[Chat Group For The Death] Chapter 86 - 90

Chapter 86: I, Crocodile, Am a Mastermind!

At the experimental base on Punk Hazard, Lucas was active in the chat group.

Senju Tobirama frowned in confusion.

Senju Tobirama: “Didn’t you already place the Flying Thunder God mark on Kaido of the Beasts? Sending a clone over there feels like a waste of time.”

As long as someone triggered the mark, Lucas could instantly teleport to Kaido’s location. Tobirama couldn’t understand why Lucas needed to send clones at all.

Lucas explained calmly,

Lucas: “The mark only ensures that Kaido won’t be rescued, but it doesn’t guarantee that the whole situation won’t spiral out of control. What if those idiot sons of Whitebeard get wiped out?”

Whitebeard immediately bristled.

Whitebeard: “Don’t underestimate them. They’re strong.”

Lucas : “Sure, they’ve got strength, but their character flaws are glaring. Do you remember what happened during the Summit War?”

Whitebeard grunted. “What about it?”

Lucas : “Phoenix Marco was holding off Admiral Kizaru, and Diamond Jozu was handling Admiral Aokiji. They were doing fine until you got injured. The moment that happened, they got distracted. Marco took a hit, while Jozu lost an arm and got chained up with seastone.”

Golden Lion Shiki burst out laughing.
Golden Lion Shiki: “No way! They got distracted while fighting Marine Admirals? Who do they think they are?”

Pirate King Roger chuckled,

Pirate King Roger: “That’s not just reckless—it’s downright foolish. You don’t take your eyes off opponents stronger than you. That’s not courage; that’s stupidity.”

Whitebeard huffed,

Whitebeard: “What do you know? It’s called family. We look out for each other.”

Lucas : “Yeah, the Whitebeard Pirates have a strong bond. But sometimes, that bond can be their undoing.”

In favorable situations, the Whitebeard Pirates could rally together and unleash incredible power. But when things turned against them, their concern for each other became a liability, causing hesitation and mistakes that weakened them in battle.

Outside the Chat

Buru Buru Buru!

The Den Den Mushi’s voice buzzed again, this time connecting to Black Arm Zephyr.

As soon as the call connected, Zephyr’s angry voice blared through. “The Big Mom Pirates’ fleet has entered our waters and attacked one of our islands. On top of that, there are a bunch of unidentified forces looting and causing chaos in our territory!”

Lucas’s face remained calm, his voice steady. “That’s not surprising. I took Fish-Man Island, and the Big Mom Pirates were bound to see us as enemies.”

Fish-Man Island had once flown the pirate flag of the Big Mom Pirates, effectively making it part of their territory. Lucas had taken it without even notifying Big Mom, which was a blatant insult. While she hadn’t retaliated immediately, it was clear she hadn’t forgotten the slight.

Lucas chuckled. “Looks like the Big Mom Pirates saw an opening and decided to take revenge.”

Black Arm Zephyr growled in frustration. “Is this really the time to be cracking jokes? Get back here and help! With my old bones and these busted-up hands, I can’t hold them off forever. And these unknown forces… they’ve got their eyes on me too.”

Zephyr was old, and his body carried numerous battle scars and hidden injuries. While he was confident he could hold his own against a Marine Admiral or even a Pirate Emperor for a while, his stamina would run out eventually. His condition was a bit better than Whitebeard’s during the Summit War, but unlike Whitebeard, he lacked the sheer overwhelming power to fend off multiple intruders at once.

What made things worse was the nature of the unidentified forces. They weren’t there to fight; they were there to pillage, destroy, and sow chaos. The moment they saw Zephyr, they scattered, making it impossible for him to engage them effectively.

Zephyr felt helpless, but he knew Lucas wasn’t someone who’d leave a situation like this unchecked.

Lucas chuckled lightly. “Relax. I’ll send someone to help.”

Zephyr was confused. “Send someone? Who?”

Lucas’s forces were mainly composed of two groups: Zephyr’s Neo Marine and the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates. But with the Whitebeard Pirates busy fighting the Beasts Pirates in Wano, there was no way they could provide support.

Zephyr’s eyes narrowed. ‘Does Lucas have another ace up his sleeve?’

Fish-Man Island

Deep within the Whitebeard Pirates’ territory, on Fish-Man Island, Shirahoshi was playing joyfully in a massive swimming pool.

Suddenly, a figure materialized right in front of her.

“Ahhh!”

Shirahoshi let out a startled scream, splashing water everywhere.

“What’s wrong, Shirahoshi?!”

From a distance, King Neptune heard her scream and rushed over, his trident at the ready. ‘Who dares scare my precious daughter?’

But when he arrived, he froze in confusion. There, hovering casually in front of Shirahoshi, was Lucas.

King Neptune blinked. “Lord Lucas? What… what are you doing here?”

Just moments ago, Black Arm Zephyr had called him, saying Lucas was stationed on an island in the front section of the New World. How could he be here so quickly?

Lucas answered nonchalantly, “To prevent anyone from targeting Shirahoshi or trying to abduct her, I left a mark on her. I can teleport here anytime.”

King Neptune’s eyes widened in shock, his expression shifting from confusion to concern. “Then… you appeared here because someone tried to hurt Shirahoshi?”

Lucas shook his head. “No, no one’s targeting Shirahoshi. I just needed to use the mark to return to my territory quickly.”

King Neptune relaxed slightly but still looked troubled. “Is it because of the Big Mom Pirates and those unidentified forces? Zephyr called me earlier. Jinbei has already set out with the Fish-Man Pirates, and I’m gathering our army to assist.”

Black Arm Zephyr’s forces weren’t enough, so he’d reached out to King Neptune, requesting reinforcements from Fish-Man Island. The Mermen were naturally strong and could survive underwater, making them ideal for naval battles.

King Neptune had originally agreed to Black Arm Zephyr’s request to send reinforcements. But now, with Lucas—who held a higher rank than Zephyr—standing before him, he felt obligated to explain his actions.

Lucas, however, simply waved his hand dismissively. “You don’t have to go. Leave it to me.”

King Neptune and the soldiers of Fish-Man Island possessed formidable combat abilities. Under normal circumstances, they could hold their own against most threats. But now that Lucas had returned, there was no need for them to exert themselves unnecessarily.

With a mere thought, Lucas summoned a hundred Shadow Clones. In an instant, the sky above was filled with dense, identical figures. Both King Neptune and Shirahoshi stared in astonishment, their eyes wide as they tried to comprehend what they were witnessing.

“Go!” Lucas commanded, his voice echoing across the island. “Find those invading bastards and wipe them out. If you can’t handle it, lead me to them—I’ll deal with it myself.”

