Onboard the Moby Dick
The Moby Dick drifted peacefully across a calm sea.An enormous sake barrel lay open, surrounded by plates of meat and seafood… and at the center, a tall stack of freshly delivered newspapers brought in by a seagull Den Den Mushi.
The atmosphere was relaxed, almost festive.
Ace was the first to grab the paper."Oh? The new bounties from East Blue… hold on, hold on…"He unrolled the wanted posters, and his eyes widened."Luffy… 85 million?!"
The entire table froze for a second before bursting into laughter.
"Gurararara!Your little brother hasn't even set foot on the Grand Line yet and the Government's already panicking!"
Whitebeard picked up the poster between two fingers, almost tenderly."Hm… 85 million… not bad for a rookie kid."
"It's still impressive," Marco said, pointing to Jordan's poster."And this guy… Heartless D. Jordan. 80 million. Vice-captain. Look, Pops—says here he managed to give Garp the slip. Not many can brag about that." He grinned.
"80 million in East Blue?"Jozu raised a massive eyebrow."They just shattered the self-esteem of 90% of the captains in the New World. Hahahaha!"
Vista twirled his mustache with a curious expression."Well, well… Zoro and Kuina.Two swordsmen in the same crew?And the girl has a higher bounty than the guy… interesting."He lowered his head slightly."Three swords and one fire blade. Makes me want to cross swords with them."
"Their navigator has 40 million too?!"Izo let out a small laugh."Well now, that's sure to make a few guys around here grind their teeth," he said, casting a teasing look at the unbountied crewmates around him.
He flipped another page."Their doctor's worth 17 million… and she's covered in blood on the poster.I can't wait to see what they'll pull off on the Grand Line. If they've already had the guts to destroy a bounty hunter branch, they might just go after a Marine base—or the bounty hunters' headquarters."
He propped his feet up on the table, a wide grin on his face."Luffy's doing exactly as expected.Finding dangerous crewmates, diving headfirst into trouble, kicking ass…It's so him."
He looked at Jordan's poster."But this Jordan guy… I think I'll have to go check out what kind of guy's following my little brother.Just… to be sure, you know."
Whitebeard erupted with his deep, booming laugh."Gurararara! And here I thought you just wanted to go congratulate him!"
Ace feigned offense."I'm a responsible big brother, Oyaji! I'm doing a safety check!"
Totoland – Throne Room of Whole Cake ChateauThe room echoed with the heavy, melodic rhythm of Big Mom enjoying an entire tray of lemon-scented cakes. Homies sang softly in the background, terrified of hitting a wrong note and ending up as dessert.
Cracker entered stiffly, clutching the latest edition of the World News under his arm."Mama! A new crew has emerged in East Blue. They're rising in power at an absurd rate… almost Supernova-level. And they haven't even set foot on the Grand Line yet."
He approached… or at least tried to, as a long, smooth hand suddenly reached out and snatched the vice-captain's wanted poster from him.
Smoothie.She unfolded it slowly, analyzing every detail. Her usually impassive gaze shimmered with an unusual glint."Hm…" she murmured, intrigued."This one… Jordan. He's rather handsome, and he has a presence. Not just brute strength… a strange kind of magnetism."
Cracker frowned, surprised to see her so attentive.Smoothie never commented on men.
Big Mom stopped chewing."Ohoho? Smoothie… my sweet daughter… have you FINALLY found a man who interests you?! Mama-mama-mama!"
Smoothie pursed her lips and looked away, slightly annoyed.She handed the poster to Big Mom, reluctantly.
Big Mom's eyes sparkled."Not bad at all. A 'D' too… Mama mama… the world's getting exciting."
"I didn't say that," Smoothie replied. "But… if he survives long enough to enter the New World… he might be worth a look."
Big Mom burst out laughing, her thunderous voice shaking the walls."My daughter, believe me, he's already worth a look!Read his description! He slipped away from that mutt Garp!UWAHAHA! If he can slip through that idiot's fingers, then yes… he's promising!"
Katakuri stepped forward silently, arms crossed.His sharp gaze fixated on the newspaper's pages with intensity."The most notable thing isn't just the vice-captain's potential.It's the whole crew.Barely a dozen members… and they've crushed thousands of enemies.Each one has a bounty.Each one seems to specialize in something unique."
He slid a wanted poster through his fingers."I'm curious to see how far they'll go.The captain, Luffy… his abilities are strange. His future is… shifting. Hard to read.It intrigues me."
