"Heh..."
Lancelot couldn't help but sneer.
"You left one thing out—you still need two people familiar with the Mafia to assist, in order to truly take control of the entire West Blue Mafia... For example, you and Gotti."
Vito didn't deny it, because he and Gotti were indeed Lancelot's best options.
After all, once they betrayed the Mafia, unless they became the Mafia's godfathers, there would be no place for them—or their families—anywhere in the West Blue.
Vito: "Beast Island..."
When Vito uttered the name, Lancelot nodded in satisfaction.
At the same time, he glanced at Gotti, who remained silent nearby, his eyes flickering.
Then, he shot a look at Baby-5.
Baby-5 immediately understood, dragging the person out and locking them in the brig at the bottom of the warship.
Meanwhile, Lancelot took out a map of the West Blue and quickly located Beast Island, situated slightly east of the center of the sea.
Lancelot couldn't help but smile.
Their current destination was Kano Country and Sakura Country, both located in the center of the West Blue.
After delivering the goods, they could easily make a detour to Beast Island and deal with the targets.
It would save a lot of time and effort.
....
Ten days later, Lancelot and his crew landed on a small island.
After so many days at sea, the ship's food supplies were nearly depleted and needed restocking.
Baby-5 led a group of marines to purchase supplies on the island, while Lancelot strolled leisurely around by himself.
And honestly, although the island wasn't large, the town on it was quite impressive—you could even call it "prosperous."
"Whoosh..."
Just then, a figure flashed past overhead.
"Hmm?"
How could Lancelot's Observation Haki fail to detect it?
He was quite surprised.
After all, in this world, aside from Rokushiki, few people could fly.
He turned to look up at the sky beside him and saw a person with wings on their back flying at high speed.
"A Zoan-type Bird Devil Fruit Ability User?" Lancelot was momentarily stunned, then his expression turned serious.
West Blue!
A Zoan-type Bird Devil Fruit Ability User!
Who else could it be but him?
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he bent his knees slightly, ready to exert force.
"Bang..."
A gunshot rang out from behind, and a bullet whizzed past over his head, shooting straight toward the figure ahead.
"???"
Lancelot looked utterly bewildered.
Encountering this guy was already quite surprising, but who would have thought he was actually being pursued?
However...
There are only a handful of snipers in the entire world capable of accurately targeting a fast-moving aerial target and firing with such confidence!
....
Meanwhile.
The person in front executed a graceful mid-air maneuver, effortlessly evading the shot.
This caught Lancelot's attention.
It indicated that this guy's Observation Haki had already awakened and had been cultivated to a remarkably high level.
Otherwise, there was no way he could have dodged that shot, especially since he was facing away from the shooter.
"Dark Vortex!"
At that moment, a figure emerged out of nowhere, leaping high from a distance and landing on a rooftop.
He activated his ability toward the person in the air.
The airborne individual seemed to be pulled by an irresistible force, dragging him toward the person on the roof.
No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free, only managing to slow the pulling speed slightly.
"Holy crap..."
Witnessing this, Lancelot was utterly stunned.
Well then.... There was no need to rack his brains anymore trying to figure out who the sniper was.
But his timing was truly impeccable!
Because this must be the moment when Blackbeard recruits Lafitte.
That's right—the person in the air is Lafitte.
"Soru!"
Lancelot vanished from his spot in an instant, reappearing right in front of the building where Blackbeard was standing.
With a powerful push from his legs, he leaped directly onto the rooftop.
"Who's there?"
Blackbeard was startled, as his Observation Haki had already detected someone approaching.
When he got a clear look at the newcomer, his eyes widened in disbelief, his face filled with astonishment.
Lancelot, however, wore a broad smile.
He had deeply regretted letting Blackbeard and his crew escape last time. T
his time... he absolutely wouldn't let the opportunity slip away.
Blackbeard's pupils contracted sharply, a trace of fear in his expression.
"It's you..."
Seeing Blackbeard's reaction, Lancelot grinned even wider.
"Blackbeard! I never would have expected to run into you here. It seems fate really has a way of bringing us together!"
"Zehahahaha..."
Blackbeard burst into loud laughter as well, then nodded.
"We certainly are fated."
At the same time, he discreetly glanced at Lafitte in the air, cursing inwardly.
'Damn Marines, showing up at the worst possible time.'
If Lancelot hadn't appeared, he was confident he could have recruited Lafitte into his ranks.
Ability Users who can fly are extremely rare.
Moreover, having someone who can fly is incredibly useful for a Pirate Crew.
Most importantly, this guy's strength is quite impressive.
He was actually able to fight on par with Jesus Burgess.
"Weehahahaha..."
Speaking of Jesus Burgess, he arrived right on cue, leaping onto the rooftop and sizing up Lancelot.
His signature laughter echoed through the air.
"Well, well..."
Seeing Jesus Burgess, Lancelot was somewhat surprised.
After all, the last time they met, Blackbeard didn't have Jesus Burgess with him.
He must have been recruited afterward.
Lancelot had initially thought that with his interference, perhaps Jesus Burgess wouldn't end up joining the Blackbeard Pirates.
'I never expected he'd still take him under his wing.'
He glanced at Jesus Burgess, then looked up at Lafitte hovering in the air while laughing.
"Why don't you join me instead? Following this guy has no future... Especially you, Lafitte. You were originally a West Blue police officer, but became infamous there for excessive use of violence and were eventually exiled.
But in my opinion, what's wrong with being more violent towards those scum?
As long as you join my crew, I'll help you regain all the respect you lost in West Blue. I can even make those who exiled you live in fear of you from now on.
What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Lafitte's eyes flickered.
He was quite similar to Shiryu from Impel Down.
One was exiled for excessive violence during law enforcement.
The other was sentenced to death with a suspended sentence for his bloodlust and frequently killing prisoners indiscriminately, even imprisoned in the lowest level, LEVEL 6, of the great prison.
Heh...
Among pirates, how many don't have blood on their hands?
If they're killed, they're killed.
These guys already had death coming to them.
In his view, Impel Down should only imprison Ability Users to prevent new abilities from appearing on the seas.
As for other pirates, anyone with blood on their hands should be executed outright.
Why waste effort keeping them alive?
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