Hate that consumes.

-You've arrived, - Axel said to Kuro.

-That's correct. Apologies for my delay, - said Kuro, adjusting his glasses in a nervous tic, thirsting for blood.

Is there anything specific? - Axel inquired.

-Indeed. There's a grand banquet at the palace where all the nobility gathers. The court is restless due to sightings of bandits across the island, and the young king is nowhere to be found. Tomorrow morning, the young king is expected to arrive, and there's a potential ambush, - explained Kuro.

-An expected sighting, - Axel remarked.

-Yes, - Kuro confirmed.

-And Deuce? - Axel asked.

-No news of the masked one, - replied Kuro, shining with an unsettling calmness at the absence of Deuce.

-Axel, don't worry, my friend. We'll defeat them, just as we did with the last bunch. Then we'll find Deuce, - assured Ussop.

-What bunch? - Kuro inquired.

-Oh, we encountered some pirates, the Simon Pirates, a few ruffians. Fought against us and lost quite embarrassingly, - Ussop explained.

-Simon Pirates, - Kuro repeated.

-Well, let's leave this mess for later. We have a showdown on our hands, - Axel declared, contemplating the consequences of their actions and what might unfold in the coming days.

Thinking about the repercussions of their actions and what might happen in the next few days.

-No, Captain. My meal has been ready, and it's going to get cold. It's a recipe I practiced with Chef Zeff, - Agatha said, offering radishes in milk sauce with toasted fish.

The dinner was filled with anecdotes. Vigo's blacksmith shop was once very famous but suffered after the death of the previous king. They lost the royal artisan contract, and taxes went up. The climate was turbulent, and a license was given to a blacksmith owned by a noble who couldn't handle the hammer.

Morning struck the island with a powerful rain covering the entire city. Streams ran from the mountains to the port. The royal palace in litany separated mud from stone.

In the distance, a large ship with golden insignias on its bow appeared. Richly painted wood in vivid colors gave it a prestigious emblem, only matched by imposing naval vessels. A procession of guards descended with their long, pristine spears. A young, imposing figure strode off the ship with all the pride only a noble could possess after years of care.

-Agatha, remember the plan. There's a conspiracy in the air; we need to get to the bottom of this. Something doesn't sit right with me, - Axel instructed.

-Alright, I'll follow the plan, - Agatha replied, transforming into a stream of water and diving through the rivers surrounding the area towards the royal palace.

-Kuro, as you planned, you'll go alone, - Axel said.

-Ussop, you'll cover Tashigi. I'll go with the royal entourage from a safe distance, - Axel continued.

-Yes, don't worry. I've expanded my repertoire, and now that I know Tashigi's abilities better, I can be better supported, - Ussop said, holding two 9mm pistols, each with two shots.

-Good luck, - Axel said.

I watched Tashigi leave with Ussop. Agatha must be somewhere near the palace, and Kuro will enter the palace for information. His speed provides a significant advantage over others; the guards can't keep up with his silent movements.

The trumpets began to sound, announcing the arrival of the young king in the Kingdom of Forestry. Soldiers positioned themselves on either side, and the young king emerged from the ship in all the opulence a king can display. A white horse awaited him upfront.

The procession was slow and deliberate. Axel observed Lia and Ussop changing amidst the crowd, which watched the royal proceedings with morbid fascination.

In the distance, the king rode a beautiful white horse, displaying regal behavior. A guard followed him to the left, covered in a thick, shiny helmet, engaging in conversation with the king, murmuring things around him.

They entered the royal palace calmly. Axel stealthily jumped onto the palace wall, spotting Kuro on the rooftops, while Agatha remained hidden among the waters. An old man in a wheelchair was guided by a bulky thug with black hair and a golden armor adorned with a circle covering his entire back. He wore thick golden rings around his neck, and a long white mantle reaching his feet.

Some calls were exchanged, and the guards followed behind closed doors. Axel entered through a window and reached a courtyard, seemingly the training ground. The mission was impromptu, relying on selective improvisation and trust in Kuro's plans.

Entering a large door led him to grand stairs. The grand banquet had already begun, and Axel spotted Ussop and Tashigi dressed as servants attending tables. The mid-afternoon passed, and the king delivered a speech, instructing not to leave the city and announcing a dinner in two days.

Night fell, and as he left, Axel encountered Kuro on the rooftops.

-Follow me; something is interesting I want you to see, - Kuro said.

-Sure, - Axel replied, signaling Ussop and Tashigi to be cautious.

Axel followed, walking towards an abandoned wing of the castle. They overheard two conversations.

-Are you sure, Simon, that you can execute the plan without hesitation? - the king asked.