Cracker, for his part, wrinkled his nose."What shocks me the most are these posters.It's like a pirate fashion show!I bet the photographer was… "invited" to follow very specific poses.Look at this—it's like they had a beach photoshoot."
Big Mom snorted with amusement."Mama-mama… kids acting like stars… but cutting down everything in their path.They'll make noise once they get here.Hmm… maybe we should consider inviting them to tea one of these days…especially before Kaido takes an interest in your husband and his ancient Zoan."
Smoothie smiled slightly, nonchalantly."If they survive that long, Mother. And if they're worth our attention."
Katakuri closed the paper."They will be. I'm almost sure of it."
Onigashima – Yonko Kaido's Banquet HallThe grand hall echoed with drunken songs, thunderous laughter, and the pounding of clubs as the Gifters danced wildly. Geysers of sake sprayed all the way up to the rafters.
At the center, Kaido slumped on his stone throne, downing an entire sake barrel in one long gulp.
A Tobiroppo burst in, nearly tripping over himself, gasping for breath."Kaido-sama! Urgent report from East Blue!"
Kaido opened one eye, tired but vaguely curious."Hm? If it's another two-berry rookie… I'm throwing you out the window."
The subordinate gulped and held out a bundle of wanted posters.
Jack, casually slicing a chunk of meat with his massive blade, growled,"Read it. If it's an interesting Zoan, it could be useful for my troops."
The subordinate resumed,"A new Ancient Zoan user has appeared in East Blue!"
The announcement made Queen raise an eyebrow, pausing mid-sip."Oh? Seriously? In East Blue? The weakest sea?What's the model? A dodo? A failed lizard?"
"The Ancient Crocodile Fruit, Queen-sama! A rare Ancient Zoan!"
Queen nearly choked on his drink."The Ancient Crocodile?! That thing hasn't been seen in—what, twenty, no… thirty years!"
King, as calm and still as a blade at rest, crossed his arms."Makes sense. The World Government had classified that fruit as 'lost.'It was likely recovered from some forgotten site, a sealed temple, or hidden treasure."
Kaido sat up slightly, a predatory grin spreading across his face."The fruit's interesting… but what's the kid worth?Power's nice… but if the user's a wimp, it's useless."
Queen grabbed the posters, unrolling them in front of him, then whistled in appreciation."Whoa… these kids have style. A rookie crew…that wiped out the entire East Blue bounty hunter branch with just ten people?Not bad."
Kaido burst into monstrous, almost mocking laughter."AHAHAHA! Ten people?Jack could've done it alone in his sleep!Even Queen after three bottles!And King with his hands tied!"
"Hmph," King replied, unimpressed."They're just rookies. Nothing says they'll even survive to reach Wano—let alone the New World.But if this Jordan, the Ancient Crocodile user, surpasses the other Zoans…then yes, we might consider evaluating him… or recruiting him."
Queen chuckled."Recruit? Only if he survives long enough to get noticed!Still, I'll admit… the kid's got an interesting face.And that captain of his… that smile—it's annoying. Reminds me of someone."
Kaido raised his barrel, slamming it against his forehead with a grunt of pleasure."AHAHAHA…Let them live! Let them bleed! And let them make it here someday!I want to see if this little crew is worthy of entering the real seas…or if they'll just get crushed like all the rest."
A heavy silence followed.Then Kaido roared,"BRING ME MORE TO DRINK!I want to celebrate these new brats… before they die!"
Aboard the Red Force, sailing toward the New World…The sun was setting over a calm sea when Benn Beckman stepped into the captain's cabin, a folder in hand."Shanks. The new wanted posters just arrived.You're going to want to see this."
Shanks looked up from his bottle, intrigued."Already? They've barely set sail..."
Benn laid the posters on the table, unfolding the one of the captain.
Monkey D. Luffy – Captain – Bounty: 85,000,000.A perfect photo, a huge grin, his shield resting on his shoulder.
Shanks was silent for a few seconds…Then a thunderous burst of laughter shook the entire ship.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!Look at this kid! What's he doing with that shield?!"
Lucky Roo arrived, chewing on a massive hunk of meat."85 million for someone who hasn't even set foot on the Grand Line yet…That's pretty impressive."
"He looks happy… like always," Yasopp smiled, then paled."He even recruited my son… and he's got a freaky girlfriend too."
"HAHAHA, just like Buggy predicted—this calls for a banquet!"shouted Shanks, and the crew erupted into celebration across the ship.
