Title and Communication with the Millennium Dragon

"Brrr-ring, brrr-ring~"

"Moya, you little brat, you've got some nerve! Daring to threaten Marine Headquarters—aren't you afraid we'll dispatch an Admiral right now to wipe you out?"

Sengoku was absolutely livid; never in his life had he been threatened by such a small-time pirate.

"Marshal, I'm terrified, truly. I never wanted to stand against the Marines in the first place. I was just helping a few pirates turn over a new leaf, and for that, I got a bounty on my head. I've been wronged, truly wronged."

"Cut the crap! Someone who possesses Conqueror's Haki is no law-abiding citizen. You've shown your true colors quickly enough, daring to capture Marines just to threaten Headquarters!"

"I was forced into this. You could have just put a bounty on me, but you had to give me such a reputation-ruining nickname. Marshal Sengoku, I am genuinely angry."

"I'll lay it out for you today: if you don't change that nickname on my wanted poster, I'm going to slaughter all one hundred of these Marines right here and now."

"And I'll keep visiting Marine branches until you finally change it."

Moya's aura was aggressive, his voice growing louder with every word.

"I am dispatching an Admiral to annihilate you this instant."

The enraged Sengoku suddenly calmed down, as if wiping out Moya's crew were nothing more than a trivial chore.

"So, because of a nickname, you're going to force me into a corner, are you?"

"Starting tomorrow, news of the Ancient Weapon Pluton will spread across the Grand Line and the New World. I hope you're prepared to calm down the chaos that will ensue."

"And then there's Donquixote Rosinante, codenamed 'Corazon,' who once infiltrated the Donquixote Family. I imagine Doflamingo would be quite interested in that information."

"Or perhaps the World Government's Giantification Project, and so on."

"Marshal Sengoku, are you certain you want to plunge the seas into turmoil just for the sake of a nickname?"

"Very well, very well. Moya, you are truly a heinous criminal. It seems the legends about your subordinates possessing prophetic abilities are true."

"You've been lurking in the shadows—what exactly is your ambition?"

"Marshal Sengoku, if I say I just want to stay alive and not be threatened by anyone, is that an ambition? Or perhaps, provided I stay alive, I simply want to create a world where all races can live in peace."

"Marshal Sengoku, I truly hate it when people threaten my life. Can't we all just get along?"

Just as Sengoku was about to retort, the Great Staff Officer Tsuru stopped him with a look, mouthing the words: Agree to it.

"I will trust you this once. Release these Marines, and we will change your title. What kind of title do you want?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm getting excited. Boa Hancock is called the Pirate Empress because of her beauty; since I'm handsome, I shall be called..."

"The Male Emperor?"

"No, don't interrupt me!"

"The Beauty Emperor?"

"I told you, don't interrupt me!!!"

"The Handsome Emperor?"

"Enough. The Handsome Emperor isn't bad, but the title I want is the Emperor of Beauty."

"I hope you keep your word. Release these Marines."

"In light of your threats and your attempts to toy with me earlier, I'm slaughtering this fat pig. Consider it me clearing out the trash of the Marines for you. Goodbye."

Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi, his face flushed with rage, as if a volcano were about to erupt.

"This is absolutely detestable! Tsuru, why did you agree to that heinous bastard's demands?"

"Moya is a man who cares deeply about his reputation and his life. You cannot push him into a corner. We still don't know how much information he holds that could threaten the World Government."

"However, the information he possesses is far too dangerous. We cannot press him too hard. We must boil the frog slowly, step by step, and formulate a plan to hunt him down."

"First, significantly increase his bounty. Make him like a child walking through the streets holding gold, so he dies at the hands of those seemingly harmless bounty hunters and the underworld."

"What if he uses the vital information he holds to save his life before he dies?"

"He won't discard his life-saving information until the very last moment. It is also highly likely he is eyeing Pluton. Keep a close watch on them and the underworld, and eliminate him at the critical moment."

"Update his wanted poster. Raise it to 500 million Beli. Include the fact that he possesses a prophetic Devil Fruit and holds many of the world's secrets. I want him to be the target of everyone."

After dealing with Nelson, Moya's business regarding his title change had finally come to a temporary end.

He unleashed a full-power burst of Conqueror's Haki, sending the remaining Marines into a deep slumber.

Now, it was time to figure out how to handle these Millennium Dragons.

"Captain, we've been waiting for you. We're heading east now, right?"

Nami had already finished looting the 8th Branch's fleet and had brought the Millennium Dragons back onto the ship.

"That's right, just head east. Let's go."

With that, Moya went to find the unconscious Eric. For a mercenary without a moral compass, he would simply purge the memories that had made him cruel after obtaining the Scythe-Scythe Fruit.

At worst, he would just re-teach him the cultivation and techniques of the Scythe-Scythe Fruit; he already had the original memories, plus some of Moya's own insights.

And just like that, Eric, a young man who had just set sail and obtained a Devil Fruit, joined the Moya Adventure Group.

Following the usual routine and the same old dialogue, Eric pledged his loyalty with a touch of feigned emotion, swearing to follow Captain Moya.

"Captain Moya, is it really to the east? We've been traveling for so long."

"The surfacing time of the Dragon Den is specific, so just wait patiently. Apis, I will need your help in a moment to communicate with the other Millennium Dragons."

Having resolved the matter of his nickname, Moya's mood had improved, and having recruited Eric only made him feel better, leading to a much kinder attitude toward the little girl, Apis.

"Understood, Captain Moya. Thank you for all your help with Master Dragon."

Apis was also very grateful to Moya and his crew; if not for them, Master Dragon would have been captured by the Navy.

"Awoo~"

At that moment, as if experiencing a final burst of vitality, Master Dragon actually managed to flap its wings shakily after reaching this area, only to fall into the sea.

"Master Dragon!"

Apis cried out in anxiety.

Just then, the sea surface began to churn, and an island slowly rose from the depths. As the water cascaded off its sides, the silhouette of the landmass was revealed.

Countless dragon cries echoed from all directions as Millennium Dragons with green feathers flew back from every corner of the horizon.

The Lost Island was the homeland of the Millennium Dragons; it was their burial ground, as well as the place where they communicated, mated, and laid their eggs.

In the pond at the center of the island, Apis saw the body of Master Dragon, surrounded by many petrified remains of other Millennium Dragons.

There were even dragon eggs nearby.

"This is the homeland of the Millennium Dragons that Master Dragon always wanted to return to."

Moya patted the little girl Apis on the head, offering her comfort.

Instead of running toward Master Dragon's body, Apis suddenly hugged Moya tightly.

"Thank you for helping Master Dragon find its final resting place."

"Apis, stay on my ship from now on."

"Yes, Captain Moya."

The Millennium Dragons completely ignored Moya and his crew, rubbing necks and chirping softly—some courting, some showing affection, and others shivering as they mated.

Was this what Uncle Da called... a shiver of passion?

It was truly miraculous that such defenseless Millennium Dragons hadn't been wiped out by humans.

Was it their strength? Their ability to fly?

Or was it because the Lost Island, this place of courtship, only surfaced for a limited time, forcing them to prioritize their business?

Or perhaps they truly lacked any sense of wariness?

After all, the World Government had only existed for eight hundred years, while Millennium Dragons could live for a thousand, and the Lost Island only surfaced once every few centuries.

Having rarely been disturbed by humans, they had never developed any guard against them.