Now It Counts as Time Too!

Early in the morning, local reporters from Golden Chrysanthemum Island had already found good spots and staked out the island's only dock.

"Eat more. Today's going to be a battle of endurance!"

One reporter fed vegetable leaves to the camera Den Den Mushi while encouraging them.

"Even if your eyes blink until they can't move, even if your will reaches its limit, you have to hold on!"

As time passed, people gradually arrived from the surrounding islands—suited gangsters, reporters from all over, ordinary people here to watch...

The dock gradually grew lively.

At noon, the Marines and the Happo Navy arrived at the same time.

Stainless had neatly combed hair, wore a yellow-striped suit, and led the Marines off the ship.

The Justice cape behind him snapped loudly in the wind.

"Pirates are pirates. Even draped in a nation's skin, they're still like rabid dogs."

He started mocking them the moment he disembarked.

"Huh?"

On the pirate ship, Ashi, dressed in a loose long robe and carrying a massive hammer, leaped down with a group of Happo Navy men.

Without the slightest fear on his face, he strode boldly toward the Marines.

"Does someone who's been captured once still have the nerve to talk?"

The two sides met in the middle of the dock.

Their gazes crossed, and the tension became instantly explosive.

The next second, Ashi let out a cold laugh, and the fight began immediately!

Clang!

A long blade left its sheath!

The blade and the great hammer collided in midair, trembling as they remained locked together!

Stainless and Ashi stared at each other over their weapons.

"If you lose, don't bring up any terms later. Dare to agree?" Ashi said.

Stainless's mustache twitched upward. "Then you can piss off now!"

Both men snorted and sprang apart. No longer holding back, dark iron-like color spread across their weapons. Amid violent howls of wind, the two weapons collided again.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Afterimages overlapped, and sparks flew everywhere!

Their fierce clash sent rings of air blasting outward. Sword marks and cracks gradually appeared across the ground.

Slash!

A statue split into two!

Boom!

The remaining half shattered into fragments!

The spectators had no choice but to retreat as if fleeing for their lives, their eyes wide with shock.

So strong!

Were these two even human?

The more they fought, the more fired up they became. Aside from the reporters shouting, "Being able to photograph a battle between such powerful fighters makes dying here worth it!" neither the bystanders nor the gangsters who had come to break up the fight could get close.

Just then, a cold snort came from the crowd.

Bege had finally rushed over from the square. Without a word, his body abruptly expanded into a city wall, and his palms transformed into two huge gates that blocked Stainless and Ashi's weapons.

Ding!

Neither weapon could advance even an inch.

Stainless and Ashi both narrowed their eyes slightly.

The nearby bystanders were even more stunned.

"Where did another monster like this come from?!"

Amid the chatter, Bege's muffled voice came from within the city wall.

"Since we're here for peace talks, how about we all get along peacefully?"

The two exchanged a glance and withdrew their weapons.

Stainless said, "The Marines are naturally willing to follow the rules."

Ashi clicked his tongue. "Tch."

Soon, the city wall shrank and turned back into Bege. His gaze swept over the two men.

"Looks like everyone is prepared for negotiations. Then follow me!"

The moment he turned around, no one noticed that Capone Bege's hands hidden in his sleeves were trembling slightly.

"Armament Haki?"

"Hmph. The stronger they are, the better!"

The square was not far away. After passing through the lively long street, Bege led both sides into a luxurious, spacious building beside the square.

The doors were shut, and the windows were closed.

They took their seats on opposite sides of the long table.

Soon, the peace talks... or rather, the argument, began.

The Marines immediately demanded that the Happo Navy be restricted to sailing only within designated waters from now on.

Without hesitation, the Happo Navy countered by demanding compensation from the Marines for the losses they had caused them over the past ten years.

Even Bege, sitting in the middle and listening, felt it was absurd.

But absurd as it was, he said nothing and let both sides argue.

This was how negotiations between major powers worked—arguing at the negotiating table, negotiating beneath it.

Besides, wasn't the current situation perfect?

If they reach an agreement right away, it'll be hard for me to make them stay and wait for that guy with me, he thought.

Two hours passed, and as expected, no progress was made.

A Marine colonel suddenly said, "Since we can't reach an agreement on anything, why don't we first discuss something we can agree on?"

He looked at Bege. "That Historian, Jogo—Lord Bege sent invitations to both our sides, didn't he?"

Ashi leaned back in his chair, propped his feet on the negotiating table, glanced sideways at Bege, and smiled meaningfully.

"You even invited the Marines. Are you looking down on the Happo Navy?"

Bege calmly puffed on his cigar. "Don't underestimate that guy. He may have strength close to Sai's!"

Ashi burst into laughter.

"Him?"

