"Bege, are you jealous of me?" Shanks burst out laughing.
Bege shushed him with a "Hmph."
"You're kidding, right? Me, jealous of you? If I hadn't been gearing up my forces these past three years, where would you even be?"
"Gearing up your forces? It seems Captain Demon Dragon is planning something big," Benn Beckman, who was nearby, suddenly interjected.
"Hey, hey, hey, Bege, what big thing are you planning? Tell me about it," Shanks slung an arm around Bege's neck, asking with great interest.
Bege, cigar in mouth, pushed Shanks' head away and looked at Benn Beckman with intrigue. "Benn Beckman, I've heard of you. Your intelligence is said to be very high. Why don't you try guessing what I'm planning?"
It was rumored that Benn Beckman was the most intelligent person in the world of One Piece. Bege was intentionally trying to test him.
Benn Beckman lit a cigarette for himself, stroked his chin, and after a few seconds of thought, he said, "Actually, it's not hard to guess. The Fire Tank Pirates are already one of the top major pirate crews on the seas. For Captain Demon Dragon to spend three years preparing his forces, the major undertakings he'd be considering are few. Challenging the Marines and the World Government would be too unwise; Captain Demon Dragon certainly wouldn't make such a choice. So, it must be that you intend to challenge one of the New World's hegemons. If I'm not mistaken, it should be the Fear Pirates."
Benn Beckman's words silenced Shanks' other crew members, who looked at Bege in shock.
"The Black Fist Island incident has made you and the Fear Pirates irreconcilable enemies. If you intend to challenge for a hegemon's position, it must be against the Fear Pirates."
Clap, clap, clap!
"Excellent analysis!" Bege applauded, impressed.
Shanks' playful grin instantly vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
"Hey, Bege, are you really planning to challenge the Fear Pirates? The hegemons of the New World are no simple matter."
In the past three years, Shanks had clashed with both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Beasts Pirates. They knew very well how terrifying hegemon-level pirate crews were.
"Of course, I know they're not simple. Isn't that why I'm preparing? Shanks, don't worry. I'll only challenge the Fear Pirates when I've made more than enough preparations," Bege said, full of confidence, his cigar firmly in place.
Shanks' serious face instantly disappeared, and he grinned again.
"I knew you weren't a reckless man."
"Come, come, let's keep drinking!" Shanks enthusiastically clinked glasses with Bege, the atmosphere lively.
"By the way, Shanks, where did that kid Buggy go?" Bege suddenly thought of Buggy the Clown and casually mentioned him.
Shanks shook his head. "Buggy, huh? No idea. After we left Loguetown, I invited Buggy to continue adventuring with me, but he didn't agree. It seems he formed his own pirate crew too. He should be adventuring somewhere on the seas now."
"That kid has some strength, but he's just too afraid of dying. I reckon he's probably sailing in one of the Four Seas right now," Bege chuckled.
Buggy was, after all, a former crewmate of the Pirate King Roger; his strength couldn't be lacking. But Buggy had one particularly significant flaw: he was extremely timid and terrified of death. Who knew which powerhouse had left him with such psychological scars.
"That's actually quite possible," Shanks roared with laughter.
"I really look forward to seeing him again. He must have gathered a decent bunch of companions too."
"As long as we live long enough, there'll be a chance."
"That's right, there will be. Such a day will come. Come on, let's keep drinking! We're not going home sober tonight!"
Bege and Shanks chatted and drank heavily. In the end, both got drunk. Fortunately, Benn Beckman and his crewmates still had their wits about them and hadn't overindulged. Benn Beckman carried Bege and Shanks back to their respective ships.
The two slept until nightfall before waking up. Upon waking, Bege wanted to spar with Shanks to see how much he had progressed in the past three years.
In the forest of Purple Grape Island, Shanks' crew members all gathered to watch the spar.
"Shanks once said that five years ago, he fought this Captain Demon Dragon on Sky Island and lost more often than he won. I wonder if Shanks can get his revenge this time," the portly Lucky Roo said with a good-natured laugh, gnawing on a large chicken leg, a hint of teasing in his tone towards Shanks.
"Capone 'Demon Dragon' Bege, a notorious pirate with a bounty of 950 million Berries three years ago, harbors ambitions of challenging for supremacy on the seas. I wonder if his strength truly matches his ambition," Benn Beckman lit a cigarette, his gaze fixed on Bege.
"This will also be a good opportunity to see how far Shanks still is from the position of a hegemon."
"Bege, don't be surprised. My progress these past three years has been immense," Shanks said with a smile.
"You think you're the only one who's been improving, Shanks? I reckon I can still dominate you just like before," Bege said, cigar in mouth, a cocky look on his face.
Shanks chuckled, his expression suddenly turning serious.
"Bege, here I come."
"Mm, bring it on."
Both simultaneously unleashed their Conqueror's Haki. Two terrifying auras instantly clashed. Two distinct yet equally powerful waves of Haki collided, generating dense, dark-red lightning and abruptly forming a hurricane that swept outwards.
Shanks' Conqueror's Haki was extremely domineering, a true King's Haki; he walked the path of a king's might. Bege's Conqueror's Haki, on the other hand, was more ruthless and ferocious, a Warlord's Haki.
The onlookers, Benn Beckman and the others, paled instantly. Everyone felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Those with weaker willpower fainted on the spot.
"Those of you with less strength, move further away!" Benn Beckman barked.
"What ferocious Conqueror's Haki! Looking at Captain Demon Dragon now, it's like seeing a man-eating prehistoric beast," Lucky Roo said gravely, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"I see a giant beast hundreds of meters tall! It's going to devour us!" one crewman exclaimed, his face filled with terror, cold sweat pouring down.
"Causing illusions with Conqueror's Haki alone?" Benn Beckman was aghast. He was even more horrified by Bege. He knew the extent of Shanks' Conqueror's Haki very well, but he hadn't expected Bege's Haki to actually be able to contend with Shanks'.
"Look! That tree is cracking!" Lucky Roo suddenly pointed to a large tree beside Shanks and Bege. Under the impact of the two terrifying waves of Conqueror's Haki, the tree had actually begun to split.
"Captain Demon Dragon's Conqueror's Haki can even cause tangible physical damage? How terrifying. It seems I still underestimated him," Benn Beckman thought, horrified once more.
The two waves of Conqueror's Haki clashed and crushed against each other madly. A fierce wind blew, and leaves and branches were all shattered and scattered by the impact.
"Bege, your Conqueror's Haki has gotten even fiercer," Shanks said, his expression serious.
"Shanks, your Conqueror's Haki isn't bad either."
Bege felt Shanks' Haki; it was dozens of times stronger than when they were on Sky Island. The speed of his progress was astounding.
Truly worthy of being called the most domineering man in the original story.
"I thought I'd be able to suppress your Conqueror's Haki," Shanks said, a sharp glint in his eyes. Bege's extremely ferocious Haki had ignited Shanks' fighting spirit.
"Suppress me? Hahaha, Shanks, are you dreaming?" Bege laughed wildly. Although he acknowledged Shanks' talent and strength, he was equally confident in himself.
So what if he was the most domineering man on the seas? He, Capone Bege, feared nothing.