On the azure waters of the Duchy of Dook's sea in the New World, the fleet of the Beasts Pirates sailed forth, cutting through the waves.
Urouge stood at the bow, squinting as he gazed at the gradually clearer coastline in the distance. The sea wind, carrying a salty, briny scent, swept towards him, causing his wide robes to flap noisily.
"Is that our target, the Duchy of Dook, up ahead?" Urouge's voice sounded particularly deep against the wind. His thick fingers tapped lightly on the ship's railing, producing a dull sound.
"Yes, Lord Urouge," a pirate with a scar running down his face, stepped forward quickly and reported respectfully. Beads of sweat trickled down his cheeks, clearly showing his fear of the executive before him. "It was Dook III. Last month, his general, Hain Becker, led a fleet that repelled our plan to establish an outpost on Kazi Island."
Upon hearing this, Bullet, standing on the other side of the deck, curled his lips into an excited grin. He cracked his knuckles, producing crisp sounds. "Hahaha, I hear this Dook III is quite formidable?" The sunlight shone on his short golden hair, creating a dazzling halo.
The scarred pirate hurriedly nodded, unconsciously taking half a step back. "That is indeed the case. It's said he once led the kingdom's army to repel the Arms Pirates, who had a bounty of 350 million Berries. That battle made him quite famous in the New World."
"Interesting!" A fighting spirit flashed in Bullet's eyes. He clenched his fist abruptly, his knuckles popping like firecrackers. "The king is mine to deal with. The rest of you can handle the others however you like." He bared his sharp canines, his entire being exuding a dangerous aura.
"Ihihihihi..." A sinister chuckle drifted over from the ship's railing. "Moonlight" Moria, idly playing with the hilt of his sword, emerged leisurely from the shadows. His tall figure cast a long shadow on the deck, his purple hair appearing especially eerie in the sunlight. "Now that won't do. I've already claimed that prey," he said, his crimson eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.
"Moria!" Bullet whirled around, a cold glint in his eyes. The air around him seemed to warp with his anger. "Are you challenging the authority of an All-Star?" He deliberately emphasized the words "All-Star."
Moria unhurriedly adjusted his collar, a sneer on his lips. "A mere All-Star. I'll be one sooner or later anyway. And Bullet, the only reason Captain Kaido made you an All-Star is that you're young. If we're really talking about strength, I'm not afraid of you." He deliberately drew out his words, each one like a dagger aimed at his opponent.
"Bastard, Moria. Do you want to fight first, right here?" Bullet said directly. A faint blue light began to emanate from his body. The surrounding temperature plummeted, a thin layer of frost even forming on the deck.
"Ihihihihi, fine by me, Bullet. You're still too young. You can't handle the position of All-Star. Just hand it over to me," Moria replied, immediately placing his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist. His shadow suddenly twisted grotesquely, writhing on the deck as if alive.
Ever since Kaido announced the new hierarchy of the Beasts Pirates, Moria had been dissatisfied. Although he had lost to King in the past, ever since obtaining his Devil Fruit and undergoing Kaido's hellish training for the past six months, he now believed his strength ranked within the top three of the crew. He practiced in the training grounds late into the night every evening, all for the day he could prove himself.
Who would have thought that with Kaido's appointments, he wasn't even in the second tier as an All-Star, but dropped directly to the third tier as one of The Flying Nine? Even if he was the first among them, he was "Moonlight" Moria, a renowned figure from the West Blue!
How could he possibly be satisfied with a mere position among The Flying Nine?
Fortunately, Big Brother Kaido had immediately announced that lower-ranking members could challenge those of higher rank every year, with the winner taking the position. Therefore, he had been preparing to challenge one of the All-Stars. Now, being on this mission with Bullet was, in Moria's view, a perfect opportunity. He had long secretly observed Bullet's fighting style, studying his weaknesses.
In Moria's view, while he was not inferior to others in the Beasts Pirates, among the current All-Stars, King, with his vampire abilities, was practically an unkillable cockroach in a one-on-one fight. Queen, with his Yamata no Orochi abilities, had eight lives and was constantly modifying his body—his strength was not to be underestimated either. Another was Kuzan, a Logia user and a troublesome opponent whose powerful freezing abilities kept enemies perpetually in an icy hellscape.
Compared to the others, Bullet was actually the easier target to break through. Although the Okuchi no Makami form was strong, his own Kage Kage no Mi was no slouch either. Moria had already devised a strategy. If he could seize the opportunity, he was confident he could defeat this young All-Star.
"Sir, sirs, p-please calm down!" The scarred pirate hurriedly tried to placate the two. His voice trembled with fear, cold sweat having already soaked his collar. The surrounding crew members also instinctively backed away, afraid of being caught up in the imminent clash.
"Bullet, Moria. The enemy is before us. Do you really want to make the Beasts Pirates a laughingstock?" Urouge now stepped forward, placing himself between the two. His large frame acted like a wall separating the two combatants. Though he would have been happy to stand by and watch their fight to better gauge their strength for a future challenge of his own, now was not the time for internal conflict.
He had to ensure the success of this mission. Otherwise, Captain Kaido's wrath would be no joke.
"That's right. We're about to go to war with the Duchy of Dook. It is, after all, an entire nation. If we get careless, we might fail. Governor-General Kaido would definitely be furious then," Sebastian chimed in.
"Exactly. If you have a problem with each other, wait until after this war. Then you can do whatever you want," Morris added.
"Hmph!" Bullet snorted coldly, withdrawing the aura around him. The frost on the deck began to melt slowly. Bullet glared at Moria. "I'll settle this with you after we've dealt with the Duchy of Dook."
"Ihihihihi! Looks like you get to keep that All-Star seat a little while longer," Moria said, also releasing his grip on his sword. However, his shadow still writhed restlessly, betraying the resentment in his heart.
The two ceased their confrontation, turning instead to look towards the distant Duchy of Dook.
On the horizon, the outline of the kingdom was now clearly visible. The soaring spires of its castle glinted in the sunlight.
***
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