"Do you know how strong Sai is to become a pillar of the Happo Navy?"

As he spoke, he turned to Stainless.

"Hey, Marines, aren't you going to say something?"

"They think it wasn't your Marines who took down Sai!"

Stainless sat imposingly in his chair, his Justice cape hanging along its edge. His expression did not change.

"Marine Ensign Hina captured Sai!"

He had read Hina's report and knew what had really happened, but there was no way he would tell the people present.

"And I need to make one thing clear: the Marines will not help the Capone Family kill anyone."

"The Marines aren't particularly eager to capture Jogo, but if we do capture him, he'll be sent to prison!"

Stainless had calculated it. Jogo was stronger than Sai, but there was no way he was stronger than all three of them combined.

He was already in the bag and could be used as a bargaining chip!

His eyes swept over Bege.

—I won't help kill him, but I can help capture him. If you want me to change my mind, then offer up a little more.

There was no need to say it aloud. He believed Bege understood.

Bege curled his lips into a smile. "Maybe the Capone Family will catch Jogo first!"

Ashi laughed as well.

"Forgot to tell you—Pillar Chinjao will arrive tomorrow!"

"Then we'll see who catches Jogo first! Hahahaha!"

At those words, Stainless's face twitched, as though he could feel phantom pain coming from the top of his head.

Bege, however, smiled faintly.

It was settled!

As long as Jogo could be killed, he did not care who did it.

If Chinjao was coming, that meant the situation was secure!

No matter how strong Jogo was, he could not possibly be Chinjao's opponent.

"And the timing works out too."

He calculated inwardly.

"Even taking the fastest ship from Dendrobium Island to here would take two and a half days. Excluding yesterday, Jogo can't arrive until at least after tomorrow!"

Of course, that was under the fastest possible circumstances.

Bege knew Jogo could not reach Golden Chrysanthemum Island in two and a half days.

Because he had prepared countless surprises for Jogo!

—All the Capone Family's gangsters across the West Blue who were capable of moving had now been divided into three groups.

One group, the closest to Dendrobium Island, had begun heading toward the islands along the route from Dendrobium Island yesterday to assassinate Jogo, all to wear him down!

Another group was on the way to Golden Chrysanthemum Island and would probably arrive tonight. They would bring cannons and machine guns, set up defenses along the coast, and the moment Jogo's ship approached, they would open fire and blast both ship and passengers into pieces!

The final group was heading to Ohara.

The moment Jogo overcame all the obstacles ahead and set foot on Golden Chrysanthemum Island, those gangsters would immediately launch an attack on Ohara.

He would play the screams of those people in Ohara for Jogo to hear.

He would leave Jogo exhausted in both body and mind!

Then, he and the powerful people here would swarm him together...

"No matter how strong you are, you'll die here!" Bege snarled inwardly.

For this ambush, he had abandoned the Capone Family's past and sold the intelligence of the other four families to the Marines.

He had also abandoned the Capone Family's future, tying the Capone Family to the Happo Navy's war chariot.

He had even mobilized a large number of men, allowing other gangs to swallow up his own territory and abandoning the Capone Family's present!

He had wagered everything!

"How could I possibly lose under these circumstances?!!"

Just as he was thinking that, a family member hurried over to his side, leaned close to his ear, and reported the situation.

After listening for two seconds, Bege stared blankly at the family member.

"What do you mean none of the teams found Jogo?"

Under the amused gazes of the Marines and the Happo Navy, his face turned pale. He hurriedly left his seat, went to a room in the back, and dialed the underworld contact point.

Buru buru~ Buru buru~

"Hello?"

The call connected, and Jogo's familiar voice came through.

"You coward, you don't dare come?" Bege cursed furiously.

Jogo had hidden!

Was there any situation worse than that?

But it did not matter. He had prepared a response long ago.

"Looks like you want to hear Ohara's screams! I will..."

Before he could finish, Jogo interrupted him.

"What the hell are you babbling about?"

At Golden Chrysanthemum Island's dock, under the stunned gazes of the Marines and the Happo Navy, a flying fish racing toward the dock drifted to a stop at the side!

Water sprayed everywhere.

Jogo, wearing a black trench coat, flipped open the windshield, rose from the newly installed leather seat, and stepped down.

"Didn't I already arrive?"

"Huh?"

Hearing the dazed, even somewhat horrified voice over the Den Den Mushi, Jogo shook his head.

See? You're unhappy when I arrive early too.

Trait switch!

[...]

Conqueror's Haki (Awakened)

Trait equipped: "Otherworldly Soul (Silver)" "Leaving the Nest (White)"

[...]

An invisible aura enveloped Golden Chrysanthemum Island!

He thoughtfully reminded them.

"Starting now, ah, it counts as time too!"