Piracy has no future!

Shanks, being naturally sociable, didn't hesitate to build a rapport with Nicholas, despite having had little contact with him over the years. After all, when Shanks was a child, he had interacted with Nicholas while sailing with Captain Roger, which partly explains why he came to Wano to gauge Nicholas's stance—he knew all too well how powerful this guy was.

"Nicholas, what's your take on the current state of the world and what's happening in the New World?" Shanks casually asked as he took a sip of his drink.

Nicholas looked deeply at Shanks. "I don't have any plans. The New World is so chaotic, I have no intention of getting involved in that mess."

"That's not something I expected you to say," Shanks replied with a grin, clearly not believing him. Nicholas was not the kind of person to stay out of trouble. If he were, the Celestial Dragons in Mariejois wouldn't be holed up in their homes, terrified to step out after hearing of Nicholas's reappearance.

"Oh, is that the impression you have of me? That's quite unfortunate," Nicholas said after a brief pause. "Alright, to be honest, I'm waiting for them to tear each other apart, and then I'll take them all down. Of course, it would be even better if they go to war with the World Government and the Navy—that would save me a lot of trouble."

Hearing this, Shanks spat out his drink in surprise. Although he had anticipated that Nicholas would stir up trouble, he hadn't expected him to aim this high.

Ben Beckman, slightly stunned at first, quickly regained his composure. This kind of talk was more like what you'd expect from someone of Nicholas's stature. But to involve all the pirates of the New World, the World Government, the Navy, and even the dark underworld in one grand scheme was truly insane. Any one of these forces alone would be a serious threat to the Red-Haired Pirates.

Compared to Nicholas's ambition, the recent declaration of war by the Red-Haired Pirates against both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Beasts Pirates seemed almost childish. After all, Beckman knew that the real aim of their declaration was to mediate the conflict between these two major forces, in hopes of restoring some semblance of peace to the New World.

"So… you've been waiting for an opportunity to crush all these forces?" Shanks asked, looking deeply at Nicholas.

Nicholas nodded. "Of course, I'm not the only one waiting. Others have just as much patience. For example, there's Marshall D. Teach from the Whitebeard Pirates, Zephyr who's focused on the pirates in the New World, and the Revolutionary Army lurking around the world, ready to overthrow the World Government."

"Marshall D. Teach…" Shanks murmured, touching the scar on his eye as his expression changed. His eyes became sharp, recalling the man who had given him that scar—the only man who had ever left a lasting mark on him since he set sail.

Nicholas noticed Shanks's reaction and said, "That scar must still ache from time to time, right? Back then, Buggy warned you that guy was a monster, but it seems you didn't take it seriously."

Ben Beckman watched Shanks intently. He knew that Marshall D. Teach was the only man who had ever managed to scar Shanks, despite the latter's many battles to claim the title of Emperor of the Seas. The fact that Teach had done so without relying on a Devil Fruit, but through sheer physical prowess, spoke volumes about his hidden strength.

"Buggy, huh?" Shanks's sharp gaze softened as he smiled. "I wonder how that guy's doing these days."

"He's doing well. The last time I saw him, he was living carefree under Roger's protection. That guy's luck is pretty unbelievable," Nicholas replied, recalling his last encounter with Buggy and the task he had been given.

"Nicholas, what's your ultimate goal?" Ben Beckman asked directly, without any reservations.

"My goal is simple," Nicholas said, glancing at him. "To completely destroy the old order of this world and build a new one. The current system is far too outdated."

"A new order, huh?" Beckman mused, looking at Nicholas intently. As Shanks's right-hand man, he knew more than most about such matters.

"Yes, unlike you guys who are placing your hopes on that so-called 'Joy Boy' who ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi—actually the Nika Fruit—I'd rather trust in myself. As I once told Roger years ago, destiny is something to be broken."

After a long conversation, the banquet was nearing its end. The food on deck had been eaten, and the alcohol was running low. Everyone had drunk quite a bit, especially Shanks, whose face was flushed red, as was Nicholas's. However, despite their appearances, they were far from drunk. At their level, it would take a continuous intake of strong liquor to even get tipsy.

"Nicholas, are you interested in helping us safeguard the new era?" Shanks asked, looking out at the sea.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Nicholas asked, though he had a pretty good idea. The idea of placing hopes on that young pirate didn't really appeal to him.

"You know what I mean," Shanks said seriously, locking eyes with Nicholas.

"Not interested. You really remind me of Roger," Nicholas replied, his gaze sweeping over Shanks, then moving to Ben Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the others.

They all looked at Nicholas, curious about his intentions.

"To be honest, piracy has no future. Shanks, I don't know why you're so fixated on destiny, but as a Celestial Dragon, you should understand the power of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. Are you really going to put all your faith in a kid?"

Ben Beckman looked at Nicholas's smiling face, then at Shanks, who had fallen silent. He took a deep drag on his cigarette to calm his nerves. How much did Nicholas really know?

"How do you know?" Shanks asked, staring intently at Nicholas.

"Hey, don't look at your elders like that. Remember, when you and Buggy were kids, I used to flick your foreheads. If you keep staring at me like that, I'll make those old photos of you public."

Nicholas grinned as he noticed Shanks's trembling hand reaching for his sword, Griffon. Shanks's face turned a series of colors.

"Give me a break," Shanks said, recalling the photo he once saw in Roger's room of Nicholas, Roger, and Whitebeard. He had to believe Nicholas's words. But the thought of those childhood photos nearly made him lose his composure, even as one of the Four Emperors.

[AN- Photos of swollen buttcheeks]