-Indeed, Your Highness. You pay, and I deliver; it's a monetary relationship. Gold binds us, of course. My people have already started moving; everything is planned. I've united all the criminal gangs in the kingdom. We'll massacre every last noble at the banquet in two days. They'll be replaced by actors, the bandits, who have their uses at our convenience. On their journey, they'll mysteriously disappear. His Majesty will declare a state of emergency, confiscate all the wealth of the great houses, appoint new impoverished nobles, and his reign will be long, - Simon explained.

-Very well, Simon. I'll depart; you take care of the vermin, - said the king.

-As you command, Your Highness, - Simon replied, opening a book as his clothes transformed into numerous pages.

-It seems our location has been compromised, - Kuro said, jumping to confront Simon.

Witnessing Kuro's audacity, Axel leaped to face Simon. The entire tower's arch began transforming into leaves; the ground split and countless leaves filled the entire room.

-It appears you've fulfilled the agreement, Kuro, - Simon said.

-That's right. I hope you've captured the other crew members, - Kuro said.

-That's correct. We didn't find the girl cook, but we recovered our crew members and captured your captain's other companions, - Simon replied.

-You've used deceitful means, Kuro, - Axel said, surprised. Though he foresaw the trick, he never thought Kuro would join Simon and set a trap.

-Haha, deceitful! You think you can come to see me and act as if you're my captain. I don't follow anyone. My wonderful idea of living a peaceful life, not bothering anyone, and leaving this pirate life would've happened if you hadn't interrupted and disrupted all my carefully laid plans. You have no idea how much I hate you for that, - Kuro said, pouring out all the resentment he harbored towards Axel, who disrupted his plan.

-That's how it is. I regret that your intelligence is clouded by your emotions, - Axel said.

-Go ahead, Kuro. Live in cowardice, live like a dog. You no longer interest me, -Axel said, more serious than usual.

He unsheathed his sword and took a deep breath.

-Agatha, it's your turn, - Axel said.

-In the distance, Agatha appeared, with an immense amount of water in her limbs, and struck Simon's position like a tsunami as he moved. Simon disintegrated into papers, evading the attack at the top of the tower.

-You were right, Axel. Kuro would betray you. He's too predictable, - Agatha said.

Kuro could only stay silent; veins protruded on his forehead. -- It seems you didn't fully fulfill your deal, Kuro. I hope you know it's not inconvenient with my power, but I'm disappointed. You've been played like a fiddle, -- Simon said.

-But I am the strongest, - Simon declared.

-I've always wanted to fight you—the one who ate the Paper-Paper Fruit. Only by facing the strongest can I surpass my goal. The world awaits my victory, - Axel said.

-Sonic Punch, - Axel declared, channeling all his strength into the upcoming strike.

Simon disintegrated into papers, but some papers were cut; however, they reformed. Although it caused no damage, these papers were more resilient than expected.

The powerful blows came one after another, Axel's kendo began to diminish, and the water forms started dampening Simon's papers. However, this only slowed down Simon's attacks; wet paper didn't hinder the Paper Man's offensive. Axel distributed the five forms repeatedly, but as expected, water didn't harm Simon.

-Ha, I'm invincible. There's nothing that can stop me. I was born as a supreme being blessed by the heavens, - Simon boasted, forming a paper lance on his back.

-That's true. I'm not strong enough, but I know the weakness of paper—fire, which consumes the sheets, fire that burns everything flammable, - Axel said.

-No one can defeat me! - Simon shouted.

A fist of fire rose and struck Simon, vaporizing all his sheets. Deuce Mask appeared in all his glory. "Fire Fist" hit Simon head-on, just as he would with Crocodile when Luffy got blood and water on him.

-Sorry for the inconvenience, - Deuce said, wearing his mask and green cape.

-Imbecile, - Agatha muttered.

In the distance, Kuro was seen escaping Agatha's tentacles. She ignored Deuce's words and kept repeating the word "imbecile." On the first day of arrival, she was the one who discovered Deuce's location. It's true; only she would know his hiding place. During their private moments and late-night conversations, she got to know the kind of person Deuce was—an "angel," a straightforward and predictable individual. The first place he searched was the restaurants.

How could she not know? If he was also a cook, a simple guy like him would look for work and earn a living in a boring way. He wouldn't venture into the sea; the first thing he would do was get depressed about his defeat. He didn't have enough to gather courage and set sail on his own. He wouldn't fight for a place in the world; he'd go with the flow long enough until society and destiny pushed him.

-Round two begins, - Axel said.

Deuce jumped and performed a massive fire fist, flooding the entire royal chamber. Simon managed to block it with a paper shield, focused in the center, that he used as a defense.

Axel saw Kuro running as water flooded the other battleground. Axel closed some exits, and the sap liquid balls hit Kuro with force; he couldn't do anything to dodge. The sap liquid was sticky and annoying. Kuro felt his whole body was slippery.

-Now face the power of my Devil Fruit, - Agatha said.

...

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