Capone: Fortress of Ambition

Bege knew a fair bit about this notoriously infamous Son of Terror. Taku, the Son of Terror, was the only son of the Demon King of Terror, one of the Overlords of the New World.

This Taku was an extremely cruel and twisted individual, acting tyrannically and without restraint. He delighted in killing for sport. The fleet he led often massacred entire villages and towns. He once held a killing competition in a country, slaughtering for three whole days, resulting in over one hundred thousand civilians being brutally murdered.

Moreover, Taku's father, the Demon King of Terror, had only this one son and doted on him excessively. Anyone who dared to lay a hand on Taku was brutally tortured and killed by the Demon King of Terror.

Once, a Marine Vice Admiral had captured Taku. While escorting Taku back to Impel Down, their warship was intercepted by the Demon King of Terror leading the Terror Pirates. All the Marines aboard the warship were killed by exceedingly cruel methods, and the Vice Admiral himself was flayed and his bones dismantled.

Taku's name was a terrifying existence on the high seas, enough to make children stop crying.

Bege, likewise, had no favorable impression of this perverse individual.

"Capone Bege, quite the tyrant, aren't you?" A wicked smile appeared on Taku's lips as he leaned closer to Bege.

"My brother doesn't like you. Get lost!"

Weevil stood up directly, his large hand pushing straight towards Taku's head.

The burly man beside Taku also reacted in an instant, grabbing Weevil's hand and yanking hard, trying to fling Weevil away.

But he underestimated Weevil's strength. Weevil, his eyes wide like copper bells, forcefully slammed the burly man's hand onto the table.

The burly man's face turned ashen. He wanted to regain the upper hand, but his strength was no match for Weevil's; he was pinned down completely.

The other burly man immediately made his move, his hand clad in a steel gauntlet, punching unceremoniously towards Weevil's face.

Bege's gaze sharpened. An immensely powerful, tyrannical, and ferocious wave of Conqueror's Haki shot directly at that burly man. The man's face instantly turned pale, and his outstretched fist froze in mid-air.

Weevil, noticing this, immediately returned the favor with a punch, sending the burly man flying. He crashed through several tables before slamming into the wall.

Bege glanced up at Taku. Terror was evident on Taku's face. The two seductive women he held in his arms had fainted instantly under Bege's Conqueror's Haki.

Taku's hands loosened in fright, and the two beautiful women thudded to the floor.

Taku himself was also forced back two steps by Bege's Haki.

"Scram," Bege said faintly.

"Conqueror's Haki!" Taku's expression turned grim and ugly. He had seen the disdain and contempt in Bege's eyes, which had severely wounded his pride. Dark smoke billowed from his body, but he didn't rush to make a move, instead giving Bege a sinister look.

"Capone Bege, we'll meet in the tournament ring!"

"Useless trash, let's go!" Taku cursed at the two burly men, and the three of them left the tavern.

"Brother, that guy is not a good person. Should we kill them?" Weevil asked in his booming voice, killing intent flickering in his eyes.

Bege drank his wine nonchalantly and said calmly, "He's a waste, but his old man is a bit troublesome. We'll spare his life for now. If we run into him again in the future, then we'll finish him off."

"Oh." Weevil nodded firmly. His eyes glanced at the two fainted, scantily clad women on the floor and asked curiously, "Brother, these two women are wearing very little."

Bege chuckled. "Do you like them? If you like them, take them with you. They can be your wives, and when we get back, they can give you a litter of brats to play with."

"Okay, okay, okay!" Weevil clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

Bege shook his head and smiled faintly. This kid isn't so foolish when it comes to these things. With a casual gesture, Bege pulled the two women into his body-castle.

Meanwhile, in a casino, Moria and his group encountered Marco the Phoenix and Diamond Jozu from the Whitebeard Pirates.

Both parties were actually seated at the same gambling table, betting money.

"Demon Dragon should be here too, right? Are you guys also after that Devil Fruit?" Jozu asked in his deep, rumbling voice.

"That's right. A flight-capable Ancient Zoan fruit is quite rare. Wouldn't it be a pity to miss out?" Moria replied with a smile.

"Then I apologize, but we're determined to get that fruit," Marco laughed loudly, a very brash laugh. Marco was only in his teens at this time, lively and restless by nature, far from the calm, commander-like demeanor he would have over twenty years later.

Moria and his men laughed loudly in response, drawing the attention of everyone in the casino.

Marco's young face darkened, and azure flames erupted from his body. "What the hell are you laughing at? I'm telling you, the Whitebeard Pirates are claiming that Devil Fruit! No one can snatch it away!"

Marco declared his affiliation, and the onlookers immediately lowered their heads. Some even left directly, afraid they would get caught in the crossfire if a fight broke out.

"Then let's settle it in the ring. I'd like to see just how powerful a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit truly is," Riki said, his small eyes scanning Marco.

"I'll let you know how strong I am," Marco said, azure flames appearing in his hands as he chuckled coldly.

Jozu pressed a hand on Marco's head, glanced at Moria and his group, and said in his deep voice, "Since we're all here for the Devil Fruit, then let's see who's stronger in the ring."

He then pulled Marco away from the gambling table and strode out of the casino.

"Bege once evaluated the members of the Whitebeard Pirates. He said this Marco has the potential of a top commander in an Overlord's crew. It's truly hard to believe," Moria said, narrowing his eyes and looking at Marco's retreating back with a thoughtful, low voice.

A top commander in an Overlord's crew like the Whitebeard Pirates was, at the very least, a figure capable of shaking the New World. Even if not quite on par with an Admiral, they wouldn't be far off.

Did this cocky brat really have such potential?

"The Mythical Zoan Phoenix Fruit, if developed well, can rival a top-tier Logia Devil Fruit. Under Whitebeard's careful nurturing, it's highly possible for him to reach that kind of strength," Riki stated.

Riki then added, "That Jozu shouldn't be underestimated either. Bege assessed that his Diamond Fruit could grant him the strongest physical defense. His potential ranks in the top three on Whitebeard's ship."

"We'll only know for sure after we fight. I'm getting more and more excited for the tournament battles in three days," Moria laughed exuberantly. Everyone in the casino flinched, and no one dared to step forward or say anything.

Bege and his group spent two leisurely days on Black Fist Island. At the island's port, two pirate ships sailed rapidly into the harbor. A merchant ship happened to be ahead of them, queuing to enter.

"Sink it for me!" A boisterous voice roared from one of the pirate ships. The cannons on board immediately opened fire, and cannonballs slammed into the merchant ship, instantly causing casualties.

"It's Savage Elephant Jack! Quick, get out of the way!" The crewmen on the merchant ship saw the pirate flag, their faces filled with terror. The merchant ship immediately turned around, clearing the shipping lane.

"Consider yourselves sensible," Jack sneered, his pirate ship quickly entering the port and docking.

Jack was covered in thick bandages. Ever since Bege had thrashed him, his temper had become exceptionally volatile. He would fly into a rage at the slightest provocation and lash out at anything that displeased him. On the way to Black Fist Island, he had killed two of his own crewmen and destroyed one merchant ship and one pirate crew.

No one under his command dared to voice any objection.