Chapter 449: Heated Discussions Among Onlookers!

Delta Island—a well-known banquet island in the New World and a neutral territory.

Both pirates and Marines could come here freely.

However, in practice, pirates dominated the island. The Marines, having little foothold in the New World, rarely visited, let alone spent time partying here.

Besides, Marines didn't have the luxury of indulging in revelry like pirates, making this island somewhat of a pirate paradise.

As a result, most other factions tended to avoid it. While it was technically neutral, its reputation leaned heavily toward the pirate side.

True neutrality, on the other hand, was something only places like Golden City could claim—officially sanctioned by the World Government. Even if Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, or Shiki the Golden Lion showed up there, the Marines would turn a blind eye.

This time, however, the Pirate Expo had been set to take place on Delta Island.

The event had been widely publicized, drawing a massive crowd of pirates to the island.

In addition, various other factions—whether they came to spectate, see who would come out on top, or grab whatever benefits they could—had also gathered in large numbers.

At a Tavern Entrance…

In front of a tavern on the island, a burly bald man with a fierce expression stood guard. A large tattoo covered his chest, marking his affiliation.

Every now and then, pirates would approach, hoping to enter for a drink, only to be blocked by the man.

This man was none other than Daz, also known as Mr. 1—one of Crocodile's most trusted subordinates.

"You bastard! Do you even know who we are? Ever heard of the Teabeard Pirates? Our captain has an 80 million Berry bounty! Get out of the way!"

A pair of rowdy pirates glared at Daz, clearly displeased by his domineering stance.

Daz sighed, sounding slightly irritated. "If you're small fry, don't waste my time."

"What the hell? Did you just call us small fry?!"

Enraged, one of the pirates reached for the massive sword at his waist.

Shing!

A flash of cold steel, followed by a spray of blood.

Daz casually flicked the blood off his arm and glanced at the two pirates now lying on the ground.

"Yes. That's exactly what I meant," he said flatly.

The surrounding onlookers flinched at the sight. But then again, this was the pirate world—this kind of thing was hardly surprising.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted further down the street.

The crowd quickly made way as a young man wearing an orange cowboy hat strode forward.

An "ACE" tattoo was inked on his arm.

His face, undeniably handsome, bore a few scars that only added to his rugged charm.

He walked confidently, shirtless, a string of red beads hanging around his neck. A few companions followed closely behind.

"This guy's a big deal!"

"A Warlord of the Sea?!"

"Yeah! A Warlord of the Sea!"

"I recognize him! That's Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace!"

"And that clown next to him… isn't he a former Roger Pirates crew member? Or is that just a rumor?"

"If it were fake, why would he be with a Warlord of the Sea?"

"True…"

"Hey, what about that green-haired guy?"

"What about him?"

"I heard he's really strong. A Three-Sword Style swordsman who's challenged and defeated several masters in the New World. Some say he's the next Dracule Mihawk."

"The next Mihawk?"

"Yeah. When Mihawk first set out to sea, he challenged swordmasters worldwide and never lost a single duel. That's how he became the World's Strongest Swordsman, right?"

"Fire Fist Ace is heading toward the tavern!"

"That bald guy is in trouble…"

Amid the chatter, Ace remained unfazed, admiring the scenery of Brigitte Island.

Soon, he arrived at the tavern entrance, where he immediately noticed Daz Bones standing guard.

"Mr. Bones," Ace greeted casually.

Daz responded with a respectful nod.

Ace grinned. "If you're here, that means Crocodile is inside, right?"

"Yes. Boss Crocodile, Enel, Her Highness Hancock, and Mihawk are all inside," Daz Bones confirmed.

A gathering of Warlords of the Sea—ordinary riffraff had no business entering.

That's why Daz was stationed at the entrance, to keep out the weak.

Ace chuckled. "So that means only me, Doflamingo, and Bartholomew Kuma are missing, huh?"

"Bartholomew Kuma made it clear he wouldn't attend," Daz stated calmly.

"Huh? He's not even here for a drink?" Ace asked, puzzled.

"No," Daz replied, unfazed.

That meant Kuma wasn't coming to the tavern, but he would still participate in the upcoming operation.

Ace sighed in relief. "That's good. I thought he had completely dropped out. This is my first time working alongside you veterans, so I should head in and get briefed."

After exchanging a few more words, Ace entered the tavern with his crew.

The gathered crowd, hoping for a fight, was left disappointed.

"What? No fight?"

"That bald guy just bullies the weak and fears the strong!"

"Not necessarily. Didn't they seem familiar with each other?"

"Here, I found some intel! That bald guy is Daz Bones, a subordinate of Warlord of the Sea—Crocodile. Of course he recognized Fire Fist Ace!"

"So they were allies?"

"You guys are late! Didn't you hear? Earlier, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock also entered the tavern. That means at least three Warlords of the Sea are already inside!"

"Wait… is this turning into a Warlord summit?"

"Damn. Our captain doesn't stand a chance now."

"If the Warlords of the Sea are gathering, do you think the Four Emperors will show up? What about the Marines?"

"Hard to say, but there are Marine warships docked in the harbor. They're definitely here. We just don't know how many or if any high-ranking officers came."

"Of course the Marines wouldn't ignore something like this!"

"If the Warlords of the Sea are here, won't the Four Emperors show up too? Otherwise, who's going to stop the Warlords from getting their hands on Laugh Tale's Eternal Pose? If they succeed, they'll be the biggest winners. Once the next Pirate King rises, the Four Emperors won't even matter!"

"So this could turn into an all-out war between the Warlords of the Sea and the Four Emperors?"

"Maybe… but ordinary pirates like us won't stand a chance."

"The Worst Generation is here too. I saw Eustass Kid fighting Urouge at the East Town entrance earlier. It was a brutal match."

"Pfft. Supernovas? They call themselves the 'Worst Generation,' but in the New World, they're just nobodies. They're not even close to the Warlords or the Four Emperors."

"Yeah, that's true…"

The onlookers continued their lively discussion.

Then, someone suddenly asked, "Hey… do you think the King of the World will show up?"

"Saint Claudius?"

"Wishful thinking. Didn't you read today's newspaper?"

"Saint Claudius is currently inspecting Sabaody Archipelago and just gave a public speech about reforms. He's cracking down on lawless zones and strengthening security. It'll be much harder for rookies to enter the New World now."

"So His Highness isn't coming? What a shame, I wanted to see him in person."

"With the Four Emperors and Warlords of the Sea clashing, why would His Highness dirty his hands?"

"Speaking of which… shouldn't we get the hell out of here before things explode?"

"Are you kidding? A war between Warlords and Four Emperors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event! I'd regret missing it!"

(To be continued.)

***

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