The pirates around him loudly chimed in, their faces covered in fawning smiles.
Don Krieg basked in their flattery.
He spread his arms and roared with laughter.
"Of course!"
"I have the strongest equipment, the most men, and the most terrifying firepower!"
"Once we enter the Grand Line, the Four Emperors, the Admirals-every last one of them will kneel before my golden armor!"
"I'm the strongest man in this world!"
A trace of worry flashed through Gin's eyes as he watched the nearly frenzied Don Krieg.
He stepped forward and quietly tried to dissuade him.
"Captain, our forces may be large now, but most of them are new recruits."
"If we run into elite troops from Marine Headquarters..."
"Marine Headquarters?"
Don Krieg roughly cut Gin off, a contemptuous sneer spreading across his face.
"The Marine Branches in the East Blue can't even stop a single cannonball from me!"
"As for Headquarters' elites?"
"Why would any Headquarters elites show up here in the East Blue, the weakest sea?"
Don Krieg swept his arm out and loudly gave his orders.
"Pass the word!"
"All ships, spread out and form an encirclement!"
"Any ship you see within a hundred miles, no matter who it belongs to, stop it and rob it clean!"
"I'm going to march into the Grand Line in style, with more treasure than anyone can count!"
"Yes, Captain!"
The pirates shouted excitedly.
Fifty pirate ships slowly began spreading out, casting a massive net across the sea.
Several days later.
The sky was clear and cloudless, and sunlight glittered across the sea.
Lorne's warship sailed steadily over the water.
On deck, the marines who had just finished a round of intense special training lay sprawled in every direction, gasping for breath.
Their faces were full of exhaustion, but their eyes had