“Captain Naguri—”

  “Your bounty has increased to 468 million berries!”

  “As expected of our captain! That’s amazing!”

  “Of course!” The young, bold-looking captain—his head ed in a bandage—beamed with pride. “I am Iron Hammer Naguri! This bounty is the real deal, earned by my own strength. It’s not like those infted rewards from the Fallen Angel Pirates!”

  …

  New World, First Half – Lutades Isnd

  A pirate ship floated oers he isnd, its mast dispying the fg of the Naguri Pirates: two crossed iron hammers behind a ched fist. Over the past few years, this crew had built a formidable reputation.

  Along the coast, a crowd of pirates gathered to cheer for their captain, admiring the new bounty poster of “Iron Hammer” Naguri.

  “Hehehe…” Naguri basked in their praise, his chest puffed out proudly.

  “If only I had goo-head with a Marine Admiral, my bounty would’ve easily surpassed a billion berries!”

  “Captain—”

  A shout from the lookout at the ship’s masthead cut through the cheers.

  “Something’s approag on the horizon! It’s the Marines!”

  “The Marines?”

  “Perfect timing!”

  “Yeah! If we take them out, our bounties will skyrocket!”

  “And don’t fet, we cash in their heads at the Hell Trading pany!”

  Rather than fear, the pirates’ eyes gleamed with excitement, brimming with battlelust. I years, they’d lear was often more profitable to kill Marine officers than to rob mert ships. After all, the Hell Trading pany—overseen by the Fallen Angel Pirates—paid hefty sums for captured Marine heads.

  However, targeting the Hell Trading pany’s own vessels was out of the question. Those ships flew the Fallen Angel fg, and any crew that dared attack them was swiftly annihited.

  Though bold, the Naguri Pirates weren’t fools. They uood which targets were off-limits, and that caution art of why they’d mao survive and thrive in the New World.

  “Hey, that warship looks pretty big…” Naguri licked his lips, watg the dark spe the horizon grer.

  “Is it a Vice Admiral’s ship? That’s a 500-million-berry head, boys!”

  “No! Wait—it’s…” The lookout’s voice trembled.

  “It’s Steel Bone Kong’s warship!”

  “What!?”

  “A Marine Admiral!?”

  “That’s… a 3-billion-berry bounty!”

  “A on-a-lifetime opportunity!”

  “Captain Naguri, are we taking him on?”

  The pirates exged uneasy gheir faces pale with mingled fear and greed. All eyes turo Naguri, waiting for his decision.

  “An Admiral…? Well, well…” Naguri began to sweat but forced a fident grin. “Perfect timing!”

  Deep down, he regretted his earlier boast. He couldn’t back down now without losing face.

  “Wait, Captain…” the lookout interjected again, his voice urgent.

  “They’re raising a iation fg!”

  “iation?” Naguri’s eyes widened. Marines iating with pirates was unheard of unless hostages were involved.

  “Let’s see what these Marines want first,” he said cautiously, masking his relief.

  Before long, a Marine warship with a goril figurehead approached the coast. Steel Bone Kong—white-haired and visibly aged, having lost twenty years of his life to Charlotte Linlin’s abilities—came ashore with two Marines, indig no hostility.

  “What a rare visitor…” Naguri, gripping his long-handled iron hammer, watched Kong warily. “To what do I owe the honor of a Marine Admiral seeking out a pirate like me?”

  “Iron Hammer Naguri,” Kong said calmly, tossing a letter to Naguri. “This is an invitation from the Wover.”

  “Huh?” Naguri instinctively caught the envelope. Opening it, he froze in surprise.

  “The Shichibukai? The Wover wants me to join them?”

  “You’re no fool,” Kong said, his voice steady. “You must uand the current dynamics of the New World.”

  “With the Rocks Pirates and the Fallen Angel Pirates dominating these seas, there’s no room for a third power to rise. The New World has been carved between those two groups, aher will tolerate another rival.”

  Kong’s words nded heavily:

  “You have only three possible paths ahead:

  1. Capture. You and your crew will be arrested by the Marines and spend the rest of your days in the dark depths of Impel Down.

  2. Submission. You joiher the Rocks Pirates or the Fallen Angel Pirates, being a subordinate uheir banner.

  3. Defiance. You challehese two dominant forces, only to be utterly defeated and perish at sea.”

  He let that sink in before tinuing. “And I don’t think you’re the type to bow to anyone.”

  Kong’s expression remained impassive. “Accept the Wover’s invitation and bee one of the Shichibukai. You won’t just be a subordinate—you’ll form a mutually beneficial partnership. It’s a path of opportunity.”

  “Just yesterday, the Happo Navy leader, jao—whose bounty exceeds 500 million berries—agreed to join. You’re the sed pirate to receive this invitation.”

  “If you’re smart, you’ll reize the advantages. Being a Warlord only be you and your crew; there’s no real downside.”

  Kong didn’t hide his disdain for colborating with pirates. The Five Elders had issued these orders, and while it irked him as a Marihe strategic value was undeniable.

  Establishing the Shichibukai introduced a fourth pilr to pete with the three major forces of the Grand Line. In theory, this new bance could reduce the immense pressure on the Marines.

  Naguri’s face shifted as he sed and re-sed the letter. “This… this is a tempting offer,” he admitted. He looked at Kong, trying to keep his voice even. “I’ll ime to sider it.”

  He couldn’t deny the advahe Naguri Pirates had reached a critical point. Advang further into the New World without support was dangerous, but retreating spelled failure.

  He already khe Rocks Pirates were keeping tabs on him, even sending envoys to recruit him.

  Joining them meant being overshadowed by legends like Rocks D. Xebec, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Silver Axe, Wang Zhi, and Captain John.

  Refusing both dominant sides would iheir wrath. His crew would be squeezed between two great forces with no way out.

  The Wover’s proposal offered refuge and freedom from Marine pursuit—as long as they didn’t plunder allied nations. Wielding the Warlord of the Sea title would graimad safety for his crew. The only obligation was to respond occasionally when summoned by the gover—a priaguri could handle.

  Unfazed by Naguri’s hesitation, Kong said ftly, “Take three days to sider it. Then give me your answer.”

  “Sure thing. Take care, Admiral~!”

  Bleam