They could have not asked for a more perfect evening to host the Royal Jam.
The night sky was clear, with not a cloud in sight.
The stars lit the dark up high like poker dots.
At the heart of Jam Land, the massive stadium that is the Main Stage beamed spotlights up to the heavens.
These beams of light pointed up to the full moon, under which the Royal Jam is always hosted.
Almost 200,000 eager people poured into the Main Stage.
Among them were Jinzo, Grit, and Raito. They wore the same formal outfits they bought for the other night.
"Would you look at all these people!" Raito was looking around the dome with awe.
"Tell me about it. They would have easily made $300 million from ticket admission alone." Said Jinzo.
"…" Grit remained silent.
The gang had sat in the middle of the stands. If they needed to use the bathroom, they would have to scooch past a lot of people.
The Main Stage was essentially set up like a Roman amphitheater.
Rows of seating surrounded an arena in the middle.
The gates that act as the entrance to the arena had been opened and in their place were red curtains.
This meant there was a backstage.
Swiss and Vivienne Tara peeked through the curtains.
"…"
"Hehe, you aren't nervous, right Tara-chan?" Swiss teased.
"No! Of course not. Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick…"
Vivienne Tara ran off to find a bathroom.
"Trololol." Swiss laughed and continued to marvel at the Main Stage. It reminded Swiss of the coliseum in Rome or the arena in Dressrosa, only much larger.
Kimagure Joka had finished getting dressed in his loose-fitting jester outfit and joined Swiss peeking out the curtains.
"Got your broom ready, Swiss-san? +"
"You bet!" Swiss then glanced at Kimagure Joka, "You aren't gonna steal my act too, are you?"
"Kukuku, not to worry. ~"
The air was ripe with ecstatic anticipation until finally, the one they were waiting for had come.
James Shelby smoked a cigarette as he strode down the tunnel leading to his imperial box; the best seat in the house.
The imperial box was a luxury seating situated on the first row.
From there, James Shelby could enjoy the show and entertain his VIP guests.
It was essentially like a luxury box you would see in modern sports stadiums.
It had a well-stocked bar with fine waitresses to serve them, as well as plenty of seats for James Shelby and his guest's entourage.
The crowd roared as they saw James Shelby take his seat.
The only thing breaking up the usually business appearance was a radically bright yellow handkerchief in his suit jacket's pocket.
Next to him on impressive chairs more akin to thrones were Saint Lauren and Saint Lazlo.
"So that's James Shelby? You have no idea how legendary that guy is. The Yakuza stay well clear from the Shelby clan." Said Jinzo as he looked through his opera glasses.
"Doesn't look like the kinda guy who enjoys a good show." Grit remarked.
"Who are the weirdos seated next to him?" Raito pondered aloud.
With James Shelby and his guests seated, the lights went dim.
A single spotlight lit the middle of the stage.
Standing there was a tall sleek man dressed in a white suit with a black tie.
He had short blond hair and wore a white Greek comedy mask with black spirals on either cheek.
Then a microphone descended from the heavens.
["Ladies and gentlemen! My name is Jinx and I welcome you to this year's Royal Jam!"]
Jinx spoke into the microphone with seasoned bravado. A buttery voice well and truly fit for commentary or event hosting.
The crowd went crazy in response to the theatrical introduction.
"Ooo, that's freakin' cool, yo."
Swiss was peeking through the curtains, impressed with the string system that was operating overhead the stadium.
It reminded Swiss of how they would fit cameras to strings, enabling them to whiz around the field capturing footage from all angles.
The strings overhead were worked masterfully. They were clear as fishing wire so the crowd did not notice them.
These strings allowed such things as microphones falling from the sky to be possible.
["We have a fantastic show for you tonight! As always, a big thank you to our benefactor and king of this here land, give it up for Mr. James Shelby!"]
A spotlight then shone on the imperial box.
James Shelby hastily put down his glass of whiskey and waved to the cheering audience.
"James Shelby?" Swiss said in confusion, "Oi, Joka. Do people call that guy James or Shelby?"
"They call him James. *"
"What? That makes zero fucking sense."
Swiss swore at Joka to hide how deeply disturbed he was.
He always thought the world of One Piece said names like how the Japanese did it; with the family name first before your individual name.
With this logic, James Shelby should really be called Shelby James.
"That's so annoying!" Swiss complained.
"What do you mean, Swiss-san? +" Kimagure Joka glanced at Swiss with mild amusement.
"Ugh, nothing. You wouldn't understand…" Swiss felt utterly defeated with this needlessly confusing situation.
'Whoever that James Shelby is, he better be damn badass to warrant this name bullshit!' Swiss was going to need some time to get over this.
