Brutal! Absolutely Brutal!

Gild Tesoro Tesoro.

Aside from being rich and good at making money, he has almost nothing else to be commended about.

Chivalrous smile.

Aside from his rather fierce appearance, this man is a future Headquarters Admiral!

Compared to a smile.

What kind of deformed and grotesque creature is the Gild Tesoro?

Storm came to Gran Tesoro with the intention of meeting the Gild Tesoro Tesoro.

If it's a good fit, he'd also like to try and see if he can recruit the other party.

The Gild Tesoro is of decent strength and is good at making money.

The main problem is that the other side also has conflicts with the World Government!

In Storm's view, this was undoubtedly an excellent candidate for a "tool"!

But Storm never expected that he would encounter a future Headquarters Admiral in Gran Tesoro.

Fujitora's Smile!

Issho and Tesoro?

Is there even a need for comparison?

Storm was almost about to open his mouth and offer a friendly smile.

But Yixiao merely frowned and "looked" at the Shichibukai had suddenly spoken.

Since blinding himself, Issho's primary way of observing the world has been through his [Observation Haki].

It is precisely because of this that Issho gradually developed some highly personal abilities in his [Observation Haki].

For example—emotional perception!

Itsuki's "emotional perception" [Observation Haki] has a very wide range of sensing range and a very high accuracy.

He could clearly sense the intense emotions emanating from the Shichibukai opposite him...

That excited, joyful, positive emotion, as if they had stumbled upon some heaven-sent good fortune.

But... why?

Yi Xiao gripped the Sword Cane in his hand tightly [Black Road Fire Wire].

He spent many years traveling the seas, honing his extraordinary skills and making many friends.

For example, Chaton Tokikake, the current Admiral Candidate of the Marine Headquarters, is one of Ichisho's friends.

However, Issho is not "famous throughout the world" like Admiral or Pirate Emperor.

At least in the eyes of the world at that time.

A smile that doesn't cause or create any major events has absolutely no presence.

But this seemingly "unknown" blind swordsman was able to be recognized as a true hero by Shichibukai of Four Seas...

Yi Xiao was inwardly shocked by White Dragon's intelligence-gathering abilities.

He paused for a moment, then asked in a deep voice.

"Have you heard my story?"

"No, but your face tells a story."

Storm shook his head and answered seriously.

His smile faltered, and on his face... was the scar he had inflicted himself...

"Indeed, I closed my eyes myself, because there are far too many things in this filthy world that I don't want to see..."

"Well said! Your courage is commendable and worthy of admiration."

Storm applauded enthusiastically, then extended a formal invitation.

"You absolutely must join my team!"

"... ah?"

He chuckled and then paused, unsure of where to put his right hand, which was gripping the "Black Road Fire Wire" book.

The reason he flew up into the sky to meet Shichibukai White Dragon.

One reason was that he had heard of the White Dragon's reputation for brutality.

According to a news report in the World Economic Journal, the White Dragon destroyed several islands, from Banaro Island, where the King of Lizards resided, to Jaya Island in Paradise, and then to Hachinosu Island, where Ochoku lived...

This is only the list of islands disclosed by the World Economic Journal.

How many islands has the White Dragon truly destroyed...?

I don't even dare to think about it.

A ruthless individual who can wipe out an entire island at a moment's notice—brutal! Absolutely ruthless!

On the other hand.

He flew up to the sky with a smile because he had just received a stroke of "luck" from Baccarat.

There is absolutely no such thing as kindness without a reason in this world.

A smile suggests that Baccarat's "goodwill" likely originates from the owner of this world's largest entertainment city—

Gild Tesoro, the Gild Tesoro.

For these two reasons.

Yi Xiao would never allow White Dragon to destroy Gran Tesoro again, to destroy this largest entertainment city in the world.

What Yixiao never expected was...

After White Dragon saw him...

They actually invited him to join their ranks?

"Are you kidding me!"

Yixiao gripped the Supreme Grade Sword [Black Road Fire Wire] tightly once more, and answered with a firm and powerful voice.

"I will never associate with pirates!"

Yixiao was meeting White Dragon for the first time today.

Before today, all his impressions of White Dragon came from the outside world.

It mainly comes from news reports in the World Economic Journal.

In Yixiao's memory.

White Dragon is a lawless and unruly Great Pirate.

Moreover...

As soon as the White Dragon appeared, he used a [Conqueror's Haki] power that had never been seen before, directly defeating the leader of Gran Tesoro —Gild Tesoro, the Gild Tesoro.

Judging from their posture and considering their past actions...

Yi Xiao felt that White Dragon probably wanted to continue destroying Gran Tesoro.

Just like how he destroyed Banaro Island, Jaya Island, and Hachinosu Island before...

Such a lawless and Great Pirate.

How could Yixiao possibly collude with the other party?

"Well said!"

Storm applauded enthusiastically again, then continued.

"Mr. Ichisho, I also have some connections at the Marine Headquarters."

"If you don't mind, I can recommend you directly to Admiral Aokiji Kuzan of the Marine Headquarters Admiral!"

Why recommend Issho to Aokiji Kuzan?

Of course, it's because Aokiji is the highest-ranking officer of the Sword Unit!

