Coin Island.
A sprawling, bustling trade port.
Massive ships slowly entered the harbor one after another, instantly drawing the attention of the crowd.
"They're here! That's... the pink waving skull flag!! The flag of the Big Mom Pirates!!"
The ship was uniquely shaped, adorned with vibrant candy decorations.
"I didn't expect the Moa Moa no Mi to end up in the hands of that fat pig, Lu Feld..."
Onboard the candy-colored pirate ship flying the pink Jolly Roger, two towering and oddly dressed figures stood side by side.
The speaker was a tall, slender young man with a pointed face and heavy makeup. His long, dark blue hair was speckled with light blue spots, and he wore a top hat encrusted with lollipops.
In one hand, he held a candy-striped cane. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips as he extended his long tongue and licked it slowly.
Beside him stood a blank-faced young man with cold, lifeless eyes. He wore a blue padded coat with mochi-shaped shoulder pads and a yellow cloak draped over his shoulders. Around his waist was a belt marked with a genie lamp emblem.
Whispers and gasps immediately rippled through the crowd.
"...That's one of the Big Mom Pirates' top officers!"
"Charlotte Perospero, Charlotte Linlin's eldest son, bounty: 210 million Belly!"
"And next to him... that's Charlotte Daifuku, her third son, bounty: 180 million Belly!"
"Looks like Big Mom is dead set on getting the Moa Moa no Mi this time!"
The dead-eyed youth swept a cold glance over the people at the port. No one dared meet his eyes.
Satisfied, he grinned.
"I heard a lot of powerful forces are showing up this time, Perospero-nii-san."
"But it doesn't matter. Mama's given the order—the Moa Moa no Mi must be ours! A Devil Fruit that powerful can only belong to the Big Mom Pirates."
At his younger brother's words, Charlotte Perospero let out a sneering chuckle.
"Don't let your guard down. A few familiar faces have shown up too."
He glanced toward another section of the port.
Charlotte Daifuku followed his gaze, and his expression instantly darkened.
"Some troublesome guys are here too..."
Over there, a rugged pirate ship charged into the harbor like a rampaging sea beast, brutally smashing several nearby merchant ships to pieces and causing chaos on the docks.
Some furious onlookers stood up—only to freeze the moment they saw the flag on that pirate ship. No one dared make a sound.
"That's... the flag of the Beasts Pirates!!"
"The Beasts Pirates are here too!"
"What are you so scared of? Didn't the Marines destroy their base?"
"Go confront them if you're feeling brave..."
"..."
A figure cloaked entirely in black slowly appeared at the bow of the Beasts Pirates' ship.
Massive black wings spread open behind him. A suffocating pressure radiated outward, instantly silencing the crowd.
The Beasts Pirates' top officer—"The Conflagration" King. Bounty: 270 million Belly.
As if sensing hostile intent, King turned his head and locked eyes with Charlotte Perospero and Charlotte Daifuku.
Daifuku's gaze sharpened as he reached calmly for the belt at his waist.
"Don't be hasty."
Charlotte Perospero pressed down on his hand with a cold smile.
"There's no point fighting that guy now. If we're going to fight, we wait until the Moa Moa no Mi shows up."
As he spoke, he gave King a refined nod.
King's face was hidden behind a black mask, giving away no emotion.
He glanced briefly at Charlotte Perospero, then turned and leapt directly onto the shore without a word.
"Tch, what an arrogant bastard."
Daifuku grumbled, but withdrew his hand, a sheen of cold sweat barely visible.
"This guy's presence is getting more and more terrifying... I heard his race is something special. Even Mama wants to recruit him."
Charlotte Perospero chuckled quietly, watching King walk away.
Daifuku frowned, as if recalling something, and asked, "Perospero-nii-san, even the Beasts Pirates are here... do you think the Whitebeard Pirates will show up?"
Perospero shook his head.
"No. The Whitebeard Pirates have never cared for this kind of chaos."
"That man is far too proud to scramble for the Moa Moa no Mi."
Daifuku nodded, then asked again, "What about the Roger Pirates? I heard some guy known as the 'Demon Heir' recently joined their crew."
Perospero shook his head once more.
"The Roger Pirates have no interest in Devil Fruits... Let's go. The auction's probably about to begin."
With that, the two stepped off the ship.
As they walked past buildings made almost entirely out of various coins, a cold smile crept onto Charlotte Perospero's lips.
"Lu Feld's been living far too comfortably these past few years..."
...
"Even the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates showed up... This is turning into a real mess."
In a tavern built into the mountainside near the port of Coin Island, Sengoku leaned against a window, his face hidden beneath a large hood. His gaze was heavy as he stared out at the harbor below, muttering under his breath.
"Report, Admiral Sengoku. We've secured the guest list."
A Marine, also in disguise, approached quietly and spoke in a low voice.
"More than 100 pirate crews and dark organizations from the New World received invitations to this auction. So far, over 80 have confirmed their attendance. Based on intel, there will be at least 200 pirates with bounties over 50 million Belly, and more than 80 with bounties over 100 million!"
"Among them are King the Conflagration from the Beasts Pirates, and Charlotte Perospero and Charlotte Daifuku from the Big Mom Pirates."
Hearing this report, Sengoku's heart sank even deeper.
"They're all gathering here... Daren, are you absolutely sure this plan of yours is going to work?"
He couldn't help but glance toward Daren, who was casually sipping his drink and smoking behind him.
Daren smiled, poured a glass of wine for Borsalino seated nearby, and responded coolly, "Admiral Sengoku, no need to worry. If this were happening somewhere else, I wouldn't be so confident."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"But here..."
He raised his glass, took a light sip, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
Reflected in the rippling wine inside the glass were the countless buildings outside—structures built entirely from different kinds of metal coins.
"This is my turf."
Sengoku let out a long, heavy breath.
Looking at Daren and Borsalino, relaxed as ever with their drinks and smokes, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
These two were far too calm!
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Still, there was no sign yet of the Roger Pirates or the Whitebeard Pirates, which—at the very least—was something.
But calling for reinforcements now was out of the question.
Even at the top speed of a Navy warship, it would take at least three days to get from Marineford to Coin Island.
And the auction was about to begin.
That meant the only forces the Marines could count on were the three of them... and a few dozen elite soldiers.
And their opponents?
Dozens of pirate crews, nearly a hundred pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million Belly...
Not to mention countless members of the underworld.
The difference in numbers... was overwhelming.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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