Chapter 5: Legendary Battleship

The Donquixote Family approaches Duke in the meeting room of the Valoran family in West Blue.

Duke isn't worried about offending Doflamingo right now, as Doflamingo is far away in the New World. However, the mafia and Marines in West Blue are much closer.

"Why do they always come looking for trouble?" Duke wonders, thinking about the recent conflict with Green Hansen.

After Duke dealt with Green Hansen and established the Valoran family, nearby mafias started banding together and attacking House Valoran.

This led to the loss of many territories previously held by Valoran to other families, which made Duke angry. He dislikes unnecessary fighting.

But with his current territories taken over, Duke is left wondering how to make money. Just as he plans to confront the nearby mafia families, a strange guest arrives - Colonel Balk from the Marine Branch, bearing orders from Rear Admiral Ulton.

Duke had no choice but to accept orders from Rear Admiral Ulton.

The reason why nearby mafia families joined forces to attack Duke was because of Ulton's hint as Rear Admiral.

Balk wanted Duke to realize that without Ulton's protection, neither the Green family nor the Valoran family would survive the treacherous seas.

"The treasure has increased by 30%, and we must find the devil's son's father for Rear Admiral Ulton," Balk stated.

Duke, expressionless at first, then transformed his gloomy face into a strange smile, saying calmly to Colonel Balk, "No problem, just give me some time."

"In seven days, I'll bring the treasure and news about the devil's son's father to Rear Admiral Ulton," Duke assured.

Colonel Balk snorted disdainfully but agreed to halt the nearby mafia attacks for the seven days. However, he warned, "If Ulton Rear Admiral isn't satisfied with what you bring, the Valoran family's future is at stake."

"Very pleased!" Duke grinned at Kaido, appearing confident about his upcoming visit.

However, when seven days passed and the scheduled meeting at the 86th Marine branch base didn't happen, Duke and Graves were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a massive pirate ship arrived.

This ship belonged to Gangplank, a notorious pirate who had recently gained fame as the "ocean disaster." In just ten days, Gangplank had recruited over ten pirate groups and amassed a crew of over two thousand.

As news of Gangplank's fleet spread, alarm bells rang at Marine Base 86. Marines were shocked to see pirates daring to surround their base in West Blue, a rare occurrence even in the era of rampant piracy.

Despite the rise of pirates due to the Great Pirate Era, Marines had always hunted them down, except for the territories of the Four Emperors. Even pirates like Gol D. Roger and pre-Seven Warlord Doflamingo faced pursuit from Marines like Garp and Crane.

Now, a rookie pirate from West Blue was challenging the Marines in a way they hadn't experienced before.

How dare they besiege a Marine branch base? It's like asking for trouble.

The Base Commander, Rear Admiral Ulton, seethed with anger, shouting insults and ordering an all-out attack. Pirates flooded into waters that were supposed to be secure, challenging the Marines directly.

This audacious act would surely tarnish Ulton's reputation with the World Government and figures like Sengoku.

Furious, Ulton and his Marines hastily manned their cannons, ready to unleash punishment on Gangplank's fleet. But before they could fire, the pirates' cannons unleashed a storm of shells that darkened the sky and wreaked havoc on the Marine Base.

The devastation caused by Gangplank's flagship, the Abyss, was comparable to a Buster Call by ten warships. Gangplank's prowess had soared, reaching level six and a strength comparable to a Naval Headquarters Rear Admiral.

His legendary ship, the Abyss, was a force to be reckoned with, capable of devastating attacks with its special rune transformations.

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