When Storm recommended Issho to Aokiji, he was essentially recommending Issho to the Sword Unit!

But what if Yixiao really joined the Sword Unit?

As the second-in-command of the Sword Unit, Storm could still bring Yixiao under his command, couldn't he?

"Of course, if you, Mr. Issho, think that Aokiji Kuzan is a bit too young, has a somewhat unreliable personality, and that his 'Lazy Justice' is simply too ridiculous..."

Before Storm could answer with a smile, he continued to add.

"I can also recommend you to the previous Marine Headquarters Admiral — Black Arm Zephyr! That kind-hearted Marine who upholds 'Non-Killing Justice'."

Black Arm Zephyr, the future leader of the New Marines (NEO Marines).

Storm recommended Yixiao to Zephyr, which was essentially a recommendation to the New Marines.

Who told him he was also the second-in-command of the New Marines?

Holding multiple jobs is exhausting.

Upon hearing Storm's words, Yixiao was stunned once again.

Aokiji Kuzan?

Black Arm Zephyr?

How did White Dragon come to know these two high-ranking naval officials?

As mentioned earlier, Issho is not without connections within the Navy.

Admiral Candidate Chaton Tokikake is an old friend I've known for many years.

But even with Tokikake...

That "Chaton," his status and prestige within the Navy are completely incomparable to "Aokiji" or "Black Arm," aren't they?

How did White Dragon, one of the Shichibukai, manage to get involved with those two high-ranking Marines?

Yi Xiao asked, looking bewildered.

"Who... are you?"

"White Dragon, Shichibukai, is the current Captain of the Storm Pirates."

After revealing his two identities, Storm didn't say anything more.

The group was currently high in the air.

The only "outsider," the Gild Tesoro, has already fallen and is unlikely to recover anytime soon.

By revealing to Yixiao that he possessed contact information with Aokiji and Zephyr, Storm was already recklessly flirting with his identity being exposed...

He could no longer reveal his identities as "Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral" and "Second-in-Command of the Sword Unit / New Marines" to Ikko.

That can only be discussed after the two people have become more familiar with each other!

If Ichisho decides to join the Storm Pirates...

Therefore, Storm certainly wouldn't mind revealing his true identity to the other party.

But now?

Yixiao hasn't agreed to "join the group" yet!

"The Shichibukai..."

Storm's failure to explain his identity in detail led Yixiao's reasoning in a different direction.

"How dare these mere pirates infiltrate the Navy! They can even influence a Marine Headquarters Admiral!"

"The corruption and filth within the World Government and the Marine Headquarters are far beyond my imagination!"

"Well said!"

Storm applauded enthusiastically for the third time at Yixiao's remarks.

"The World Government and the Marine Headquarters are indeed rife with corruption!"

"But the real root of evil is not the World Government and the Marine Headquarters, but the World Nobles who stand above the World Government — the Celestial Dragons!"

"Mr. Yixiao, would you like to join me in sweeping away all the sins in this world?"

"Stop talking big, you pirate!"

Yi Xiao gripped the Supreme Grade Sword [Black Road Fire Wire] tightly in his hand, and wisps of thick purple energy, resembling smoke, swirled around the "scabbard" of [Black Road Fire Wire].

"If I hear you continue, I'll wish I could puncture my own eardrums!"

How can mere pirates claim to eradicate sin?

I smiled, feeling that we didn't see eye to eye and that even a few words would be too much.

With a clang, he drew the [Black Road Fire Wire] from his hand and swung it at White Dragon's location.

"Gran Tesoro does not welcome you!"

With a smile, he swung his Supreme Grade Sword, [Black Road Fire Wire], and a massive horizontal gravity wave erupted from its snow-white blade, sweeping towards the Shichibukai like a storm.

"Gravity Blade - Fierce Tiger!"

Affected by Issho's [D Denk-Denk Fruit], all the surrounding air was squeezed out by this "Gravity Blade - Fierce Tiger", forming a wide, powerful, and high-speed moving air wall.

"Gravity Blade - Fierce Tiger" is accompanied by a massive wall of air, creating an extremely wide attack range. The overwhelming shockwaves make it almost impossible to dodge.

"Well..."

Storm sighed softly.

He raised his right fist, and both Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki wrapped around it simultaneously. Black and red arcs of electricity crackled and danced between his five fingers, creating a series of popping sounds in the air.

Intentional Punch!

Storm's eyes narrowed, and he swung his right fist at the horizontal gravitational wave in front of him.

An incredibly powerful shockwave erupted from his fist, striking the oncoming "Gravity Blade - Fierce Tiger" at incredible speed.

Boom!!

It was accompanied by a deafening roar.

The two shockwaves collided in mid-air, then canceled each other out. The deep purple gravity wave and the black and red electric arcs wandered erratically in the void, creating an extremely terrifying scene.

The violent shockwave transformed into a fierce gale, bursting out and spreading in all directions. The clouds in the sky were also churned into chaos by this force, as if some kind of natural disaster was about to strike.

Storm's robes fluttered in the fierce wind as he stood atop the head of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, gazing at the blind man across the distance.

"Don't underestimate me, uncle."

Second update.

It's that time again...

Besides.