107 Playing Catch-up #107

The Shark Kennel Bar in Four Clover Island was dimly lit, filled with the chatter and laughter of rowdy patrons. Old Dean, a weathered and grizzled seadog, sat perched on a worn stool at the counter. A glass of rum sat before him, slowly diminishing with each sip.

As he nursed his drink, the creaking of the bar's entrance caught his attention. Old Dean's weathered eyes glanced toward the figure that had just stepped inside. With a stern expression etched upon his face, The man purposefully walked through the crowd, his eyes locked onto Old Dean.

Old Dean furrowed his brow, recognizing the man as one of his former subordinates. The man approached Old Dean, a rolled-up piece of paper clutched tightly in his hand.

Without a word, the man extended his arm, offering the rolled-up paper to Old Dean. Old Dean cautiously took it, his rough hands unfolding the paper to reveal a wanted poster. His eyes scanned the details, and he couldn't help but chuckle as he read the name and the staggering bounty displayed before him.

Old Dean shook his head, amusement and confusion crossing his weathered face. He stood up, walked to the wall, and unpinned Cedric's former bounty from the wall, replacing it with the new one. The bar's patrons glanced over, curiosity sparking in their eyes as they observed the unfolding scene.

Old Dean leaned back against the counter, the old wanted poster still in his hand. He took another swig from his glass, savoring the bitter taste of the rum as he contemplated Cedric's journey.

He couldn't help but marvel at the turn of events that had led Cedric from being a wanted criminal with an 8 million bounty to a respected Marine commander, only to end up as a wanted criminal again, this time with a 575 million price on his head.

"Who would've thought...," Old Dean muttered, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "From a little twerp delivering illegal goods to a great pirate..." He said with a chuckle.

The bar's patrons exchanged whispers and glances. Their curiosity was piqued as some recognized Cedric. Old Dean could sense the weight of their gazes, their expectations hanging heavy in the air.

Setting the old wanted poster down on the counter, Old Dean turned his attention to the crowd around him. His weathered face broke into a mischievous grin as he contemplated the situation.

"Well, it seems we have a reason to celebrate tonight, lads!" Old Dean declared, his voice booming over the clamor of the bar. "Another youngster from our very own town has become a world famouse pirate!"

The patrons erupted into cheers and applause, their enthusiasm contagious. Glasses were raised, and the atmosphere grew electric with excitement. Old Dean, caught up in the spirit of the moment, reached into his pocket and withdrew a pouch of gold coins.

"OI!" he called out, waving the pouch. "Drinks are on me! Let's toast to the youngsters of our little town and their journey!"

The bartender grinned, swiftly pouring rounds of drinks for the eager patrons. The bar's counter was full of glasses, frothy mugs, and colorful concoctions, each overflowing with a celebratory spirit.

...

The vast expanse of the New World stretched out before Zephyr as he stood at the helm of his ship. The wind whipped through his purple hair as he drained a bottle of Jereze with a single gulp.

As he surveyed the turbulent seas, Zephyr noticed Ain, his most trusted subordinate, approaching him with a solemn expression on her face. She held out a crumpled piece of paper, which Zephyr recognized instantly as Cedric's wanted poster.

Ain's eyes filled with concern as she handed it to Zephyr, expecting him to be disappointed or angry. She knew how much Zephyr had invested in training Cedric and how he had hoped to guide him towards a righteous path.

However, much to her surprise, a grin spread across Zephyr's face as he accepted the wanted poster. He studied the image and the bounty displayed beneath Cedric's name with amusement and understanding.

"There's no need to worry about an old timer like me..." Zephyr said, sensing Ain's inner thoughts. "I knew this day would come sooner or later. the brat has always been a free spirit, and his heart was never truly with the Marines."

Ain furrowed her brow, unable to comprehend Zephyr's calm reaction. "But Admiral Zephyr, Cedric was your student. He was part of the Marine ranks. How can you be so accepting of his actions?"

