The sound of hurried and disorderly footsteps approached rapidly.
As Drake and his men mowed down fifty pirates like weeds and swiftly caught up with Rosha, who had disappeared around the corner, the main street of the royal city was soon swarmed by a large group of pirates wielding swords and guns.
The pirates flocked to the city gate, their faces changing immediately upon seeing the bodies strewn about and the headless fat man lying on the ground.
“Damn it, Lord Terrell has been killed.”
“Are you kidding? Who in North Blue could kill Lord Terrell in such a short time? It took us only a few minutes to get here after hearing about the fight.”
“Is this really the time to be thinking about that? Contact Boss Mig! We’ve got a powerful enemy targeting us!”
One pirate, his face pale, pulled out a Den Den Mushi and started dialing.
“Purururu, purururu.”
In the center of the royal city, within the grand hall of the Prince’s Palace, a massive round table was set in the spacious, well-lit hall. The floor was covered with a fiery red carpet resembling maple leaves, and the walls were adorned with glowing red candles.
Graceful maidens, dressed in sheer fabrics, swayed and danced. Around the round table, men exchanged toast and hearty laughter filled the air.
Prince Ilia, seated at the head of the table, raised his glass.
“Gentlemen, let us witness the rise of a kingdom for pirates alone, right here in North Blue.”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
“Hahaha, wonderful! I’ve always dreamed of living in a place like this, where we can pillage and kill freely and enjoy a good life. Best of all, we won’t have to worry about those annoying Marines chasing us anymore.”
A burly pirate captain raised his glass and downed his drink, laughing heartily.
“Exactly! We already control the royal city, and the entire Prince’s Kingdom is in your hands, Your Highness. Soon, you’ll ascend to the throne and gain formal recognition from the World Government. Prince’s Kingdom will truly become a pirate nation.”
“The only downside is that for a pirate-founded kingdom to be recognized by the World Government, we’ll have to pay extra Heavenly Tribute. They’re such greedy bastards.”
“Still, paying a bit more for safe pillaging and no Marine interference is worth it. We’ll just plunder a few more towns and villages each year.”
The round table was filled with the unrestrained chatter of pirate captains from all over North Blue. Ilia’s face held a constant smile.
A four-meter-tall man sat to his right, eating large chunks of meat while glaring at the dancing girls with a bloodshot eye.
“Your Highness, send these women to my place later. I have some new fish-man slaves to entertain me.”
Mig Jones grunted as he tore at a steak.
Ilia was about to nod with a smile when a slightly drunk pirate captain, hearing Mig’s words, snorted in displeasure.
“Captain Mig, there are ten dancers here, and you want them all to yourself? Isn’t that a bit much?”
Mig’s smile froze, and he stopped chewing, looking up.
“What did you say?”
Across from him, a pirate captain with eyeshadow burped and slapped the table.
“What did I say? You lot from the Giant Bug Pirates joined us later. You’ve participated in fewer raids yet take more of the loot, money, weapons, and women. Why should you get first pick? I, Deckard of the Flower-Eyed Pirates, don’t agree!”
Mig grinned, showing his yellow teeth, and continued eating.
“Anyone else unhappy? Speak up now.”
He mumbled through his food.
“Me too!”
Another pirate captain, emboldened by alcohol, shouted:
“Jones! We show you respect by calling you Captain Mig. Without it, you’re nothing! Do you think having a bounty over 100 million makes you invincible? That’s just from massacring some villages after fleeing the Grand Line. You think killing civilians makes you stronger than us?”
“You may have taken an extra 200 million berries from Prince Ilia last year, but hand it over now, and we’ll let this go.”
“That’s right!”
A long-necked pirate captain stood up, pointing at Mig:
“Why should you get all the rewards? Do you think raiding neighboring villages is safe? Steel Knife Ralph and Ripper Jericho died doing it.”
“Hand over the 200 million berries, and these dancers are off-limits to you. Remember, North Blue isn’t yours alone. We are the local kings here.”
Mig continued chewing loudly. A middle-aged man beside him, with his feet up on the table and arms crossed, coldly watched the three pirate captains.
Two double-edged broadswords lay on the table.
“Anyone else?”
The middle-aged man asked quietly.
The three captains shivered as his gaze met theirs, feeling like they were plunged into an ice-cold cellar.
“Cease! We’re talking to Mig, and you, as his lackey, have no right to—”
Jones suddenly raised his right hand.
“Purururu, purururu.”
The Den Den Mushi in his pocket rang.
Jones wiped his mouth with a napkin and answered the call.
“Moshi moshi, what’s up?”
The Den Den Mushi immediately emitted a panicked voice:
“Captain Mig! There’s big trouble! Lord Terrell has been killed, and all his men are dead too, right at the city gate!”
Jones’ single eye widened, and his scarred face twisted.
“What did you say?!”
The middle-aged man beside him frowned and picked up his broadswords.
Deckard, still drunk, laughed:
“Hahaha, I told you, losers should know their place. Did you think North Blue was yours alone? Now, your enemies have come knocking!”
Before he could finish, the middle-aged man, Sis, disappeared from beside Jones.
In the next moment.
Thud!
A blood-stained sword tip protruded from Deckard’s chest.
“Ugh!”
Deckard’s body stiffened, disbelief filling his eyes.
Behind him, Sis had appeared, his cold gaze sweeping over the other two captains.
“Sis! What are you doing? We’re talking to Mig, not you!”
The two captains, terrified, turned to flee.
Sis drew his sword from Deckard’s chest and, in a flash, decapitated the two fleeing pirates.
“My subordinate is dead. If you cowards don’t want to die, find those murderers!”
Jones, hands on the table, roared at the now-silent captains around the round table.
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