On Nostora Island, Souta Kiryuu and Capone Bege returned aboard the blazing warship, the Castello.This time, since they were setting out for the North Blue, the warship wouldn't be needed. Bege had no choice but to sail it back to his stronghold first.
Capone Bege himself was filled with curiosity about this upcoming "cross-sea journey."
"Godfather! You've returned!""Godfather, the Devil Sheriff is here on the island!"
Vito the Strange Gunner and Gotti the Killer rushed to report to Bege and Souta the situation on the island.
"The Devil Sheriff… Lafitte?" Souta's expression flickered with mild surprise. He hadn't expected to encounter that man here. Was this fate—or coincidence?
"Didn't you say you wanted to recruit him, Boss? Looks like the chance just came knocking."Bege bit down on his cigar and smirked. Ever since Souta had declared war on the Celestial Dragons, Bege wanted their crew to grow stronger by any means necessary.
Bang!
A mafia thug came flying through the bar doors, crashing to the ground in a spray of blood.Bege, Vito, and Gotti's faces all darkened instantly.
Someone dared to lay hands on one of their own? That was a death sentence.
"Yo~ Capone, the great Godfather. Looks like you're a bit careless. Seems CP agents slipped right into your ranks."
From inside the bar came a mocking, sing-song voice.A tall, thin man in a black top hat stepped out, twirling a nobleman's cane-sword in one hand.His pale face carried a mask of indifference toward life itself, laced with a cruel amusement.
"CP agents?" Bege's brow furrowed.With a sharp glance, Vito and Gotti immediately rushed forward to check on their wounded comrade.
"Greetings, the mighty Souta Kiryuu," the man said smoothly."I am Lafitte. A pleasure."
After a quick glance at Bege, he removed his top hat, bowed low, and executed a graceful aristocratic salute toward Souta. He looked every bit the refined nobleman—but everyone in the West Blue knew the truth.
This was the infamous Devil Sheriff.While serving as a security officer, Lafitte had massacred countless pirates and criminals. Guilty or innocent, it never mattered—none escaped his bloodthirsty hand.His cruelty was so great that several allied nations had joined forces to banish him.
"You came here specifically for me?" Souta raised an eyebrow. He had made a name for himself through reckless defiance, and now it was drawing maniacs straight to his door.
"Souta-dono daring to declare war on the Celestial Dragons… now that is madness. Madness worth savoring."Lafitte's eyes gleamed with cruel delight. "I wish to follow you into that madness. Perhaps along the way, I might carve open a few kings and admirals of my own."
He had never forgotten the kings who drove him out. With power and the right chance, he would repay blood with blood.
"Then show me what you can do," Souta said, eyes flashing gold as crackling lightning danced across his hands. His aura pressed outward, a suffocating storm of killing intent.
"W-wait! Souta-dono, please! I am not your opponent," Lafitte cried, hastily sprouting a pair of white wings from his back and floating off the ground. "My strengths lie in hypnosis and diplomacy, not brute force!"
The sight of Souta's aura alone had rattled him. This was, after all, a man with a 500 million berry bounty.
"I need subordinates who obey. Can you manage that?" Souta asked, a faint smile curving his lips.A beam of focused laser light shone faintly in his eyes, already locked onto Lafitte. If he so much as tried to flee, Souta would burn him out of the sky.
"Of course, Captain," Lafitte replied instantly, his cunning mind grasping Souta's meaning. He descended gracefully, folded away his wings, and bowed once more.
"Good. You're a clever man." Souta's grin widened."Now, prove your worth. Find the CP rats hiding in Bege's crew—and drag them out to play."
"As you wish, my Captain."Lafitte's smile spread, sharp and sinister. He turned to Bege. "Godfather, I'll need your men's cooperation."
Bege's expression hardened, but he gave the order. His subordinates gathered, though a thread of unease rippled through them. Could there truly be government agents among them?The CP's spies were everywhere, after all—always waiting to strike when least expected.
Lafitte's eyes shifted, pupils swirling like hypnotic rings. His voice, heavy with strange allure, slid into the minds of the mafia soldiers.
Souta watched, intrigued. "Hmm… so the Bird-Bird Fruit gave him this ability? Could it be a Mythical Zoan?"
Lafitte's hypnosis swept over the men. One by one, their minds dulled, murmurs spilling from their lips under his influence. The pressure cracked several of them. Seven or eight suddenly bolted, breaking into a panicked run.
"Kill them," Bege ordered coldly.
Vito and Gotti opened fire without hesitation, mowing down the deserters. Souta and Kuma struck as well, Souta's laser beams and Kuma's shockwaves finishing off several skilled fighters who had turned out to be traitors.
Lafitte strolled toward the survivors, his cane tapping the ground. With a smile, he began interrogating the dazed men.
"Well, well… agents from the underworld… and here, a CP operative from the World Government…"
One by one, the infiltrators were exposed.
"Not bad at all," Souta said at last, eyes narrowing with satisfaction."Welcome to the Kiryuu Pirates, Lafitte."
And with that, the Devil Sheriff had joined Souta's growing crew—his navigator and diplomat, as dangerous as he was refined.