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Hachinosu, the largest tavern.
"It's a feast!"
"Cheers!"
The pirates filled the tavern, laughing and raising their oak mugs.
For pirates, holding a feast was definitely one of the happiest things, especially when someone else was paying.
At the bar.
"Hahahahaha, drink up!"
Ace—Daichi—Marco.
The three of them, drunk and arm-in-arm, looked like long-lost brothers, just short of jumping into a horse dance together.
After drinking for an unknown period.
"Bang!"
A mug slammed onto the bar.
"Boss, your wine isn't that great!"
Daichi's eyes were like brass bells, staring at the tavern owner with displeasure: "Today I'm treating Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates' brothers to drinks, and you're trying to fool me with this watery stuff? Hurry up and bring out your best wine!"
"Sorry, guest, this is already the best wine we have."
The tavern owner wiped a glass without expression, ignoring Daichi's demand, showing no signs of backing down.
He had seen too many pirates like this.
They would talk about treating everyone, but by the end, they might not even be able to pay for the drinks. If it weren't for the Whitebeard Pirates' reputation, he wouldn't even want to serve them.
Who was he trying to fool?
Daichi flew into a rage.
"Bastard, you think I don't have money, do you!"
"No."
The tavern owner was very calm.
He had heard of the Beast Pirates' reputation, but this island was protected by Whitebeard, and even the strongest pirate had to follow the rules here.
Whitebeard wouldn't meddle, and he would turn a blind eye to fights among pirates, but if anyone dared to deliberately cause destruction, Whitebeard wouldn't stand idly by.
Seeing this, Marco quickly tried to mediate.
"Daichi, calm down. If you think this wine isn't good, I'll have someone bring over the wine from our ship later."
"Is this about the wine?!"
Daichi's face was furious, and he pointed at the tavern owner, shouting loudly, "Marco, he clearly looks down on me!"
"This…"
Marco's face was filled with black lines.
This guy must be really drunk, right?
He actually thought the wine was pretty good. Although it wasn't the best, it was definitely not bad compared to the wine they usually drank.
"No!"
Daichi pushed Marco aside, pointing at the horned skull symbol on the large flag behind him, with two puffs of thick air coming from his nostrils.
"As your brother, I'm out and about, carrying the Beast Pirates' flag. How can I lose face over something like drinking?!"
"You haven't, you haven't!"
Marco smiled bitterly, trying to calm Daichi.
As expected of a Beast Pirates executive, this dominating and unruly personality was exactly like the rumored Beast Pirates.
At this moment, the tavern quieted down.
The pirates all looked at Daichi, fearing that he might cause a drunken ruckus. After all, he was Ace's older brother, making things difficult for them.
Heh, as expected, a barbarian!
"Marco, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. This is your pirate crew's territory, so I won't cause trouble, hiccup—"
Daichi let out a burp, turned his head to the table where his subordinates were, and yelled loudly.
"Page One, Ulti!"
"Coming!"
The siblings came to Daichi's sides, placed their suitcases on the bar, and opened them, pouring the contents directly onto the bar.
It was all Berries!
Stacks of Berries piled up, at least a hundred million Berries!
The noise instantly vanished.
The pirates stared at the money on the table, their eyes wide. If their captains hadn't been there, they would have rushed forward to snatch it.
The tavern owner stared at the money on the table, swallowing hard.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Daichi slammed the bar forcefully, glaring fiercely at the tavern owner, the veins on his neck bulging.
"Is that enough? Should I add more if it's not enough?"
"It's enough!"
"Then do you have good wine?"
"Yes! And it's the best wine on Hachinosu!"
"Then what are you still standing there for?"
"Alright, sir, please wait a moment, I'll go get your wine right away!"
The tavern owner's attitude did a complete U-turn, his face full of fawning smiles. He scooped up the money from the table and ran towards the kitchen, not forgetting to scold the waiters.
"Don't just stand there foolishly, bring out all the good wine and good food. If anyone dares to neglect the pirate, I'll dock their pay!"
