Growing Ambitions

Ryomen's eyes burned with quiet fury as he faced Bellamy and his crew. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

Bellamy's grin turned smug when he recognized Ryomen. "Oh? The coward's still alive. Guess it makes sense you'd be hanging around losers like him." He sneered, gesturing at Cricket.

"Move aside, or I'll knock you down like last time." His grin widened, his crew laughing in mockery behind him.

"C'mon, Bellamy, let's just beat him down already." Sarquiss said, cracking his knuckles.

Masira and Shoujou stepped forward, fists raised. "We won't let you!"

Cricket raised a hand to hold them back. "Don't be reckless." He warned, though his eyes gleamed with resolve.

Ryomen calmly stepped forward, his tone dangerous yet measured. "I'll handle this."

Cricket shot him a worried glance. "Kid, these guys aren't pushovers."

Sarquiss sneered as he rushed forward. "You should listen to your friend, or haven't you had enough of a beating already?"

Before Sarquiss could finish his taunt, Ryomen was already in front of him, his movements impossibly fast. With a single, effortless strike, he slammed Sarquiss into the ground, creating a crater under his body. The impact left the entire area silent, stunned by the sheer force.

Cricket stared in disbelief, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Maybe...These fools can actually pull it off." He muttered.

Ryomen turned his gaze to Bellamy, his tone colder than before. "Luffy won't mind if I take care of this. After all, you're standing in the way of his dream."

Bellamy's bravado faltered, but anger quickly replaced his fear. "Don't get cocky just because you got lucky!" He snarled, gesturing for his crew to attack.

They charged at Ryomen in unison, but he dodged their blows with ease, countering each strike with precise, devastating hits. In moments, they were all unconscious, littering the ground around him.

"You!" Bellamy's voice was raw with fury. "Spring Snipe!"

With his feet transforming into springs, Bellamy shot toward Ryomen like a bullet.

"Watch out! That's the Bane Bane no Mi's power!" Cricket warned, but Ryomen was already ahead of him. He sidestepped the attack easily and delivered a swift kick that sent Bellamy skidding across the ground.

As Ryomen towered over Bellamy, his four eyes gleaming ominously, the cocky pirate's mask of arrogance finally cracked. "W-What are you?"

Ryomen's voice dropped, dangerously calm. "Leave. We don't have time for this."

Bellamy, still struggling to stand, growled through clenched teeth. "What's more important than this?"

"Getting to Sky Island." Ryomen replied coldly before turning his back on Bellamy, walking toward Cricket.

Bellamy's fists clenched, his whole body shaking with rage. He wanted to attack, to prove Ryomen wrong—but some primal instinct in his gut screamed at him to stop. If he made another move, Ryomen wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

With shame thick in the air, Bellamy and his crew limped away, defeated both physically and mentally.

Cricket shook his head, chuckling. "Thanks, kid. I could've handled it."

Ryomen shot him a sidelong glance. "Then why didn't you?"

Cricket shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looked like you wanted practice."

Ryomen rolled his eyes, the tension easing. Just as the moment relaxed, the rest of the Straw Hats arrived on the scene.

"Mister! We found the bird!!" Luffy cheered, then blinked at the devastation surrounding him. "Were you guys partying without me!?"

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Does this look like a party to you?"

"What happened?" Usopp asked, eyes wide as he looked at the wreckage.

"Bellamy and his crew tried to steal my gold. But this kid managed to beat them up." Cricket said, clapping a hand on Ryomen's shoulder.

"Good job, Ryomen! But, uh…Who's Bellemy?" Luffy asked, his confusion plain.

Zoro facepalmed while Ryomen let out a sigh.

Soon after, the crew set to work reinforcing the Merry, preparing for the journey to Skypiea.

…

Far away, between the two halves of the Grand Line, in the sacred land of Mary Geoise, five elders gathered in a private room, their faces grave as they listened to a marine officer's report.

"Red-Haired Shanks!?" One of the elders exclaimed, his voice tense with disbelief.

"Yes, he has sent envoys...But a meeting between Whitebeard and Shanks could be catastrophic!" The marine replied, standing at attention.

"Catastrophic is putting it lightly." Another elder mused.

"He has ambitions, no doubt, but I don't think world conquest is among them." A third elder remarked thoughtfully.

"We should assess the situation carefully before making any moves." Added the fourth elder, his brow furrowed.

"For now, our priority is to find a replacement for Crocodile. We must not overlook any details." Said the elder dressed in a kimono.

"The balance of the Three Great Powers must be maintained." 

"The Warlords have been summoned, but as always, we don't know how many will actually show up. Pirates are notoriously unreliable." The marine officer added with a sigh.

"What a nuisance Crocodile has been," Muttered one elder as they looked down at two bounty posters on the table. "But we cannot ignore the ones who defeated him."

They exchanged knowing glances, their eyes settling bitterly on one of the posters.

"We knew leaving him with Isgor was a mistake." One elder said with a trace of annoyance.

"Don't dwell on it. It wasn't our decision, and you know better than to think the escape was a mistake from his perspective." Another replied.