The Shadow Clones scattered in all directions, disappearing into the horizon like a swarm of locusts. As they soared through the skies, they spread out their Observation Haki, scanning for any signs of the intruders who had dared to invade Whitebeard Pirates’ territory. Once located, they would strike with ruthless precision.

Having fully absorbed the biological knowledge from Punk Hazard’s research base, Lucas had pushed the limits of his abilities. Now, he could create hundreds of Shadow Clones, each capable of acting independently and executing his commands with deadly efficiency.

While the Shadow Clones possessed all of Lucas’s skills, their strength didn’t quite match that of his main body. But that was to be expected—if his clones were as powerful as he was, the very idea would be terrifying.

Standing off to the side, King Neptune watched in awe, his curiosity getting the better of him. “Lord Lucas, is this… is this a new ability of yours? I’ve never heard of a Devil Fruit that allows someone to create so many avatars.”

King Neptune’s mind raced. ‘Is there some kind of Clone-Clone Fruit I’ve never heard of?’ In all his years, he’d never encountered or even heard of a Devil Fruit with this kind of cloning power.

Lucas chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “It’s normal you’ve never heard of this ability. It’s not something you’d understand.”

Without offering further explanation, Lucas waved Neptune off, signaling that he had more important things to attend to. He hadn’t seen Shirahoshi in quite some time, and now that the immediate threat was being handled, he wanted to catch up with her.

King Neptune quietly withdrew, though his heart was heavy with worry. The external threat might have been neutralized, but Lucas himself was becoming an internal concern. The way Lucas hovered around Shirahoshi made Neptune uneasy, like he was slowly losing his daughter without even realizing it.

The mere thought of Lucas being able to appear at Shirahoshi’s side at any moment sent a chill down Neptune’s spine. ‘Right now, Shirahoshi’s still a mermaid with a tail, so it’s not a big deal. But what about when she can transform into a human? What then?’

The idea of a man being able to pop in and out of his daughter’s life without warning was unsettling. ‘What man would be okay with his wife having someone like that hanging around? Ugh, I’m thinking too much!’

King Neptune sighed deeply, resignation settling over him. From the way Lucas looked at Shirahoshi, it was clear—no other man stood a chance.

The Edge of Whitebeard Pirates’ Territory

At the farthest edge of the Whitebeard Pirates’ sphere of influence, a pirate ship with no flag was anchored near an island. One by one, pirates armed with swords and guns disembarked, their faces twisted with excitement as they stormed the island under Whitebeard’s protection.

Onboard the pirate ship, a burly man stood at the bow, his palms unconsciously morphing into sharp blades as he flexed them. This was Daz Bonez, also known as Agent No. 1, a loyal subordinate of Crocodile and former officer of Baroque Works.

During the Summit War, Daz had escaped alongside Crocodile, fighting by his side in the chaos. Now, the two were carving out their own path in the New World.

Beside Daz stood a figure shrouded in a hood, a cigar clenched between his teeth. The smoke curled around his face, partially revealing the unmistakable scarred features of Crocodile, the former Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Daz glanced nervously at his boss. “President… are you sure this is a good idea? If we do this, won’t we risk Lucas coming after us? The Whitebeard Pirates are under his command now.”

Crocodile let out a slow, deliberate laugh, his signature cadence echoing across the deck. “Kuahahahaha…” He took a long drag from his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke before answering casually, “Let the people talk, Daz. You think Lucas will dare come after me? There are too many forces involved in this assault on the Whitebeard Pirates. He can’t go after everyone.”

Crocodile’s confidence radiated off him. He wasn’t just a brute force fighter—he was a strategist, a manipulator. In his mind, this was all part of the grand game.

“I, Crocodile, am one of the few masterminds in the pirate world!” he declared, his grin widening as he watched his men ravage the island below.

Daz, still uneasy, nodded reluctantly. He’d seen Crocodile’s cunning firsthand, and while he trusted his boss’s instincts, the thought of crossing Lucas sent a shiver down his spine. Lucas wasn’t like other pirates. He was unpredictable—and that made him dangerous.

But Crocodile was betting on something bigger. He knew that in the chaos of so many factions attacking at once, Lucas wouldn’t be able to single him out. The plan was to strike fast, cause enough damage to shake Whitebeard’s territory, and then vanish before Lucas could retaliate.

What Crocodile didn’t account for, however, was just how quickly Lucas could adapt.

Chapter 87: No, Let’s Continue Talking, Crocodile!

On the Outskirts of Whitebeard Pirates’ Territory

Crocodile was so confident in his calculations that he firmly believed Lucas wouldn’t dare retaliate against him. There were simply too many forces involved in the coordinated attacks on the Whitebeard Pirates’ territories today, enough that even the World Government had taken notice.

In Crocodile’s mind, if Lucas sought revenge, he would risk alarming every faction participating in the raid. With everyone feeling threatened, it wouldn’t be impossible for them to form an alliance against him.

Right now, Lucas was already at odds with the Beasts Pirates and under attack from the Big Mom Pirates, both of whom were Four Emperors. Facing two Pirate Emperors simultaneously left Lucas vulnerable. As long as he wasn’t a complete fool, he wouldn’t risk provoking silver medalists like Crocodile and his ilk.

Sure, these silver medalists weren’t strong enough to defeat Lucas individually. But if they banded together to support the Big Mom Pirates or Beasts Pirates, it wouldn’t be impossible to bring Lucas down.

This was Crocodile’s strategy—and it mirrored the thinking of most factions participating in today’s looting of the Whitebeard Pirates’ territories.

But reality had a way of shattering expectations.

Suddenly, a booming voice rang out across the sky.

“Crocodile, To think I would see you here!”

From above, a Shadow Clone of Lucas plummeted from the sky, landing with a thunderous crash on Crocodile’s pirate ship.

An invisible Conqueror’s Haki surged out, crackling through the air as it transformed into jagged purple lightning, sweeping across the deck. The pirates who had been rushing onto the island froze mid-stride, their bodies trembling as if a massive sledgehammer had slammed into their skulls.

Within seconds, the overwhelming Conqueror’s Haki had its effect. The pirates brought by Crocodile collapsed like dominos, hitting the deck with loud thuds, their eyes rolling back in unconsciousness.

“Lucas?”

Daz Bonez, Agent No. 1, stared at Lucas with wide, cautious eyes. His body tensed, instinctively stepping in front of Crocodile, ready to defend his boss.

“Step aside.”

Crocodile extended an arm and shoved Daz aside, his face a mask of indifference as he locked eyes with Lucas.

A sneer tugged at Crocodile’s lips. “Looks like my luck isn’t so great after all.”

