Chapter 74: Dialogue with the Shipping King

Bege conversed with his father late into the night before slipping away as stealthily as he had arrived, returning unnoticed to the Sky God. Aboard the ship, he distributed the new wanted posters to Moria, Riki, Hank, and the others. Seeing the massive increases in their bounties sent a wave of excitement through the crew. They immediately threw a massive banquet right there on deck, celebrating their inflated egos and newfound notoriety until the crack of dawn. Consequently, most of the crew slept soundly until well past noon the next day.

Unbeknownst to the celebrating pirates, however, a formidable fleet of seven Marine warships, each configured for at least Vice Admiral-level operations, was rapidly closing in on their position.

At the same time, the news of the Fire Tank Pirates' updated bounties was once again sending shockwaves across the seas.

On a certain island somewhere in the New World, the Roger Pirates were taking a break. Gol D. Roger himself held the stack of new bounty posters, chuckling heartily.

"Bege's bounty isn't even as high as Moria's? Hahaha! Those Marines are blind! Absolutely no eye for talent!" Roger roared with laughter.

"Hmm, Modi's bounty didn't change," Silvers Rayleigh observed, flipping to Modi's poster with a thoughtful expression. "Does that mean he didn't participate in the fighting?" Rayleigh knew from their previous spar that Modi's strength was certainly on par with Riki's, making the lack of an update puzzling.

"And Bege actually added those two giants, Dorry and Brogy, to his crew... each worth over two hundred million now," Scopper Gaban remarked, staring at the giants' posters with undisguised amazement. "His forces are becoming seriously powerful."

"This new wanted poster for Bege... it really captures his presence," a young Shanks commented, studying the picture. The image showed Bege calmly smoking a cigar, overseeing his crew's fierce battle with an air of detached, absolute authority that radiated dominance.

"G-Good grief!" Buggy stammered, his eyes wide as he scanned the posters, his scalp tingling. "Look at all these familiar faces with insane bounties! Hank the brat got two hundred million?!"

"With a combined bounty easily topping three billion belli now, young Bege is likely to attract some serious trouble," Rayleigh noted, a hint of schadenfreude in his smirk.

"Bahaha! Don't worry about him!" Roger boomed confidently. "I believe that Bege kid can handle whatever comes his way!"

It wasn't just the Roger Pirates discussing the news. Across the New World, other major players like Whitebeard and Golden Lion Shiki also received copies of the Fire Tank Pirates' updated bounties. Capone Bege, after a long absence, had forcefully re-established his name with considerable fanfare.

Two years prior, Bege's initial bounty of 350 million belli had certainly shocked the Four Blues and caused a brief stir even among the big names in the New World, though most hadn't truly taken him seriously then. During his subsequent two-year disappearance, he was largely forgotten by Marines and pirates alike. But this time was different. His dramatic reappearance, marked by the overwhelming victory on Kullen Island and the massive bounty increases for his key subordinates – three individuals possessing strength equivalent to the 500-600 million bounty range, and numerous others valued well over 100 million – cemented the Fire Tank Pirates' reputation. They were now undeniably recognized as a major force, capable of seizing and holding territory, potentially even challenging established powers – a true 'Great Pirate' crew.

While the Emperors themselves wouldn't likely pay them much mind yet, the established second and third-tier pirate forces active in the New World would now be extremely wary. Should Bege decide to enter the New World soon, he posed a direct threat to their territories and influence.

After finally rousing themselves from their post-banquet slumber, Bege gave the order, and the Sky God departed the small trade island, setting course for another, more secluded location within the West Blue.

Bege had already been in contact with Wright. The agent had personally traveled to Kullen Island, confirmed the corpses of Hoki and the other alliance captains, and relayed a message: the Shipping King Umit wished to speak with Bege directly.

On a small, unnamed island elsewhere in the West Blue, Wright was already waiting when the Sky God arrived and dropped anchor offshore. Wright was ferried aboard. As he stepped onto the massive, wide deck, he immediately felt the heavy, palpable atmosphere generated by Bege's crew. Elite soldiers were scattered around, some seated, some standing, their hardened gazes sweeping over him. Wright felt a chill despite the warm weather; he estimated his own strength was somewhere around the 200-300 million bounty level, yet on this ship alone, he counted at least five or six individuals who could likely match him, and quite possibly several who could kill him outright. His mood was far from relaxed.

His eyes found Capone Bege, seated comfortably in a large chair near the stern, casually smoking a cigar and sizing him up with an unreadable smile. Wright's own expression remained carefully neutral, perhaps slightly gloomy. Bege made no move to stand or offer a formal greeting, a clear, unspoken message: Wright was no longer someone Bege considered an equal, let alone a figure requiring deference.