Their conversation trailed off as an announcement rang through the chamber. "Navy High Command to Mary Geoise! Announcing the arrival of the Warlords of the Sea…Sir Don Quixote Doflamingo and Sir Bartholomew Kuma!"

…

In a grand meeting room, Doflamingo and Kuma stood on one side, while Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the high command of the Navy gathered on the other. The tension was palpable, but what really caught the attention of the Warlords was the presence of a certain man beside Sengoku.

Doflamingo's eyes narrowed, his usual air of arrogance wavering for a moment. Beside him, Kuma clutched his Bible a little tighter.

"Didn't expect you to be here…Isgor." Doflamingo said, his voice tinged with both intrigue and a hint of unease.

Isgor, standing tall and exuding a quiet confidence, gave a small smile. His long hair and slim build belied the immense power that radiated from him. "Is that so? Well, this is a special occasion."

"What are you talking about?" Sengoku asked, his suspicion clear despite them being allies.

"No need to be so alarmed, Fleet Admiral." Isgor replied with a chuckle. "I'm just here waiting for a business partner, that's all."

His cryptic response only heightened the tension.

Sengoku gave a sigh, then addressed everyone. "Now, let us start the me–" 

"Wait." Isgor suddenly interrupted. "Not everyone has arrived yet." He told them.

Before anyone could question him, a voice came from the door, approaching them.

"Were you expecting me?"

The room turned toward the door to see Mihawk entering with his usual calm and detached demeanor.

"No, but you're a pleasant surprise nonetheless, Mihawk." Isgor said, absently petting Sengoku's goat, much to the admiral's irritation.

"A round table for this meeting? Seems a bit pointless." Mihawk remarked as he took his seat.

"Right? I complained about it, but no one cared." Isgor shrugged playfully.

"I didn't think you'd…!" Sengoku exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, well…isn't this a surprise." Doflamingo mumbled.

"Hmph. I'm just here as an interested bystander. I'm a little curious about the pirates you'll be discussing, that's all." Mihawk told them indifferently. 

"Then, may I join as an interested bystander too?" A man asked as he came through the window, shocking nearly everyone.

"So many twists and turns, huh?" Isgor asked Sengoku with a playful smile.

"Is this your business partner?" Sengoku questioned with narrowed eyes.

"No, just an acquaintance." Isgor replied, wiping a fake tear. "I see my respect around here is lacking."

"How can that be?" The man in the top hat exclaimed. "The boss is simply making preparations." He then looked toward the marines. "I've come here to recommend someone for your new Warlord of the Sea."

"You're Lafitte." An elderly woman suddenly said.

"Oh? You know me? I'm honored." Lafitte replied.

"Who is he, Tsuru?" Sengoku asked the woman beside him.

"A sheriff from the West Blue." Tsuru continued, addressing the room. "Banished for his brutality."

"Hoho! That's such an old story. But never mind me. I've come to propose Captain Teach as your next Warlord."

"Teach?" Sengoku muttered.

"That's right. He's the captain of our crew." Lafitte replied.

"Never heard of him." A marine grumbled. "The other pirates won't like it if we appoint a nobody."

"A nobody? I could prove he's much more than that." Isgor said with a playful smile. He then turned toward Lafitte. "If he wishes to, of course." 

"Hoho! Thank you for your trust, Sir Isgor! But we have plans to amend that, so please give us a little more time." Lafitte exclaimed while twirling his staff.

"Hee Hee Hee! Sounds interesting! Let's give it to him, Sengoku!" Doflamingo said, amused.

"It will make you remember the Blackbeard pirates…in a way you won't forget." Lafitte cryptically exclaimed.

…

Back in Mock Town, the news of Bellamy's defeat spread quickly.

"Bellamy got beat?!"

"By who?"

"Those three pirates! Who would've thought they were worth over two hundred million!?"

Overhearing the conversation, a tall, dark-skinned man grinned. "Augur." He said quietly.

"Yes, captain." Augur replied, leading the way.

"Hmm, when will this scouting end!?" Burgess questioned, annoyed.

"Zehaha!! Soon! Very soon!" Blackbeard excitedly replied.

Bellamy, meanwhile, was drowning his sorrows at the bar when a large shadow loomed over him.

"The hell do you want!? Beat it!!" Bellamy yelled out.

"Where is 'Straw Hat'?" Blackbeard plainly asked.

"Did you not hear me!? Beat–" Without another word, Blackbeard slammed his face into the counter, breaking both the bar and the floor beneath.

Blackbeard then stared at Sarquiss, who recoiled in fear. 

"Where is he?" The man asked once again.

"O-On the other side of Jaya! Heard something about going to Sky Island!" Sarquiss replied.

"Good." Blackbeard said, standing tall. "Let's go."

"Finally! We're going hunting!" Burgess roared in excitement.

"Captain." Augur interjected. "We were supposed to meet Lafitte and the new crew member here."

Blackbeard waved him off with a laugh. "If we miss 'em, we miss 'em! That's just fate!"

"Still, caution is advised. Our partners aren't ordinary." Augur muttered as Blackbeard's laughter echoed through the tavern.