Are You Underestimating Me?

The Krieg Pirates' fleet drew closer, and the once-boisterous sea fell silent.

Everyone seemed intimidated by the sheer scale of the Krieg Pirates' armada, staring at it in mute awe. Some seasoned pirates couldn't help but sigh inwardly...

As expected of the former East Blue Overlord!

The Krieg Pirates.

Former East Blue Overlord, bounty of seventeen million Berries.

They'd thought that after Captain Moke, with his bounty of fifty million Berries, emerged, the former East Blue Overlord—the Krieg Pirates—had become a joke.

But now it seemed...

The Krieg Pirates, once called the East Blue Overlord, were not to be underestimated either!

Fifty pirate ships, and at the lead, a three-tiered giant sailing vessel...

Just the strength on display was enough to stun everyone.

Many pirates even suspected that with their current power, the Krieg Pirates already had the capability to control all pirates in the East Blue.

And the Moke Pirates...

Well, their captain's bounty was sky-high, but that was about it.

After all, the Moke Pirates only had one ship.

Beside him, Xia Che narrowed his eyes as he watched the Krieg Pirates' fleet.

He knew quite well about Commodore Krieg.

Later on, Krieg would lead these fifty ships into the Grand Line, preparing to conquer it. Yet, in just seven days, a passing Shichibukai—Hawk Eyes Mihawk—would annihilate most of them, and Krieg would squander his entire fortune.

A true prodigal son of the East Blue!

Xia Che sighed inwardly with regret, then narrowed his eyes further at the fifty ships and five thousand crewmen.

At that moment.

The great pirates who had already boarded the Moke Pirates' ship were also staring at the former East Blue Overlord, their eyes showing a hint of gravity, and some even curling their lips into cold smirks.

They'd thought this would be a celebration for the Moke Pirates, but now... it seemed things were getting interesting.

The Moke Pirates...

The Krieg Pirates...

Would these two pirate crews fight each other before the Moke Pirates even declared war on Marine Branch 16?

As major pirates of the East Blue, they didn't believe the Krieg Pirates had brought such a massive fleet to support the Moke Pirates.

Just then.

As the atmosphere on the ship grew heavier and heavier.

Suddenly.

"Captain Moke is out."

A cry rang out from somewhere on the ship.

"It's Captain Moke, the new East Blue Overlord, the Moke Pirates with a bounty of fifty million Berries!"

Instantly.

At that cry, the pirates on the ship all turned their heads, their gazes shifting from the Krieg Pirates to land on a burly figure emerging from the cabin of the Moke Pirates' ship.

It was a bald, brawny man.

He was bare-chested, showing off his robust muscles, draped in a yellow lion-skin cloak. The faint yellow hue and the thick mane around his neck seemed to glow with a soft golden light under the sun.

Just his entrance instantly captured everyone's attention.

That imposing, domineering figure made everyone sigh inwardly...

Truly worthy of the East Blue's highest bounty, the new East Blue Overlord—Captain Moke.

And it didn't end there.

Everyone raised their heads, gazing at Captain Moke, who stood with arms crossed, a resolute expression, and piercing eyes fixed ahead.

To his left: [My fate is mine to decide, not heaven's]

To his right: [If heaven seeks to destroy me, I will destroy heaven]

Above: [East Blue Overlord]

Looking at that couplet on both sides, everyone couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.

So arrogant! So audacious! So domineering!

No wonder he'd been given such an unbelievable bounty by Marine Headquarters before even leaving the East Blue—with that kind of swagger and tyranny... he was truly a great pirate destined to stir the seas.

Even the former captain of the Black Cat Pirates, who had been sneering all along, couldn't help but narrow his eyes the moment Moke appeared.

Too arrogant!

He had thought this was just some lucky bastard who happened to offend Marine Headquarters and got slapped with a shocking fifty-million-berry bounty.

After all, this was the East Blue.

What could you possibly do to earn a bounty like that?

Even if you really wiped out a Marine branch, it shouldn't be possible!

But now...

"It looks like we misjudged him." The wandering dancer—Jango—narrowed his eyes, fixed on that burly figure. "The East Blue is about to birth a big shot."

"How interesting!" Hearing Jango's words, Kuro beside him snapped back to reality, squinting slightly. "Looks like the Marines are in for some trouble this time!"

As he spoke.

Moke gave a light flick of the King's Cloak his boss had specially brought him yesterday.

This cloak was custom-made for him to flaunt the East Blue Overlord's presence during this grand ceremony. The moment he draped it on, it radiated overwhelming authority, and with the banner his underlings had unfurled behind him...

Perfect!

Moke discreetly swept his gaze across the pirates on the ship, nodding in satisfaction inwardly. As expected of the boss—looks like everyone's intimidated by me!

Of course~

He hadn't forgotten his mission.

Nami had sought him out earlier, saying a big client had arrived, and ordered him to keep the man here no matter what, then bring him to Marine Branch 16.

Otherwise, she'd capture him and claim his bounty.

