The Krieg Pirates fleet drew closer and closer, and the once-noisy sea fell silent.
Everyone seemed intimidated by the Krieg Pirates' enormous fleet, silently watching it approach.
Even some seasoned pirates could not help but sigh inwardly...
Worthy of the former East Blue Overlord!
The Krieg Pirates.
The former East Blue Overlord, with a bounty of seventeen million Beli.
They had thought that after Captain Moke, with his fifty-million-Beli bounty, emerged, the former East Blue Overlord—the Krieg Pirates—had become a joke.
But now it seemed...
The Krieg Pirates, once known as the East Blue Overlord, were not to be underestimated either!
Fifty pirate ships, along with that enormous three-decked sailing ship at the head...
This display of strength alone was enough to shock everyone.
Quite a few pirates even suspected that, with their current strength alone, the Krieg Pirates already possessed the power to control all pirates in the East Blue.
And the Moke Pirates...
Although their leader's bounty was incredibly high, that was all there was to it.
After all, the Moke Pirates had only one pirate ship.
Xia Che beside them narrowed his eyes as he watched the Krieg Pirates fleet.
He knew quite a bit about Admiral Krieg as well.
Later on, Krieg would lead these fifty ships into the Grand Line, intending to conquer it. Yet in just seven days, most of them would be wiped out by the passing Shichibukai—Hawk Eyes Mihawk. In the end, his massive fortune would be completely squandered.
He was truly the East Blue's biggest wastrel!
Xia Che sighed inwardly with regret, then narrowed his eyes as he looked at those fifty ships and five thousand crewmen.
At that moment.
The powerful pirates who had already joined the Moke Pirates were also watching the former East Blue Overlord, their eyes carrying a hint of gravity. Some even wore cold smiles.
They had thought this would be the Moke Pirates' grand celebration, but now it seemed... things had become interesting.
The Moke Pirates...
The Krieg Pirates...
Before the Moke Pirates declared war on Marine Branch 16, would these two pirate crews fight each other first?
As great pirates of the East Blue, they did not believe the Krieg Pirates had brought such a massive fleet to support the Moke Pirates.
Just then.
As the atmosphere aboard the ship grew increasingly tense.
Suddenly.
"Captain Moke has come out."
Someone aboard the ship let out a cry of surprise.
"It's Captain Moke, the East Blue's new overlord, leader of the Moke Pirates with a fifty-million-Beli bounty!"
At once.
At that cry, the pirates aboard turned around. Their gazes, which had been fixed on the Krieg Pirates, all fell upon the burly figure emerging from the Moke pirate ship's cabin.
He was a bald, muscular man.
His upper body was bare, displaying his strong muscles. Draped over him was a yellow lion-hide cloak, its pale golden color and the thick mane around his neck seeming to glow faintly beneath the sunlight.
His appearance instantly drew everyone's attention.
That burly, imposing figure made everyone marvel inwardly...
Worthy of the East Blue's highest bounty, the new East Blue Overlord—Captain Moke.
And that was not even the end of it.
Everyone raised their heads and looked at the words on either side of Captain Moke, who stood with his arms folded, his expression resolute and his eyes bright as he stared ahead.
Left: My fate is mine to decide, not heaven's
Right: If heaven seeks to destroy me, then I shall destroy heaven
Above: East Blue Overlord
When they saw the couplets on either side, everyone could not help but gasp.
How arrogant! How audacious! How domineering!
No wonder Marine Headquarters had placed an unbelievable bounty on him before he had even left the East Blue. With such arrogance and dominance... he was truly a great pirate destined to stir the seas.
Even the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, who had looked disdainful until then, could not help but have his pupils contract the instant he saw Moke emerge.
Far too arrogant!
He had thought Moke was merely a lucky fool who had happened to do something that offended Marine Headquarters, earning himself that shocking fifty-million-Beli bounty.
After all, this was the East Blue.
What could someone possibly do to earn a bounty like that?
Even if someone really destroyed a Marine branch, it should have been impossible!
But now...
"Looks like we were truly mistaken." The wandering dancer Jango narrowed his eyes and stared at the burly figure. "A major figure is about to rise in the East Blue."
"How interesting!" Hearing Jango's words, Kuro beside him came back to his senses as well, narrowing his eyes. "It looks like the Marines are going to be in trouble this time!"
With that said.
Moke lightly flicked the King's Cloak that his boss had specially brought him yesterday.
It had been specially tailored so he could display the bearing of the East Blue Overlord at this celebration. The moment he put it on, he looked immensely imposing, especially with the banner his underlings had unfurled behind him...
Perfect!
Moke discreetly swept his gaze over the pirates around the ship and nodded with satisfaction. His boss was amazing. It looked like everyone had been scared stiff by him!
Of course~
He had not forgotten his mission.
Sister Nami had specifically come to find him earlier and told him that a major customer had arrived. No matter what, he had to keep him here and bring him to Marine Branch 16.
Otherwise, they would capture him and exchange him for his bounty.
