At the same time...
On the top floor of a bank building in the eastern district of Coin Island.
"Didn't think this many people would show up just to join the chaos..."
A young man with golden pineapple-shaped hair sat at the edge of the rooftop, his sandal-clad feet swinging freely in the air.
With a piece of straw between his lips, Marco gazed off into the distance, watching as pirates disembarked from their ships and headed toward the central auction hall of Coin Island. His brows gradually furrowed.
As one of the dominant powers in the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates had, of course, received an invitation to the Moa Moa no Mi auction.
Initially, they weren't all that interested in the fruit.
Despite its overwhelming power, not just anyone could control it.
The Moa Moa no Mi's "multiplication" ability, like any other Devil Fruit, consumed the user's stamina. And if the multiplier effect was massive—say, fifty or even a hundred times—it would place an extreme physical strain on the user.
Among the original core officers of the Whitebeard Pirates, not a single one had the ability to fully harness it.
So when Oyaji and the others got the invitation, they had just scoffed and dismissed it outright.
But Marco, as the crew's First Mate, had his own thoughts.
Kozuki Oden.
Oden had recently joined the crew, and now that he was Oyaji's sworn brother, his strength had already reached monstrous levels.
However, ever since his fight with that Marine named Rogers Daren, the usually cheerful man had been in a constant slump, often drinking to drown his sorrows.
After thinking it through, Marco realized this auction might be the perfect opportunity.
If he could get his hands on the Moa Moa no Mi and gift it to Oden, it might just snap him out of his funk and reignite his fighting spirit.
And one thing was certain—with Oden's immense power, mastering a Devil Fruit rumored to be able to "destroy the world" would be no problem at all.
That was why Marco had come to Coin Island alone.
"The Big Mom Pirates... looks like some serious players showed up. Even King's here. This won't be easy."
Marco slowly pulled his gaze back, scratching his head with a sigh.
The thought of going head-to-head with King made him uneasy.
As for using legitimate auction channels to bid for the Moa Moa no Mi?
Yeah right. The Whitebeard Pirates didn't have that kind of cash.
"We'll have to wait for an opening. Those Charlotte brothers are ambitious—there's no way they'll let King walk away with it. Once they clash, maybe... in the chaos, we'll have a shot."
Marco murmured to himself.
...
On the other side...
In a private suite at a hotel in the western district of Coin Island.
A towering figure stepped out of the bathroom, his body covered in scars, muscles like knotted stone.
A simple white towel was wrapped around his waist. His long, wet golden hair dripped freely, wild and untamed.
On the clothes rack beside him hung a black military uniform, and beneath it, a pair of polished black boots gleamed coldly, exuding a menacing presence.
He had only one arm.
His right arm looked like it had been blasted away by something terrifying, leaving behind a gruesome scar that had long since healed.
"This place is lively..."
The blond youth squinted through the glass window, eyes fixed on the distant harbor filled with pirate ships flying every kind of flag. A savage grin curled at his lips, radiating bloodlust.
"Dozens of pirate crews and underworld forces... plus the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates..."
At the mention of the Beasts Pirates, a sharp killing intent flashed in his eyes.
He extended his remaining left hand and lightly pressed it against the metal coffee table beside him.
Without any visible movement, a faint purple glow shimmered across the surface of the table.
In the next moment, the table began to "melt," flowing upward along his arm, crawling over his chest before taking shape on his right shoulder—forming a segmented, scale-like metal arm.
Clink—clack—
He flexed his right fist, testing the movement of the metal arm. A satisfied smile spread across his face.
Douglas Bullet.
"Staying on that ship day in and day out... what a damn bore."
Bullet narrowed his eyes.
Since joining Roger's pirate crew, he'd challenged Roger countless times. But every time he thought he had trained hard enough, that his strength had finally caught up...
Roger would always crush him with overwhelming power.
Ten times.
Twenty times.
Thirty times.
Fifty times...
Eventually, Bullet had to face the truth—he was still far from reaching the level of Gol D. Roger.
It was like chasing the shadow of a man always one step ahead—so close he could almost touch the hem of his coat, yet that single step stretched endlessly beyond reach.
The more he realized it, the deeper his respect for Roger grew—and the deeper his frustration and despair sank.
Having a goal was one thing. But being utterly outmatched time and time again? That would crush anyone.
It was suffocating.
So, when he spotted that auction invitation discarded in a trash bin aboard the ship, he didn't hesitate.
He had to let loose.
He needed a battle—one that would make up for all that pent-up fury.
As for the Moa Moa no Mi? He didn't give a damn.
Naturally, when he slipped off the ship, no one stopped him. In fact, the others just laughed and told him to enjoy himself—and come back when he was done.
That was just how Roger's crew operated. No one was bound. They came and went as they pleased.
"Auction, huh... Don't let me down."
Bullet's grin twisted into something cruel, a glint of madness in his eyes.
"This time, I'm going to cut loose. Completely. Kahahahahaha!"
...
That day, across the famed "Coin Island" of the New World, hidden tides began to stir.
Some swaggered boldly onto this land of decadence, eager to flaunt the power backing them.
Others slinked into the shadows, quiet but restless, each with their own motives.
Countless factions had descended upon the glimmering city, all silently waiting for the appearance of a Devil Fruit said to be capable of "destroying the world."
What none of them realized...
Was that a net had already been cast, silent and unseen, swallowing them whole in the dark.
A Marine named Rogers Daren had a plan.
A mad one.
To wipe them all out.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake