108 Island of Greed
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"Red Hair brat...." Whitebeard gazed at the warship belonging to the Red-Hair Pirates, his feelings mixed and hard to understand.
Seeing Brontes realized his plan had succeeded. Yet, he chose not to approach Whitebeard further. He wanted to spare the older man's pride any potential damage.
"Let's head back." Shanks said to his crew.
Within minutes, the Red-Hair Pirates departed just as swiftly as they had arrived.
...
Shortly after, Brontes made his way back to his own warship.
Upon his return, two medical officers hurried to him, eager to assess any injuries. Brontes allowed them to proceed without objection.
"Sir, your injuries are only surface level. With proper rest and nutrition, you'll recover in no time." They confirmed after a thorough examination.
"Alright." Responded Brontes, just as an assistant approached him with a new coat and placed it gently on his shoulders.
"Sir, what's our next destination?" inquired the assistant.
"Have there been any updates on Edward Weevil's location?" Brontes asked in a calm tone.
"He's done a good job of covering his tracks, but we've located him on an island in the New World, where he's currently residing." The assistant replied with a nod.
"Then let's set a course there. And prepare some food for me." Brontes added.
"Yes, sir!"
Brontes felt confident in his physical condition, thanks to the undying cells from Kaido. As long as he kept up his strength, even severe injuries would mend in remarkably short order.
His willingness to engage Whitebeard for such an extended period stemmed from a belief that he could ultimately outlast Whitebeard on the battlefield.
Now, there is about seven years from the Summit War. Right now, Whitebeard is in his sixties, no longer in the prime of youth.
Though Whitebeard was both considerably aged, being over sixty, their combat abilities remained fearsome.
From this encounter, Brontes gained a significant insight into Whitebeard's capabilities and reached a bold conclusion.
He believed he could defeat Whitebeard in one-on-one combat, assuming he could first deplete Whitebeard's stamina.
Despite Whitebeard having aged, his current strength was not to be taken lightly; it was, in fact, very formidable.
In the ocean's vast expanse, besides Brontes, not a soul dared claim they could beat Whitebeard, much less entertain the thought of killing him, Kaido included.
In the original series, Whitebeard had met his end at the hands of the Marine seven years later during the Summit War for a few critical reasons.
Firstly, age had caught up with Whitebeard; by that time, he had entered his seventies, visibly aged beyond his years.
The combination of Whitebeard's advancing age and the severe injuries from his youth, exacerbated by the use of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, meant that each time he wielded his devil fruit powers, his body suffered extreme fatigue. It aged his physique to resemble that of an eighty-year-old.
Secondly, even before the battle commenced, Whitebeard had already been weakened by a surprise attack from Squard.
Following this, he engaged in combat against Sakazuki and others. During the battle, a pre-existing illness worsened, culminating in Sakazuki's punch piercing through his chest.
Had it not been for these pre-existing conditions, the outcome of the Summit War could have been decidedly different.
The toll of Whitebeard's age ultimately led to his downfall, surrounded by Marines and Blackbeard during the Summit War.
As for the Whitebeard of the present, his strength remains awe-inspiring, yet Brontes harbors no fear. Confident in his newfound prowess, Brontes believes he has the capability to defeat Whitebeard once and for all.
...
In the New World, there lies the Dream Island of Greed, a place that's well-known among those involved in the darker aspects of society.
Anyone with connections to the underworld is likely familiar with it.
Gild Tesoro, although not yet a household name to the extent that Brontes is aware of, is similarly associated with opulence and lawlessness through his golden ship.
Similarly, the Island of Greed is notorious for its lack of rules and regulations.
This island hosts the largest casino in the New World, surrounded by countless illegal storefronts. Here, one can find virtually any type of illicit activity or goods.
While Tesoro's golden ship garners admiration from both the nobility and common folk, the Island of Greed serves as a sanctuary for pirates and black market dealers.
A distinctive feature of the Island of Greed is its weather, which is the exact opposite of Enies Lobby's conditions.
Visitors to Enies Lobby note its unique setting; it's an island located above a massive sea waterfall, which ensures it's always sunny there.
The continuous airflow from the waterfall keeps the skies clear of clouds, allowing sunlight to flood the area except at night.
Conversely, the Island of Greed is enveloped in a perpetual darkness, covered by a thick layer of clouds that block out the sun, ensuring daylight is an uncommon sight.
The people living there have adapted to this eternal darkness, making it a starkly unique place compared to anywhere else.
Meteorologists have delved into the peculiar weather pattern of the Island of Greed and attribute its endless overcast skies to the island's volcanic roots.
