"Narrow Defeat! The Beautiful Female Captain Jolyne Kujo Falls to Hawk Eyes, the Lone Swordsman, Regrettably Eliminated…"
"Unexpected! Chopperna Giorno Overpowers Charlotte Family's Second Daughter, Successfully Advances to the Next Round, Semifinals…"
The news of yesterday's globally watched Swordsman tournament hit the front pages of every newspaper early this morning.
All over the world, people having breakfast, whether at home or out on the streets, unfolded their papers to see mostly the names Jolyne, Giorno, Mihawk, and Charlotte. As for Amande and Shiryu, because their victories were too predictable and almost everyone expected them, they received comparatively little attention.
The name JOJO Pirate Crew had already been deeply etched in most people's minds. Although the phrase "JOJO Pirate Crew" didn't explicitly appear in the news articles, the gossipy spirit of those spreading the news was palpable.
Besides, people weren't blind, Giorno and Jolyne didn't even bother hiding; their appearances matched their bounty posters exactly!
Anyone curious enough could easily uncover their identities and histories.
"Rumor has it, when they were first given bounties several years ago, they were still kids, and their bounties were 100 million Belly each!"
"Whoa!"
"Several years ago? How old were they then? Just over ten?"
"That's terrifying… They're still under twenty now?!"
"You wouldn't guess it at all…"
"So young, yet already powerful enough to compete for the title of 'World's Greatest Great Swordsman'…"
"Chopperna Giorno…"
"Kujo Jolyne…"
On Spring Island, Summer Island, Autumn Island, Winter Island, in big cities and small towns, on streets and in homes, people of all kinds held similar newspapers, read similar headlines, and marveled at the same names.
What was thought to be just a side-note female captain turned out to be a pirate fierce enough to battle back and forth on the ring with Hawk Eyes, the so-called "World's Greatest Great Swordsman" and many people's top pick. At one point, she even knocked Hawk Eyes flying out of the ring! If he hadn't caught himself mid-air and reversed the tide, she might have eliminated him!
Such a fierce female pirate was rare even in the New World.
Such a fierce and stunningly beautiful female pirate was even rarer. In the first half of the Grand Line's Paradise, they were almost nonexistent, and across the other four seas, nearly extinct.
No matter where in the seas you searched, you wouldn't find a female pirate both so beautiful and so powerful.
Countless people were already captivated by just the photos and descriptions in the papers. What followed was natural indignation toward her only crew member.
The only crew member! A man!
What kind of relationship were these two in? Did it even need to be said? The newspapers even featured candid, intimate photos of Giorno and Jolyne chatting casually by the ring, which left countless readers feeling bittersweet, ruining their appetites.
Jealous… but also afraid to envy. Because this Giorno guy was no pushover either, he was so strong that he decisively defeated the rumored daughter of the Sea Emperor!
Interviews with the live audience only amplified the impression: Giorno could eliminate Charlotte Monde a hundred times over!
The overwhelming visual impact of the live match was extreme.
Giorno's crushing strength was suffocating… The reporters said they couldn't interview the eliminated Monde. But most readers suspected the reporters simply didn't dare to… Reporters aren't Giorno; they lack the courage to confront the Sea Emperor's daughter so calmly.
"It's Giorno… And Jolyne…"
That morning, as Liam and Robin appeared in the hotel restaurant, murmurs erupted all around. These murmurs had started a few days ago, but this morning, they seemed especially numerous.
"You're quite popular." Robin pulled out a chair and sat down with a smile.
"All thanks to you."
Liam propped his cheek on one hand, fiddling with a Log Pose, a single remaining one he'd taken from a Self-Defense Force battleship, along with a yellowed introduction letter written by Crocus.
"Looks like people envy me a lot."
He put those two items away. Robin's eyes sparkled with a warm smile as she snapped her fingers, summoning a waiter.
Liam ordered breakfast for twenty-five people in one go. Robin only ate a little, then intertwined her fingers, propping her chin on the backs of her hands, quietly watching him devour the food like a whirlwind, just as she had all these years.
After finishing breakfast, the two calmly sipped some tea. Checking the time, they then walked hand-in-hand toward the competition venue.
As a digestive exercise, Liam took Robin and they stepped into the air, walking on empty space with Geppo, "snap," "snap", making their way to the huge arena.
From the high vantage point, the entire arena and its surroundings were packed solid with people, a roaring tide of voices and noise.
When Liam and Robin descended from the sky, the uproar rose another level. Countless Den Den Mushi cameras immediately turned to them, projecting their images live on giant screens all over the world.
"Really knows how to steal the limelight…" many thought.
"These two look so good together…" many others thought.
"Haha, the view here is great, everyone looks so spirited."
In a reserved VIP area high above the arena, the green-haired Robust Man Tesoro sat in a special seat radiating golden nobility. He pointed at Giorno and Jolyne at the edge of the ring below and laughed, "Mr. Sand Crocodile, do you know how they flew here through the sky? I still can't figure it out…"
Sitting beside him was none other than the other guarantor of this Swordsman tournament's prestige, besides Tesoro's financial backing, the Shichibukai, Crocodile.
Apparently his name was something like Rokushiki… Crocodile clenched his cigar and, naturally unwilling to appear weak before this ostentatious nouveau riche, said in a low voice, "It's just a military skill for levitation. Nothing impressive."
Tesoro, unfazed, laughed heartily, "Haha, you're a Logia who can fly naturally, of course you don't care! But a Paramecia like me envies that kind of flying skill…"
Out of respect for all that gold, Crocodile reluctantly tolerated Tesoro's presence.
The tournament was about to begin. The host enthusiastically introduced the attending Shichibukai.
"…" Crocodile glanced sideways at this guy who worked completely behind the scenes, and amidst the thunderous cheers, he stood slightly, waved to the swarm of Den Den Mushi cameras, then quickly sat back down.
At that moment, a wave of excited shouts broke out. Hawk Eyes, seemingly impatient, jumped directly onto the ring, drew his massive Black Blade from behind, and swept it in a broad arc, signaling his opponent Amande to step up and fight.
Amande was only too willing and floated gracefully onto the stage.
"What an impatient guy…" Crocodile snorted, cigar clenched. His gaze flicked to the young man he fully cared about even if he wouldn't admit it.
Hmph, why isn't he chatting with that female Captain this time?
Crocodile squinted, his eyes scanning past the sea of spectators. Hawk Eyes and the Demon (harmonious) Lady were locked in a fierce battle on the ring, while near Shiryu stood Giorno, tall and straight. And his eyes…
Suddenly, Giorno glanced back, his gaze crossing the crowd and locking with Crocodile's.
"…?!"
From afar, Crocodile saw Giorno suddenly smile. His expression changed instantly, and at the same time, a tall figure clad in black armor appeared behind him without anyone noticing.
B.I.B.'s narrow eyes glowed white, the left arm covered in blue flame tattoos, and with a single punch, it pierced through Crocodile's back.
Is it still early morning?
(End Of This Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my patreon https://www.patreon.com/marvel6395