Dawn broke over the endless ocean.
On the rolling sea, a single green fla candle flickered in the wind.
Looking closer, one would see a tiny boat drifting across the water—a coffin-shaped craft.
But while the boat was ordinary, the man upon it was anything but.
The owner of the vessel was none other than the World's Greatest Swordsman, widely acknowledged as the strongest mber of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—
Dracule Mihawk, the Hawk-Eyes.
At that mont, Mihawk held two sowhat outdated bounty posters.
"Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy — 300,000,000 Berries
"Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro — 60,000,000 Berries
"These two…"
"They were the true forces behind the defeat of one of the Seven Warlords—Sir Crocodile."
Mihawk's thoughts drifted.
Three Sword Style Secret Technique — Three Thousand Worlds!
Zoro unleashed his ultimate attack.
CLANG!
The blades shattered.
"A wound on the back… is a swordsman's greatest sha."
"…Impressive."
"Strive to surpass , Roronoa Zoro!"
"These brats actually managed to shake the World Governnt."
A faint smile appeared on Mihawk's lips.
The small coffin boat cut across the sea.
At the top of the Red Line lay the Holy Land—
Mary Geoise.
Here, the Five Elders, the highest authority in the world, were discussing two matters:
The downfall of Crocodile, and sothing else entirely.
"What? You're saying Red-Haired Shanks has begun making moves?"
"Yes," a Marine Vice Admiral reported.
"He appears to be acting indirectly by sending a ssenger."
"But allowing Shanks to make contact with Whitebeard is extrely dangerous."
"That's true," said one of the Five Elders calmly—
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense.
"Once Red-Hair moves, he becos a troubleso man."
"But he is not soone who would change the world for selfish ambitions."
"Do not act rashly."
"Right now, the more pressing matter is the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"We must quickly find soone to replace Crocodile."
Another Elder spoke—
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the Warrior God of Finance, the Elder who carried a sword.
"If the balance of power collapses…"
"The consequences will directly impact the World Governnt."
"The Three Great Powers must be maintained."
Another Elder added:
"A dam can collapse from a single ant hole."
"If the balance between the Marines, the Seven Warlords, and the Four Emperors breaks…"
"The world will fall into chaos."
The Vice Admiral nodded.
"We've already summoned the Warlords to Marine Headquarters."
"But how many will actually attend… is uncertain."
Saturn picked up Luffy's bounty poster.
"Pirates act on impulse."
"That damn Crocodile caused far too much trouble."
"And this brat who defeated him…"
"We cannot allow him to grow unchecked."
He placed Luffy's poster at the center of the table.
anwhile, at Marine Headquarters — Marineford.
A report echoed through the harbor.
"Arrival confird!"
Seven Warlord of the Sea — Donquixote Doflamingo!
"And Bartholow Kuma!"
Inside the eting room—
"Stop! What are you doing?!"
One Vice Admiral shouted in disbelief.
Another Vice Admiral was choking him.
"My hands… won't listen to !" the attacker cried.
Yet his grip only tightened.
The Vice Admirals descended into chaos.
At the head of the room sat an elderly woman with white hair, calmly resting her chin on clasped hands.
She watched everything without reacting.
She was—
Vice Admiral Tsuru, Chief Staff Officer of the Marines.
"Doflamingo! Is this your doing?! Stop it imdiately!"
The officers finally realized what was happening.
"Fufufufufu…"
"If you don't want trouble, hurry up and explain why we're here."
"Let's end this boring gathering."
Doflamingo sat casually by the window, laughing wildly.
With a flick of his fingers—
The two Vice Admirals suddenly drew their swords and began fighting each other.
"Enough!"
A stern voice filled the room.
"What kind of disgraceful behavior is this?"
"Are you here for a eting or a brawl?"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku reprimanded them.
Then he smiled faintly toward the Warlords.
"My apologies for not greeting you earlier."
"I didn't expect you pirates to actually show up."
"You scum of the sea."
"Fufufufu… Is that supposed to be praise?" Doflamingo joked.
"Let's begin."
"It doesn't look like anyone else will arrive."
Sengoku continued.
"Out of six remaining Warlords, two have attended."
"That's already more than I expected."
"I didn't even want to co," Doflamingo said casually while sitting on the eting table.
"But construction on my island is going so smoothly that I got bored."
"I see," Sengoku replied calmly.
"That's troubleso."
"The more successful your pirate business becos, the more headaches it gives the Marines."
The atmosphere remained tense, but Sengoku spoke with relaxed confidence.
Suddenly—
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Footsteps echoed.
"I've been listening for a while…"
"Nothing but nonsense."
"I was beginning to think I walked into the wrong place."
A figure appeared at the doorway.
