162
Cherry blossoms and willows thrashed wildly in the blizzard, the sharp cracks of branches whipping the air sounding near and far.
The hall blazed with light, the clamor of the banquet crashing against the wooden lattice windows.
Golden Lion leaped onto the seat of honor and swept his hand in a half circle.
"Jahahaha-"
His laughter was short and sharp as a crow's cry. "These are all faces I've gathered under my command over the past few years.
"They're not much use for anything important, but they're good enough to pass messages and make a show of force."
He snatched up a wine cup, sending ripples through the amber liquid.
"Now, tell me your story."
The pirate captains kneeling along both sides of the hall kept their heads lowered in silence.
Their bounties all exceeded a hundred million, yet before Golden Lion, those numbers meant nothing-they were no different from rookie sailors who had just set foot on deck.
Besides, in these turbulent waters, having a secure foothold was itself a blessing many dared not hope for even in their dreams.
As for the figure sitting to the right of the seat of honor, he needed no introduction.
The Red Line torn apart, the Holy Land of Mary Geoise reduced to scorched earth, the Celestial Dragons' eight-hundred-year rule over the world brought crashing down... The two kings of the Family that countless people credited with ushering in a new era had long since become legends known throughout the seas.
Had they not both disappeared, that Family would likely have stood above the clouds long ago.
"Six years... Has it really been that long?"
After hearing Golden Lion's account, the man in sunglasses gently nudged the frame with his fingertips.
According to "Golden Lion"
Shiki, since the world-shaking "Battle of