According to Crocodile’s earlier predictions, Lucas wouldn’t have retaliated after the raids had concluded. But if Lucas caught them in the act—like he had now—there was nothing left to say. Crocodile knew his careful plans had unraveled. The foundational assumption he’d built his strategy on had changed, and with that, all his subsequent calculations were now worthless.

“It’s not that you have bad luck,” Lucas said, his tone light but laced with menace. “You just have bad judgment.”

“You really thought you could provoke me with your strength? What were you thinking?”

With a casual sigh, Lucas’s body suddenly exploded into a cloud of white smoke.

“What?!”

Crocodile and Daz tensed, eyes darting to the swirling smoke where Lucas had just stood.

“What’s he playing at?” Crocodile muttered, momentarily baffled.

“What’s that?” Daz pointed to the deck, where a pitch-black mark had been left behind in Lucas’s place.

Brush!

The instant the Shadow Clone left the Flying Thunder God mark, Lucas’s real body surged through space, instantly teleporting to the marked spot.

“Now, let’s get back to our conversation—you’ve got a terrible mind, Crocodile.”

Lucas’s voice was calm, almost mocking.

“Go to hell!”

Crocodile didn’t wait another second. Without another word, he attacked.

Flicking his hand, Crocodile activated his Logia Sand-Sand Fruit ability. A massive scimitar-shaped blade of sand formed mid-air and slashed towards Lucas.

“Desert Spada!”

This technique wasn’t just for slicing. It carried the unique drying properties of the Sand-Sand Fruit, designed to absorb moisture from its target, turning flesh into withered husks.

But against Lucas? It was completely useless.

With a flick of his wrist, Lucas’s fist shot forward, coated in Armament Haki. The blackened knuckles smashed into the Desert Sword, shattering it into a spray of harmless sand.

“My turn.”

Lucas’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

In a blink, his body disappeared and reappeared beside Crocodile. Before Crocodile could react, Lucas’s Haki-infused fist landed squarely in his abdomen.

BOOM!

Crocodile’s eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t elementalize to dodge the blow—not with Lucas’s top-tier Armament Haki negating his Logia defenses. The punch sent a violent shockwave through his body, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“So weak,” Lucas muttered with disappointment. “If I limit the number of Shadow Clones to less than ten, I could probably let them handle you.”

Crocodile crumpled to the deck, coughing up blood, his vision swimming.

“President!”

Seeing his boss in such dire straits, Daz sprang into action. Activating his Dice-Dice Fruit powers, his body transformed into gleaming, razor-sharp blades. He launched himself at Lucas, slashing with deadly precision.

“A blade?”

Lucas rolled his eyes. With a swift motion, he unsheathed Shusui, the famed black sword. One clean slash sent Daz flying back, his bladed body deeply wounded, unable to muster any further resistance.

“Daz!”

Crocodile’s bloodshot eyes locked onto his fallen comrade. Clenching his teeth, he forced himself to stand, his body trembling with both rage and pain.

With a snarl, he gathered a swirling dust tornado in his palm, hurling it at Lucas with all his remaining strength.

“Sandstorm!”

The spinning vortex of sand surged forward, growing to the height of a four-story building as it roared towards Lucas, threatening to engulf him whole.

But Lucas merely sneered.

Raising his hand, he punched the air with pinpoint precision.

BOOM!

The air shattered under the force of Lucas’s attack, the devastating power of the Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit) tearing through the sandstorm. The residual shockwave didn’t just disperse Crocodile’s attack—it ripped through Crocodile himself, his body disintegrating into grains of sand before collapsing like a broken marionette.

Lucas’s fist glowed faintly as he activated Advanced Armament Haki—Emission, the technique allowing his Haki to explode outward upon contact, extending its destructive force even beyond physical blows.

Lucas stared down at the pile of sand that was once Crocodile. Without hesitation, he appeared in front of it, his body radiating with Armament Haki. The blackened energy seeped into the grains of sand, ensuring complete destruction.

But the sand began to tremble and swirl, slowly reforming into a battered and bruised Crocodile. Lucas hadn’t finished him off immediately—not because he couldn’t, but because Crocodile’s past connections with Whitebeard were still somewhat unclear. It was worth understanding the dynamics before making any rash decisions.

In the Chat Group

Pirate King Roger: “Who is this kid? Slicked-back hair, gold earrings, big cigar… he looks like some kind of big shot!”

Golden Lion Shiki groaned. “Roger, your attention to the weirdest details never fails to amaze me.”

Pirate King Roger: “I’m just wondering if he can dance!”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Dance? I don’t know, but I do know he definitely won’t have a son who doesn’t recognize him!”

The group burst into laughter.

Lucas: “That’s Crocodile, a former member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. He witnessed Roger’s execution and was one of the first supernovas to emerge after the Great Pirate Era began.”

Pirate King Roger: “Really? He witnessed my execution? No wonder he looks like he’s trying so hard. But why isn’t he a Warlord anymore?”

Golden Lion Shiki snickered.

Golden Lion Shiki: “If I remember it right, he was defeated by a Marine Captain, so he got stripped of his Warlord title. Ridiculous, right? Absolutely ridiculous! This is the kind of ‘supernova’ Roger inspired to go to sea—a bunch of star-chasers with no strength or brains.”

Fire Fist Ace chimed in, his tone serious.

Fire Fist Ace: “No, that’s not exactly true. The one who really defeated him wasn’t a Marine Captain. It was my brother—Straw Hat Luffy.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “NANI? Impossible!”

Lucas: “Unfortunately, it’s true. Crocodile tried to become a hero in Alabasta while secretly aiming to acquire Pluton, one of the Three Ancient Weapons.”

Pirate King Roger: “Alabasta? Pluton? How did he even hear about that?”

Lucas: “I don’t know the exact details, but from what I’ve gathered, the information he got was incomplete. That’s why he wanted to decipher the Poneglyph hidden in Alabasta. He got lucky and found Nico Robin, the last survivor of Ohara—the only woman capable of interpreting the ancient texts.”

Golden Lion Shiki asked impatiently,

Golden Lion Shiki: “Did he succeed?”

Shiki had his own experiences with Ancient Weapons, so his interest in the subject was understandable.

Fire Fist Ace: “You can tell just by looking at him—he obviously failed. If he’d actually acquired an Ancient Weapon, he’d be out there trying to rule the world by now.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “That’s right! But wait—you’re saying his failure was all because of Straw Hat Luffy? Alabasta’s at the front of the Grand Line. Are you seriously telling me Luffy, who’d just entered the Grand Line, managed to defeat a Warlord of the Sea?”

Lucas: “You can’t pin Crocodile’s failure entirely on Luffy. Crocodile is a schemer—he spent over ten years plotting to take over Alabasta.”