To avoid being captured, Moke took it very seriously.
He even kept his boss's teachings firmly in mind...
At important occasions, do not talk too much, and do not smile. Just strike a pose.
Although he had no idea what exactly a pose was, he still carried out his boss's orders without wavering.
As he flicked his cloak, producing a sharp tearing sound through the air, Moke withdrew his sweeping gaze and walked toward the side of the ship with a blank expression.
Now...
It was Moke's turn to receive the guest.
When he reached the side of the ship, he immediately saw Krieg standing on the opposite deck.
Krieg's exclusive pirate ship, the Fearless Battleship Saber, was taller and larger than Moke's pirate ship.
It was a great sailing ship with three decks.
At that moment.
Moke seemed to understand why Sister Nami had been so nervous.
He really was a major customer!
That ship was clearly worth a fortune. Even Moke felt somewhat envious. His own ship was still the pirate ship his boss had left him back then. Though its quality was good, it was only a medium-sized vessel, making it seem far less impressive than the Fearless Battleship Saber.
Of course~
He could not lose in terms of presence now!
Moke raised his head and looked at Krieg, who stood on the higher deck wearing golden armor. With his arms folded and his face expressionless, Moke merely narrowed his eyes, radiating the aura of the East Blue Overlord from head to toe.
Meanwhile.
Captain Krieg stood on the slightly higher deck, looking down at Moke.
He had seen Moke's picture on the bounty poster, but in that photograph, Moke had looked like a simpleton grinning foolishly.
But now...
Even he, the former East Blue Overlord, had to acknowledge the man before him.
Worthy of the pirate who had stolen his title as East Blue Overlord!
Perhaps bounty did not represent strength, but a powerful pirate would certainly have a high bounty.
Krieg admitted that he had underestimated him. He had originally intended to give this fellow a show of force, but with that bounty on display, along with this appearance...
Even before his enormous fleet, Moke had not lost the dignity of the East Blue Overlord.
He even stood before the Krieg Pirates fleet, facing so many pirate ships with an utterly calm expression. This was...
Absolute strength!
Especially behind him...
Left: My fate is mine to decide, not heaven's
Right: If heaven seeks to destroy me, then I shall destroy heaven
And especially those four words above...
East Blue Overlord!
They stabbed at Krieg's eyes, as if announcing to everyone...
That he was the true East Blue Overlord.
What arrogance, what dominance!
Even he, the former East Blue Overlord, had never dared to be so ostentatious.
Without strength, who would dare to be so arrogant?
Was this fellow's confidence in his own strength, as well as his disdain for the Marines?
"The East Blue's new overlord—Moke."
Yet Captain Moke before him still did not answer. Even his gaze did not shift or change.
Seeing this, Krieg clenched his fists.
Was he being looked down upon?
At that thought, Krieg's expression turned cold as he stared icily at Moke.
What he did not know was...
Moke was not ignoring him at all. The dense-headed Moke was instead thinking about the mission his boss had assigned him.
How could he lure this fat cow over without losing his imposing aura?
He could not exactly invite him over himself, could he?
And if he invited him, how could he say it without losing face?
After seeing that ship and that armor, Moke had not heard a single word Krieg said.
However.
Just as Moke struggled with the matter and even sighed helplessly, preparing to try asking Krieg to come over and join him in attacking Marine Branch 16.
Krieg seemed to hear his sigh and felt that he was truly being looked down upon. Veins bulged on his forehead. "Are you humiliating me? Looking down on me?"
As soon as those words fell.
"???"
A bewildered Moke raised his head and looked at Krieg.
Had he said anything?
Had he looked down on him?
What was wrong now?
Oh no, what if Krieg misunderstood and ran away because he thought Moke was looking down on him?
Moke's heart tightened at the thought, and he was just about to say something.
However.
"Bounty does not represent everything!" Feeling looked down upon, Krieg's face turned completely cold. He stood straight with his arms folded as well, displaying his equally burly physique while looking down at Moke. "It is merely a Marine branch. If I, Krieg, want to destroy it, I can destroy it too!"
As he spoke, without waiting for Moke to say anything, he directly waved his hand and shouted toward those behind him.
"Turn around! Head for Marine Branch 16! This insignificant Marine Branch 16 can be destroyed by my Krieg fleet with a mere wave of my hand!"
His eyes remained fixed on Moke.
"I will make you understand the consequences of looking down on me. Once I destroy that Marine branch, I will let you know—let everyone know—who the true East Blue Overlord is!"
With that said.
As Moke stood there bewildered and everyone else was shocked by Krieg's dominance.
The Krieg Pirates fleet, which had only just arrived, immediately turned around and set off for Marine Branch 16, leaving behind... Moke, who was still staring in confusion.
Had he looked down on him?
He had not even said anything yet!
But now...
Moke watched the Krieg Pirates fleet turn around and leave.
Moke:...
Did that count as completing his boss's mission?
He could not help but strike a pose, then quickly stretched out his hand and shouted, "Wait!"
Before you continue