Chapter 13: Shadow Stream

On Columbo Island, within the headquarters of the Columbo family, one of the five major mafia families, blood flowed silently, staining the gaps between closed doors. Amidst the carnage, Godfather Columbo, soaked in blood, issued threats to Celestial Dragons and Daz Bonez.

However, before his words could carry weight, a razor-sharp shuriken pierced his throat, pinning him to the ground. Celestial Dragons voice cut through the tense air, "Soon, the five major families will be no more. Your blood will be the foundation of Shadow Stream's reputation. Vinsmoke's glory will illuminate the world."

In the secret chamber behind Columbo, treasures of gold and silver glittered, a testament to the family's wealth and power.

The news of Columbo family's massacre spread like wildfire, shocking West Blue. The name of Shadow Stream, left at the scene, struck fear into the hearts of many.

As West Blue quivered with the sudden emergence of Shadow Stream, Duke pondered his strategy against the incoming threat from Diamante.

With intelligence from Galen, Duke was aware of the constant surveillance by the Marines on well-known pirates, including the Donquixote Family.

In just a month, Galen's rise within the Marines was meteoric, from a branch lieutenant colonel to acting base commander. His bravery in capturing several high-profile pirates with bounties in the tens of millions propelled him to prominence. Concurrently, Galen engaged in fierce battles against Gangplank, a notorious figure in West Blue, solidifying his control over the 86th Marine branch base and earning a promotion to branch Commodore.

While his rank was Commodore at the branch level, Galen's elevation to a general officer marked his entry into the upper echelons of the Marine hierarchy. Such titles were scarce within the Marines, with no more than a thousand individuals holding the rank of general across all branches.

Access to extensive intelligence and information became available to Galen, including details about Diamante, who, as a subordinate of the Seven Warlords of the Sea Doflamingo, enjoyed relative impunity from Marine pursuit.

Meanwhile, at Vinsmoke Island, Duke reviewed Diamante's whereabouts alongside Galen's training reports on Marine's Six Styles and Two-Color Haki. A subtle smile graced Duke's lips as he recognized the potential benefits of such information. He understood the value of diverse strengths, whether from Marine's combat styles, swordsmanship, powerful Devil Fruits, or comprehensive Haki training.

Galen's affiliation with Marine not only offered him opportunities for personal growth but also provided Duke with access to Marine's wealth of knowledge and training methodologies. While Wano's Haki training methods on Kuja Island were renowned in pirate circles, Duke believed that Marine's resources, especially within Naval Headquarters, held the key to the most robust and comprehensive Haki training methods.

Marine's reputation as the most formidable force in the pirate world was well-established, bolstered by legendary figures like Garp the Fist, Black Arm Z, and the recently promoted Kong, who commanded respect and fear through their mastery of Haki and martial prowess.

Kuja Island and Wano have garnered fame, yet they haven't produced sea powerhouses solely reliant on Haki and physical prowess. Figures like Kozuki Oden and the sword legend Ryuma excelled in swordsmanship rather than pure Haki mastery.

Reflecting on Diamante's actions, Duke expressed disdain for the trouble caused by the Green family's robbery. He questioned why they targeted the Vinsmoke family instead of the actual culprits. Despite the annoyance, Duke preferred diplomacy over hostility.

Doflamingo's reputation for delivering treasures in the pirate world was noted, from the Op-Op Fruit to other valuable Devil Fruits. However, Duke chose to prioritize friendship over grievances, planning to entertain Diamante and possibly form a connection with Doflamingo.

With a substantial amount of wealth acquired from various sources, including treasures from the Columbus family and profits from the Vinsmoke Lottery Stores, Duke decided to indulge in a significant lottery gamble, aiming to win big.

The Colombo family's wealth, amounting to 2 billion, was not as substantial as Duke initially assumed. This could be attributed to their significant yearly expenses or the fact that their wealth wasn't entirely centralized on Colombo Island. Duke considered traditional mafia businesses like the colombo family's to be minor earners compared to his ambitions.

Despite the reputation of mafia families in West Blue, Duke viewed them as insignificant in the grand scheme. They were merely scraping together minor profits compared to the lucrative opportunities that Duke aimed for. He saw himself as far more than a small-time player.

Duke, accompanied by a host of powerful allies, aimed for unprecedented profits and influence. He wanted to tap into avenues of wealth beyond the reach of other mafia families, establishing the Vinsmoke family as a force to be reckoned with in the pursuit of money and power.

For Duke, investing in strength and prosperity went hand in hand with acquiring wealth. This mindset drove his determination to venture into lucrative ventures that would set the Vinsmoke family apart from its competitors.

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