Senju Hashirama chuckled.

Senju Hashirama: “Ten years? That’s impressive. He’s really patient.”

Pirate King Roger: “Pfft, ten years? That’s nothing! Shiki over here lurked for over twenty years for his plans. Of course… they both failed.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Shut up, all of you!”

Lucas: “Shiki’s a little pissed off, huh? But honestly, doesn’t it make you wonder? How does someone like Roger, who has no patience, no strategy, and no ambition, end up succeeding, while people like you—with patience, strategy, and ambition—end up failing?”

Golden Lion Shiki: “…”

Pirate King Roger: “Hahaha, well said! You really hit the nail on the head there, Lucas!”

Whitebeard: “Gurarararara! I almost feel bad for Shiki. Roger, you’re so mean!”

Gold Thief Woonan: “Now that you mention it, the group leader’s right. Thinking about it like this, Shiki’s really got it rough.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “…”

Pirate King Roger: “Shiki, did you manage to stand up today?”

Whitebeard: “Shiki has no feet. You’re asking him to stand? Roger, you’re just cruel.”

Pirate King Roger: “Oh, right. His feet got cut off in Impel Down, didn’t they? Poor Shiki can’t stand—he can only float.”

Lucas: @Pirate King Roger, “Didn’t Shiki lose his feet because of you? You heartless bastard.”

Pirate King Roger: “…Wait, why am I suddenly the villain here? No, let’s get back to talking about Crocodile!”

Golden Lion Shiki, tired of the roasting, changed the subject.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Yeah, let’s move on. So Crocodile lurked in Alabasta for over ten years. Then what?”

Lucas: “To seize control of the country, Crocodile first portrayed himself as a hero. He fought off pirates as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and gained the trust of Alabasta’s people.”

Sword God Ryoma chimed in thoughtfully.

Sword God Ryuma: “Using pirates to fight pirates… The World Government sure knows how to play its games. But honestly, if Crocodile didn’t have ulterior motives, this system wouldn’t be too bad.”

Chapter 88: Whitebeard, Is Crocodile Your Daughter?

Lucas recounted Crocodile’s original actions, detailing how he used Dance Powder to manipulate Alabasta’s royal family, incited the rebel army to fight against them, and ultimately planned to deploy a super bomb to annihilate the capital.

Golden Lion Shiki: “It’s a solid plan—each step interlocking and keeping his own hands clean. If he’d succeeded in wiping out both the royal family and the rebels, he really could’ve become a national hero and taken the throne.”

Senju Tobirama raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

Senju Tobirama: “He’s an outsider, and a notorious pirate at that. Would the people really make him king?”

Lucas: “Second Hokage, you’re not from this world, so you don’t get how things work here. It’s not that complicated for a country to change kings, and people don’t fuss over it too much. Besides, Crocodile had plenty of leverage.”

Senju Tobirama : “What kind of leverage?”

Lucas: “Aside from his reputation as a national hero, Crocodile could protect the people from pirate threats. Plus, he controlled the most prosperous territories in Alabasta.”

Senju Tobirama : “I see. I get it now.”

Senju Hashirama :“Wait… What do you get?”

Senju Tobirama : “If both the royal family and the rebel army were wiped out, Crocodile would be the only one left with the qualifications to become king. And if he decided to leave the country…”

Golden Lion Shiki:. “The people would beg him to stay to protect them from pirates. Right?”

Lucas: “Exactly! Plus, with all his wealth, he could easily win over those suffering from drought and war. Hire a bunch of sailors to sing his praises, and bam—king material.”

Pirate King Roger : “Too bad he still failed—at the hands of that little guy who inherited my straw hat.”

Whitebeard: “I’m curious too. Even if that old guy Garp trained Luffy from a young age, it seems unrealistic that a seventeen-year-old could defeat one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.”

Lucas: “You’re looking at it the wrong way! It’s not that Straw Hat Luffy was too strong back then—it’s that Crocodile was too weak.”

Fire Fist Ace frowned.

Fire Fist Ace: “Too weak? No way! Crocodile showed great strength during the Summit War and the battles before that!”

Lucas: “One moment in time isn’t the same as another. When Crocodile fought Luffy, think about what state he was in. He’d been lurking in Alabasta for over ten years, obsessing over schemes and Ancient Weapons. He stopped caring about personal strength.”

Whitebeard: “So, his strength regressed?”

Lucas: “Exactly! He hadn’t trained in over a decade. Even when he fought pirates, he relied on his Sand-Sand Fruit abilities to steamroll weaker foes. But the biggest issue? He’d lost his fighting spirit.”

Crocodile’s regression was easy to understand. For over a decade, he’d pinned his hopes on acquiring Pluton and conquering the world through military power, leaving his personal growth behind. He openly admitted to his subordinates that national and military strength were all that mattered to him.

For ten years, his opponents were rookies just entering the Grand Line—pirates who hadn’t even mastered Haki. Crocodile’s strategy was simple: elementalize and crush them with ease.

But anyone who’s played the game knows the truth.

Lucas: “It’s like playing chess. If you play against a master, you’ll get beaten, but your skills will improve over time. If you only play against amateurs, sure, you’ll win—but your own skills will stagnate.”

Whitebeard: “Logia elementalization is definitely a tough ability to deal with for those who haven’t mastered Armament Haki.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Elementalization can be countered without Haki, though—seastone and sea water work just fine.”

Pirate King Roger: “Wait… did Straw Hat Luffy beat Crocodile using seastone or sea water?”

Lucas: “Nope! The Sand-Sand Fruit has a fatal flaw—it can’t elementalize when it touches water. Once Luffy figured that out, he first used water and later even his own blood to fight Crocodile on equal footing.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “It can’t elementalize in water? The Sand-Sand Fruit is pretty useless then.”

Sword God Ryuma: “Using blood to counter Crocodile’s elementalization? That Straw Hat kid’s impressive! But here’s a question—once Luffy neutralized Crocodile’s elementalization, could he actually defeat him?”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Has Crocodile really degraded that much? Without elementalization, he can’t even beat a rookie in the Grand Line?”

Lucas: “You might not believe it, but it’s true. Crocodile used his Devil Fruit abilities, his poison-laced hook, and even physical combat. But in the end, he was still defeated by Straw Hat Luffy!”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Trash! Degenerated after just ten years? I’ve been lurking for over twenty years, and I still have Admiral-level combat power! Wait—when Luffy beat Crocodile, did he have any luck on his side?”

Shiki had faced off against two generations of pirate protagonists, and in his eyes, their victories always came down to luck and plot armor.

