"A trustworthy young man like me would never deceive my own people, especially not my partner. We follow the principle of "if one prospers, all prosper; if one suffers, all suffer," right? Even if it comes down to facing Whitebeard, I would never use you as a scapegoat." Rowen declared firmly.
Afterward, when he arrived in Mustache Town, Rowen immediately located Fujitora, who had been hiding there for days and informed him.
"Spread the news of the appearance of the Celestial Dragons. That should spice things up nicely."
Hmm, smells good!
After all, they only needed an authority figure to authenticate the 'Dark-Dark Fruit.' Compared to the eager and explosive Whitebeard, the Celestial Dragons' flag would naturally be more effective.
"What?" Fujitora was suddenly taken aback. "Did that person also come?"
"Yes, he just turned around. I blinked over here."
"Alright, in that case, I'll make the arrangements."
Subconsciously, he thought this was the result of a mutual agreement between the two. But he couldn't fathom that Rowen took it upon himself to shift the blame onto the "Celestial Dragons."
Lirisk only learned of this three days later. While he was exercising on the deck, he spotted Marine Admiral Kizaru appearing in the distance with a disguised ship. It was clear that his whereabouts had been exposed!
"Rowen!!!"
"I'm not finished with you, you bastard!!!"
Lirisk roared in anger.
He was then forcibly taken away by Orrick's trusted subordinate, who had been sent over...
Before, when he hadn't been exposed, it was fine for him to wander outside. Lirisk was no weakling, and he was more than capable of protecting himself in the New World. But now that he had been exposed, did he really think that no one in the New World would dare to touch a Celestial Dragon?
Without a large army and guards accompanying him, the consequence of a Celestial Dragon venturing out alone would be death in some sinister corner!
Hatred is an irrational thing, a lesson that Celestial Dragons have learned through generations paid for with blood.
Lirisk was sure to be in a bad mood when he went back, because his father Orrick was more likely to convey Rowen's message about his coordinates. He couldn't beat him, and he couldn't move him either. That's just infuriating!
His arrival was just a small episode. After all, Rowen wouldn't dare to leave Lirisk in a sea ruled by Whitebeard. Even if it was just for the show, there would still be a risk to his life.
This way, not only could it ensure the safety of the Celestial Dragons, but it would also provide a perfect opportunity to validate the Dark-Dark Fruit!
Looking at it from another angle, he had really done Rowen a huge favor!
Truly deserving of the title of "Best Partners of the Year"!
The troublemaker second-generation heir was taken away, but the waves he stirred up were not taken away with him.
Even the Celestial Dragons had appeared. How could the news about the Dark-Dark Fruit be false? Originally the most wicked Devil Fruit in history, it was now even more coveted by countless people.
The little incident of the BIG MOM Pirates' defeat had been swiftly replaced by the greed involving one's own strength and ambition. Even the long-unseen Hundred Beasts Pirates had dispatched a small fleet to try their luck.
At the same time, on a medium-sized two-masted sailing ship in Whitebeard's territory...
All members of the Second Division were gathered here, with Ace, as the commander of the Second Division, standing at the bow, gazing into the distance.
"There are two groups over there fighting again, and they don't look like pirates..."
Thinking about the recent situation, Ace took off his hat and scratched his head.
"I can't help but feel that something's not right!"
"It's more than just 'not right,' Commander Ace!"
Marshall D. Teach, who was now just a stout robust man wearing a striped T-shirt, walked over with a bottle of rum in his hand.
"I heard that not long ago, even the Celestial Dragons appeared. They probably wanted to seize the Dark-Dark Fruit, but somehow, he was taken back."
"Taking him back is the normal course of action, Teach!"
A member of the Second Division walked over, put down the barrel on his shoulder, and bit on his cigarette as he chuckled, "Those Celestial Dragons are a bunch of cowards. They probably just came to watch the show. If they really tried to seize it, well... this is Old Man's territory. Even the Marines would have to step aside."
"Old Man is invincible!"
Suddenly, a cheer came from afar. Everyone was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.
"You're absolutely right, Old Man is invincible!"
