Chapter 433: Artificial Dragon Fruit!

The Lunaria tribe are born with wings, allowing them to fly freely through the skies, and can manipulate fire like a Devil Fruit ability.

Moreover, they possess abilities even stronger than ordinary Devil Fruits.

When flames burn behind them, they gain defense nearly impregnable; when the flames extinguish, their speed surges dramatically.

Truly, offense and defense in one!

It’s gone beyond reason!

“The World Government created this ancient weapon based on the Lunaria tribe…”

“I hope it won’t disappoint.”

“Huh?!”

“Is the opponent this old man?”

“His strength may be lacking, but he should still be able to test S-Drake’s limits.”

On the Round Table Arena, the two opponents now stood facing each other.

They were Green Pepper, former leader of the Eight Treasure Navy of the Flower Kingdom in the West Blue, and S-Drake, sent by the Five Elders to retrieve the permanent pointer to Laugh Tale.

Countless spectators watching the projection screen were unfamiliar with the sudden appearance of S-Drake, but the name of the Flower Kingdom’s Eight Treasure Navy in the West Blue was renowned even in the New World.

In the West Blue.

The Mafia were merely underground forces; even if they held the title of boss, they were still rats hiding in darkness, unseen by light.

But the Eight Treasure Navy of the Flower Kingdom was different—it was a true behemoth. In his youth, its former leader Green Pepper had clashed multiple times with Marine hero Garp.

Though he ultimately suffered a crushing defeat at Garp’s hands and lost his prized headbutt, he was still revered as a legendary figure.

His immense strength, needless to say, was undeniable.

“It’s Leader Green Pepper!”

“The former strongest man of the West Blue’s Flower Kingdom!”

“No!”

“Even now, among pirates from the West Blue, no one’s name is louder than his—except Red-Haired Shanks!”

“He’s a true monster; they say he even possesses the bearing of a Conqueror!”

“And his opponent…”

“Aside from a slightly unusual appearance, he’s utterly ordinary—tch…”

“How did a guy like this even make it through the New World qualifiers?!”

…

West Blue.

Inside a bar.

Countless Mafia members gathered together, watching the live broadcast of the World Martial Arts Tournament.

Capone Bege sat on the sofa, relaxed and bold, a cigar burning in his hand, emitting a faint scent of smoke.

Since his devastating defeat at Sabaody Archipelago, his losses far exceeded those of his original timeline—nearly total annihilation.

He had taken the chaos to return to his stronghold, preparing to rebuild his pirate crew and strike again for the New World.

"Boss, with Green Pepper fighting, this match has no suspense at all!"

“The betting odds for these two on the bar’s side bets have skyrocketed to a terrifying 1 to 33!”

“Green Pepper at 1, that kid S-Drake at 33!”

A Mafia member in a suit eagerly refilled Bege’s glass, his eyes locked on the projection screen as he urged:

“You still have time to withdraw your bets on that S-Drake—this casino will honor your request.”

“After all, that’s the money we used to buy our ship—!”

Ssssh—!

A dinner fork pierced straight through the man’s hands, pinning them to the table; he cried out in pain and looked up to meet Bege’s icy gaze:

“Are you teaching me how to run things?!”

“I… I… I didn’t mean it!”

“Is that so?!”

Bege’s lips curled into a strange smile. He lifted his gaze to the projection screen, fixing it on the unknown boy, and said with deep implication:

“How about we make a bet?”

The Mafia member dared not resist, nodding frantically:

“Yes, whatever you bet on, I accept…”

“Good!

Bege’s eyes gleamed with amusement:

“I bet on the outcome of this fight—if Green Pepper loses, I not only forgive you this time, I’ll give you a lump sum for your family.”

“If you lose…”

“I accept, Boss!”

The Mafia member cut him off before he could state his condition, agreeing instantly.

His gaze toward Bege even carried gratitude.

He now realized—even if he wanted to give advice, he shouldn’t have spoken it publicly; that was slapping Bege’s face.

The boss’s actions were just another way of pardoning my mistake—and because of my warning, he’s even giving me a family allowance…

To serve a boss like this, I must’ve been a savior in my past life!

The more he thought about it,

the more moved the Mafia member became.

Bege paid him no mind, continuing on his own:

“If you’d said that, I’d have cut off your hand—and you’d never show your face to me again.”

“Yes!”

The Mafia member was moved to tears, nodding wildly.

But Bege’s next words made his heart drop.

“Don’t you think that boy looks familiar? His face is carved from the exact same mold as that monster.”

The Mafia member snapped his head up, staring at S-Drake on the screen—each glance grew more familiar, more eerily recognizable.

Soon,

his peripheral vision caught a wanted poster pinned to the bar’s wall—a name exploded in his mind:

“Knight… Gao Wen?!”

His face turned deathly pale, yet he clung to hope:

“No!”

“This kid looks fourteen or fifteen—Knight Gao Wen is only in his twenties, and he was once a knight from an East Blue kingdom; he couldn’t possibly have a child this old!”

“It’s… it’s just a coincidence!”

“It must be!”

Bege glanced at him, his eyes filled with pity.

Though he couldn’t discern any link between the boy and Gao Wen, the boy’s strange posture reminded him of a rare race he’d once glimpsed in an ancient book.

The Lunaria tribe—once called gods.

“How utterly thrilling.”

“New World!”

…

Britannias, Round Table Arena.

Green Pepper and S-Drake stood facing each other. Seeing his opponent was a boy, Green Pepper gave him little regard.

Even the greatest prodigy at this age could accomplish little—after all, even Knight Gao Wen didn’t truly rise to prominence until after he turned twenty.

“Boy.”

Green Pepper smiled warmly, his Buddha-like appearance radiating warmth as he said calmly:

“This isn’t a stage for you to meddle in—if you don’t want to get hurt—!”

But—

Green Pepper’s words were cut off by S-Drake’s curse:

“Old bastard, stop yapping!”

“I just want to kill you—or get killed by you!”

Green Pepper’s expression twisted instantly, fury blazing in his eyes:

“Then let me show you how far you are from this world!”

Goo—!

A gray aura spread from Green Pepper, unleashing a powerful Conqueror’s Haki capable of knocking out ordinary men on the spot!

This was the mark of a king.

As one of the few strongmen known in Roger’s era, Green Pepper’s power was unquestionable.

But—

In the next instant, Green Pepper’s Conqueror’s Haki was shattered outright by another, stronger, more ruthless, more arrogant Conqueror’s Haki.