Ares ruffled Katakuri's hair and said with a smile, "Katakuri, I don't have time to tell you everything that's happened lately. I've already decided to leave Hachinosu and form my own pirate crew."
"Nani!?"
Katakuri jerked his head up, eyes wide in disbelief. "Big Brother Ares is leaving the Rocks Pirates!? But…!"
Then a terrifying thought flashed through him.
"Don't tell me… Captain Rocks is dead!?"
Ares shook his head. "No. He's not dead. But one day, I'll kill him with my own hands. Katakuri, you…"
"Do you want to join my War God Pirates?"
At those words, Katakuri's eyes lit up only for hesitation and struggle to surface at once.
Kaido grinned. "Worororo Katakuri, this is your chance. With your ability, you'll definitely become an officer of the War God Pirates in the future!!"
"With Katakuri's talent… there's no doubt," Slardar added.
Kuma, meanwhile, studied Katakuri curiously. He already knew this kid had awakened Conqueror's Haki at such a young age.
The "qualities of a king."
Ares could see Katakuri's hesitation and said with a smile, "Katakuri, it's fine if you don't join. It won't change what we are to each other."
"Sorry… Big Brother Ares." Katakuri's eyes misted over. He bit his lip, voice trembling. "I have to stay and take care of my little brothers and sisters."
He wanted to join Ares more than anything, but his siblings were still too young…
He had to remain and protect them.
Ares patted his shoulder, smiling as though entrusting him with something precious. "Remember don't slack off in your training. If we meet out on the sea someday, I'll be checking your strength. Don't disappoint me."
"Don't worry!" Katakuri's small face showed a maturity far beyond his age. "I won't shame you or the Charlotte Family!"
No wonder he'd awakened Conqueror's Haki.
"I believe you," Ares said, smiling.
Then he motioned for Kaido and Slardar to start moving valuables and treasure off Hachinosu.
Anyone who tried to stop them kill them.
"Worororo!" Kaido laughed wildly. "When Rocks gets back and sees Hachinosu looted clean, he's gonna blow his top!"
Kaido led the group toward the castle.
At that moment…
A boy who didn't yet carry the title "Wildfire," only a kid, stepped up to Ares.
"Ares… I want to join your pirate crew."
He was only nine years old, wrapped in an oversized black cloak that concealed his body.
"You're… Alber, right?" Ares smiled. "Kaido mentioned you."
Then, with a casual motion, Ares reached out and yanked open the boy's cloak.
In an instant, Alber's youthful yet handsome face was revealed dark skin, sharp features
And at the same time…
A pair of black wings unfolded into the open.
A wave of shocked cries erupted.
"That is… That kid is… a Lunarian!!!"
"Hey, hey there are still Lunarians alive!? If we sell that information to the World Government, that's a 100 million Beli reward!!"
"So that's it… a walking 100 million Beli was right next to us this whole time, and we didn't even notice!!"
"Lunarians are a powerful race that can survive in any environment!"
The noise surged like a tide, and in more than a few hearts, ugly thoughts began to sprout.
Exposed to the crowd's gaze
Alber's expression twisted in panic. Fury flared up in him as he shouted, "Ares, you…!"
"What are you trying to do!?"
"Are you going to sell me for the World Government's bounty!?"
The very next second
A terrifying burst of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Ares.
It was like a demon's will made manifest, crushing down on everyone.
In that instant, the world seemed to plunge into an icy abyss, so cold it felt like blood was freezing inside their veins.
Ares bared his teeth in a grin. "Listen up, brat. I'm accepting you into my crew. From this moment on, what you carry on your back…"
"Is the name of War God Ares."
"Anyone who dares set their sights on you no matter where they run, to the ends of the earth I'll smash them into dust with one punch."
Red light flared in Ares' tiger-like eyes.
Anyone swept by that gaze felt their bodies go numb, like being struck by lightning like their skin was being scraped by a blade.
No one dared meet his eyes.
Instinctively, they lowered their heads.
That scene struck Alber straight in the chest.
He bit his lip hard, trembling.
Ever since the World Government put a price on him
He had never felt anything like this.
Warmth.
Protection.
Being valued.
Katakuri, eyes full of envy, hooked an elbow into Alber's stiff side and muttered, "Hey, idiot what are you standing there for? Hurry up and call him 'Big Brother.'"
Alber snapped back to his senses, eyes bright with emotion.
"A-Ares… Big Brother!"
Ares pulled him close. "Alber. From today on, you're my partner."
"You can live freely under the sun."
"And I want you to restore the glory of the Lunarians."
"Restore… the glory of the Lunarians?" Alber froze, his pupils shaking.
"I… I can really do that?"
Once, they were mighty called "gods" of the Red Line.
Now, perhaps only "King" remained.
So many powerful members of his people had resisted the World Government… and still they were wiped out.
How could he…
Have any confidence?
Ares pressed a hand down on Alber's head.
He'd found that a head-pat worked frighteningly well on kids like this.
And he'd never missed with it.
Ares grinned. "Hey, King. Don't forget you've got me. You've got Kaido. You've got Slardar…"
"We're all your comrades now."
"As long as you're strong enough, there's nothing you can't do."
The young Alber looked like he'd been injected with pure fire.
He nodded hard. "I… I believe you, Big Brother Ares."
"With you here, we'll definitely restore the glory of the Lunarians!!"
One day…
Whether it was him, or any other Lunarians still alive
They would be able to walk freely across these seas.
Seeing Ares accept someone as young as Alber, a lot of people immediately started clamoring to join.
"Get lost."
Ares' voice turned cold as steel.
"Not just anyone gets to join my crew."
That single shout blew the crowd back.
In front of Ares, they could only swallow their anger furious, but helpless.
Soon after, Kaido, Slardar, and the "people" under Ares' banner returned with treasure, food, and anything of value.
They loaded it onto the warships at top speed.
Ares looked at Katakuri. "Katakuri next time we meet, I want to see you grown into a man who can stand on his own."
"I will." Katakuri clenched his fists, gaze steady.
Kaido laughed. "Worororo kid, it's a shame you didn't join. But I, Kaido, respect you."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Katakuri waved, watching as one massive warship after another rose into the air and soared into the sky.
Silently, he prayed:
Big Brother Ares… I hope that when we meet again, you'll have achieved your goal surpassing…
the Supreme Grade Blades.
And becoming the strongest man on the seas!
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