
that was exactly how it should be.
"That sounds like it'll be a blast, Captain!"
Buggy burst into loud laughter.
While Yuuki and Buggy were speaking—
boos and dissatisfied shouting suddenly rose from the audience outside.
Uta now stood at the center of the stage.
Beams of light poured down upon her, fully illuminating her cute figure.
However—
faced with a completely unfamiliar singer, the audience clearly wasn't buying it.
The noise only grew louder.
Standing on such a dazzling stage for the first time—
and facing such a reaction—
Uta was naturally extremely nervous.
But she didn't want to disappoint Gordon.
And she didn't want to disappoint Yuuki.
She took a deep breath.
Then she closed her eyes, shutting out the noise from the crowd.
The microphone rose to her lips.
The next moment—
a light, cheerful melody began to flow.
At first, the audience remained chaotic.
Some staff members even had to step in to calm people down.
But it didn't take long.
As Uta's voice spread through the venue—
the entire audience gradually fell silent.
For a moment—
the only thing left in the concert hall was Uta's soaring, beautiful voice.
Watching her become the center of the world in an instant—
Yuuki gave a small nod.
"A future world-class diva…"
"She truly belongs on a stage like this more than anyone."
After the song ended—
thunderous cheers and applause erupted through the venue.
Uta's face was filled with excitement, though tinged with exhaustion.
She bowed deeply toward the audience.
Then hurried off the stage.
After handing the microphone back to Karina, who had been waiting backstage in case of any mishap—
Uta's steps instantly became light and joyful as she hurried toward Yuuki.
Karina twirled the microphone lightly in her slender fingers.
Her eyes shone with astonishment as she watched Uta's retreating figure.
With just one song—
Karina could already tell.
Her title as the most beloved diva might soon belong to someone else.
"How impressive, Lord Yuuki."
"To be able to bring in a singer like this…"
"It seems the methods used against Gild Tesoro won't work against the new king of the Gran Tesoro."
Karina raised a pale hand to her chin and muttered with a troubled expression.
The Golden Emperor had already been troublesome enough.
But this new ruler was proving even harder to deal with.
Her plans regarding the Gran Tesoro were becoming increasingly difficult.
Still—
opportunities always came.
Recalling the information she had recently gathered, a dangerous, alluring smile slowly spread across her lips.
Her eyes gleamed.
(End of Chapter)
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