Dracule Mihawk.
Everyone present—Vice Admirals, Warlords, and even Sengoku—was shocked.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
"You actually ca?!" Sengoku said.
"Unbelievable," Doflamingo muttered.
"The least likely person to attend… actually showed up."
"I'm only here to listen," Mihawk said calmly.
"I'm sowhat interested in the pirate being discussed."
Then he sat down.
At that mont—
Another voice ca from the window.
"May I also have the privilege of observing this eting?"
Everyone turned.
A man stood there with a cane and wings.
Lafitte, a mber of the Blackbeard Pirates.
"Well… perhaps 'observe' isn't quite accurate," he said with a theatrical bow.
"I would actually like to participate."
"I never imagined I'd see so many important figures gathered here."
Doflamingo burst into laughter.
"Fufufufu! Let him talk!"
Lafitte smiled.
"This eting concerns the removal of Crocodile from the Seven Warlords, correct?"
"You're searching for a replacent."
"I would like to recomnd my captain—Marshall D. Teach."
"On what grounds?" Sengoku asked sharply.
"Your pirate crew doesn't seem particularly famous."
Just then—
A Marine ssenger rushed into the room.
"Report!"
"We've confird the latest activity of Straw Hat Luffy!"
"He recently fought a man nad Teach in Mock Town on Jaya Island!"
"The battle destroyed the entire town!"
All eyes turned toward Lafitte.
"Your captain?" Tsuru asked calmly.
"Introduce him."
Lafitte quickly recovered from his surprise.
"Our captain is Marshall D. Teach."
"He possesses the Dark-Dark Fruit—a Logia-type Devil Fruit."
"Logia?!"
"Dark-Dark Fruit?!"
Everyone was shocked.
After all, the Marine Headquarters' three Admirals were all terrifying Logia users.
Tsuru's sharp gaze locked onto Lafitte.
"That alone isn't enough."
"Please give us so ti," Lafitte replied.
"We will achieve results worthy of your expectations."
Before leaving, he turned back.
"Oh, and rember our na."
"We are the Blackbeard Pirates."
anwhile—
Sowhere in the New World.
A massive whale-shaped ship sailed across the sea.
"Ah… that's a nostalgic na."
"This letter… is it written by Shanks himself?"
A deep voice spoke.
Standing before him was a red-haired man.
"Yes."
"The contents seem important."
"My captain insisted I deliver it personally."
The ssenger bowed.
"My na is Rockstar."
"I'm new to the Red-Haired Pirates."
"Well… not entirely new."
"I've done this job before and have a bit of reputation."
He turned to the nearby pirates.
"You've heard of before, right?"
"Rockstar?"
The pirates glanced at him.
"Never heard of you."
Rockstar's face stiffened awkwardly.
Then suddenly—
A towering figure tore the letter to pieces.
"What are you doing?!" Rockstar shouted angrily.
"You dare destroy that letter?!"
"Our captain is Red-Haired Shanks!"
The man snorted.
"So he sends soone else to deliver a letter?"
"When did that brat get so arrogant?"
Rockstar yelled:
"Our captain said it was urgent!"
The man leaned forward.
"I am Whitebeard."
Edward Newgate — one of the Four Emperors, the Strongest Man in the World.
"I can guess what the letter said anyway."
"It's about Fire Fist Ace chasing Blackbeard, isn't it?"
"Go back and tell that brat Shanks—"
"If he wants to talk to …"
"He should bring a good bottle of sake and co himself!"
Elsewhere—
On a snow-covered island.
"Bwahahaha!"
"That old man hasn't changed at all!"
Red-Haired Shanks laughed loudly.
"Boss, this isn't funny!" Rockstar protested seriously.
"I expected that response," Shanks replied casually while holding a Den Den Mushi.
"This is the greatest humiliation of my life!" Rockstar said angrily.
"Hey, hey—don't do anything stupid," Shanks warned.
"You've done enough."
"Co back imdiately."
"But my pride—"
"Is your pride more important than your life?" Shanks said sternly.
"This isn't a problem you can solve."
"Return right now."
Nearby, Lucky Roux munched on at.
"So what do we do now?"
Shanks stood up.
"We set sail."
"To Whitebeard?" Benn Beckman asked, opening his eyes.
"That's right."
"If we move, the World Governnt won't stay silent," Beckman said gravely.
Shanks grinned fiercely.
"I don't care."
"The World Governnt will definitely react."
"But if they try to stop …"
"I won't hold back either."
"n," Lucky Roux shouted.
"Prepare for battle!"
"And bring the finest sake," Shanks said with a smile.
The world—
Was beginning to stir with turbulence.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comnt!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon/Chakraflow789
User Comments
0 comments from readers