Yoshiwara Street had been reduced to ruins in one section.
The pirates milling about all around were almost all staring at the three figures seated on a golden platform above the ruins. Their eyes were especially drawn to the aloof man in the middle, legs crossed, wearing a Golden Goose Down Coat that left his eight-pack abs exposed.
On the ground, row after row of people knelt in neat lines. Some were tall, some short; some fat, some thin.
Among them were plenty of pirates with bounties of over a hundred million berries.
None of the pirates on the outskirts dared cross that invisible line. In the short time they had been there, they had seen too many pirates charge forward, only to drop to their knees in the most bizarre fashion before they could even reach the Golden Emperor.
The sight was horrifying and utterly unnerving.
The atmosphere at the scene was oppressive and strange.
The Golden Emperor seemed to be waiting for something. He kept his gaze fixed on the harbor.
Suddenly, the dense crowd parted, and groups approached from five different directions.
Leading them were the five factions: Slime Person Delice, Exploding Bear Trusia, Maker Kakart, Obsidian King Mojeta, and Leopard King Tischer.
Plenty of people also appeared on the rooftops along the street, all looking this way.
Among them were several familiar faces from Demon Valley Town.
Seeing Chaos putting on airs, Zebra Killer wore an unsettled, furious expression. He still hadn't forgotten that humiliating time.
There was also Swordsman Crus, his eyes cold and murderous.
He had withdrawn of his own accord at Demon Valley Town, and now rumors were spreading in all sorts of places that he was no match for the Golden Emperor. He had received no end of contemptuous looks and scorn.