The charming Jinx was just about done with his introduction.
["So, without any further delay, I present to you the first act of the night!"]
"Finally!" Saint Lauren was eating donuts inside her spacesuit, chocolate smeared on her face.
"That fool likes the sounds of his own voice." Saint Lazlo added, smiling sinisterly at the attractive waitresses serving him drinks.
James Shelby sat in his leather chair with his glass of whiskey and his cigarettes, staring out blankly towards the stage.
He was a man whose mind always seemed elsewhere.
Not even his wife could take his distant way of living.
He was a man who was closed off to the stimulations of the world. She left him and all the wealth and power that came with it.
Did he care? Did he even think about it? Nobody knew. Or rather, nobody could tell.
James Shelby was a man hard to read. His green eyes dazzling like pools of emerald.
A wall made from the coldest of stone- an emotionless pragmatist.
And perhaps the best businessman alive.
The Royal Jam was an action-packed evening with all the best acts from around the world performing.
Many of the acts were fresh names that had not been seen before. It was very rare for an act to be good enough to get a second invite to the Royal Jam.
One by one they came out.
Some were solo performers, some were shows crafted by groups such as Hugh Antonio's circus.
Swiss watched from backstage with awe.
They had escape artists, daredevils, magicians, erotic shows, musical acts, you name it.
Swiss' favorite act was a daredevil stuntman called 'Epic Jump'.
He watched as hundreds of people quickly prepared a large skating ramp.
After they were finished, Epic Jump, a small man in white motorcycle leathers and helmet revved his engine.
He was on a motorcycle powered by what Swiss identified to be breath dials from Skypiea.
Swiss marveled at how Epic Jump so casually handled the twerk of his breath dial-powered motorcycle.
He remembered how even Nami, as skilled as a navigator she was, even she had trouble working with the twerk produced by breath dials.
Jinzo's favorite performance was a beautiful ballet dancer. She had silky black hair and skin pale as snow. Her long legs were the talk of the male population in the 180,000-capacity crowd.
Grit did not share what he thought was his favorite performance. However, the gang suspected it was the one where they built a pool and showed synchronized swimming.
Raito's favorite shows were any that had anything erotic. Jinzo and Grit could not believe how flushed Raito's cheeks would get.
Jinzo giggled, "It looks like we have a pervy ninja as a companion, huh Grit-san?"
Grit let out a deep sigh, "He's the least of our problems."
"Ah," Jinzo replied, knowing Grit was referring to their heavy drinking self-proclaimed 'captain'.
The Royal Jam continued for hours.
Swiss and company witnessed some amazing displays of talent and showmanship. It was a night they would never forget.
Yet all the while, James Shelby had not given applause to any performer.
"Another drink, Mr. Shelby?" A waitress with purple hair, a slim waist, and large breasts seductively offered.
"Go ahead." James Shelby aloofly replied.
Saint Lazlo, along with his wife, had been highly entertained by the things they had seen thus far.
Yet even Saint Lazlo, a selfish celestial dragon, could not help but notice James Shelby's lack of enjoyment.
"It must be hard, I pity you." Saint Lazlo said.
"Hmm?"
James Shelby wore his poker face, hiding his disgust at being pitied by this ugly man.
"Living here, you must be desensitized to it all. I know exactly how you feel."
"Oh, I bet you do…"
James Shelby laughed internally. He had hosted many sadistic celestial dragons in his tenure as king of Jam Land.
For people that get anything they want and spend their days in leisure, going to the Royal Jam was quite the injection of novel thrills.
But alas, James Shelby was a man rendered even more bored than them.
A troupe had just finished their act and was bowing to the audience.
Jinx came back on stage.
["Bravo, bravo! Alright, next up we have a group who have made quite the name for themselves on our main street! Give it up for the Hugh Antonio Circus!"]
"Showtime."
Hugh Antonio said as he fastened his top hat and strode out on stage.
It was quite the walk from the curtains to the middle. That's how big this damn Main Stage was.
"Here we go." Grit said, looking down towards the well-dressed ringmaster.
Hugh Antonio wore a smile that he had practiced all his life for this day.
The crowd clapped until Hugh Antonio reached Jinx, who gave him the microphone.
Hugh Antonio took a moment to get a full 360-degree view of the grandeur that is the Main Stage.
Then he took a deep and happy sigh before shouting magnanimously
"LADIES AND GENTLEMAN-.."
While Hugh Antonio did his charming introduction, his troupe all stood backstage and swallowed in a collective gulp.
It may have been the most important show of their lives, but the nervousness they all felt only acted to excite them.
'This,' they thought.
'This is what it's all about!'
The mindset of true professionals.