Lucas: “Of course! Crocodile defeated Luffy twice, but Luffy survived both encounters by sheer dumb luck. In their final battle, even though Luffy was poisoned, he kept fighting with ridiculous tenacity—it was unreal!”

Golden Lion Shiki cursed. “I knew it! Why do we ambitious people always run into lucky idiots who block our paths?”

Shiki was furious. Didn’t careerists like him deserve good luck too?

Whitebeard: “Gurarararara! Shiki, you need to calm down. You’re dead now—no point in being angry. By the way, Lucas, what was that about fighting spirit you mentioned earlier?”

Lucas: “Ah, that. During Crocodile and Luffy’s final battle, Luffy had already been defeated twice and nearly died both times. But he stood back up again.”

Lucas: “It was so ridiculous that Crocodile actually got scared. He wanted to negotiate, trying to convince Luffy to stop pestering him. But Luffy was dead set on beating Crocodile, while Crocodile just wanted the fight to end.”

Pirate King Roger: “So it was a mentality issue? That makes sense. Whether you want to fight or don’t want to fight makes a huge difference in your combat power.”

What is faith? Faith is a stimulant!

Using biological knowledge, Lucas explained further. People with beliefs can trigger a surge of excitement within themselves, stimulating hormone secretion and placing their bodies in a heightened state of alertness, allowing them to perform beyond their normal capabilities.

On the other hand, people without faith tend to approach life in a perfunctory manner. Their lack of passion leads them to overlook crucial details, resulting in mistakes that can spiral into unmanageable situations.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Judging from Crocodile’s current fighting power, it seems like he’s regained his strength.”

Lucas: “He probably reflected during his time in Impel Down and managed to reclaim the strength he’d lost. After breaking out of prison, his performance was impressive, and during the Summit War, he finally demonstrated the kind of power a Warlord of the Sea should have.”

Whitebeard: “It’s a pity, though. Now he’s attacking your territory, and you’ve beaten him down. What are you planning to do with him?”

Lucas: “I was about to ask you that! Whitebeard, is Crocodile your daughter?”

Whitebeard: “???”

Pirate King Roger: “What???!”

Gold Thief Woonan: “Whoa, that question came out of nowhere. Can someone explain what’s going on here?”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Shihahaha! I smell big news! Group leader, tell us everything in detail.”

Whitebeard: “Don’t talk nonsense. I’ve got nothing to do with Crocodile. Besides, he’s a man—how could he be my daughter?”

Lucas: “Well, as far as I know, Ivankov has a big secret about Crocodile. And we all know Ivankov’s Hormon-Hormon Fruit allows him to change a person’s gender.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Shihahaha! So Crocodile, who’s apparently close to the Shemale King Ivankov, could’ve been a woman? This is getting interesting!”

Gold Thief Woonan: “You’ve got to be kidding! Maybe Ivankov just knows some other secret—it doesn’t necessarily have to do with gender!”

Lucas: “Maybe, maybe not. I’m not sure if Crocodile was a woman before. That’s why I’m asking Whitebeard!”

Whitebeard: “Why ask me?! I don’t know him that well!”

Lucas: “Really? Because from what I saw during the Summit War, Crocodile acted… strangely. He tried to take your head off as soon as he appeared, but when you were attacked, he seemed indignant. When Ace and Luffy were in danger, he even risked his life to save them. Don’t you think that’s a bit… odd?”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Shiahahaha! Whitebeard, you’ve got a way of recruiting people! Got yourself a biological daughter hiding in the pirate world, huh?”

Whitebeard: “Golden Lion, get out of here! The old man doesn’t have any biological children—all my sons are members of the Whitebeard Pirates. Group leader, how did you even connect Crocodile to being my daughter?”

Lucas: “Just a theory I’ve been toying with.”

Pirate King Roger: “What theory? Be specific—we’ll help you analyze it!”

Lucas: “Alright, hear me out. What if Crocodile is actually Whitebeard’s biological daughter? Maybe her dream since childhood was to become the Pirate King, but because she was a woman, Whitebeard didn’t take her dream seriously. So, she left the Whitebeard Pirates in a fit of rage.”

Lucas: “After that, she met Ivankov, who used his Hormon-Hormon Fruit to turn her into a man. Then she went on to challenge Whitebeard. After failing, Whitebeard captured her, hoping to bring her back to her senses.”

Lucas: “But Crocodile, being arrogant and unwilling to admit defeat, cut off his own hand to escape and continued pursuing his dream of becoming Pirate King. Realizing his own strength wasn’t enough, he shifted his focus to finding the Ancient Weapon Pluton.”

Lucas shared this wild theory, which he’d seen floating around in fan discussions back in his previous life, with the chat group.

Golden Lion Shiki was absolutely thrilled.

Golden Lion Shiki: “I think this theory makes a lot of sense! Whitebeard, you should just admit it already. Where’s your daughter hiding now? Go find her and make up!”

Whitebeard was fuming.

Whitebeard: “Shut up! I have nothing to do with Crocodile. If anything, we’re just former enemies.”

Whitebeard insisted Crocodile was merely a new pirate who had challenged him in the past, with no close relationship whatsoever.

Lucas: “Really? Well, if that’s the case, it makes things easier for me. Since you and Crocodile have no special relationship, I don’t need to hold back.”

Back in the Real World

Lucas snapped out of the chat group conversation, turning his attention back to Crocodile, who lay battered and defeated on the deck. He delivered a swift kick to Crocodile’s side, causing him to groan in pain.

Lucas: “So, what’s it gonna be? You want to be my subordinate? I’ll spare your life if you agree. Otherwise, I’ll just treat you like any other pirate who’s dared to rob me—and toss you into the sea to feed the fish.”

Chapter 89: Pirate King? I Look Down on You!

In the Real World

Crocodile lay battered, bruised, and humiliated after Lucas’s Emission Haki assault. But even in his weakened state, he had no intention of surrendering.

Through bloodied lips, Crocodile sneered. “You think you can recruit me? Whitebeard tried to recruit me once—and I didn’t agree to that, either.”

Lucas laughed, his voice dripping with condescension. “Yeah, but I’m not Whitebeard. I don’t need to be called ‘Dad.’”

Crocodile’s face darkened. ‘That’s not what I meant, you bastard…’

But Lucas wasn’t done. He stared at Crocodile, his eyes calm and piercing, as if he were looking right through him.

“You’re getting old, Crocodile. Isn’t it time you faced the truth? You’ve got limited potential. You don’t even have the talent to be among the world’s top fighters—and you still think you can be Pirate King? Don’t make me laugh.”

Crocodile’s anger flared. “Talent doesn’t determine everything! Don’t you even understand that?”