"Understood!"
The waiters' motivation instantly soared, and they looked at Daichi as if he were their own father, even more enthusiastically than they would their actual father.
Most pirates were poor, with pockets cleaner than their faces. They could work an entire year and rarely encounter such a generous pirate.
For the tips!!!
"Hahahaha."
Daichi laughed heartily, leaning back against the bar, and looked at the pirates who hadn't recovered from their shock, his brows frowning in displeasure.
"Don't just stare!"
"Eat and drink!"
"Hey, who was that, who told you to order pizza and noodles? Quickly take them away, you can get full just by eating meat and drinking wine!"
"Beast Pirates, listen to my command! Today, you must entertain the Whitebeard Pirates' brothers well. No one leaves until they throw up!"
"Yes, Daichi-sama!"
All the Beast Pirates revealed a sneer, stomped a foot on a stool, and raised their wine bottles.
"Ga ha ha ha, brothers, let the Whitebeard Pirates witness the strength of the Beast Pirates! Let's drink them all under the table!"
"Huh?"
The Whitebeard's crew members' eyes turned red.
Want to drink them under the table?
What a joke!
"Brothers, show some backbone! Don't let those Beast Pirates bastards look down on us!"
"Oh oh oh!!!"
In a blink of an eye, the pirates from both sides clashed, red-faced and red-necked, force-feeding each other drinks, neither willing to yield.
This was war!
"Hahahaha, that's more like it."
Daichi laughed heartily, slapping his thigh, and turned to look at Marco, raising his wine bottle with ill intent.
"Marco Polo, care for a drink?"
"My name is Marco!"
Marco, with red eyes, picked up his wine.
So much money, damn it!
They were all pirates!
Alright, alright, drinking, is it!
Today, he was definitely going to drink this rich, muscular bastard under the table!
"Come on, drink!"
"Clink!"
The wine bottles clinked together!
Night fell.
Hachinosu, western sea area.
Warships were hidden behind reefs, monitoring the movements of Hachinosu's port.
"Troublesome!"
In the operations meeting room.
Over a dozen officers sat around, their expressions growing more serious.
Half a day ago, the Beast Pirates landed on Hachinosu and made direct contact with the Whitebeard Pirates, but there were still no signs of battle.
This was undoubtedly bad news.
If the Four Emperors cooperated or even formed an alliance, the entire world would be shaken, especially with Whitebeard and Kaido, who were considered the strongest among the Four Emperors.
The most urgent matter now was to find out the true intentions of the two great pirate crews, but Hachinosu was a pirate paradise, impossible to penetrate even for the Marines.
The short-haired, beautiful Vice Admiral with a spiked collar and a cigarette in her mouth spoke.
"How much longer until the Admiral arrives?"
"Vice Admiral Doll, at least until tomorrow noon!"
"Too late."
Doll let out a puff of smoke, helpless.
They were Marine officers stationed at G-14 Branch and Egghead. Because they were closest to Hachinosu, they rushed over immediately after receiving orders from Headquarters.
However, facing the Four Emperors, she, with only the rank of a Headquarters Vice Admiral, was powerless and could only observe from the shadows.
The longer they delayed, the more unfavorable the situation would become.
No one knew what terrifying plans the Beast Pirates and Whitebeard might be brewing.
After a long silence.
A Rear Admiral with an "X" shaped scar on his chin suddenly raised his hand to signal.
Headquarters Rear Admiral, X Drake!
"Vice Admiral Doll, I have an idea!"
"Speak."
"I want to infiltrate Hachinosu to gather intelligence!"
"..."
Doll's expression changed instantly.
"Rear Admiral Drake, do you understand the consequences of doing that?"
"I understand!"
Drake's gaze was firm.
If a Marine infiltrated Hachinosu and was discovered by pirates, death was the only outcome, without exception!
But facing the terrifying crisis of a potential alliance between the Four Emperors, someone had to take the risk, and among the officers present, only he could act.
Or rather, they!
"Vice Admiral Doru, I am SWORD'S captain!"