Ash spewed from underwater volcanoes rises and mixes with the cloud cover, creating a denser layer of clouds akin to those seen around sky islands. However, these clouds aren't thick enough to form a true sky island but do contribute to the island's perpetual gloom.
Brontes, after knowing about the whereabouts of Edward Weevil, set his sights on the Island of Greed.
His target is none other than Weevil, who has taken refuge on the island alongside with his mother, Buckin.
.....
After a two-day journey from Whitebeard's territories, Brontes almost reached his destination.
"Still on the Island of Greed?" Asked Brontes while holding the Den Den Mushi.
The reply comes from the Den Den Mushi with a soft and gentle voice: "Yes, he hasn't left. They're holed up in the casino. Buckin has been scammed by some gamblers, losing a significant sum, hehe!"
"Keep a close watch on them. Don't let them escape." Brontes commands sternly.
"Understood, sir!" Affirms the voice from the Den Den Mushi.
Brontes hung up. The woman he was talking was none other than Stussy, known as the Queen of the Pleasure District. As a long-time spy planted by the World Government within the underworld for years.
Her loyalty and moral compass have always been subjects of debate.
Brontes, however, is not focused on judging her ethics. Stussy's role in the underworld, particularly her influence over numerous women's which was the source of the intel, was undeniable.
Over the years, Brontes has come to recognize the deep-seated corruption and dark secrets harbored by the World Government—realities that disgust him, though he feels powerless to challenge them directly.
Stussy's mention of the gambler who conned Buckin isn't just idle gossip.
This individual is a prominent figure within the Island of Greed's criminal haven, running the underground casino that lures in both the rich and the desperate.
Brontes's interaction with Stussy underscores the complex network of alliances and enmities that define the world of the New World's pirates and criminals.
...
"The Island of Greed?"
Brontes voiced softly, his resolve was unwavering.
He was determined to act decisively, fully aware that the Island of Greed played host to no innocents.
If Tesoro's golden ship was a dream of riches for the common man, then the Island of Greed was a nightmare made real, a place that ruthlessly stripped visitors of every last Berry they had.
It was a magnet for the worst society had to offer, often at the cost of those who wandered in unaware of its true nature.
As Brontes's ship, the Ark Maxim, drew nearer, the world was still buzzing with talk of his recent confrontation with Whitebeard, a battle that had sent shockwaves around the globe just the day before.
The three-day-long conflict between Brontes and Whitebeard had an unexpected beneficiary - Morgans, who secured the presidency of the World Economy Newspaper.
Having witnessed the fight himself, Morgans was able to provide a firsthand account of the battle, detailing its progress and the surprising outcome.
People worldwide had been holding their breath for the result of this extraordinary clash.
To most, the notion that Whitebeard, the man celebrated as the strongest, could meet his match was unfathomable.
Despite the prolonged struggle against Brontes that lasted for three days, no clear winner emerged. However, it was undeniable that Whitebeard had suffered severe injuries from the encounter.
In the rhetoric employed by the World Government, the Whitebeard Pirates were villainized, painted as the most dreadful and menacing pirate crew across the seas, only surpassed in notoriety by the disbanded Roger Pirates.
The reputation of the Whitebeard Pirates had spread far and wide, striking fear even in those with moderate life experience.
However, a new development had shifted the tides: Whitebeard had encountered his match. A hero of the World Government emerged in the form of Fleet Admiral Ragnarok, engaging Whitebeard in a fiercely fought battle that lasted three days and nights, culminating in a standstill.
For the common folk, this news was like a surge of reassurance, bolstering their sense of security while elevating the prestige of the World Government and the Marines.
The impact of this event was profound, both in terms of the perceived strength of the authorities and the validation it offered to their reputation.
Amongst pirates, the reaction was mixed. While the enhanced might of the World Government and the Marines, demonstrated by the stalemate between Whitebeard and Brontes, commanded respect, it also instilled a sense of foreboding, especially for those in the New World who understood the sheer terror associated with the Whitebeard Pirates.
If even Whitebeard had fallen short against Brontes, what chance did they stand against the full force of the World Government and the Marines?
Simultaneously, Whitebeard's defeat served as a reminder that time spares no one, and perhaps age had finally begun to catch up with the revered captain.
With Whitebeard's era drawing to a close, the spotlight was poised to shift towards the other Yonko, notably Kaido, hailed as the mightiest among them.
Adding to the unfolding developments was the significant revelation of a two-day standoff between the Beast Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates.
Though the reasons behind the Red Hair Pirates' intervention in halting the Beast Pirates remained unclear, their actions succeeded in driving Kaido away from the battlefield, marking a pivotal moment in the ever-evolving power dynamics of the pirate world.