Lucas shrugged, unfazed. “Of course I understand. Talent doesn’t determine everything. But if you don’t have talent, you can always cheat. And guess what? I’m a cheater. But you? You’re just… pathetic.”

Nearby, Daz Bonez—Agent No. 1—glared at Lucas, his voice rising with anger. “That’s enough! Do you even realize what you’re saying? You’re humiliating a hero of the sea!”

Lucas kicked Crocodile’s limp form again, smirking. “You’re right! This guy was a hero back in the day. He even had the guts to rush up and cover Whitebeard in sand.”

Daz’s face turned dark, while Crocodile’s cheeks flushed with a mixture of rage and embarrassment.

In the Chat Group

Golden Lion Shiki burst into uncontrollable laughter.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Whitebeard, is that true? This punk rushed up to you, threw sand in your face, and then you wanted to adopt him as your son?”

Whitebeard roared, his fury echoing through the chat.

Whitebeard: “Shut up, you nasty, stupid lion!”

Pirate King Roger chimed in, grinning.

Pirate King Roger: “Whitebeard, I’m not one to criticize, but your habit of adopting every kid you meet needs to stop. Not everyone wants to be your son.”

Fire Fist Ace: “I do!”

Pirate King Roger: “…”

Sword God Ryuma: “I agree with what Lucas said earlier. He’s a cheater—no amount of talent can compete with that.”

Gold Thief Woonan: “Exactly! We spent our whole lives honing our skills, and this guy becomes the strongest just by receiving red envelopes in the group.”

Lucas: “I don’t approve of your jealousy, but I firmly defend your right to be jealous of me.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Since you put it that way… what else can I say?”

Pirate King Roger: “Nothing to say!”

Back in the Real World

Crocodile’s expression flickered between rage and contemplation. After a long, tense silence, he finally spoke.

“What’s your ambition, Lucas?” he asked, his voice quieter but no less intense.

Lucas pondered for a moment before replying, his tone calm and unwavering. “To change the world.”

Crocodile arched an eyebrow. “You don’t want to be Pirate King?”

Lucas scoffed, his disdain evident. “I don’t give a damn about being Pirate King.”

Crocodile stared at Lucas for a moment before a grin slowly spread across his bruised face. “You’re such an arrogant bastard… but I like it.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in Crocodile’s demeanor. He chuckled. “You’ve made a very wise decision.”

If Crocodile had refused, Lucas wouldn’t have hesitated to kick him and Daz into the sea to become fish food. But with Crocodile agreeing to serve under him, Lucas had secured yet another powerful ally.

In the Chat Group

Golden Lion Shiki sighed dramatically.

Golden Lion Shiki: “What a pity! Another ambitious young pirate gives up his dreams to work under someone else.”

Lucas: “That’s not how I’d put it. Let’s just say he took a detour on his road to chasing his dreams. If he hadn’t messed with me, he could’ve continued playing the dreamer.”

Pirate King Roger seized the opportunity to stir the pot.

Pirate King Roger: “You know, I’ve noticed something—ambitious people rarely have happy endings. Just look at Shiki. Or Shiki. Or… well, Shiki again. Oh, and now Crocodile.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Oh, shut up! And by the way, Mr. Pirate King, you planned to overthrow the World Government. Aren’t you an ambitious guy?”

Pirate King Roger: “Uh… well, when you put it like that, I guess I was. But still, I didn’t have a happy ending either!”

Lucas: “Honestly, for you guys, that was a happy ending. Maybe it’s not legendary, but it’s at least Ten Thousand Years status.”

Pirate King Roger: “…”

Golden Lion Shiki: “‘Ten Thousand Years’—well said!”

Gold Thief Woonan piped up, curiosity in his voice. “Wait, is there anyone who actually accomplished their grand ambitions? Unlike Shiki or Crocodile?”

Lucas: “Oh, there is.”

Gold Thief Woonan: “Who?”

Golden Lion Shiki: “I want to know too!”

Pirate King Roger: “You mean someone actually succeeded?”

Lucas: “Of course. But they only existed in the past. Now, they’re no longer around.”

Whitebeard: “I’ve got a bad feeling… You’re not talking about Blackbeard Teach, are you?”

Lucas: “That’s right. It’s him.”

Golden Lion Shiki immediately objected.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Blackbeard doesn’t count! He’s not ambitious—he’s just a gambler! He lurked on Whitebeard’s ship for decades, but what grand plans did he make during that time? Nothing!”

Golden Lion Shiki scoffed, his voice thick with disdain.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Look, the reason Crocodile and I were lurking was to carry out our plans. We had long-term goals, strategies that took years to unfold. But Blackbeard? That bastard wasn’t planning anything. He was just sitting around, waiting for a Devil Fruit to pop up!”

Shiki continued, his frustration growing.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Crocodile and I had everything under control. The timing, the execution—it was all predictable. But Blackbeard? He didn’t even know when his wait would end. It was all just dumb luck!”

Lucas nodded thoughtfully.

Lucas: “True, even after Blackbeard got the Dark-Dark Fruit, his plans were all short-term. Calculating the World Government and the Whitebeard Pirates wasn’t some grand, twenty-year strategy like yours or Crocodile’s.”

After hearing this, Senju Tobirama chimed in.

Senju Tobirama: “Let’s not comment on Blackbeard’s character for now. But as a careerist, he was still relatively successful. If he hadn’t met the group leader, he’d definitely have carved out a place for himself in the sea.”

Golden Lion Shiki sighed dramatically.

Golden Lion Shiki: “What a pity! Such an excellent careerist… and now he’s gone. By the way, weren’t all of Blackbeard Teach’s men supposed to have scattered after his death?”

Lucas: “Yep! They barely escaped with their lives back then, but guess what? They’ve come crawling back now.”

Whitebeard: “They were involved in today’s chaos?”

Lucas: “That’s right. My Shadow Clone ran into them just now and sent me the update.”

Whitebeard: “Gurarararara! They can be considered your enemies now. Insulting them after injury isn’t surprising at all.”

Lucas: “Whitebeard, you’re taking this well. But if I recall correctly, weren’t these the same bastards who helped kill you in the end?”

Back in the Real World

Lucas placed one hand on Crocodile’s shoulder and turned to Daz Bonez. “I’m leaving this to you. Clean up this mess and report back when it’s done.”

The members of Crocodile’s crew were still unconscious, laid out on the deck from the earlier burst of Conqueror’s Haki. Daz would stay behind to handle things while Lucas dealt with more pressing matters.

Without another word, Lucas activated the Flying Thunder God Technique. In an instant, he and Crocodile vanished from the ship and reappeared on an island under the Whitebeard Pirates’ control.

On the Island

The island was in chaos.

