If Sengoku doesn't pull back his net soon, I'll become the Pirate King!

Chapter 40: Announcing the Arrival of the Beast Era to the Pirates of Paradise

Just as the situation on Kaido's side was changing rapidly, Bazel, who followed Hanafza into the Devil's Town, also encountered someone unexpected.

"Oh my, what great luck I'm having today! I've actually run into an important person."

Bazel instinctively pulled Amatsuki behind him, squinting at the stubble-faced man who suddenly blocked his way.

"Hello, hello, this is my business card."

I accepted the business card, which was plated with a thin layer of gold.

"So it's the famous deep-sea current Umit... I should have been the one to say that last sentence."

When Bazel handed his business card to Tianyue, a professional smile appeared on his face.

"I don't know why Mr. Umet stopped me. Did he want an autograph?"

Hahaha~~

After a polite laugh, Umit stepped aside and shamelessly pretended to be a fellow traveler.

"I just want to invest in advance. The Beasts Pirates are a rising star. As a businessman, I naturally want to get to know big shots like you beforehand."

"Hey, bring me the gift I specially prepared."

Immediately, a bodyguard in a black suit presented a beautifully packaged gift box.

"Bazaar-kun?" Amatsuki Toki did not immediately accept it, but instead looked at the man.

"Please accept this; it's a small token of Mr. Umit's appreciation."

Seeing the woman accept the box, Umit knew that the first step in building a relationship had been accomplished.

At least the other party didn't have any ill intentions towards me.

"It's just a small thing, I hope your friend likes it."

Umit made no mention of the contents of the gift box.

But Bazel knew that the gifts inside were definitely worth a fortune.

As a businessman, especially since we live in a time that is not 30 years later as depicted in the original story.

Although Umit's face has begun to grow a beard, he still exudes the youthful energy of someone in their twenties.

This also proves that Umit has not yet become the shipping tycoon he would be 30 years later.

At most, he is a rising star in the shipping business.

"If you have any needs regarding shipping in the future, please feel free to contact me. Whether it's covert transport or cargo shipping, I will arrange my best subordinates to assist the Beasts Pirates."

Seemingly noticing the surprise in Bazel's eyes, Umit smiled and explained:

"I guess you might prefer a more direct approach to conversation. Compared to the Beasts Pirates, what we businessmen lack most is brute force."

"I hope that Umit Shipping Company can have a deeper cooperation and a stronger friendship with the Beasts Pirates."

He raised his right hand and snapped his fingers, and the bodyguard next to him immediately handed him a folder.

"Our company currently has very few operations in the sea areas besides the amusement park and Sihai, and even fewer in New World..."

Unlike Tengetsu, who looked completely bewildered, Bazel discerned something different from Umit's words.

"Rarely involved" is essentially equivalent to "incapable of involvement".

His purpose in contacting me was probably to use the reputation of the beasts to "safely" enter the new world.

Unlike amusement parks.

The New World is a place where people eat people.

You have to choose between strong power and a solid backer.

If Umit develops gradually, it may be eligible to enter the New World in six years or more.

But not now.

This year marks the eighth anniversary of the Rocks Pirates' demise, a time when the great pirates of the New World are locked in fierce competition.

Shiki's Flying Pirates, Big Mom's Big Mom Pirates.

The Whitebeard Pirates, the Roger Pirates...

One after another, renowned powerhouses, along with their companions, roamed that sea.

They may not care about the territory of Paradise, but the new world beyond Fishman Island is a sea for the strong.

"I would go to great lengths for my friends" is my life motto.

Umit's smile grew even more genuine, and even the clueless Amatsuki, upon seeing this, showed obvious favor.

"Please convey my greetings to Mr. Kaido. I won't bother you any longer. I look forward to hearing from you."

After having his men leave a large pile of gifts again, Umit said goodbye and left.

Hanafza squatted down, picked up a gift box at random, and tore it open.

"Wow, this guy really went all out! This brand of liquor is worth 300 million Berries in Paradise!"

"Going all out? We won't remember him unless we go all out."

Bazar took the bottle of wine from Hanafza.

The deep red liquid sloshed in the glass bottle, and when it stopped, the calm "lake" reflected Bazel's playful smile.

"However, his arrival is timely. After he arrives in Wano Country next year, we may be able to engage in deeper cooperation with Umit."

"Send one of your men to deliver these things to your ship first, and wait for Kai..."

"Get out of my way!!"

