Chapter 121

It was the break of dawn, signaling the beginning of a new day.

The Gale Emperor Pirates were already immersed in their daily tasks, the ship buzzing with activity.

Yuta and Power, along with the majority of the crew, were engaged in the task of gathering food and wine for the journey ahead.

Meanwhile, Albedo and Tatsumaki had taken on the responsibility of getting essential supplies and provisions for their upcoming travels.

Overseeing the ship's security were Demiurge, Obito, and Nagato, a vigilant trio ensuring the ship's safety.

Ulquiorra, however, wasn't one to be confined. He wandered freely; his presence untethered by the ship's routine.

As for their captain, Carnes, he was taking a well-deserved rest, momentarily detached from the flurry of activity.

In a certain bustling street...

Two unassuming women strolled leisurely, each holding a camera in hand, their gazes shifting from side to side, as they observed their surroundings intently.

"The Sabaody Archipelago offers an abundance of news material, but the competition for them is fierce.

Perhaps it wasn't the wisest choice for us to seek headlines here," commented one of the women, with blond wavy hair.

Her companion, with long black tresses, chimed in with a charming smile,

"Indeed, the Sabaody Archipelago tends to provide plenty of trivial stories, news that often doesn't make it to the forefront. Yet..." continued the other woman with her long black hair, offering a charming smile,

"I've invested a considerable sum to acquire information from a trusted intelligence agent. Word has it that both Emperors Kaido and Big Mom are making their way here."

She continued, "Moreover, we've observed the Marines stationed here in the morning, engaged in an unexpected evacuation.

The information seems highly plausible its veracity seems quite high."

The woman with the blond hair replied,

"Certainly, anything related to the emperors guarantees attention-grabbing headlines. Infact our headlines will practically write themselves, no matter the circumstances.

Nevertheless, the Marines' hasty withdrawal begs the question of whether there's more to this than meets the eye."

"With the Marines evacuating, if no noteworthy event occurs, our efforts might still amount to nothing."

"Perhaps capturing the activities of the Gale Emperor Pirates would prove more fruitful?" suggested the woman with the long black hair.

Dissenting, she said, "Trust me, my intuition rarely falters. This situation holds the promise of substantial news, significant news is just brewing."

In an open-air tavern...

What was once a bustling establishment had now fallen into an eerie silence as Carnes took his seat.

Upon Carnes' arrival, both civilians and pirates had discreetly retreated, leaving the tavern eerily quiet. This solitude suited Carnes just fine.

Seated at the bar, Carnes beckoned the barkeep with a simple call of "Boss."

The barkeep's hair seemed to stand on end as he hurriedly approached Carnes, visibly trembling, a palpable sense of fear in his demeanor.

"L-Lord Ca-Carnes, is there anything that displeases you?" the boss stammered, fear evident in his voice.

Carnes studied him briefly for a moment, before offering a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, I don't have a habit of punishing people for minor disagreements."

A nervous chuckle escaped the boss as he found some relief. Nonetheless, an undercurrent of fear lingered within him; after all, the strength of these individuals loomed over everything.

The powerful individuals held the upper hand here.

Gently inquiring, the boss cautiously asked, "How may I be of assistance?"

"It's a trivial matter, really. It's just that this particular wine evokes nostalgia. Have your entire stock moved onto my ship."

A sigh of relief escaped the boss, and he nodded vigorously, saying,

"Lord Carnes, you can count on me. Your request will be promptly fulfilled, you have my word.

We'll immediately arrange for the transfer."

"Very well."

With a confirming nod, Carnes immersed himself in his thoughts, gazing at the drink in his hand.

It had been years since he last savored this particular vintage wine.

Vaguely, he recalled that it was during his early days with the Rocks Pirates.

The captain, Rocks, at the time had rewarded him with this very wine for his exceptional service, a token of acknowledgment for his contributions.

"It's been quite a while," Carnes mused, a tinge of longing in his voice, before he took another sip.

"How I've missed this."

Carnes sighed wistfully, his thoughts drifting as he indulged in his drink.

The passage unfolded for what seemed like an eternity, stretched out over few minutes.

Then, a sharp cry pierced through the air.

In an instant, the tranquil surroundings shattered into chaos.

The once calm surroundings were abruptly disrupted, and an air of urgency replaced the serenity that had lingered.

"Stay close and follow my lead," Carnes muttered.

Amidst the frenzy, all Carnes could discern were groups of civilians running along, carrying their children on their backs, and the elderly tightly gripping one another's hands.

Carnes averted his gaze. Such scenes were not uncommon in the tumultuous Sabaody Archipelago.

It was likely another clash amongst pirates, or perhaps a skirmish involving bounty hunters apprehending them.

However, that assumption didn't linger in Carnes' mind for more than a fleeting moment before being brutally dismissed.

"These familiar auras... Could it be????"

In the blink of an eye, Carnes found himself unable to contain his laughter.

"The anticipation was quite unsettling, and fear of people running were real, but this outcome, I must say, is rather pleasing, it's to my liking."

Just as Carnes had anticipated.

Merely five minutes later.

Two unmistakable figures came into view.

Big Mom and Kaido!!

Kaido carried a huge mace, following him were his formidable Beasts Pirates.

Meanwhile, Big Mom wielded Napoleon, her cherished blade, while her numerous children closely followed her.

When the distance between them was less than a hundred meters, both Big Mom and Kaido halted abruptly upon noticing Carnes.

"Boss, fetch two larger bowls. It appears we have got two of my old friends here."

"Of course, Lord Carnes."

Without delay, the innkeeper retrieved two oversized bowls.

However, upon glimpsing Kaido and Big Mom not far off, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva hard, his throat involuntarily constricted.

Curses, if only he had known that such a turn of events would transpire today, he might not have opened the shop at all.

With the large bowls now placed upon the table, Carnes carefully poured exquisite wine from the barrel he held.

"We haven't seen each other since the last time we said goodbye in the God's Valley, have we?"

"But I must say that farewell left me in a quite bad state."

Big Mom exchanged a thoughtful glance with Kaido before approaching Carnes.

Eventually, they found themselves seated on either side of the table.

"Gurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"

A rumble resonated as Kaido, ever the straightforward one, unceremoniously set down his mace and gulped down the wine in his large bowl.

"Reflecting on those times, as the Rocks Pirates, we were invincible, unrivaled by any force, no one could stop us."

"Back in those days, we celebrated together, we worked together, we fought the Marines together."

"It's really...sad reminiscence, I yearn for those old days."

Carnes mused softly, lifting his wine-filled bowl and taking a sip.

An inquisitive furrow creased Big Mom's brow as she questioned,

"Carnes, what is your intention? What do you want to do?"

A sudden crash disrupted the quite surrounding.

The wine jug in Carnes' hand had shattered upon collision with the table, its contents spilling across the surface.

"What do I want to do, you ask? Heh, perhaps I should be asking that question to you."

"What's the meaning of this? We are meeting after such long time and, both of you brought your entire forces, are you here to kill your former Vice Captain? It makes me very sad."

"You two really hurt my feelings, guess what now I would have to kill you." Carnes said with mischievous grin on his face, and his tone dripping with sarcasm.

The tension in the air was visible as the stage was set for an intense confrontation.

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