To avoid getting caught, Moke was taking this quite seriously.

He even remembered his boss's teachings firmly in his heart...

In important situations, don't talk too much, don't smile, just strike a "pose."

Though he had no idea what "pose" meant, he unwaveringly carried out his boss's orders.

With a flick of his cloak that sent a sharp whoosh through the air, Moke withdrew his scanning gaze and walked expressionlessly toward the ship's edge.

Now...

It was time for him, Moke, to receive the guest.

Reaching the railing, he immediately saw the man standing on the deck opposite—on the deck across from him—Krieg.

The Krieg Pirates' personal ship, the Fearless Battleship Saber, was taller and larger than Moke's own vessel.

A three-deck galleon.

In that moment.

Moke suddenly seemed to understand why Nami had been so tense.

This really was a big client!

That ship alone looked incredibly valuable—even he felt a twinge of envy. His current ship was still the one his boss had left him back then. Though decent in quality, it was only a medium-sized vessel, far more modest compared to the Fearless Battleship Saber.

Of course~

Now... he couldn't afford to lose face!

Moke lifted his head, arms crossed, staring up at Krieg, who stood on the higher deck clad in golden armor. Expressionless, he merely narrowed his eyes, exuding the aura of the East Blue Overlord from head to toe.

And at that very moment.

Captain Krieg also stood on the slightly higher deck, looking down at Moke.

Though he had seen Moke's photo on the bounty poster, back then it had looked like some grinning fool.

But now...

He had to admit, even he, the former East Blue Overlord, had to acknowledge this man before him.

Truly worthy of the pirate who had stolen his title as East Blue Overlord!

Perhaps bounty didn't represent strength, but a strong pirate's bounty was always high.

Krieg admitted he had underestimated him. He'd originally planned to put this guy in his place, but with his bounty on display and this demeanor...

Standing before his massive fleet, he still retained the dignity of the East Blue Overlord.

Even facing the entire Krieg Pirates fleet head-on, with all those ships before him, this man remained utterly calm—this was...

Absolute strength!

Especially behind him:

Left: [My fate is mine to decide, not heaven's]

Right: [If heaven seeks to destroy me, I will destroy heaven]

And above all, those four characters...

[East Blue Overlord]!

They stung Krieg's eyes, as if proclaiming to the world...

He truly seemed like the true East Blue Overlord.

What arrogance, what dominance!

Even he, a former East Blue Overlord himself, wouldn't dare act so brazenly.

Without strength, who would dare be this arrogant?

Was this guy confident in his own power, or was he simply disdainful of the Marines?

"The new East Blue Overlord—Moke."

Yet in the face of his words, Captain Moke before him still didn't answer, didn't even shift his gaze or change his expression.

Seeing this, Krieg clenched both fists.

Was he being looked down on?

At that thought, Krieg's face turned cold as he stared icily at Moke.

But he didn't know.

Right now.

It wasn't that Moke was ignoring him—it was that the simpleton Moke... was racking his brain over the task his boss had given him.

How could he bring this fat bull into the fold without losing face?

He couldn't just invite him outright, could he!

And if he did invite him, what would he say to avoid embarrassment?

After seeing the ship and the armor, Moke hadn't even heard a word Krieg said.

Yet.

Just as Moke was agonizing, even letting out a helpless sigh, and was about to try opening his mouth to call Krieg over and invite him to join the raid on Marine Branch 16—

As if hearing that sigh, Krieg felt truly belittled, veins bulging on his forehead. "Are you humiliating me? Looking down on me?"

The moment those words fell.

"???"

A bewildered Moke looked up at Krieg.

Had he said something?

Had he looked down on him?

What now?

Damn, if he ran off because he misunderstood and thought Moke was insulting him, what then?

At that thought, Moke's heart clenched, and he was about to say something.

But.

Before he could speak.

"A bounty doesn't mean anything!" Feeling slighted, Krieg's face went cold. He stood straight, arms crossed, showing off his equally imposing frame as he looked down at Moke. "A mere Marine branch—if I, Krieg, wanted to destroy it, I could do the same!"

With that, before Moke could respond, he waved a hand and shouted loudly behind him.

"Turn around! Head for Marine Branch 16! That insignificant branch—my Krieg Fleet can crush it with ease!"

His eyes locked onto Moke.

"I'll make you understand the consequences of looking down on me. Once I destroy that Marine branch, I'll show you—and everyone—who the real East Blue Overlord is!"

As he finished.

While Moke stood there baffled and the crowd was stunned by Krieg's boldness—

The Krieg Pirates fleet, which had just arrived, immediately turned around and set course for Marine Branch 16, leaving behind only... a still-confused Moke staring after them.

Had he looked down on him?

He hadn't even said anything yet!

But now...

Watching the Krieg Pirates fleet turn and sail away.

Moke: ...

Did that count as completing the boss's mission?

He couldn't help striking a pose, then quickly reached out a hand and roared, "Wait!"