New World, on a certain uninhabited island.
Such islands are countless in the New World...
They're usually used as temporary camps by various pirate crews.
And on this island, a pirate crew was holed up.
"Boss Moria! How much longer are we gonna stay here?"
"That guy Kaido has already started expanding like crazy in the New World!"
A massive figure was leaning against a tree, pouring booze into his mouth in boredom.
His hair looked like a blazing flame, his face resembled the "devil" from legends, with horns on his forehead, sharp ears, and pointed teeth.
There was even a stitched scar across his forehead.
It was none other than Gekko Moria, who had been driven out of Wano along with Kaido after their great battle years ago.
Right now, his face was full of despair, completely ignoring his crewmates.
The huge blade he used to keep at his side was tossed aside, buried deep in the weeds.
"Heh shishishishi... good booze... such good booze..."
He muttered, taking another swig.
His loyal subordinates exchanged looks with one another.
They weren't exactly good people, but when it came to Moria, their trust and devotion were absolute.
This was their boss, their captain.
How could they just stand by and watch him fall apart like this?
"Boss Moria! Get a grip!"
One crewmate gritted his teeth, then smashed the huge wine gourd in Moria's hand with his hammer. Clear liquor splashed all over the ground.
Moria's reaction came a beat too late—after a long moment, his confused expression finally appeared...
"Hey now... why'd you break my gourd..."
"Boss Moria! We only lost once! Why fall apart completely? We got driven out of Wano by Kozuki Oden's ambush just like Kaido did, so why is the Beasts Pirates still growing while we're wasting away on some deserted island?!"
His voice echoed across half the island.
All the remaining members of the Gekko Pirates gathered around.
The truth was, the crew still had its foundations intact.
As long as Gekko Moria was still the same Gekko Moria, they could rise again any time...
But reality was cruel.
Just one defeat had completely crushed the prideful yet fragile man.
He drowned himself in alcohol, dragging the entire crew down with him.
Not a single one of them blamed Moria...
But Moria couldn't get past the wall in his own heart.
"Vice Captain Crunl! A ship's approaching the coast!"
"Do I even need to say it? Drive them off! We've been here for how long now? Do I need to spell this out for you?!"
"It's just... I wasn't sure if we should drive them off, that's why I came to ask you!"
Crunl, who had just been yelling at Moria, froze for a second. His impatience faded, replaced by a serious expression.
He turned to the pirate delivering the news.
"What's going on? On such a remote uninhabited island, who would even come here?"
"It's just a small ship..." The pirate swallowed nervously. "But the flag it's flying... it's the Cross Guild's!"
The Cross Guild!
Crunl's eyes widened instantly.
Ever since Rayleigh, Gaban, and Gloriosa had founded the Cross Guild as its three leaders, their reputation had spread across every corner of the seas.
A neutral organization bold enough to issue bounties against both the World Government and pirates... the Cross Guild had shocked everyone.
It was insane!
But after one pirate crew accidentally sank a World Government ship, then captured the wanted men and delivered them to the Cross Guild...
They were immediately paid a massive bounty.
From then on, no one thought the Cross Guild was a scam...
Because they really paid!
Over the years, the Cross Guild's bounty list had expanded countless times.
Not just the World Government and pirates—Celestial Dragons, royal families, corrupt tycoons, rogue Marines...
You name it, they had it.
But now...
"What's the Cross Guild's ship doing here?"
Crunl frowned, heading toward the coast.
He didn't believe for a second that a Cross Guild ship would come to a deserted island like this for no reason.
The only possibility was that the Cross Guild had tracked the Gekko Pirates' movements.
After all, they still had to leave the island for supplies sometimes, so it wasn't strange for the Cross Guild to pick up their trail.
"They're not here to take us out, are they?"
"Don't be stupid." Crunl rolled his eyes at the panicked pirate. "The Gekko Pirates haven't shown our faces on the seas for years. Most people probably think we're dead at sea. Why would the Cross Guild target a half-dead crew like ours?"
"Besides... the Cross Guild only acts to protect its own interests."
Crunl dared to head for the shore because he knew the Cross Guild's reputation.
To big shots like Rayleigh, Gaban, and Gloriosa...
Their little pirate crew was nothing.
If they wanted them dead, it would be over in a heartbeat.
So... live while you can!
...
"Tch, what's taking them so long?"
At the island's coast, a tall, long-legged beauty in Amazon Lily attire tapped her foot impatiently, glaring toward the jungle.
That pirate had run off to report nearly five minutes ago. Why wasn't anyone here yet?
"Don't tell me... they heard it was the Cross Guild and bolted?"
"If they dare stand me up, I swear I'll slap a bounty on them the moment I get back!"
The woman was none other than Gloriosa.
But as she muttered and prepared to add them to her little blacklist, Crunl's massive frame finally emerged from the jungle.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Sorry to keep you waiting! Friends of the Cross Guild!"
"Hmph. You think you have the right to call me a friend?"
Gloriosa frowned, unleashing her Conqueror's Haki in a sudden wave.
As the former Empress of Amazon Lily, Conqueror's Haki came standard.
Crunl's hair stood on end instantly. Only now did he realize—this was one of the Cross Guild's three leaders, Gloriosa herself!
And this feeling... he hadn't felt it since facing Kaido and Kozuki Oden!
But he gritted his teeth and stayed on his feet.
That reaction made Gloriosa raise an eyebrow.
"I thought you were just a weakling... didn't expect you to have some backbone."
"This letter was entrusted to the Cross Guild to deliver to Gekko Moria."
She held out an envelope bearing the Navy's insignia.
And beside the blue Navy emblem... faint wing patterns encircled it.
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