Heartless IslandThe improvised press machine hummed softly, filling the workshop with steady metallic clacks.Belmére was typing on the typewriter Jordan had recovered, brows furrowed, tongue slightly sticking out, as if the precision of each letter could decide the future.
Next to her, Granny Heartless watched with sparkling eyes, fascinated by the machine."Looks like a Den Den Mushi swallowed a drum," she muttered, her glasses slightly askew.
Little Léa, seated on the old woman's lap, stared at the machine like it was a treasure. With every click of a key, she squirmed excitedly, letting out adorable little squeals.
Belmére smiled without turning around."Yes, sweetie, it's magic. One day, you'll type your own adventures."
The door burst open.Nojiko strode in quickly, a bundle of wanted posters in her arms, her grin so wide it looked like it might split her face in two."Mom! You won't believe it — they finally published the bounties!"
She laid the posters out on the table, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Belmére froze.Granny Heartless squinted.Léa happily slapped the papers with her tiny hands.
"Oh… my god."Belmére brought a hand to her mouth, stunned.She picked up Jordan's bounty poster.
Straw Hat Luffy — 85 million."Four times Arlong… four times!"And Nami… 40 million?!"
She paused, rereading her daughter's new title."… 'The Elemental Witch'?"A predatory grin escaped her.
"I hope she screams when she sees that."
Nojiko laughed as she sat beside her."Oh don't worry, she'll explode!But she'll pretend not to care to keep her cool, as usual."
Granny Heartless picked up Jordan's poster and showed it to Léa, gently stroking her cheek."Look, little one, your big brother is growing up fast.He's already shaking the whole world."
Léa babbled joyfully before trying to chew the poster."No no no — not that one!" exclaimed Belmére, pulling the paper away just in time."If you want to eat something, go find Jerry, he's probably on break."
Outside, Hector, Octy, and Jerry were working tirelessly with several villagers.The first walls of small wooden houses were already going up.Tools clanged, voices laughed, and despite the scent of sawdust and damp soil… the island finally smelled like life.
Nojiko looked out the window for a moment."They might not realize it, but…seeing them all together like this, free, in peace… it's thanks to them.Thanks to Nami, Jordan, and their whole crew."
Belmére nodded slowly, touched."Yeah… they fight like lunatics, but at least…"
She looked at the photos.Luffy, laughing like a fool.Zoro, serious as ever.Sanji, with his charming smile.Kaya in her hybrid form — adorable and terrifying at once.Jordan, calm and confident.Nami, beautiful and unintentionally threatening.
"…they look like they're having fun.And as long as they're smiling, I'm happy."
She returned her fingers to the typewriter, took a deep breath, and rested her hands on the keys."Alright then…Let's start this newspaper.Chapter one: Cocoyashi… Liberated.And the story is only just beginning."
Trump CastlePerched atop Trump Island, the castle looked more like a massive casino disguised as a fortress than a military stronghold.The walls were draped with banners of playing cards, poker symbols, and trophies of sunken ships.
At the center of a throne made of gold and iron sat Bear King, slouched as if he already ruled all the seas.In one hand, he held a barrel of rum.In the other… a massive remote control connected to his King Cannon, the legendary weapon he proudly called "the pinnacle of military art."
"Overloaded pirates in East Blue…" he grunted, stroking his hairy chin."I wonder if those idiots can survive my King Cannon."
His booming laugh rattled the windows.
In front of him stood the science couple — a duo as brilliant as they were intimidated — clutching a giant schematic of explosive devices.The man, thin as a twig, was drenched in sweat.His wife, a genius chemist, didn't even dare lift her eyes to the king.
Bear King pointed the remote at them, his thumb twitching with a nervous tic."You two!" he roared. "Where are MY munitions?! I want the new batch for my cannon tonight, at the latest!"
He sprang to his feet, his massive frame creaking the throne beneath him.His shadow almost swallowed the two scientists whole.
"Otherwise I'll throw one of you off the island!And the survivor can explain to the King Cannon why there are no munitions to test!"
The couple instantly turned pale.
"W-We're on it, King! Everything will be ready — n-no worries!""The explosive catalysts are stable! Well… mostly!" they stammered, nearly tripping over their tools as they fled.
Bear King watched them run, amused."Hmph. Those two… what a pair of geniuses, but they shake like jelly."
His grin turned feral.
"Well then… let's see if these cocky pirates deserve to enter my game."
He pressed a button.A siren blared throughout the castle:
"King Cannon test phase — Prepare yourselves!"
(Author's note: This chapter is just a small bonus — the next one is coming later tonight as planned.)