Lies Wrapped in Kindness, Death Cloaked in Grace....

The standoff began with an air of disbelief. The pirates of the Black Seraph crew, hardened and proud, murmured among themselves. The name had spread like wildfire, laced with disbelief and fear: The Black Flame Pirates.

The tension was palpable as the Black Seraph Pirates stared in disbelief at the crew before them which had no injuries as if they did not fighting what's so ever. The laid back and nonchalant presence that circulates them is of the totoal opposite of what they imagined it to be . Whispers spread like wildfire, each voice tinged with confusion and fear. "It can't be… They are suppose to be fighting the Navy and Crocodile !" a burly pirate stammered, his hand trembling as it clutched the hilt of his sword.

Another voice snapped back, equally shaken. "They were! How the hell are they standing here? They shouldn't even be here!"

"This is not possible....right?" The weight of the realization settled heavily across the gathering, like an anchor pulling them into the depths of despair. Eyes darted from the familiar insignia on the opposing crew's flag to the infamous figures standing before them, their presence exuding an unsettling calm.

Corbin, one of the Black Seraph lieutenants, strode forward, his sharp gaze burning with indignation. "How the hell are you here?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the chaotic murmurs. "Shouldn't you be locked in a fight to the death with the Navy and the Warlord Crocodile?" His question hung in the air like a challenge, daring the other crew to provide an answer. Behind him, Violet stood silently, his calm demeanor betraying none of the calculations spinning through his mind. He surveyed the newcomers, silently but keenly searching for any sign of weakness whilst awaiting their answers.

Laffitte, the ever-smiling individual of the Black Flame Pirates, stepped forward, his polished boots clicking softly against the weathered ground. His top hat sat at a jaunty angle, and his cane tapped rhythmically as he moved, the picture of poise. "My dear boy," he said in a voice dripping with condescension, his words enunciated with impeccable clarity. "Do you think the likes of the Navy could hold us back? How dreadfully naive." He chuckled softly, his unnervingly calm demeanor only amplifying the growing unease among the Black Seraph Pirates.

Joshua's smirk deepened as he added, "What do you think happened?" His voice was smooth, each word carefully measured, carrying an edge that hinted at malice. Corbin's scowl darkened as he hesitated, unsure of how to respond. His pride warred with the gnawing doubt that clawed at the back of his mind. The crew behind him exchanged uneasy glances, their once confident demeanor cracking under the weight of the Black Flame Pirates' presence.

Before Corbin could muster a reply...."Did you guys defeat them, Violent voice rand out shattering the dead silence which suffocated the area.

Guzen then broke continued to shatter the rising tension with an exaggerated clap, his expression a twisted mixture of glee and mockery. "Ding, ding, ding! You got it right!" he exclaimed, his voice loud enough to silence the murmurs around him. "They were wiped out—dead beyond recognition! Even that pitiful excuse for a warlord. What was his name again? Ah, yes… Fodder Crocodile!" The jeers that followed from the Black Flame crew echoed mockingly, their confidence unwavering. The Black Seraph Pirates stared, their expressions a mix of shock and horror.

Nixon stood amidst the desolation, the crunch of brittle bones beneath his polished boots the only sound punctuating the heavy silence. The dim light of a distant meteorite crash cast long, flickering shadows over the skeletal remains scattered across the island. Yet, he remained unfazed, his posture as composed as ever, like an unbothered aristocrat at a grim banquet.

"Yes, even him," he said, his voice crisp and deliberate, cutting through the somber atmosphere like a finely honed blade. His fingers traced the engraved handle of his silver needle, tapping it once against the ground with a muted thud, sending a small plume of bone dust spiraling into the stagnant air.

"And trust me, we treated them all… nicely," he added, a sardonic smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He tilted his head ever so slightly, his piercing gaze sweeping over his companions as if to remind them of the unspoken authority he carried. The eerie light reflected in his eyes, a flicker of something cold and calculating.

The crowd erupted into panicked whispers.

"No way… They killed the warlord?" one pirate gasped.

"Impossible! How could a crew of rookies—" another began but faltered under the weight of his own disbelief.

Violet's icy voice cut through the noise, his calm demeanor hiding the turmoil underneath. "So, it's true. You actually defeated them…" His words hung heavily, his tone carrying a gloom that chilled the air.

"Impossible!" Corbin barked, his frustration boiling over. "You're just a bunch of rookies! What do you know of the seas? How could you defeat a warlord and the Navy?!" Corbin clenched his fists, glaring at the opposing crew. "You couldn't have defeated them. This must be a bluff."

"Bluff?" Guzen echoed, spreading his arms theatrically. "Oh, believe me, it's no bluff! Every last one of them—sunk to the depths, shredded to pieces. And we didn't even break a sweat." His tone was laced with derision, his words calculated to inflame their opponents' insecurities. Violet's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, his mind racing with strategies. 

For the first time in a long while, the Black Seraph Pirates felt doubt creeping into their resolve. The tension thickened like a storm cloud, oppressive and suffocating. The scattered Black Seraph Pirates, usually unruly and brash, now stood as if frozen in place, their confidence visibly eroding. The sound of bones cracking underfoot felt louder than it should have, each step like a gunshot echoing in their minds.

Sweat beaded on foreheads and dripped down unshaven faces, the once-proud pirates darting nervous glances toward one another. Their usual swagger was replaced with shifty movements—hands fidgeting with weapons, eyes scanning for any signs of an opening or escape.

The rest of the crew murmured nervously among themselves. The pirate who had been drinking earlier let his flask fall to the ground with a dull clang, his hands shaking too much to hold it steady.

