A Marine warship trailed far behind the Buggy Pirates' vessel.
As it entered the waters near the Baratie, its speed gradually slowed.
Inside the Captain's Cabin
"Colonel Smoker!"
"Just as predicted—the area around the Baratie is swarming with pirates!"
"Even the Buggy Pirates—bounty fifteen million—have shown up!"
The reporting Marine's eyes gleamed with excitement.
But compared to him—
Tashigi, short black hair framing her face, red-framed glasses resting neatly on her nose, sword held carefully at her side—
looked troubled.
"Colonel Smoker," she said hesitantly, "our orders are to remain stationed at Loguetown. If we act outside jurisdiction, headquarters will hold us accountable."
"And with so many pirate crews gathered… we don't have enough men. Shouldn't we inform Captain Morgan or Captain Nezumi for joint capture operations?"
Smoker leaned back lazily, boots propped atop the desk.
"Stop shouting."
His silver pompadour gleamed beneath the cabin lights. Two cigars burned steadily at the corners of his mouth. His face looked more like that of a criminal than a Marine officer.
Yet the Marines present regarded him with nothing but respect.
"I'm in command here," Smoker snapped, glaring at Tashigi before turning to the reporting soldier.
"Prepare the men. Let the pirates slaughter each other first."
"Then we clean up."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier saluted and hurried off.
Smoker exhaled thick smoke, eyes narrowing.
The rumor of Krieg's treasure map—
It reeked of manipulation.
Whoever spread it, they had gathered East Blue's filth in one place.
Fine.
He would erase them all.
East Blue didn't need a new overlord.
Baratie — The Calm Before Ruin
Yuuki set down his teacup.
"Let's go, Conrad."
He rose without haste, ignoring the burning stares of the chefs.
On the floor, Sanji lay pale and sweating, ribs shattered, unable to stand. He could only watch Yuuki leave—
Without even a glance.
That indifference cut deeper than the blow.
"What does he think this restaurant is…?!"
Sanji clenched his fists, blood trailing from his lips.
The chefs rushed to lift him.
"Take him inside," Zeff ordered quietly.
He understood what Sanji did not.
On this sea—
The strong possessed the right to act.
Still, Zeff's eyes sharpened.
"If what you said proves false… and my restaurant suffers…"
He would fight to the death.
Outside—
The arrival of the Buggy Pirates shattered the fragile stalemate.
With Krieg gone, Buggy's fifteen-million bounty now stood among the highest in East Blue.
But gold silenced fear.
BOOM! BOOM!
Without warning, Buggy's cannons roared.
Shells rained down upon the surrounding pirate ships.
Screams erupted. Hulls shattered. Masts splintered.
"Return fire!"
"The treasure's ours!"
"Open fire!"
Explosions swallowed the sea.
Smoke and flame engulfed the horizon.
Standing calmly upon the deck platform, Yuuki observed the carnage.
"Truly chaotic."
The Clover Kingdom had its dangers—
But for ordinary civilians, it was still relatively safe.
Here?
The common people lived perpetually on the edge of annihilation.
"This sea is free," Yuuki murmured softly.
"But it is chaos."
He glanced at Conrad.
"In this world, your former ideology might have made you a hero."
Conrad did not respond.
He stood motionless, corpse-pale beneath the black cloak.
The Buggy Pirates smashed through the remaining resistance with overwhelming cannon fire.
"Gold! So much gold!" cried Mohji from atop his massive lion.
"Captain, look!"
Buggy rushed forward, red nose trembling with excitement.
"Treasure! We've hit the jackpot!"
But—
As his gaze shifted—
He saw them.
The black-haired youth.
The cloaked figure beside him.
Standing calmly before the treasure.
And suddenly—
A chill crawled up his spine.
Far behind—
Smoker lowered his telescope.
"As expected."
"Full speed ahead!"
"Arrest every pirate in sight!"
The warship surged forward.
Yuuki closed his silver grimoire gently.
He looked almost like a noble scholar rather than a battlefield manipulator.
"Begin, Conrad."
Conrad vanished—
Reappearing at the edge of the deck.
In his hand—
Golden mana condensed.
Forming a key.
Inside the restaurant, chefs crowded the windows in terror.
"What's he doing?" someone whispered.
Sanji, wrapped heavily in bandages, stepped forward despite the pain.
He stared intensely.
Conrad crouched.
And inserted the golden key—
Into the surface of the sea itself.
As if the ocean were a door.
He twisted.
And the sea responded.
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