Zephyr placed a hand on Ain's shoulder, his eyes filled with fondness. "Cedric is not a bad young man, Ain. He's always had a rebellious streak, a desire for freedom the confines of the Marines couldn't contain. I saw that in him when I trained him."

He paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I believe that Cedric's true destiny lies beyond the boundaries of the World Government... I don't know what he's thinking, but I'm sure he'll do just fine..."

Ain's expression softened, her doubts slowly melting away. She had always respected Zephyr's wisdom and foresight, and his words struck a chord in her.

"You believe in him, don't you?" Ain asked, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and understanding.

Zephyr nodded, his smile widening. "I do. The brat may still be lacking in some areas, but he's ready to carve his own path..."

Zephyr and Ain shared a silent understanding as they continued their voyage through the treacherous waters of the New World. They knew that Cedric's choices had taken him on a different course, one that diverged from the path of a Marine.

...

Kid stood on the deck of his ship, the Punk Bones, metallic lumps of scrap glinting under the scorching sun of the Grand Line's Paradise as they hovered around him. The air teemed with the aftermath of their latest battle—a destroyed enemy pirate ship engulfed in flames and sinking into the treacherous depths of the sea.

As he watched the remnants of their vanquished foes disappear, Killer approached him with a folded piece of paper. It was Cedric's wanted poster, displaying his ever-increasing bounty.

Kid snatched the wanted poster from Killer's hand, his frustration evident in his eyes. He scanned the paper, his brows furrowing deeper with each passing moment. The bounty displayed on Cedric's head had risen to 575 million.

"750 million... damn it!" Kid exclaimed, crumpling the wanted poster in his hand. "Golden Grizzly, my ass. In the first place, why does this bastard keep changing sides?!"

Killer, ever calm and collected, leaned against the ship's railing, watching his captain with a neutral expression. He knew that Kid's impulsive nature often clashed with Cedric's chaotic personality.

"He's resourceful as ever..." Killer replied, his voice steady. "And he still knows how to stir up the waters... attacking a celestial dragon, defeating a vice admiral, and getting away scot-free from an admiral," He added, shaking his head in amusement.

Kid let out a frustrated growl, tossing the crumpled wanted poster overboard. "I'm sick of playing catch-up with that guy. It's time we do something grand to tip the scales!"

Killer raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Kid's sudden determination. "What do you have in mind, Captain?"

A mischievous grin spread across Kid's face as he turned to face Killer. "We're going to make a name for ourselves, Killer. A name that will shake the world and make everyone forget about Cedric!"

Killer's eyes widened at the audacity of Kid's statement. He had always known his captain to be ambitious, but something seemed off. Still, he couldn't help but feel some excitement. "And how do you plan on achieving that, Captain?"

Kid's gaze flickered with a dangerous intensity. "We'll start by targeting the World Nobles," he declared, his voice filled with conviction. "We'll show the world that their so-called divine status means nothing in the face of absolute strength! If Cedric could do it, then we can too!"

Killer nodded slowly, struggling to contain his amusement. "Taking on the World Nobles will definitely make a racket... but Cedirc already did that..." He said, raising an eyebrow under his mask.

Kid smirked, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "You're right, Killer. Cedric may have set the stage, but we'll take it to a new level. We won't just attack a celestial dragon; we'll kill one! In fact, we'll kill a bunch of them just to be safe!"

Killer's masked face remained unreadable, but a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes. "You've always been one to aim high, Kid. But taking on the World Nobles means crossing lines that even pirates hesitate to approach. Are you prepared for the consequences?"

Kid's grin widened as he tightened his grip on his weapon, the metal fingers of his cybernetic arm gleaming. "Consequences be damned! We're not just any pirates. We're the Kid Pirates, and we'll rewrite the rules of this world!"

The crew members of the Punk Bones listened intently, their expressions a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. They knew Kid's ambitions were never small, but this plan exceeded their craziest expectations.

Kid turned to face his crew, his voice ringing with determination. "Gather the crew, Killer! We have some planning to do. It's time to unleash chaos upon the world!"

....

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