Tension crackled in the air like static electricity.

Violet then said in a voice low but steady. "If you truly defeated them, why spare us this lecture? "What is it you really want?"

Joshua let out a dry chuckle, his grin widening further. "Finally, someone who speaks sense." He took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate, each one resonating with an air of control. "What we want… is everything. The treasure you've worked so hard to gather? That's ours now. Your pride? Leave it at the door. And your lives…" He paused, savoring the weight of his words. "Well, those hang in the balance, don't they?"

Violet and Corbin exchanged a glance, their silent communication filled with utter gloominess.

Corbin growled, his temper boiling over. "You arrogant little—" He lunged forward, but Violet's arm shot out, holding him back. The fury in Corbin's eyes met Violet's cold glare. "Don't," Violet warned, his voice firm. "Not yet." It wasn't just caution—it was survival. Violet knew they couldn't afford to act rashly against an opponent whose strength was still an enigma.

"Smart move," Laffitte interjected, his voice laced with approval. "You're beginning to understand the gravity of your predicament. Truly, it's refreshing to encounter someone with even a shred of sense out here in these lawless seas." He adjusted his hat, his posture unchanging, his confidence unnerving. "But alas, understanding alone won't save you."

Corbin, however, was less composed. "Damn it all! Are we just going to let them walk over us like this?" he snarled. His voice carried enough force to snap some of the nearby pirates out of their daze. "

The pirates of the Black Seraph crew shifted uneasily, their confidence rapidly crumbling. The realization of their disadvantage was sinking in. The meteors continued to fall, their fiery trails streaking across the darkened sky, casting eerie, flickering shadows on the scene below. The ship groaned under the weight of the atmosphere, the wood creaking as if it, too, could feel the strain.

At this point in time, from somewhere deep within the Black Seraph Pirates' ranks, a figure moved—slipping through the gathered crowd with an unsettling, ghostly grace. His presence seemed to dissolve into the shadows, every step calculated and silent, as if he believed himself utterly unseen. He weaved effortlessly between his comrades and the remnants of the environment, avoiding the slightest brush against another. The other Black Seraph pirates, preoccupied with their fear and frustration, didn't notice the figure's departure. His movements were a testament to his mastery of stealth, the kind that could rival even the most cunning assassin. Yet, unbeknownst to him, what he didn't realize was that his slip through the crowd had not gone unnoticed. 

....

"So how about this...."

Laffitte voice followed, smooth and calculated. "Half your loot for safe passage?" "Doesn't that sound reasonable?

Corbin growled, "Impossible! Do you think we're fools?"

"We're the Black Seraph Pirates! We've conquered fleets! Pillaged islands! You think a bunch of upstart rookies can take us down?" Violet, more calculated, remained silent but tightened his grip on his dagger. His inner monologue raced. If they truly defeated the Navy and a warlord without a scratch, this is no ordinary crew. This could… this could be very disadvantageous to us.

Motoa, his frail form hunched over and constantly interrupted by hacking coughs, squinted at the Black Seraph Pirates with a mixture of curiosity and sarcasm His voice rasped as he spoke, sounding as though every word pained him. "And who might these Black Seraph Pirates, " he asked, his tone sharp despite the apparent weakness.

Laffitte unfazed by the challenge, spread his arms wide as if welcoming the question. With a slight bow of his head, he began to speak.

Laffitte, leaning casually against his cane couldn't help but smirk as he looked over at the two lieutenants standing near him—Corbin the Beast and Violet the Phantom. .

"Let me give you a brief rundown, just see it as an enlightenment, Motoa," Laffitte said, his voice smooth with forbidden words about to be tolfd. "The Black Seraph Pirates are no ordinary crew. They're a force to be reckoned with, a name that strikes terror across the Grandline seas."

Laffitte began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've already met Corbin —the man who slices through ships like they're nothing. As might as a roaring lion, some say. The Beast they call him. A man whose raw strength could crush mountains, let alone ships. He's not just fast, he's a force of nature. One swing of his blade and you're down, before you even know what hit you."

Laffitte's expression darkened for a moment as he shifted gears, now focusing on the rest of the Black Seraph Pirates. "But don't think for a second it ends there. These two are just part of a much bigger picture. There are two more lieutenants you'll want to avoid—Rael Von Draken, The Iron Colossus. Devil Fruit powers make him a walking tank, and his strength could collapse the earth if he felt like it. And then there's Jax Corvus the Blade, a swordsman with an edge as sharp as his wit. His blade dances like lightning, and one wrong move will have you wishing you'd stayed in the safest corner of the seas."

Laffitte paused, his lips curling into a grin. "And let's not forget about their General, Korrin the Strategist". An ex-marine with a mind that's just as twisted as her sense of justice. She commands strategy like a chess master. You'll never see her coming until it's too late."

Lefty looked back at Motoa, letting the weight of his words settle. "And the man at the top of all this? "Ashen Typhoon" Soren Valeric. He's not just some swordsman. He's a beast in his own right. His Devil Fruit powers give him the edge he needs in the Grandline combine that with his insane swordsmanship and the ability to bring down entire fleets with a single strike.

Laffitte chuckled softly. "So yeah, Motoa. You don't want to mess with them. Their fleet is as deadly as their captain, and if you're not careful, you'll be swallowed up by the storm they bring..... and his bounty is 500 million berries.

"Oh wow, he sounds like a monster..." Motoa coughed, his throat feeling dry as Laffitte spoke "Cough... cough..." He paused, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "That's someone this old man would not like to face."