"Yes, Admiral Sengoku, Douglas Bullet has been captured and is now being held in the ship's hold."
The cool sea breeze brushed against their cheeks as Daren and Borsalino lay side by side on deck chairs, like two dried-up salted fish, leisurely smoking cigars.
On the small coffee table between them, a military Den Den Mushi was connected, vividly mimicking Sengoku's image—black-rimmed glasses and his signature afro.
"Mhm, you didn't let me down, Daren," Sengoku said, clearly in a good mood as he grinned broadly.
"Handing over the authority to launch a Buster Call to you was definitely the right choice."
Daren took a sip of whiskey, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and smiled with his eyes half-closed.
"Yes, the three seniors and nearly ten thousand Marine comrades all played an extremely important role in this capture operation."
Hearing this, the three Vice Admirals standing respectfully behind Daren and Borsalino couldn't help but twitch their mouths in unison.
"Mhm, that's good," Sengoku nodded. "What about battle damage? According to the intel we had, Douglas Bullet's firepower was enough to rival a Buster Call. Even if you suppressed his Devil Fruit ability, he must've caused a lot of trouble."
Daren pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Zero battle damage."
Sengoku: ...
It took Sengoku a long moment of silence to digest the news before he slowly asked,
"Daren, how do you plan to deal with Bullet?"
"How to handle Douglas Bullet should be decided by you, Admiral Sengoku. I was only the executor of this mission," Daren said humbly. "Without your full support, Admiral Sengoku, this operation would not have been nearly as successful."
Listen to that! What a masterclass in diplomacy!
The three Vice Admirals behind him stood there stunned, staring at Daren in disbelief, filled with admiration.
A true monster—even his thick skin was monstrous.
Sengoku, clearly pleased with Daren's words, couldn't help but laugh and scold,
"Don't try your North Blue tricks on me, kid!"
The three Vice Admirals: ...
Admiral Sengoku, maybe tone it down a bit? Even a cannon couldn't hold back that grin.
"Hurry up and tell me your thoughts. If he really can't be recruited, we'll have to send Douglas Bullet straight to Impel Down," Sengoku urged.
Daren nodded and said in a serious tone,
"Admiral Sengoku, Douglas Bullet is a very proud man. Convincing him to become one of the Shichibukai will be extremely difficult."
"He sees the Shichibukai as 'government lackeys' and considers our offer an insult."
"But I'll do my best to work on him."
Sengoku spoke firmly.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Daren."
The Den Den Mushi connection ended.
Watching the Den Den Mushi slowly fall asleep, Daren stretched lazily and stood up from his beach chair.
"Can't even get a moment's peace," he said with a helpless sigh, biting his cigar as he headed toward the ship's hold.
...
The dark cabin reeked of damp rot and blood.
The oil lamps on the floor swayed slightly with the movement of the warship, casting shifting, eerie shadows.
When Bullet opened his eyes, he immediately sensed something. His bloodshot gaze locked fiercely onto the figure sitting in the shadows.
"Daren!!"
His eyes burned red with fury, and he instinctively tried to lunge forward like a wild beast—only to find he couldn't muster any strength. The Seastone shackles embedded in the wall clattered loudly as he strained against them.
"Don't waste your energy. I know your physique better than anyone... That's why I used nearly the highest-purity Seastone shackles," Daren said casually.
In the flickering lamplight, Daren's sharp-edged face appeared and disappeared in the shadows, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He lounged on a stool, reclining lazily against the backrest with one leg crossed over the other, a cigar clamped between his teeth.
The glowing tip of the cigar cast a dim red light across the gloomy cabin.
"If you've got the guts, let me go! We'll settle this one-on-one!" Bullet snarled through clenched teeth.
Daren looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Did you pump so much iron you fried your brain? After all the effort it took to catch you... you think I'm just going to let you go?"
"As for a one-on-one... do you honestly think you can beat me?"
Bullet's expression stiffened. He clenched his jaw so tightly it seemed his teeth might crack.
"Then just kill me!"
"I'll never bow down to that damn Shichibukai system!"
"You want me to become the government's lapdog? Dream on!!!"
"...Alright, alright, I get it. You're not willing. I wasn't planning on convincing you anyway," Daren said, raising both hands in mock surrender, sounding a bit annoyed.
"I just wanted to chat a little. Brings back memories, doesn't it? We spent some pretty unforgettable days together in a prison like this..."
Hearing this, Bullet's guard eased slightly.
He fell silent for a moment, seeming to recall the time he and Daren had spent imprisoned under the Beasts Pirates.
"What do you want to talk about?" he asked coldly. His tone was still rough, but the hostility had clearly lessened.
Daren grinned.
"I was just thinking—back when we were locked up together, you were stronger than me. But now? I can beat you down without breaking a sweat."
"You...!!"
Bullet's eyes bulged with rage, his chest heaving violently. He glared at Daren like he wanted to tear him apart.
If not for the Seastone shackles, he'd already be throwing himself at this smug bastard, even if it meant dying!
"Don't get so worked up. I'm just stating a fact," Daren said with a shrug.
"Man, your glare could kill..."
"Daren!! You're pushing it too far!!"
Bullet roared, his face turning red and purple with anger, and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"See? You're getting all worked up again," Daren said, glancing at him in disappointment. He sighed.
"Honestly, I don't mean anything by it. I'm just curious... Didn't you join Roger's crew?"
"With so many top-class fighters aboard the Oro Jackson, you should've had plenty of teachers and training, right?"
"And yet, even though you managed to develop something as powerful as the 'Devil Form'... I picked it up so easily. Doesn't that seem strange to you?"
Bullet froze for a moment, then snapped,
"So what!?"
Daren scratched his head and asked,
"I'm just wondering—when you were with the Roger Pirates, who was in charge of your training?"
Bullet shot him a cold glare and said proudly,
"'Dark King' Rayleigh!"
"No wonder..."
Daren muttered, realization dawning.
So it was that "famous teacher," after all...
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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