Well of Stars

"Run! Run! It's the Phantom Sword Grand Fleet! We don't stand a chance!"

"Damn it, why would a pirate of this caliber appear here? Are they trying to start a war with the other overlord factions?"

"Is that big guy a monster? Patch, a Senior Executive of the Phantom Sword Grand Fleet known as the Rampaging Demon, took down even our captain in a single exchange!"

"Bastards, if you've got the guts, go to the Grand Line! What kind of skill is it to bully us in the North Blue?"

"Hahaha! Trash pirates like you are better off dead."

"Captain Patch really is too strong! Everyone, charge! Don't let Captain Patch finish off all the enemies by himself!"

Out on the sea, the pirates roared in fury and despair, but it was useless. The Butcher's Blades raised by the Phantom Sword Pirates did not pause in the slightest. In merely two minutes, the Giant Fist Pirates, with a bounty of 24 million Beli, vanished from the North Blue forever, leaving only a few wrecks floating on the surface.

"Heh, Patch really is hopeless. It took him that long to deal with a bunch of small-time pirates." Jin once again entered his usual Patch-mocking mode.

"What a pity. There was no strong opponent on their ship worthy of a battle with me." Kenkon sighed softly, carrying the thoroughly punchable air of someone who longed for an opponent but could not find one.

Naturally, Roy had no interest whatsoever in a battle of this level. Among their group, only battle-crazed Patch refused to give up any fight, even one that was barely enough to warm him up.

"Ugh, not happy. What kind of crap Giant Fist Pirates Captain was that? He couldn't even take a few punches from me."

Having begun to train in Iron Body, Patch had become even more berserk in battle. After all, his Rampage Fruit did not provide much of a boost to his defense. In the past, he still had to be somewhat careful not to suffer overly serious injuries.

But now, he ignored everything and charged straight into the enemy's headquarters for an unstoppable rampage.

"There have been more and more pirates appearing lately. It seems this Well of Stars Kingdom is nothing but a pirate nest." Roy spoke with a sigh.

"Besides Star Sand Gold, the Well of Stars Kingdom also has extremely abundant mineral resources. To many pirates, this place is a prize worth fighting over. Pirate battles take place here almost every day."

"Even the Marines withdrew from the struggle for this region after repeatedly failing to establish a foothold and paying a considerable price. They simply let the other pirates fight one another to the death. That turned this place into a lawless zone, known as a paradise for pirates, where slaughter and betrayal are the central themes." With his many years of experience as an assassin, Jin was very familiar with such information.

"Looks like the common people here live terribly miserable lives."

"Of course. If they want to survive in the Well of Stars Kingdom, becoming pirates is their only path, and their usual role in pirate crews is cannon fodder. Even so, for most residents of the Well of Stars Kingdom, it remains an unattainable dream."

Roy sighed as well. This was precisely why he pursued strength. Those without strength could not even control their own lives. How tragic was that?

"Captain, have you heard of the so-called three overlord-class pirates?" Jin seemed to have suddenly thought of something interesting and asked Roy.

"I've heard a little. After all, we're called the fourth overlord. We should at least know something about the others."

At that, everyone exchanged knowing smiles. Within their group, that claim was nothing more than a joke. Never mind what meaning the title of overlord could possibly hold in the North Blue—even the fact that a few losers who had fled the Grand Line in disgrace dared to place themselves above them was intolerable.

"In the North Blue, the captains of three pirate crews have bounties exceeding 50 million Beli. That is why they are called the three overlord-class factions: the Slaughter Pirates, with a bounty of 57 million Beli; the Wild Bull Pirates, with a bounty of 61 million Beli; and the Plant Pirates, with a bounty of 65 million Beli."

"And the Wild Bull Pirates are based in the Well of Stars Kingdom, which serves as their main stronghold. This time, perhaps the old and new overlords will have a Great Collision."

"Ohoho, how terrifying."

"Captain, should we—"

"Captain, food's ready! We've got your favorite Braised Fish today."

"..." Jin finally understood why the captain could move so fast. Was it all from grabbing seats? He even used Soru just to eat. Was that really necessary? It seemed he was the only normal person on this ship.

"Wow, there's even Dreamy Mapo Tofu. This is pure happiness."

"What? Mapo tofu? Damn it, you bastards, leave some for me!" Jin could only hate that he had not trained hard enough normally and still had not fully mastered Soru.

"Get out of my way! Don't force me to kill someone! Get lost, now!" A spirited girl of around fourteen or fifteen assumed a fighting stance. Behind her stood a little girl, pale and emaciated, clearly malnourished. She timidly clutched the older girl's hem, looking as fragile as an abandoned kitten and stirring an instinctive urge to protect her.

Surrounding the girl and blocking her escape was a group of equally impoverished refugees. Before her stood several dozen vicious pirates. A middle-aged man whose head had already gone bald like the Mediterranean stood in the middle of the crowd, seemingly their leader. Though he did not look like much of a strong fighter, he was the most intimidating one there, because he held a musket in his hand.

Do not think firearms were useless in the Pirate World. In truth, most people still could not evade a musket's shots. This was also one of the main reasons the Marines could suppress the Grand Line.

"You ungrateful bastards! If it weren't for Xun, you would have died long ago! And now you're selling us out!" Xia clenched her fists until veins bulged across them, her gums nearly bleeding from how hard she gritted her teeth.

Yet these villagers felt no guilt at all. "Xia, since you've already saved us once, why not save us one more time? In these chaotic times, none of us can survive. Joining a pirate crew is the only real way out. Besides, you aren't losing out either. If you join the Blood Sail Pirates, you'll be able to leave this damned place alive."

"Pah! Even if I die, I won't let you take Xun away! Do you think I don't know what will happen to Xun if she's taken away?"

At that moment, Xun timidly tugged at Xia's clothes and said in a weak, guilty voice, "It's okay, Sister. Just let me go with them. Besides, if I hadn't held you back, you could have left this place long ago."

"Xun, don't say such discouraging things. Sister will definitely take you away from here today."

"Hahaha! This touching sisterly scene ends here. No matter how you struggle, you cannot change the final outcome. The weak can only accept the fate arranged for them by the strong."