"Zehahahahaha...! Commander Ace, continue!"
With one hand catching the bottle of wine thrown by Teach, Ace grinned as the scene before him filled him with warmth.
But precisely because of this, he had to work even harder to protect it!
Something that had been lost once must not be allowed to happen again!
Standing up and positioning himself at the bow, Ace cleared his throat and spoke.
"Pirates, Revolutionary Army, government spies, Marine agents... all those guys have infiltrated Old Man's territory like a sieve! Several towns protected by Old Man have been destroyed!"
"I ask you all, what should we do?"
"Kick them out!!!"
All members of the Second Division were very cooperative, roaring in unison.
"What if they don't leave?"
"Crush them!!!"
"Where are we?"
"Whitebeard!!!"
"Who are we?"
"Whitebeard!!!"
"That's right, kick them all out!!!"
Ace raised his arm high and shouted, "For Old Man!"
"The sea belongs to us, and so does the Dark-Dark Fruit! Full speed ahead to make Old Man the Pirate King!"
"Yes!!!"
After a series of motivational speeches, Ace awkwardly retracted his hand. He turned to Teach, who was looking stunned, and asked, "What do you think, Teach? This is the method Jozu taught me. It feels... pretty good, right?"
"More than just 'pretty good,' Commander Ace!"
"It's absolutely fitting for you to take on the role of Second Division Commander!"
Teach looked at him with strange eyes.
With this momentum, as long as no one is willing to go to full-blown war with the Whitebeard Pirates, it seems like Ace might actually get his hands on the Dark-Dark Fruit!
So, should I kill him and take it when the time comes?
Or...
...
As they approached the edge of the sea, the chances of encountering floating corpses on the surface of the water increased.
These were all personnel from various factions who had died in open or covert struggles. Their names would not be remembered, as they perished in the sea, becoming food for fish and shrimp.
Because Mustache Town was the last place where the Dark-Dark Fruit had appeared, it had attracted the focused attention of various factions, and the aura of death was particularly strong.
In just a few days, the original residents of the small town could hardly be found anymore.
Either they died unexpectedly, or they relocated with their families.
For the residences temporarily hidden by Rowen and Fujitora, the couple in the clothing store on the first floor near the street seemed no different from the locals at first glance. However, CP0 agents had long used disguises to replace their existence.
Rowen didn't believe that, originally living a peaceful life as hunters in the mountains, they would have a son skilled in covert assassinations.
Now in Mustache Town, even the beggars on the streets had decent fighting skills. This was the most terrifying aspect!
Since there was no trace of any Dark-Dark Fruit being taken away from Mustache Island, various factions were well aware that there wasn't a single good person on the streets, yet they still maintained this eerie balance.
On the pirate ship, Ace allowed a small fishing boat to pass by the side of the ship. He nodded politely to the fisherman who greeted them, then whispered to Teach, "Teach, what do you think?"
"It's way too abnormal!"
Teach was also secretly alarmed. The situation was even bigger than he had imagined! Opportunities were not only hard to come by, but also extremely dangerous!
The two-person fishing boat commonly used by fishing families had a draft of only about ten centimeters. However, the fishing boat that had just passed them was clearly empty, yet its draft exceeded twenty centimeters!
Was there something heavy on the boat?
Would a fisherman dressed in a short-sleeved shirt bind a lump of iron around his waist?
"There's a compartment under the deck. There's a good chance it's explosives!"
Assassins from the Noble's family!!
They would approach the target ship with an innocent appearance, and then detonate the explosives, sending the enemies on their way.
Teach had been a pirate for most of his life, and he immediately saw through the trick.
"Or... it could be corpses!"
Ace pondered for a moment, and a spark that had not yet dissipated flickered on his fingertip.
"If it's explosives, they would have detonated by now..."
Gūlp!
Teach struggled to swallow his saliva.
Looking ahead at the peaceful and leisurely harbor of the small town, Teach's face looked very unsightly.
"They know full well that we're from Whitebeard's crew, yet they still sent someone to intimidate us... This situation isn't easy to handle, Commander Ace!"
"Stop overthinking, let's go. We're going ashore!"
...