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After days of sailing aboard the Dove, Aero and his crew finally arrived at Krieg's base a remote island deep within East Blue.
At present, all of Krieg's forces had gathered here. Over five thousand pirates occupied the island, with several captains of notable bounty having merged their fleets with Krieg's armada. This consolidation had significantly expanded Krieg's power.
Naturally, such a large pirate force didn't go unnoticed. The world was watching especially the Marines.
The East Blue Naval Branch had already sent several undercover agents. Unfortunately, Krieg personally rooted them out. Their bodies now hung from the masts of his flagship, left to dry in the sun.
This gruesome display had infuriated the Marines. But anger alone wasn't enough they lacked the resources to launch a full-scale assault.
A force of five thousand pirates was no small matter, and East Blue's safety couldn't be jeopardized by pulling too many Marines from their posts.
Recently, Krieg had even dispatched a ship to Bugsy's Kingdom, hoping to seize the wealth generated from the kingdom's booming liquor trade. He didn't care about the recipe he only wanted gold.
Unfortunately for him, that ship had sunk.
It was a humiliating loss. In response, Krieg summoned his entire fleet, planning a full invasion of Bugsy's territory. That invasion was set for tomorrow.
This sudden consolidation had thrown the East Blue Navy into a panic. The regional commander, a bloated man fond of bribes and cigar smoke, immediately contacted Bugsy and begged for military assistance.
Upon learning that Krieg was targeting a sovereign kingdom under his watch, the commander nearly choked. If Bugsy's kingdom were destroyed on his watch, his career would be over.
So, swallowing his pride, he personally led a joint task force: 2,000 Marines from his branch and 1,000 troops from Bugsy's navy, forming a combined force of over 3,000.
Their orders: strike first.
The joint fleet had already set sail and would arrive at Krieg's island in less than a day.
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Island Base – That Night
Now on the island, Aero stood among dense jungle, unimpressed.
"Why the hell would Krieg choose a deserted island for a base?" he muttered.
From every angle, it made no strategic sense. A deserted island had no civilian buffer. Marines could bomb it from the sea without worrying about collateral damage. Unlike towns or cities where innocent lives complicated matters, here they could go all-out.
Krieg's arrogance had left him exposed.
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The Next Morning – Krieg's War Room
Inside a newly built wooden structure at the center of the camp, Krieg sat atop a throne-like chair, clad in his gold-plated armor and surrounded by his inner circle of captains.
His massive battle spear rested at his side. The room was quiet. Tension simmered.
Krieg's eyes scanned the room as he spoke in a raspy, thunderous voice:
"The Marines are approaching. Thirty warships. Three thousand soldiers. They'll be here soon. What do we do?"
One of his lieutenants, a weasel-faced pirate with a scar and a black captain's hat, stepped forward.
"Admiral Krieg! If it weren't for Bugsy's soldiers, the Navy wouldn't have dared come this far. Let me take the 30th Squad to negotiate. Maybe we can convince Bugsy's kingdom to withdraw."
Krieg's face darkened.
It was this same idiot who'd once convinced him that Bugsy's kingdom held untold treasure. Based on that intel, Krieg had sent a raiding ship.
That ship had been destroyed.
Now, that same fool wanted to negotiate?
"Negotiate?!" Krieg's golden-plated forehead twitched.
He recalled that this guy was also the only survivor of a squad that had previously clashed with the Hurricane Pirates Aero's crew.
BANG!
A gunshot echoed.
The scar-faced lieutenant collapsed shot dead by Krieg's wrist-mounted flintlock.
Gasps filled the room.
Krieg blew away the smoke from his barrel and sneered.
"Trying to humiliate me again? The enemy is at our door... and you want peace?! I am the Emperor of East Blue! I'll show them the power of a true ruler!"
He stood up, red-eyed and enraged.
This battle would not just be about victory it would be a purge. He would use this as an opportunity to eliminate untrustworthy captains and consolidate absolute control.
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Moments Later – Alarms
Just as Krieg turned to leave and rally his fleet, the door burst open.
A panicked pirate rushed in, out of breath.
"B-Bad news, sir! A group just broke through the perimeter they're asking for you!"
Everyone froze.
Krieg didn't move. He rolled his shoulder and asked calmly:
"Marines? That fast? How many?"
"N-No... not Marines," the pirate stammered. "Just... four people. Dressed in black cloaks."
There was silence. Krieg's brow twitched.
Then, without a word, he raised his wrist.
BANG!
The pirate dropped, blood spilling across the wooden floor.
Shocked gasps filled the room again.
"FOUR people? And you can't stop them? Are you kidding me?! I have five thousand men on this island!!"
He erupted with laughter manic and furious.
"The world doesn't make men like that! Four people breaking through my perimeter? HA! Don't joke with me!"
But as he roared, the heavy wooden doors creaked open again...
And four shadowed figures stepped inside.
Exactly four.
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