An Opportunity Delivered to His Doorstep

West Blue, Lirisi Island, Seta Town.

Dawn had yet to learn that his bounty had skyrocketed several times over, launching him into the ranks of great pirates.

At that moment, he was attending a lavish banquet held in his honor within an opulent estate.

Wine glasses clinked amid dazzling lights. The hall was packed with guests. Mafia family heads from across the West Blue, kings of military powers, social elites, nobles, and even several Underworld leaders from the first half of the Grand Line had gathered here, wearing smiles both sincere and false as they paid their respects to the new uncrowned king of the West Blue.

Dawn had changed into a tailored black suit crafted by the finest artisans of the Boot Kingdom, perfectly fitting his powerful yet trim frame. Holding a wineglass in one hand, he moved through the crowd alongside Stella and Stussy.

Stella wore a royal-blue backless evening gown, elegant and noble;

Stussy wore a dark-red mermaid dress, alluring and mysterious.

The two women flanked him on either side, expertly handling the probing questions and small talk from every direction, especially from the ladies who gathered around them.

Compliments rang out without end. Dawn maintained a faint, flawless smile as he exchanged toasts with the leaders of various factions, never letting a single word slip.

Quite a few people, openly or discreetly, proposed cooperation in gray-market fields such as arms dealing and human trafficking.

After some thought and weighing the pros and cons, Dawn readily accepted the profitable proposals that did not cross his current bottom line. Expanding his influence required enormous funding and resource networks, and these partnerships were the fastest route.

Just as he had finished another round of toasts and was about to excuse himself for a brief rest, a somewhat fawning voice