"We definitely have to go out," Lucky Drake said firmly.
"If we don't, those guys will attack Baratie too."
In the original story, Krieg came to rob the Baratie, seize their treasure, and take Zeff's logbook.
Now there was simply one more reason—they wanted to deal with the Thunder Pirates.
"But even if we go out, can we escape them?" a crewman asked nervously.
"Relax. Krieg—I will personally kill him."
"When a fleet loses its leader, it's nothing but scattered rabble."
Lucky Drake's calm confidence silenced them.
"V-Vice-Captain, we're not afraid!"
"If you need us to kill Krieg, we'll go. We just didn't want you to think we're cowards!"
Lucky Drake shook his head slightly.
"It's fine. I know your hearts. Besides—provoking the Krieg Pirates was my idea."
Red, the captain, suddenly spoke, voice firm:
"Let's go. From the beginning, our Thunder Pirates swore never to betray, never to abandon any brother. We live together, die together."
"Right! Live together, die together!"
"Go! Let's see what Krieg can do to us!"
"Worst case, we drag a few down with us!"
The crew stood up, eyes burning with brotherhood and resolve.
Lucky Drake smiled in satisfaction.
Their strength was weak—but their loyalty was priceless.
"Alright. Let's go greet Krieg's men."
Outside Baratie
By the time they stepped outside, the entire restaurant was packed with people.
Out on the sea—hundreds of ships of the Krieg fleet.
But—
A massive corridor had been carved straight through the formation.
A clean, impossibly precise cut.
Dozens of ships destroyed as if cleaved by a heavenly blade.
The Thunder Pirates were stunned.
Red immediately grabbed a nearby pirate.
"Friend! What happened up front? Who attacked them?"
"Oh? Aren't you Red of the Thunder Pirates? Heard your bounty increased to twenty million! You're famous now!"
Red scratched his head.
"Ahem, just barely escaped the Marines… Anyway, what happened to Krieg's fleet?"
The scar-faced pirate shuddered.
"You didn't see? Krieg's fleet… looked like it was sliced apart by a single slash from some monster of a man."
"A single slash?" Red asked, shocked.
"Yes! It felt like one swing! Nobody knows who did it. But I think… he's still out there."
Lucky Drake narrowed his eyes.
He already had a guess.
In the original story, the world's greatest swordsman, Mihawk, was near Baratie around this time—he even came in to eat.
And only one person in the East Blue could casually cut apart an entire fleet:
Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk.
Lucky Drake frowned slightly.
If Mihawk kills Krieg, won't he steal my experience points…?
In the story, Mihawk hated Krieg because of that stupid incident where Krieg's crew saw him peeing over the side of his coffin boat.
So Mihawk chased him all the way across the Grand Line and into the East Blue.
Please don't kill my target before I can farm him…
Meanwhile, at the back of Krieg's fleet
A man stood calmly on the ruined ships.
He sheathed his massive black sword Yoru across his back.
Wearing a black hat with white fur trimming, he looked forward with cold, falcon-like eyes.
Dracule Mihawk.
The world's strongest swordsman.
The Krieg Pirates nearly collapsed in fear.
Especially Don Krieg himself—trembling, pale, on the verge of jumping into the sea to flee.
"Damn it… he's still chasing me?!"
"I swear I only saw him peeing off his ship! That was all!"
"If I could redo life… I'd never go to the Grand Line!"
Krieg wailed in despair.
His trusted men, Gin and Pearl, were shaking like leaves.
"Captain, what do we do? We can't fight this guy!" Gin cried.
Pearl gulped.
"Captain… maybe apologize? A strong man like him won't kill us in front of all these people… r-right?"
Krieg froze.
Apologize?
At this point… it might be their only chance.
"Yes! Yes! We must apologize!"
Gin asked, "Should we wait here for him? Or invite him aboard?"
"No! Apologizing means lowering ourselves fully. We go to Baratie. Many people there. He won't kill us in front of everyone!"
Pearl insisted desperately.
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