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Aero let out a faint sigh as he stared at the newspaper in his hand.
"Fire Fist Ace... has entered the New World."
To him, this wasn't just news it was the beginning of a countdown. In his previous life, Ace had been a beloved character, and Aero knew all too well where this path would lead.
Ace's Spade Pirates had successfully escaped the Marines' pursuit in the Grand Line. Now, they have entered Whitebeard's territory.
The Navy dared not chase him deep into one of the Four Emperors' strongholds, and so, with no options left, they quietly declared the manhunt over.
"Everything's beginning to move..." Aero murmured, eyes distant. "Even though there's still over seven months until the start of the real One Piece, and maybe more than a year before the Marineford War..."
"Marineford War?! What war are you talking about?!" came an annoying voice.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Aero turned to see Kahir's face curious and irritating.
"Do you ever mind your own business? Want to spar?" Aero asked coldly.
"Eh-heh... Actually, I'm gonna go check that new batch of rum you bought!" Kahir chuckled and vanished in a flash.
With a smirk, Aero stood up and followed him to the ship's cargo hold. Inside were crates of strong liquor he'd picked up at a market on one of the islands exported from Bugsy's kingdom.
Aero himself wasn't much of a drinker. Though he had shared the distillation techniques with Bugsy, he preferred to avoid that sharp, burning taste. The liquor was thick, fiery, and punched like a cannonball just as pirates liked it.
In a matter of months, the Bugsy Kingdom had become famous throughout East Blue for this very reason. The booze was expensive, several times the price of ordinary rum, but that didn't stop pirates from fighting over it.
To them, the brutal sting of that alcohol felt like divine fuel for life at sea.
Kahir, naturally, loved the stuff. His face flushed red as he took a long swig, grinning ear to ear.
"This is what a real man's drink tastes like!" he declared.
He wasn't alone in that sentiment pirates across the region were obsessed with it.
Naturally, such success brought attention... and danger.
Even as a king, Bugsy's booming liquor trade became a prime target. Greedy eyes coveted the wealth it brought, and criminals began to test their luck. But they underestimated just how much the new Bugsy Kingdom had changed.
No longer the weak Gregg Kingdom, Bugsy's rule brought strength, reforms, and order.
The once ineffective military had undergone multiple purges and was now fortified. Several Marine instructors had been hired those skilled in at least one of the Six Powers (Rokushiki) became personal advisors to the king.
Bugsy had even formed a Royal Navy, assisting the World Government in hunting pirates across the East Blue. His fleet now had over ten warships and a standing force of more than 1,000 trained troops.
But despite the muscle, the lure of gold never ceased to draw trouble. Corpses still hung from the palace walls over a hundred would-be thieves and traitors were reminders that Bugsy's wealth was fiercely protected.
---
Inside the Royal Palace – Bugsy's Kingdom
Bugsy no longer looked like the clownish thug he once was. Three months of ruling had changed him.
He now wore a gem-encrusted golden crown, and his outfit was fit for royalty. Sitting in a grand, gold-trimmed hall, he listened patiently albeit tiredly as his ministers reported the kingdom's daily affairs.
At last, around midnight, he waved them off with a weary, "Enough. Dismissed."
As the ministers departed, Bugsy remained alone in the throne room. Guards stood stationed all around the palace. Wherever Bugsy went, they followed. He was cautious, paranoid, even.
He envied Dylan's freedom on the open sea with Aero... but Bugsy hated dying even more.
Dozens had already tried to assassinate him remnants of the old regime, loyalists to the former king, ex-generals, rogue pirates seeking revenge, and some simply after the formula for his liquor.
Still, thanks to Aero's plan, the kingdom was thriving. Its economy was booming, and even its foreign relations were stabilizing.
The East Blue Marine Branch Commander, however, had become increasingly greedy. Bugsy had considered eliminating him but didn't have the power or means. Attacking a rear admiral inside a military base was suicide.
So, for now, he bided his time.
Aero had told him: "If it can be solved with money, don't resort to force."
And so, for the time being, Bugsy endured.
Even so, he was utterly exhausted.
"Maybe I should ask Captain Aero for help," Bugsy muttered. He looked up to Aero like a blind follower if Aero said it, it must be right.
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Late Night – East Blue
A sleek pirate ship shaped like a dove sailed through the night toward an island guarded by dozens of ships all flying the same pirate flag.
Aero, standing at the bow, sniffled as a gust of wind hit his nose.
"Achoo..."
His crew emerged from their cabins, drawn by the cold sea breeze.
"Find us a landing spot with fewer ships," Aero ordered.
His men quickly responded. The lookout scanned the coastline, seeking a hidden spot to dock.
Before long, the Dove dropped anchor in a quiet inlet.
Aero stood on deck, looking toward the island.
"Krieg… I'm here." A grin slowly spread beneath his black cloak.
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