Inside the Dark Clan headquarters, Vale D. Drake sat across from Bernice.
"We are beginning a collective seclusion to undergo training. Everything for our cultivation is prepared, and I have faith that under your leadership, the Dark Clan will grow stronger," Drake said, looking at Bernice.
"However, that is far from enough!" His tone grew solemn. "I want the Dark Clan to become a top-tier power within the New World's underworld within two years." Drake had not forgotten his main system mission; he needed to expand his influence aggressively to complete his tasks and prepare for future conflicts. He knew the future of the New World would be even more turbulent; following the Whitebeard Pirates' victory, a massive influx of rookies would surely flood the sea, heralding a new era. Since power would be needed everywhere, the Dark Clan had to become formidable.
After listening to Drake, Bernice remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "To expand our influence, we must wage war against external forces. York spent years making preparations for exactly that." "In the end, he failed before he could even begin. Competition in the underworld is incredibly fierce, and the Dark Clan is currently in a weakened state after the recent major battle..." Her meaning was clear: developing their power would be extremely difficult, especially during this recovery period.
"However, the Captain's orders shall be carried out with full effort!" Bernice suddenly stood up, her face full of resolve. Drake felt certain she already had a plan in mind and believed the Dark Clan would flourish under her command.
"Mmm," Drake nodded. "If there are difficulties, tell me immediately. We will step in and resolve them personally." "Now, are there any other issues?"
"Well... Captain..." Bernice's face flushed slightly, as if she were embarrassed to speak.
"Speak. If there's a problem, just say it."
"Since you've said so, I'll be direct. Our vitality was severely depleted in the last battle, so... regarding funds..." Bernice looked at Drake expectantly. Drake's eyelid twitched and his mouth pulled back slightly.
"How much do you need?"
"Not much, just 1.5 billion Berries."
Drake was stunned. She was clearly targeting the 1.5 billion Berries' worth of gold he had just squeezed out of Doflamingo. "Regarding funds... does the Dark Clan really—" Drake began, but Bernice interrupted.
"Yes, York used up all the capital while he was in charge. To make that trade with Doflamingo, he mobilized every bit of available funding..." Hearing that the fat bastard York had squandered the family fortune, Drake felt like skinning the man alive.
"By the way, how is the matter of turning him in for his bounty going?" Drake asked, harboring a deep resentment toward York.
"Mmm, the exchange has already been made." Bernice stood up and moved closer to Drake. "Captain~ capital is the foundation for developing strength. Even 1.5 billion Berries isn't that much. Once the Dark Clan grows, won't all that money belong to you anyway?" As she spoke, she somehow managed to wrap her arms around Drake's arm. Drake felt a sudden softness, and his expression stiffened.
"Ahem, Bernice, you're right. Using this 1.5 billion Berries on the Dark Clan truly maximizes its value." Drake pulled himself away from her embrace. With a wave of his hand, three chests appeared in the room. He had his own considerations; this was the best way to utilize the gold. Although he had planned to buy items like Senzu Beans from the System Shop, he had decided not to set sail for a while, making the money temporarily useless compared to expanding his influence.
Looking at the three chests brimming with gold, Drake's eyes were full of reluctance. He had barely held the gold long enough for it to get warm before giving it away. However, he hid it well. It's only 1.5 billion Berries, right? Why does my heart hurt this much?
"Thank you, Captain! I will lead the Dark Clan to develop with all our might. I won't disappoint you!" Bernice's eyes curved into crescent moons.
"Mmm, I'll leave it to you." With that, Drake used teleportation to leave the headquarters.
Watching him vanish, Bernice felt immense respect and admiration, along with a small doubt. She thought she saw a flash of pain in Drake's eyes when he produced the gold. No, it must be my imagination. Why would the Captain care about a mere 1.5 billion Berries? She turned her focus to the gold, confident that with these resources, she could develop the Dark Clan at maximum speed and give Drake a surprise well before his two-year deadline.
After leaving the headquarters, Drake headed to the back mountain, their designated training ground for the next two years. He was still feeling the sting of the lost gold, but he knew if the Dark Clan grew, they would provide him with a steady stream of liquid capital. Drake found an open clearing and released the Magic Protector, which served as the perfect training facility due to its internal practice rooms.
Kenshin and the other three members of the crew followed Drake into the ship. Thus, the Dragon Flag Pirates entered a state of cultivation for the next two years. Their faces were bright with confidence; they had a premonition that in two years, even they might be frightened by the power of their new selves. It would be a dimensional metamorphosis, and the world would change significantly when they next emerged to reign over the New World.
While Drake and his crew went into seclusion, the New World remained far from peaceful. Fleet Admiral Sengoku had stepped down, and the two Admirals, Aokiji and Akainu, were set to duel on a deserted island to determine his successor. Akainu was backed by the Navy's high command, while Aokiji was recommended by Sengoku himself; the winner would take the mantle of Fleet Admiral, and the loser would have no say.
This news shook the world, with people lamenting Sengoku's retirement while anxiously watching to see who would lead the Navy next, as the result would drastically alter the global landscape. Even the Emperors of the New World watched with great interest. Meanwhile, questions lingered about why Whitebeard had not yet appeared—had he truly vanished? In a short span of time, the world's powers had shifted dramatically, beginning with the Paramount War. It felt as if an invisible hand was pushing the wheels of the era, and the New Era had arrived before people could even react.