[Castle: Blast]!
Bang!
Several small burning spheres, each no larger than BB pellets, suddenly fired out from behind Capone Bege's head toward the source of the voice.
Hum!
Just a meter away from Capone Bege, the tiny spheres rapidly expanded dozens of times over, transforming into blazing steel cannonballs that blasted toward the approaching enemy.
"..."
Hawkins glanced sideways at the result shown on his Straw Man Divination Cards. Silently, he put away the card he had been about to throw and remained completely still.
"Ahahaha! What a reckless idiot!"
The voice behind them rang out with arrogant mockery. Using his ability, he instantly manipulated the incoming cannonballs, redirecting them high into the air.
"You fool, Capone Bege! This just proves the difference between you and Hawkins!"
Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!!
Under the blazing flashes of countless exploding cannonballs, the two Supernova captains turned around.
Perched on the railing was a red-haired man with a wild hedgehog hairstyle, wearing a dark crimson coat and black sunglasses. His gaze was cruel and savage, his posture overflowing with arrogance as he crouched like a predator staring down prey.
There was no attempt to hide his overwhelming hostility.
"Phew..."
Capone Bege exhaled a cloud of cigar smoke, glaring at the man with visible disgust.
"Those cannonballs were my greeting gift for you, you bastard, Eustass Kid."
The newcomer was none other than the infamous captain of the Kid Pirates, Captain Eustass Kid.
"Hahaha! You moron! You're actually using steel cannonballs against a Magnet Human? Did training for over a year grind your brain into dust?"
Kid sneered and raised both middle fingers at Capone Bege.
"Brat, I ought to teach you some manners when speaking to the Godfather."
Provoked, Capone Bege's expression darkened as several hidden cannon ports silently opened across his body.
He stared at Kid coldly.
"Idiot, who said I don't have Seastone cannonballs inside me? Believe it or not, I can take your life whenever I want."
Kid showed no fear whatsoever. His expression remained as overbearing and arrogant as ever.
"Oh? Seastone cannonballs? I'm terrified! Go ahead and kill me if you can, you idiot Godfather!"
All the metal objects surrounding the lookout tower began vibrating violently. Some had already floated into the air.
"Hmph..."
Capone Bege's face sank further as killing intent flickered in his eyes.
"You bastard..."
The atmosphere instantly became tense, as if a violent clash between two Supernovas could erupt at any moment.
If they truly fought seriously, the entire island would suffer.
Yet both captains understood something clearly.
Neither of them could afford to fight here.
This was not some random encounter between pirate captains destined to end in a life-or-death battle.
They had both come because someone they absolutely could not provoke had summoned them.
It was called an invitation, but it was closer to a threat.
Someone capable of casually leaving a letter inside their private captain's quarters without being detected...
If they refused, the next time that person entered their room, it would not be to leave behind an invitation.
It would be to take their heads.
"Shuffle..."
Ignoring the hostility around him, Hawkins calmly shuffled his Straw Man Divination Cards and spread them out in the air.
"I see."
After turning over three cards at random, he finally raised his head and spoke indifferently.
"That's enough. Restrain your pointless tempers before you anger the host of today's banquet."
"Hmph... hahaha! The host of the banquet?"
Kid sneered at Hawkins, his fierce eyes widening slightly.
"So you idiots came here because that guy invited you too?"
Capone Bege snorted mockingly.
"Moron, isn't it obvious?"
"Shorty Godfather, are you trying to make me kill you? I still haven't settled the score from Sabaody Archipelago!"
Kid glared at him irritably, remembering how Capone Bege had dragged him into trouble back then.
"What?!"
Capone Bege nearly transformed into his full [Castle: Big Father] form on the spot.
Clenching the cigar between his teeth, sparks flying from its tip, he roared furiously:
"Bastard! You and Killer were the ones who set me up!"
"Ah? Was that how it happened?"
Kid blinked in surprise before casually shrugging.
"Whatever, who cares? It was just one hit from that monster's attack. Why are you still whining about it?"
"Bastard! You're the one who brought it up!"
This time, Capone Bege truly lost his temper, his body noticeably swelling larger.
"Let's go. The banquet host is already waiting."
Hawkins had long since jumped down from the lookout tower and started walking toward the distant district, leaving behind a calm warning.
"If you want to stay alive, don't keep him waiting."
"Idiot hedgehog! I won't let you off next time!"
Capone Bege adjusted his scarf before walking down from the tower.
"Heh, shorty Godfather, next time will be your funeral."
Kid spat disdainfully after him.
Then his gaze shifted downward toward the two unconscious Marines lying near his feet.
Oddly enough, neither of them had suffered fatal injuries.
"Strange... they didn't die."
Kid frowned deeply.
"Could it be this bastard is cursed just like me? Hmph... you're the one behind this curse, aren't you?"
His sharp gaze slowly turned toward the area that his Observation Haki identified as the island's most dangerous location.
Lowering his voice, he growled viciously:
"To actually place a curse on me that stops me from killing with malicious intent... disgusting."
"Magnet: Airship!"
Metal fragments instantly gathered together under Kid's control, rapidly forming a compact steel airship large enough to carry only himself.
Hum...
The airship hovered in the air with a mechanical vibration.
Click.
Kid stepped aboard and grabbed the hatch door before speaking coldly into his Den Den Mushi.
"I'll head over first and check the situation. Killer, stay put and wait for my signal."
"If things go wrong, don't bother saving me. Leave this island's waters immediately."
Killer's worried voice came from the other side of the Den Den Mushi.
"Kid, I heard a Marine Admiral has arrived on this island too."
"A Marine Admiral? Tch."
Kid snorted dismissively, his voice turning low and cold.
"There's already a monster on this island capable of standing above the entire world through sheer power alone."
"Compared to someone like that, what does a Marine Admiral even matter?"
His expression darkened slightly as he uttered the name that shook the seas.
"God King Shirogai."
===
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