The Scoundrels of the East Blue

The sky gradually darkened.

Beneath the night, undercurrents stirred.

The Three-Headed Pirates anchored near an uninhabited island, flying different flags that belonged to three separate pirate crews.

"Hey hey, are you really pirates?" one pirate sneered with a cold grin. "Look at yourselves—a circus? That's hilarious!"

"Hahaha, wanna try our murderous tricks, you cat-eared freaks!" the pirates on the neighboring ship laughed loudly.

"A bunch of idiots, quiet down!" a pirate on the third ship silently sharpened his blade, the cold gleam of the edge flashing across his face. "I really can't figure out why the captain agreed to an invitation from these small fries."

"You wanna die, bastard?"

"Wanna throw down? Don't piss your pants!"

The three pirate crews exchanged threats with each other.

At that moment, the captains and main officers of these three crews were meeting on that uninhabited island for a certain purpose...

Meanwhile.

On that remote, uninhabited island, there was a long-abandoned Marine base.

Inside a room of the base.

The Marine flag on the wall, eroded by time, had long become tattered and torn.

And now, before that ragged Marine flag, stood a group of uninvited guests.

They stood in three directions, each wary of the others.

The Krieg Pirates: Captain [Commodore] Krieg, bounty of 17 million Beli; [Demon] Hachi, bounty of 12 million Beli!

The Black Cat Pirates: Captain [Hundred Plans] Kuro, bounty of 16 million Beli; [Hypnotist] Jango, bounty of 9 million Beli!

And—

The Buggy Pirates: Captain [Clown] Buggy, bounty of 15 million Beli!

The villains of the East Blue gathered here.

Three great pirate crews, total bounty: 69 million Beli!

"Hehehehe, truly worthy of a Devil Fruit User, daring to come meet us here alone."

[Commodore] Krieg, with light purple hair and clad in heavy armor, looked at Buggy and grinned. "The Chop-Chop Fruit? It suits your clownish look perfectly!"

"Huh? You got a problem with me?" Buggy sneered. "That armor looks heavy—want me to help you take off a few pieces?"

Instantly, the stalemate in the room shattered, and the atmosphere between Krieg and Buggy grew tense and hostile.

Buggy, alone, drew the dagger he carried.

Beside Krieg, [Demon] Hachi also revealed his tonfas, ready for battle!

"Both of you, please calm down." Kuro pushed up his glasses with his palm and smiled. "We're all here for the same purpose, aren't we?"

"Hahaha, speaking of which, we were all invited by you, Kuro." Krieg turned his head and warned Kuro, "If the topic you bring up bores me, you know what the consequences will be, right?"

"If you want me to make a move, the price won't be small!" Buggy licked his dagger from the side. "Kuro, what about this big treasure you mentioned?"

"And my Grand Line Navigational Chart!" Krieg added.

Kuro pushed up his glasses again and explained, "Don't rush, you two. We still need to wait for one more guest."

Hearing this, both Krieg and Buggy looked puzzled.

"Who exactly?" Krieg asked.

Kuro didn't answer, but instead said with a smile, "A few days ago, I contacted the World Government."

Shwip!

Before the words had even landed, Buggy had already turned and was walking quickly toward the door.

Kuro was a bit surprised. "You're leaving now?"

Buggy nodded, frowning. "Sorry, but if the World Government is involved, I'm not sticking around!"

With that, before Kuro could press further, Buggy had left the room, walking briskly all the way back to his own pirate ship.

"Captain Buggy!"

The members of the Buggy Pirates saw their captain return and quickly crowded around. "What did that Kuro guy invite you for?"

But Buggy had no time to answer; he was busy commanding his ship to leave this island as fast as possible.

After all, he was still a former crewmate of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, having followed that man through the Grand Line. His vision far surpassed that of Kuro and Krieg.

Precisely because of that, the moment he heard the words "World Government," Buggy made up his mind—he had to stay as far away from this as possible.

As far away as possible!

Cooperate? Are you kidding?

In the face of a behemoth like the World Government, mere pirates with bounties in the tens of millions of Beli were nothing but ants.

You're looking for death, but this master isn't sticking around to play along!

"Men, set sail! Full speed ahead!"

Buggy left, but Krieg stayed behind.

He was a little intrigued by Kuro's words.

Waiting for another guest?

Contacted the World Government?

Just as Krieg was puzzling over it, footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Tap, tap, tap...

A strange man pushed the door open.

He was tall and lean, dressed in a white suit with a cloak draped over his shoulders, and wore an exaggerated red mask on his face.

A total oddball.

"Are we all here?" The strange man's voice was muffled, sounding male.

Krieg, hearing this, immediately wanted to put the strange man in his place, but Kuro's next words left both him and Hachi behind him frozen in place.

"That's right, we're all here." Kuro gave a slight nod. "Allow me to introduce you—this gentleman is from the World Government's direct intelligence agency, CP5!"

If Lynn himself were here, he would have recognized at a glance that the strange man's outfit could never belong to the widely known CP5, but rather to the upper echelons of CP1~9, a big shot from the highest intelligence agency, CP0!

But the pirates present could never know that; they only caught those few words—

The World Government's direct intelligence agency.

In an instant, Krieg was already preparing to flee.

He growled, "Kuro, are you trying to let the Navy catch us all in one net?!"

But Kuro shook his head. "Calm down, Commodore. The World Government and the Navy are different. To them, as long as there's value, even pirates can be partners!"

Krieg frowned. He'd always found Kuro unsettling, and now even more so.

A mere pirate daring to talk cooperation with the World Government?

Krieg thought it over, then asked, "What the hell are you plotting?!"

"Kuro, haven't you explained it to them clearly?" The strange man's voice carried a hint of displeasure.

"My apologies, sir. I was just about to."

Kuro gave a slight nod of apology, then said to Krieg, "I invited you all here to combine our strength and take down one person."

"Huh?" Krieg was even more confused.

What kind of person would require pirates and the World Government to work together?

Just then, the strange man pulled a bounty poster from his coat and said slowly, "[BOSS] Lynn Barek, instigator of the Sabaody Arena Riot Incident, bounty of 100 Million Beli."

"He's a world-class Great Criminal. If anyone can help us deal with him, we'll offer a very generous reward."

After speaking, the strange man took out another list and placed it on the table.

"These are just the basic rewards. If things go smoothly, I believe the one footing the bill will be happy to throw in a little bonus."

Krieg stared at the list the strange man had laid out, and suddenly found it hard to breathe.

Too generous.

He couldn't imagine who could afford such a high price!

But...

Kuro continued from the side, "And as it happens, I know where this Lynn Barek is."

"Have you lost your mind?!"

Krieg suddenly retorted. "I heard about that incident. He's a monster who escaped the Navy's heavy encirclement with a bounty of 100 Million Beli—how dare you set your sights on him?!"

"Calm down, Commodore." Kuro adjusted his glasses. "Don't forget who's standing before us."

Krieg's gaze shifted to the strange man beside him.

More precisely, to the big shot from the World Government!

The expression on Krieg's face slowly shifted from shock to a grin.

He picked up the reward list and saw what he wanted on it.

A Grand Line Navigational Chart.

"So you dare to set your sights on a monster with a 100 Million Beli bounty—Hundred Plans Kuro, you really are a crazy man!"

Krieg marveled, then turned his gaze to Kuro.

"Hey hey, looks like we're really forming a Pirate Alliance after all!"