"Speaking of which, I've never actually initiated a Buster Call before. I'm curious what kind of scene it creates. Power unused is power wasted, so how about I give it a try?"
"Don't press it! Whatever you do, don't press it! There's nothing worth seeing! It's a disaster, the entire island will be blown apart!"
"I won't. I'm definitely pressing it."
"No, no, no! Please! Think about the thousands of lives still on this island!"
"Hmph! What do those commoners have to do with me? I'm pressing it..."
"Don't!! Please don't press it! W-We can talk this through! Violence solves nothing!"
"..."
"..."
Everyone present fell into stunned silence after hearing the exchange.
Because the roles between both sides had completely reversed.
The Celestial Dragons, those arrogant nobles who always treated ordinary people as insects beneath their feet, were now kneeling in panic, desperately begging Marine Admiral Cero not to activate the Buster Call they once used so casually.
Meanwhile, Cero, a Marine Admiral who should have obeyed the Celestial Dragons without question, merely laughed while holding the golden Den Den Mushi capable of summoning a Buster Call. His expression was full of mockery as he openly threatened them without restraint.
...
"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight..."
On a distant lookout tower.
Two Navy soldiers who should have been guarding the area were lying unconscious on the floor.
"What do you think?"
A short and stocky man wearing a black fedora and a striped suit narrowed his eyes while smoking a cigar. Holding a pair of binoculars, he stared coldly at the absurd scene unfolding below.
"A Marine Admiral who is supposed to obey the Celestial Dragons is now toying with them, and he even turned one of them into minced meat. Interesting... very interesting."
The man radiated the aura of the underworld itself.
He was one of the former Supernovas, the Godfather of the Underworld, Capone Bege.
Compared to over a year ago, his appearance had barely changed, but his temperament had become far more dangerous and restrained.
The killing intent hidden within his eyes alone proved one thing.
He was much stronger than before.
Over the past year, the entire world had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Through countless battles and adventures, Capone Bege's bounty had risen to 400 million Berries.
Originally, he should have been sailing somewhere in the New World.
However, after receiving an invitation he could not refuse, he mysteriously arrived on this island.
On his chest, two castle windows had opened. Several miniature figures stood there with binoculars, watching the chaos below with amused expressions.
"Haha! This is way more entertaining than getting chased around by those shrimp-headed freaks on that cursed island!"
"Hehe, the world is becoming more chaotic by the day! The Air Force appeared as the opposite of the Navy, the Sky Island Alliance rose against the World Government, and now even the Marines themselves are beginning to rebel against the Celestial Dragons..."
"Godfather, this whole situation feels way too dangerous."
Vito the Weird Gun stuck out his long tongue as unease appeared across his pale face.
"Honestly, if the person who invited you wasn't that man... I would've never agreed to come here. Just look at this mess. It's enough to make anyone nervous."
As the advisor of the Fire Tank Pirates, Vito understood very well how terrifying the deeper waters of this world truly were.
Some things simply weren't meant for people at their level.
For example, the incident at the Sabaody Archipelago over a year ago, when the Supernovas attempted to surround and attack the God King Shirogai.
That event had left a permanent shadow in Vito's heart.
Back then, the Godfather had nearly died.
Shirogai's strength was beyond reason, far beyond anything they could challenge.
If not for several unexpected variables, the Fire Tank Pirates would have been buried at Sabaody forever.
Even though Capone Bege himself had grown much stronger, once someone became involved in matters concerning the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, survival was never guaranteed.
"Hmph! Do you think I don't understand that?"
Capone Bege stared at the distant "stage" while slowly exhaling cigar smoke.
"But tell me something, do you think I actually have the option to refuse that man's invitation? Since he could place the invitation directly on my bedside table without anyone noticing, then he could just as easily take my head the same way."
Smoke drifted through the air as the people inside the castle body coughed repeatedly.
"Besides..."
Capone Bege raised his head toward the towering Red Line that stretched endlessly into the clouds.
"This world has already changed. The old balance no longer exists."
"The authority once monopolized by the World Government has already been torn apart by the sudden rise of the Sky Island Alliance."
"Maybe half of it has already been taken."
"No... perhaps even more."
Vito rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he listened.
"Losers stay where they are, but winners continue moving forward."
A sharp light flashed through Capone Bege's eyes.
"In this once-in-a-century upheaval, if we keep obsessing over the ONE PIECE left behind by Gol D. Roger, then we'd be complete fools."
"After all, there's only one ONE PIECE."
"But the power of this world can be shared by many people."
Vito's eyes widened with excitement.
"Godfather... are you saying you want to use that man's influence to claim a seat at the table too?"
"Hmph, of course."
A calculating smile appeared on Capone Bege's face.
"This invitation came at the perfect time."
"If we don't get involved now, we'll lose our chance forever."
"When the time comes to divide the cake, the people who weren't seated at the table won't just lose their share..."
"They might end up becoming the meal instead."
Capone Bege let out a cold laugh.
"I have no intention of being served to those monsters."
"The people who sat at the table centuries ago became the ancestors of the Celestial Dragons and ruled this world for hundreds of years."
"And now, another opportunity like that has appeared before me."
"No matter how dangerous this war becomes, I will take part in it."
"So you think the same way."
Suddenly, a calm voice sounded from nearby.
"My ability tells me that accepting the invitation and joining this war gives me a thirty percent chance of success."
"But refusing the invitation and avoiding this war..."
"...results in a zero percent chance of survival."
===
Read chapters ahead on Patreon, with every chapter organized into collections.
Subscribing a membership gives you access to "ALL" fanfictions,
Or you can buy only the collection you want, to gain access to chapters ahead.
P-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/_Zeph.