"Extra! Extra!"
"Golden Emperor Gaia Kaos openly plundered the celestial tribute from allied nations, which was meant for the World Government!"
"The Golden Emperor appeared in the Grand Line, plundering celestial tribute."
"To obtain the Golden Emperor is to obtain everything."
"The Golden Emperor's latest bounty has increased from 783 million Berries to 1.098 billion Berries."
"It is said that the Golden Emperor controls over 50 billion Berries worth of gold."
"Latest news: Admiral Sengoku will personally apprehend the Golden Emperor."
"The Golden Emperor's subordinate, Desert King Crocodile, has a bounty that has risen to 560 million Berries, and he is also a Logia-type Suna Suna no Mi (Sand-Sand Fruit) user."
"It is reported that the Golden Emperor, accompanied by the Desert King, has already plundered thirty merchant ships carrying celestial tribute."
For two or three consecutive days, all major news headlines were related to Golden Emperor Gaia Kaos, and Crocodile also became famous as a result.
His bounty soared to 560 million Berries.
He was still just an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy, yet he bore a bounty that was inappropriate for his age.
In the New World, a whale-shaped Pirate Crew ship was sailing through the waves in a certain sea area.
"Kura la la, recent newspapers all seem to be about this Pirate."
On the huge deck, a man with a crescent-shaped, upward-curving Whitebeard and long, wavy golden hair, standing over six meters tall like a giant, was holding a newspaper in one hand and a giant sake flask in the other, drinking.
This man would be known as the World's Strongest in the future; he was Whitebeard Edward Newgate.
"Pops, the outside world is saying that whoever obtains the Golden Emperor will obtain the world."
Below Whitebeard sat a tall, thin man with a pineapple-like hairstyle from which leaves sprouted, and perpetually droopy eyelids.
He was Marco the Phoenix, Commander of the First Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. His Devil Fruit was a Mythical Zoan, even rarer than a Logia.
"The Gold-Gold Fruit, controlling gold?"
There were many other Pirates on the deck, all future famous figures. For example, Diamond Jozu, Commander of the Third Division, and Thatch, Commander of the Fourth Division.
"It says here that the Golden Emperor is a Paramecia-type Gold-Gold Fruit user, able to sense and control gold. Controlling him is equivalent to controlling wealth, and in some respects, he truly has obtained the entire world."
Vista, Commander of the Fifth Division, wore a top hat, and his beard seemed to have just started growing.
"To openly plunder celestial tribute, how daring!"
"Pops, our finances seem to be a bit tight. Why don't we just let him be your son?"
Marco knew how stingy Pops was, often sending treasures back to his hometown. Though the Whitebeard Pirates were renowned, their expenses were also very high. Coupled with Pops's love for sake and frequent banquets, the Whitebeard Pirates' finances were in the red.
"Oh! That's actually a good idea."
Thatch, the head chef, immediately brightened. No one was clearer about the Whitebeard Pirates' financial difficulties than him and Marco.
"Kura la la!"
Whitebeard took a gulp of sake, instinctively pinching his chin. He was actually thinking.
"Children, set off for the Grand Line."
After only three seconds of thought, Whitebeard waved his large hand.
"Oh!"
The Pirates cheered, raising their hands. If the Golden Emperor became their brother, they could drink and eat meat to their heart's content, and fifty banquets a day wouldn't be a dream.
And so, the strongest Pirate Crew of the future Great Pirate Era headed for the Grand Line.
No matter how you looked at it, it was absurd and hasty. Even a bit childish.
But this was Whitebeard in his youth. Doing as he pleased, sailing freely across the sea with his family.
It's hard to imagine that twenty-odd years later, this same hasty man would storm Marineford for one person, even almost destroying Marineford.
His dream was merely a home and family.
Besides the Whitebeard Pirates' actions, the Big Mom Pirates and Beasts Pirates, who had returned empty-handed three months prior, also set out again.
New World, several thousand meters in the sky.
Various fairy-tale-like islands floated, with high mountains, flowing water, and cascading waterfalls.
At the center of a large island, a continuous stretch of grand palaces was located. Although a banquet was underway, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.
"Admiral, this time I will definitely capture the Golden Emperor."
Lone Wolf Spand, who had failed last time, now stood up from his seat, his six whiskers trembling, his expression serious, and his words sharp and resolute.
He was also unlucky. His previous trip to the Sabaody Archipelago had left him battered and bruised.
The process aside, the key was that he waited at the Sabaody Archipelago for half a month, but never saw a shadow of the Golden Emperor. Even when Jelly Queen Annie arrived later, it was useless.
When the Golden Emperor disappeared, he vanished without a trace, not a single piece of news.
"Last time, I went on a wild goose chase. Admiral, I am very interested in this man."
A sweet scent wafted through the hall, as a woman stood up from the ninth position.
Her long blue hair cascaded to her waist, complemented by her enigmatic green eyes, high-bridged nose, and fiery red lips, along with her sexy and cool attire and patterned lace shorts, all proclaiming the woman's mature beauty.
Taking long strides in her crystal high-heeled sandals, Annie tossed her blue hair and maple leaf earrings over her shoulder, standing in the middle of the hall, looking at Golden Lion, who was smoking a cigar at the head seat.
"Jie ha ha!"
Golden Lion laughed, biting his cigar, and waved his large hand.
"In that case, I'll leave this mission to the two of you again!"
"Admiral, await my good news."
Annie smiled charmingly, turned, and walked with a cat-like grace, beckoning to Spand with her red-painted index finger, as if she wanted to shake her hips off.
"Admiral, I request that I lead this operation."
Spand's face flushed, unwilling to take orders from a woman.
He was, after all, Lone Wolf Spand, with a bounty of 710 million Berries, and Captain of the 15th Fleet, renowned outside, right! He also had his pride.
"Oh? If you want to challenge my position, I don't mind."
Annie suddenly stopped, and the entire hall floor instantly became soft. At the same time, a more intense sweet scent filled the air, causing many in the hall to change their expressions.
"If you want to fight, take it outside."
"Annie, put away your ability."
"Spandy, even I can't beat this woman. You should just stick to being Captain of the 15th Fleet!"
Telaka, Captain of the 14th Fleet, looked at Spandy as if he were an idiot.
Among the few women in the Flying Pirates, which one was easy to provoke?
Moreover, Spandy couldn't even beat him, and above him were four more Fleet Captains: numbers 13, 12, 11, and 10.
Jelly Queen Annie was the Captain of the 9th Fleet; just her ranking showed the disparity.
All 20 Fleet Captains of the Flying Pirates were ranked by strength. Later Fleet Captains could challenge earlier Fleet Captains; if they won, they took their place, if they lost, they were at the victor's mercy.
Their current rankings had been maintained for three or four years. Unless something unexpected happened, they might remain for several more years.
"Hmph! One day I will become the Captain of the First Fleet."
Spand snorted coldly, puffing out his chest with great arrogance.
The others shrugged, already accustomed to it.
"What a cute and foolish man."
Annie habitually tossed her blue hair, and the softened floor returned to normal. Then she walked with a sexy cat-like grace, as if she wanted to shake off her behind, finally disappearing at the hall's entrance.
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"The desire to rule is the strongest passion." - Anonymous