Fighting Champion Burgess, Poison Doctor Q, Devil Sheriff Lafitte, Sniper Van Augur, and other original members of the Blackbeard Pirates were wreaking havoc—burning and looting everything in sight.

These weren’t the criminals Blackbeard had broken out of Impel Down. No, these were the men Blackbeard had personally recruited. They were his true confidants, fundamentally different from opportunists like Shiryu of the Rain.

For example:

Fighting Champion Burgess wasn’t as powerful as Shiryu, but he was the No. 1 Captain of the Blackbeard Pirates, outranking Shiryu himself.

Burgess laughed maniacally, raising his fists high before smashing them into a nearby building, reducing it to rubble.

“Uiihahaha! Captain Teach, today we’re gonna avenge you!”

Meanwhile, Poison Doctor Q was sprawled lazily on his emaciated horse, a bottle of liquor dangling from his fingers. His voice was slurred but filled with bitterness.

“Ah, how things have changed. Back when Teach was alive, we were the top dogs of the Four Emperors. Now, we’re nothing but stray dogs… and it’s all thanks to that bastard, Lucas.”

A soft, mocking voice interrupted their lamentations.

“My fault.”

The words drifted through the air like a chilling breeze. Lucas appeared in front of the Blackbeard Pirates, Crocodile standing beside him.

Burgess froze mid-laugh, his fists dropping to his sides. The rest of the crew went stiff, their eyes widening in shock and terror.

“Lucas?!”

“C-Crocodile?!”

The bitterness and bravado that had filled the air moments before evaporated. The Blackbeard Pirates looked like deflated balloons, their confidence shattered like glass.

“No way… how are you here?!”

“Did that bastard Joker lie to us?!”

Panic spread like wildfire among the crew. Their eyes darted around, desperate for an escape route.

They hated Lucas, sure—but fight him? That was suicide.

They had witnessed Lucas’s power firsthand when Blackbeard was killed. They knew that standing against him now would be like walking into their own graves.

“Captain Teach! It’s not that we won’t avenge you… it’s just that he’s too strong!”

Lucas rolled his eyes. “So noisy.”

With a slight tilt of his head, an invisible pressure erupted from his body. The wave of Conqueror’s Haki swept through the area like a tidal wave.

The weaker pirates brought along by Burgess and the others collapsed instantly, their bodies hitting the ground with heavy thuds.

Lucas turned his cold gaze to the remaining Blackbeard captains.

“Alright… now it’s your turn.”

He smirked, stepping aside to reveal Crocodile.

“You could’ve handled this yourself, Lucas. Why’d you bring me along?” Crocodile muttered, eyeing the Blackbeard Pirates with mild irritation.

Lucas chuckled. “Of course I brought you here to handle them! Why else would I drag you along?”

Burgess stiffened, his face contorting in disbelief. “Crocodile… you’ve decided to be someone else’s dog now?”

Crocodile’s eyes narrowed, and a sneer curled across his lips.

“You? You don’t even have the qualifications to be a dog. You’re just here to die.”

He moved his body, wincing slightly as the pain from Lucas’s earlier Haki-infused attacks flared up. His muscles ached, his breathing was labored, and his fighting ability was far from its peak.

Glancing sideways at Lucas, Crocodile muttered, “Your Armament Haki really did a number on me. My combat ability’s seriously affected.”

But even in his weakened state, Crocodile’s pride burned brightly. He knew exactly why Lucas had brought him here—to remind him of the price of failure… and to give him a chance to reclaim his dignity.

Chapter 90: Don’t Be Afraid, How About a Fight?

In the Chat Group

Lucas casually asked Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama for medical ninjutsu techniques.

Senju Hashirama blinked in confusion.

Senju Hashirama: “Isn’t that unnecessary? You could easily handle the remnants of the Blackbeard Pirates yourself. Why let Crocodile get his hands dirty?”

Lucas scoffed. “If I do everything myself, what’s the point of having subordinates? Besides, Crocodile just joined me. He needs to prove his loyalty.”

Ding!

A notification popped up.

Senju Tobirama had sent an exclusive red envelope: (Medical Ninjutsu) to Lucas.

Senju Tobirama: “Stop arguing, big brother. You’re embarrassing yourself again.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Second Hokage is overthinking it. We all know Hashirama isn’t exactly the brightest in the bunch.”

Senju Hashirama: “…”

Back in the real world, Lucas raised his palm, vibrant green energy swirling in his hand. The soothing light flowed into Crocodile, repairing the damage in his body.

Curious, Lucas asked in the chat group,

Lucas: “Second Hokage, did you invent medical ninjutsu?”

Senju Tobirama: “No, it was developed by our Senju ancestors. The Senju clan pioneered medical ninjutsu.”

Lucas: “Ah, I see.”

It made sense. The Senju clan inherited the Sage Body, giving them incredibly tenacious vitality. With medical ninjutsu as support, their battlefield survival rate was unparalleled. This combination was key to the Senju becoming one of the most famous clans in the ninja world.

Back in the Real World

“Alright, you’re all healed up. Now go teach them a lesson.”

Lucas finished healing Crocodile and gestured toward the remnants of the Blackbeard Pirates standing nearby.

Crocodile flexed his hands, feeling the newfound strength surging through him. His eyes were filled with shock as he glanced at Lucas.

“This ability… How many powers do you have?” Crocodile asked, genuinely intrigued.

Lucas smirked, his gaze unreadable. “How many? Hard to say. Too many to count.”

Crocodile snorted, saying no more. His body turned into quicksand as he rushed toward Burgess and the others, sneering. “Let’s see what the so-called senior officers of the Blackbeard Pirates are made of!”

Despite Blackbeard Teach obtaining the Tremor Tremor Fruit and becoming a legitimate Four Emperors powerhouse, the confidants he’d recruited from the start were pathetically weak. Even with their combined efforts, they couldn’t gain an advantage over Crocodile.

In the Chat Group

Golden Lion Shiki laughed disdainfully.

Golden Lion Shiki: “What a bunch of weaklings! Is this the level of Blackbeard’s subordinates? Looks like his crew had a lot of dead weight!”

Lucas: “Not surprising. While these guys were trusted by Blackbeard, they weren’t the real fighting force of his crew. The ones he broke out of Impel Down—like Shiryu of the Rain and Avalo Pizarro—were the true high-level combatants.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Hey, Whitebeard! Ever notice how obsessed Blackbeard was with you? If you think about it, aren’t there a lot of similarities between the Blackbeard Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates?”

Whitebeard growled. “Aren’t you more obsessed with Roger?”

Gold Thief Woonan: “It does seem like during those years he spent lurking on your ship, Blackbeard learned about your organization and structure.”

