One day later.
"Hey, did you hear? That Supernova pirate with a 190 million bounty, the 'Orc' Dorot Otto, was defeated and captured by the newly appointed Warlord of the Sea, Golden Ring Aeridar."
"What?! No way, is that for real?"
"You think I'd lie? Just yesterday, half a street in Grove 21 was leveled during the fight. The entire Dorot Pirates got wiped out, over a hundred n, either killed or captured."
"Damn, that's insane. No wonder they call him the strongest rookie!"
News spread like wildfire. By the next day, chatter about it had taken over every corner of the archipelago.
...
Grove 17.
A tall, lean man with a vicious look strutted down the main street like he owned the place. He had slicked-back hair, a white shirt with a snarling tiger print, black trousers, and a finely crafted flintlock pistol, marked "233", tucked at an angle in his belt. Several subordinates trailed behind him.
Hearing their report, the man sneered arrogantly. "Taken down that fast? What a joke. If that guy cos after , I'll show him what real trouble looks like."
The Fiend—Urtes,
Captain of the Fiend Pirates.
Bounty: 100 million Berries.
...
Grove 20, inside a tavern.
Goff, marked by the image of a giant blue bird across his chest, sat in a booth surrounded by several elite crewmates.
"So he got taken down already? Looks like I made the right call," Goff said grimly, swirling a large wooden mug of ale.
"That man's worthy of the title Warlord of the Sea."
"With a forr bounty of 300 million, he's only gotten more dangerous."
"Now's definitely not the ti to pick a fight with him."
The elite of the Totem Pirates exchanged wary glances.
Totem Warrior—Kohl Goff,
Captain of the Totem Pirates.
Bounty: 126 million Berries.
...
Grove 24, a high-end restaurant.
At the very center of the dining hall sat a tall, stunning beauty, delicately enjoying a al. Her delicate features were frad by waist-length green hair, her eyes large and captivating, and her makeup light yet refined. She wore a light green sundress patterned with pale peach blossoms, draped with a dark green overcoat spotted with raindrop patterns. On her feet were sharp green heels, and on the backs of her hands were two distinctive tattoos, one of a rain sigil, the other a deep green skull-shaped scorpion.
The only flaw? Her bust was... well, disappointingly modest. But otherwise, she looked like sothing out of a fairytale.
A sleek silver rapier rested against the side of her table. Surrounding her were over ten ard n and won in matching green coats, weapons drawn and alert. Without their presence, the droves of n swooning around her would've likely stampeded over just to ask her na.
Just then, a blonde woman in the sa green coat and tall black boots rushed to her side, bending down to whisper sothing in her ear.
"Oh~ so he really is the strongest among us." The woman, fairy-like in beauty, raised a brow in surprise, then chuckled softly. "Hehe... I'm looking forward to eting him in the New World. I really can't wait... to kill him."
At that final word, her angelic face twisted into sothing cruel, but hauntingly beautiful.
Rain Scorpion—Smythe Betilla,
Captain of the Rain Pirates.
Bounty: 170 million Berries.
...
Elsewhere, on another street—
Seven or eight n marched through town in full suits of tallic armor, each clad in a different hue. At the front strode a towering young man, nearly three ters tall, wearing jet-black knight's plate armor. With his purple hair and fair skin, his features were noble and striking, his waist adorned with three long, jewel-encrusted swords fit for royalty.
"Golden Ring Aeridar... interesting guy," the knight murmured with a faint smile. "We'll cross swords soday."
"Captain," one of his armored followers asked nervously, "do you think he's planning to wipe out all the over-100-million crews before reaching the New World?"
"Who knows?" the knight replied, a glint of amusent in his eyes. "Wouldn't that be fun?"
Black Knight—Roldy Limmings,
Captain of the Knight Pirates.
Bounty: 210 million Berries.
...
Grove 26.
It was a desolate clearing now. Over twenty corpses lay scattered across the ground, and at the center stood a lone man with a black katana.
A young man with an evil smirk, dressed in black robes marked with white crosses—a uniform vaguely resembling that of a dark clergy. His long black coat was feathered at the shoulders, and his shoes were gleaming black leather. In his left hand, he held the matching scabbard; in his right, the katana, its blade still dripping with blood.
"Damn pests. Wish I could've executed them properly... but alas, it's not night yet," he muttered with a wicked grin. "Still... the one I truly want to execute is that man, Chris T. Aeridar. I want to sentence him beneath a moonlit sky, sowhere bursting with spring flowers... and carve his na into the night."
With a sudden flash, he raised his blade and struck.
Shunk—!
A monstrous slash tore across the ground, carving a deep fissure into the earth.
Night Executioner—Mondos Bank,
Captain of the Night Pirates.
Bounty: 235 million Berries.
...
Grove 30, a bustling shopping district.
A man strolled leisurely along the storefronts, dressed entirely in white—suit, shoes, even his top hat. A paper flower adorned the brim, which he kept pulled low over his face.
"This year's crop of Supernovas may be fewer... but the quality? Way better," he mused. In his hands, a single sheet of paper was folded and refolded, one mont a six-pointed star, the next a frog, then a paper crane...
Paperman—Bright Ward,
Captain of the Paperman Pirates.
Bounty: 235 million Berries.
...
Grove 3, luxury hotel, Room 18.
"My research... still not good enough. It can't handle a true pirate of the Grand Line. How disappointing," muttered a grumpy middle-aged man in frustration. His jet-black hair jutted out like a sea urchin, and he wore a long white coat embroidered with the image of a fierce, unfamiliar beast across the chest.
Yet despite his sour mood, he remained seated obediently on the couch. After all, directly across from him sat Chris T. Aeridar. And by the window lounged Oliver, wearing his usual look of laid-back disinterest.
"No, no, no. You're wrong," Aeridar said with a calm shake of his head, his smile easy but sincere. "Your research is exceptional. Against a Supernova with a bounty of 120 million, your modified warrior held its own, overpowered them in beast form, even. Regenerative capabilities, sustained combat prowess... I'd call that nothing short of perfect."
He wasn't simply offering empty praise. These were Aeridar's true thoughts.
To engineer a bio-modified beast warrior capable of going toe-to-toe with pirates whose bounties exceeded a hundred million? That level of technology was staggering. Even the World Governnt's Pacifista project remained largely theoretical at this stage.
This... this was an invention leagues ahead of its ti.
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