Capone Bege

In the West Blue, Campobello Island was the most developed island in the entire region when it came to shipbuilding, and also the most prosperous trade port in the underworld.

Sunlight spilled across the white buildings and forest of ship masts. On the surface, everything seemed vibrant and thriving, but if one ventured even slightly into the labyrinthine alleys after dark, the lingering scent of gunpowder and blood hung heavy in the air.

On the eastern side of the island, inside the largest Tuna Shipyard.

Bang.

Three heavy black briefcases were thrown onto the shipyard owner's desk. The cases were not locked, and they sprang slightly open from the impact, revealing bundles of brand-new 10,000 Beli notes. Their enticing smell of fresh ink nearly dazzled the shipyard owner's tiny, beady eyes shut.

"Thirty million Beli."

Rain sat on the sofa opposite the owner, the black trench coat on him still carrying the chill of the sea breeze. He pushed over a crude sketch he had drawn himself.

"I want a medium single-masted sailing ship. No need for huge crew quarters or a warehouse. There are two things that matter. First, the keel and hull must be made from the toughest wood you can find, preferably Treasure Tree Adam. Second, the stern doesn't need traditional sail power or a propeller. Leave me a hollow structure that connects directly to the seawater."

The shipyard owner wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Though the money before him made his mouth water, the reputation of the young man in black left him sitting on pins and needles. "Grayrock" Rain had killed who knew how many famous pirates over the past three years. Rumor had it that his methods were exceptionally cruel, and few of his victims even retained an intact corpse.

"L-Lord Grayrock. Using the finest wood won't be a problem. Treasure Tree Adam is difficult to find, but these funds should be enough to buy scraps from the black market. But that hollow chamber at the stern... without a power system, if you encounter Sea Kings in the Calm Belt or adverse currents in the Grand Line, the ship will sink!" the owner cautiously warned.

"That's none of your concern. I'll come to collect the ship in half a month. That should be enough time, right?" Rain rose to his feet.

"Yes! It will be completed, guaranteed!" The owner sprang upright in fright.

Rain ignored him and turned to leave the shipyard. Of course, he could see the owner's fear of him, but there was nothing he could do about it. Though he had never harmed a single civilian, in a world where pirates represented "freedom," bounty hunters were naturally cast in a negative light. Besides, he had indeed never shown mercy.

As for the hollow chamber at the stern, it was naturally a "Fruit engine room" tailored specifically for him. As long as there was rock, he could use the [Rock-Rock Fruit] to create a high-frequency vibrating Rock Turbine. It was more effective than any sail, allowing him to speed ahead while training his Fruit ability.

However, just as Rain stepped out of the shipyard gates and entered a relatively secluded street, he stopped.

At some point, both ends of the street had been cleared. More than a dozen men in tailored black pinstriped suits and sunglasses held Thompson Submachine Guns, sealing off every escape route like ghosts.

The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

"In the West Blue, there aren't many people who can casually produce tens of millions of Beli in cash and still act so arrogantly in this port."

Accompanied by the rhythmic sound of leather shoes, the crowd parted down the middle. A short, stout man in an imposing high-end black-and-white pinstriped suit slowly emerged amid a group of bodyguards, a thick cigar clenched between his teeth.

Both his hands were covered in expensive gemstone rings. Though his appearance was somewhat comical, the eyes hidden beneath the brim of his hat radiated a chilling mixture of cruelty and cunning.

The absolute ruler of one of the West Blue's five great mafia families—"Gang" Capone Bege.

"Grayrock" Rain, you've become quite famous in the West Blue lately." Bege exhaled a thick cloud of cigar smoke and looked at Rain with a cold smile. "You treat the Marines like an ATM and those pirates who don't know their place like prey... I admire your style."

"So?" Rain's right hand had already begun to glimmer faintly with a grayish-white rocky sheen. He never believed the mafia would have the leisure to seek him out for a chat.

"The West Blue is too shallow. I'm already preparing to head for the Grand Line. It would be such a waste for a talent like you to wander around alone." Bege spread his arms and revealed a conceited smile. "Join my family. Become a direct officer under your Godfather. Money, women, status—whatever you want, I can give it to you. Even... in the future, we can conquer the Grand Line together."

Rain looked at this future "Supernova," and a mocking curve involuntarily tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry, I have no interest in such lowbrow pleasures as wearing suits and collecting protection money. I only like exchanging dead men's heads for cash." Rain brushed the dust from his trench coat. "If you aren't here to offer up your heads, then get out of my way."

The smile on Bege's face instantly vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression of offense.

"In the West Blue, those who refuse the Capone Family usually have only one outcome." Bege bit down on his cigar and slowly raised his right hand. "They become sieves."

Fire!

At Bege's command, the dozen or so mafia gunmen at both ends of the street pulled their triggers without hesitation.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!

Dense tongues of fire instantly tore apart the street's silence. Hundreds of specially made large-caliber bullets wove together into a deadly metal net without blind spots, completely covering Rain's position. The surrounding brick walls and streetlamps were riddled with holes beneath the terrifying firepower before collapsing with a crash.

Smoke filled the air.

Bege stared coldly at the center shrouded in dust. He did not believe anyone could survive such firepower.

However, when a breeze dispersed the smoke and dust, Rain was still standing quietly in place.

He had not even raised a hand. The powerful bullets striking him produced nothing but a series of metallic clanks. His trench coat had been shredded into rags, but what lay beneath was not flesh and blood. It was a dense layer of extremely smooth rock with a gray-black metallic luster.

"Ordinary bullets aren't even enough to scratch an itch."

Rain suddenly raised his head, killing intent blazing in his pitch-black eyes. His right hand instantly swelled, transforming into a savage giant rocky arm. With a terrifying shriek through the air, it slammed viciously into the ground from more than ten meters away.

Boom!

The terrain of the street was instantly transformed! The hard stone pavement churned violently like waves, and several sharp rock spikes burst from underground, instantly impaling several mafia gunmen who failed to dodge in time and hoisting them high into the air as blood sprayed out.

"A Logia? The intelligence was right after all..." Bege looked at the miserable state of his men, yet there was not the slightest panic in his eyes. Instead, he reached into his own chest.

A horrifying scene unfolded. Bege's chest slowly "opened" down the middle like the gates of a castle!

To Rain's astonishment, Bege's body contained a miniature luxurious castle! Its walls were packed with hundreds of tiny soldiers no larger than thumbs, while dozens of miniature cannons adjusted their barrels!

"So what if you're a Logia? Before absolute troop numbers and firepower, even stone can be blasted into powder!"

Bege laughed wildly and shouted, "All units, charge!"