Wright understood the shift in dynamics perfectly. Bege was no longer the somewhat manageable rookie pirate he had dealt with years ago. This was Captain Capone "Demon Dragon" Bege, commander of a fearsome crew with a collective bounty exceeding three billion, and whose own wanted poster listed him at 450 million belli.

"Bege," Wright began, forcing a polite smile as he walked forward. "You carry yourself with even more... authority now."

Bege chuckled lightly, the sound represented by a soft "Heheheheh..." "It's all thanks to your invaluable assistance over the years, Wright. Without your help facilitating things, my development wouldn't have progressed nearly so quickly."

"Wright, we're old acquaintances," Bege continued, his tone becoming slightly more businesslike. "Give me a hint. What does His Excellency, the Shipping King, wish to discuss?"

"Honestly, Bege, I don't know the specifics of what His Majesty intends to say," Wright admitted truthfully. "However, I can tell you he is... displeased. Hoki's alliance was a very profitable partner for him, particularly in certain smuggling operations that you chose not to participate in. By eliminating them, you've effectively cut off a significant portion of His Majesty's business in this region."

Bege nodded slowly, unsurprised. He had anticipated Umit's displeasure.

Wright produced a unique Den Den Mushi from his coat, its shell intricately carved to resemble the distinctive features of the Shipping King himself, and handed it to Bege. Bege took the snail, examined it briefly, then dialed.

Click... Purupurupuru...

"Wright," a low, gloomy voice answered from the Den Den Mushi, "have you found Capone Bege?"

"Your Excellency, Shipping King," Bege replied smoothly, taking a drag from his cigar and exhaling a plume of smoke before the snail could mimic his expression, "this is Capone Bege speaking."

There was a pause on the other end, then the voice returned, low and simmering with barely contained fury. "Capone... Bege!"

"Capone Bege, do you have any idea what you've done?!" Umit suddenly roared, his voice booming through the Den Den Mushi. "You killed Hoki and his men! Do you realize how much business, how much profit, I've lost in the West Blue because of your actions?!"

Bege remained completely unfazed by the outburst. He waited patiently for the Shipping King to finish venting, then replied in a calm, almost dismissive tone, "Hoki overstepped his bounds first, encroaching on established shares. He deserved to die."

"BASTARD!" Umit bellowed furiously. "The shares you have were GIVEN by ME! I decide who gets what! If I choose not to give, you get NOTHING!"

Bege's eyes narrowed dangerously. For a fleeting instant, a terrifying wave of raw, violent pressure swept out from him, washing over the deck. Wright, standing directly before him, broke out in a cold sweat, his face paling in sheer terror. Just as quickly as it appeared, the oppressive aura vanished. Bege's smile returned, as if nothing had happened.

"It's merely business, wouldn't you agree, Your Excellency?" Bege continued smoothly. "Does it truly matter who you partner with, as long as the profits flow? Wasn't our previous cooperation mutually beneficial? Reliable partners like myself, who always fulfill their end of the bargain, are rare indeed."

He took another puff of his cigar. "Besides, let's be realistic. Hoki's entire operation was inherently unstable, wasn't it? Operating so brazenly in the West Blue, which remains firmly under Marine control... They were dealing in high-risk ventures," Bege alluded subtly to the human trafficking and other illicit trades he refused to touch. "They were doomed to be eliminated by the Marines eventually. Does it really matter if I was the one to expedite the inevitable?"

He leaned forward slightly. "Furthermore, recent events have definitively proven that Hoki and his ilk were nothing more than New World washouts, lacking the strength and cunning to truly succeed. They held no real long-term value as partners. We, on the other hand," Bege gestured implicitly to his powerful crew surrounding them, "are the stronger, more reliable partners for you now."

Silence hung on the other end of the line for a long moment. Then, a low, calculating chuckle echoed from the Den Den Mushi. "Ohohoho... You make a compelling point, Capone Bege. Very well." Umit's tone shifted, losing its overt anger, replaced by a chillingly pragmatic consideration. "Your demonstrated strength does qualify you as a superior partner. Since Hoki and his fools are dead, their former shares in the West Blue... consider them yours."

A pause, then Umit added, "You should come to the New World soon, Bege. That is the true stage for someone of your caliber. I look forward to... expanded cooperation between us."

"Rest assured, Your Excellency," Bege replied, his smile genuine now. "It won't be long before I make my presence known in the New World. Our cooperation will only increase from here."

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