Lucas: “Shiki’s onto something. The Blackbeard Pirates do mirror the Whitebeard Pirates in some ways. But there’s a huge gap in strength between their captains.”

Senju Hashirama: “They seem pretty evenly matched right now. How long will this drag on?”

Lucas: “Good question. I think it’s time I gave Crocodile a little boost so we can end this quickly.”

Back in the Real World

Purple lightning crackled around Lucas’s body as his Conqueror’s Haki surged outward, creating a pressure field that expanded from his position at the center.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The spirits of Burgess and the others felt as if they’d been struck by a giant hammer. Their movements froze for a split second—just long enough for Crocodile to strike.

“Desert Spada!” Crocodile’s sand blade, capable of draining moisture, swept out with deadly precision.

The bodies of Burgess and his comrades withered instantly, the moisture sucked from their flesh by the desert blades that tore through them.

“Bye-bye!”

“Sandstorm!”

Crocodile sneered as he unleashed his signature move. A tornado with devastating tearing force enveloped Burgess and the others, lifting them off the ground and hurling them into the sea.

Lucas watched calmly, his gaze unwavering. Just to be sure, he sent out a dazzling sword light, slicing through the sandstorm to guarantee none of them survived.

Crocodile lit a cigar, his posture as arrogant as ever. “Satisfied?” he asked, his tone laced with a hint of defiance.

Lucas chuckled, amused by Crocodile’s unruly attitude.

“I just love how arrogant you are. It’s a bit of a hassle, but keep it up.”

Crocodile was the kind of subordinate who was hard to tame. Unlike people like Caesar and Monet, who could be kept loyal with a little care and manipulation, Crocodile’s pride and ambition made him a different challenge.

Lucas knew that trying to win Crocodile over by being too accommodating would only trigger his rebellious streak. Sometimes, a little tough love was the only way to keep a man like him in line.

In the Real World

Buru…Buru…Buru!

The shrill ring of the Den Den Mushi echoed, and as Lucas picked it up, Zephyr’s gruff voice came through.

Zephyr: “I’ve led our forces into a fight with the Big Mom Pirates’ fleet! But we’re at a disadvantage here. You’d better figure out a way to support us—fast!”

Lucas chuckled, his voice relaxed. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon.”

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Black Arm Zephyr was locked in a fierce clash against the Big Mom Pirates.

The sea churned violently under the thunder of cannons, the sky painted with trails of smoke and fire. Ships from both sides exchanged relentless artillery fire, neither willing to give an inch.

Suddenly, a Shadow Clone of Lucas descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the battlefield. It quickly left a Flying Thunder God mark on the ground before dissipating into a puff of smoke.

Moments later, the real Lucas arrived with Crocodile by his side.

Crocodile’s eyes widened slightly as he took in the rapidly shifting scenery. “The ability to teleport… What a convenient power.” His voice was tinged with genuine awe.

Ahead, Zephyr’s fleet was locked in intense combat, desperately trying to keep the Big Mom Pirates from landing on the island. Letting them onto the island would allow Zephyr to leverage his full fighting power, but it would also result in massive destruction to the island itself.

The Big Mom Pirates, on the other hand, were quite content to stay offshore, bombarding the island from a safe distance using their heavily fortified ships and powerful cannons.

Onboard the Big Mom Pirates’ Ship

On one of the Big Mom Pirates' ships, a burly man growled into a Den Den Mushi, his patience wearing thin.

“Brother Katakuri, are we just gonna keep playing this naval battle?!”

This man was none other than Charlotte Cracker, one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates and a Paramecia Devil Fruit user with the Biscuit-Biscuit Fruit. His power allowed him to create and manipulate biscuit soldiers, making him a formidable force on land. However, his abilities were severely limited in a naval battle.

Frustrated, Cracker called Katakuri, the commander-in-chief of the operation, hoping to get the green light to land and fight on the island.

“I know about Zephyr,” Cracker snarled. “We can defeat him easily. That guy couldn’t even beat that idiot Whitebeard Jr. Facing my biscuit army is a death sentence!”

Cracker’s confidence was sky-high. His biscuit soldiers were notoriously tough—so durable that even Straw Hat Luffy struggled to break them. He was certain that Zephyr, unaware of their weaknesses, would be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

The thought of killing a former Marine Admiral had Cracker itching for battle.

On the Flagship of the Big Mom Fleet

Onboard the flagship, Katakuri sat calmly atop a wooden barrel, his arms crossed as he listened to Cracker’s impassioned plea through the Den Den Mushi.

Katakuri pondered Cracker’s suggestion for a moment, then shook his head. “Forget it.”

Cracker’s voice rose in frustration. “Why not? I’m sure I can beat Zephyr!”

Katakuri’s tone was calm but firm. “Why do we need to defeat Black Arm Zephyr? Remember, we’re here to pick up the spoils, not start a war. Beating Zephyr will only attract unnecessary attention from both Marine and Lucas. The risks far outweigh the benefits.”

Katakuri’s logic was sound. Zephyr played a critical role under Lucas, acting as a strategic deterrent. Defeating him would force Lucas’s hand, and the revenge that followed wouldn’t be worth it.

It was far better to let Lucas clash with Kaido of the Beasts and stay out of the crossfire.

Katakuri, often considered the think tank of the Big Mom Pirates, had a knack for strategic analysis. While Cracker was clearly unhappy with the decision, Katakuri’s authority couldn’t be challenged.

Cracker begrudgingly obeyed, even though his fists were itching for a fight.

Suddenly…

Katakuri’s expression shifted. His advanced Observation Haki had just shown him a disturbing vision of the near future.

“No… this isn’t good…”

Before Katakuri could react, a soft voice echoed beside him.

“Found you.”

In an instant, Lucas appeared right next to Katakuri, a mischievous grin on his face and a pistol lazily aimed at Katakuri’s head.

“Katakuri, don’t move.” Lucas’s voice was light, almost playful, but the danger in his tone was unmistakable.

Katakuri’s muscles tensed, but he quickly relaxed, letting out a soft sigh.

“You win,” Katakuri muttered calmly. “So… what do you want?”

Facing someone like Lucas—a man capable of defeating Kaido of the Beasts—Katakuri had no illusions about his chances in a direct fight.

His advanced Observation Haki, which allowed him to glimpse into the future, made it clear: any aggressive move would end in disaster.

But Lucas wasn’t satisfied.

“You’re just gonna surrender?” Lucas sighed, shaking his head. “That’s boring.”

He leaned in, his grin widening. “Seeing the future is only seeing one possibility. Everyone has the power to change the future.”

Lucas stepped back, his pistol still trained on Katakuri.

“So… how about a fight?”