"I am Eric the Iron Mantis, a notorious pirate with a bounty of 130 million Berries!"

A group of arrogant pirates, reeking of sourness, swaggered in.

"Captain Eric, that woman is quite something, her figure and skin are top-notch, wow~"

"That's right, boss! Snatch her away, and after you've had your fill, let us have a taste of what's left!"

"As for those men, let's just knock them out and send them to the slave auction house!"

"..."

Various vulgarities entered his ears, and Tian Yueshi's face flushed red.

It wasn't out of embarrassment, it was out of sheer anger.

"Ashi".

Bazel pressed down on Tengetsu's hand, which was about to draw its sword.

"I'm still here. When did I need you to take action personally?"

"Hanafza, it seems our reputation as beasts is still not good enough. Haven't you ever been active in the park?"

Hanafza, who was standing nearby, looked grim upon hearing this.

"No, we took action. I thought that killing a few pirates with decent bounties would intimidate these guys, but it seems I was too naive."

Bazel shook his head, taking his hands out of his slightly open jacket to reveal his body covered in knife scars.

He doesn't have many scars, but every single one of them was left from his battle with the Golden Lion.

Human-Beast Form - Fiery Martial Body!

"Who among you is named Eric... again?"

"I'll...!?"

He had a head of hyena-like blond hair tied up, and uniquely shaped metal rings around his lips and eyes.

Eric, who had been extremely arrogant, suddenly froze.

A rapidly approaching arm was reflected in his pupils.

Bazel looked at Eric, who was much taller than him, and first kicked him.

As the sound of bones breaking rang out, his right hand instinctively grabbed Eric by the neck as he fell to the ground.

With a forceful push of his five fingers, he choked the scream deep in the throat.

"Ugh!!!"

"What right do you have to bark at me?"

Bazel looked at the pirates with a nonchalant expression:

"To me, you bunch of small fry are nothing more than mere candle flames. When did candle flames dare to compete with the sun for brilliance?"

"Damn it, I'm a mantis-man who ate a Zoan-type Mantis-Mantis Fruit! Don't underestimate me, you bastard!"

With Bazel choking him, Eric roared and began his transformation.

Mantis Man?

"You frog in a well, do you even know who I am?"

He casually tossed Eric away, then extended two fingers and beckoned him.

"Come, let me see your strength. You only have one chance."

"Wait! Boss Eric! That face..."

Suddenly, one of the enemy men's expressions changed drastically, and his hand pointing at Bazel trembled inexplicably.

--！！

Conqueror's Haki erupts!

The pirates around him rolled their eyes back and fell backward, their pistols and swords scattered on the ground, and the billiard balls rattled.

Hanafza stared at Bazel in disbelief: "This is... Conqueror's Haki?! You, like Boss Kaido, have awakened the qualities of a king!?"

"It's just Conqueror's Haki, nothing to brag about," Bazel said modestly.

District... District?

Hanafza remained silent.

If he weren't outmatched, he would definitely have slapped the man a few times.

Look at what you're saying.

Has Conqueror's Haki become so insignificant?

Eric, who had managed to get up, did not hear the rest of the conversation because his leg had been broken and he was completely out of his mind.

His only thought was to kill that man; as for his subordinates…

That kind of thing was completely outside Eric's consideration.

"Scythe Slash!!!"

boom--!

Eric was stunned to see that his slash couldn't even shatter the scales on his enemy's body.

"Let me tell you."

Hanafza grabbed Eric's head with one hand and pointed to the man next to him who was shorter than him but absolutely impossible to ignore.

"He is Lord Yamata no Bazel, of course, some of you also call him the Calamity of the Beasts. He is a great pirate with a bounty of 740 million Berries, and the undisputed second-in-command of the Beasts Pirates."

Eric writhed wildly like a maggot in a cesspool, trying to break free of his restraints, but a wisp of purple poisonous mist seeped into his body through his facial features.

"Ugh!!!!"

"I don't like to argue with the dead over words. Arise, penitents."

Bazel transformed into Yamata no Orochi, his eyes gleaming.

He's a master at making a fuss over trivial matters, and he's using this incident caused by an insignificant ant as a perfect opportunity to complete his job duties.

Poisonous mist and the poison of Naraku were sprayed out in a tangled mess.

Those pirates who were stunned by Conqueror's Haki passed away in their sleep, only to be "resurrected" again with the help of Naraku's poison.

"Announcing the arrival of the Age of Beasts to the pirates of Paradise."