North Blue, Donquixote Family base.
Just over two months into the new year, Rosinante had already prepared everything.
He had come here to stop his insane older brother.
The very same brother who had personally destroyed five towns...
At the entrance of the Donquixote Family, a few fierce-looking pirates stared at the mute man before them, a long sword hanging from his waist, a colorful necklace around his neck.
Their brows furrowed — mainly because the aura coming off Rosinante was anything but ordinary.
Although Rosinante's strength would be considered quite low by Enel's standards, this was the Four Seas — and these men were just gatekeeping pirates.
To them, Rosinante's strength was already unfathomable.
After Rosinante gestured and handed over a piece of paper, the pirates read its contents.
Their pupils shrank sharply. They looked up at Rosinante, whispering to each other.
"No way..."
"Is that for real?!"
"Never heard that the Young Master had a younger brother."
"But the hair color does match."
"They don't look all that similar, but still..."
"No one would dare joke about something like this!!!"
"Hiss!!!"
"So it's true?"
"No, I have to report to the Young Master!"
"You lot take good care of him. If he really is—"
"Understood, understood!"
One pirate quickly ran toward the family's central compound.
The others plastered flattering smiles across their faces.
"Please, sit here!"
"You must be hungry!"
"I'll just—"
...
Donquixote Family central hall.
A group of high-ranking officers were in a meeting, analyzing the family's future development.
Thanks to a recent arms deal, they had acquired a large amount of funds. Under Doflamingo's leadership, the family was growing at breakneck speed.
But... thinking about the already-dead Trebol...
Doflamingo's mood involuntarily soured...
Knock, knock, knock—
The sound of knocking echoed.
Doflamingo's brows creased slightly.
Hadn't he said no one was to disturb him during a meeting? His expression gradually turned cold.
"Come in."
The pirate outside clearly knew this rule, so he let the outer gatekeeper straight in.
The gatekeeper walked into the room, trembling slightly at the sight of so many officers and Doflamingo.
Swallowing hard, he spoke nervously.
"Young Master, there's a tall blond man outside the base. He claims to be your younger brother."
Doflamingo's expression changed dramatically.
"What did you say?!"
Then he quickly composed himself, his face returning to a blank mask, and walked straight toward the main gate.
The officers in the room froze for a moment, then followed behind him — this was serious business.
Outwardly expressionless, Doflamingo's heart was actually surging with emotion...
When he reached the gate and stood still, his eyes fell on that slightly unfamiliar figure — but he recognized him instantly.
"Rosinante."
Doflamingo's calm voice rang out.
Hearing the voice, Rosinante's face broke into a radiant smile as he looked at him...
...
West Blue, "Cleansing Campaign" operation fleet.
Several months had passed, and the West Blue operation was almost over.
Unlike the chaotic North Blue, the West Blue had only recently gone through the Ohara Incident.
Coupled with the fact that the one executing the mission was Sakazuki — and with the news coverage of North Blue at the time —
Things in West Blue had gone abnormally smoothly. The number of pirates here was several times lower than in the North Blue.
So much so that Sakazuki barely felt anything before it was over.
At Reverse Mountain, the assembled fleet began sailing upstream.
Sakazuki stood at the prow. Enel leaned against the railing, with Bullet standing beside him.
Enel turned and rested his back on the rail.
"Kinda boring, huh? Is West Blue really this peaceful?"
"Didn't even run into any pirates worth killing."
Sakazuki chuckled lightly.
"That's because mafia syndicates thrive in West Blue."
"Anyone with any real ability is usually absorbed into the underworld. Compared to pirates—"
"Mafias are relatively stable."
"There's no need to wipe them out for now."
"With the deterrence of Ohara and the Cleansing Campaign operation, West Blue can remain stable for quite a long time."
Enel tilted his head back.
"Ahhhh—"
"I see. Then South Blue and East Blue should have more pirates than West Blue, right?"
Sakazuki nodded.
"In theory, yes."
Enel grinned slyly.
"Then..."
But his words cut off abruptly.
The warship was just about to reach the peak of Reverse Mountain, and all three of them raised an eyebrow — if nothing unexpected happened... they'd crash.
On the other side of Reverse Mountain—
In the upward current, two pirate ships were engaged in a chase.
One of them, with a slightly pink hue and a feminine touch, surged ahead.
At the stern stood the heavily made-up, witch-like "Crescent Moon Hunter" Catarina Devon.
She shouted at the man behind her — the drunken, sausage-nosed "Heavy Drinker" Vasco Shot.
"Eat dirt, you drunken fool!"
"This round's mine."
"I'll be the first to enter the Grand Line!"
"Mulurururururu!"
Holding a jug and swaying drunkenly, Vasco Shot angrily slammed the railing.
"Damn!"
"You just wait—"
His eyes suddenly widened.
"Behind you!!!!"
Catarina Devon turned at his warning.
She saw a massive warship, riding the upward current's force—
Flying through the air, about to slam down.
If nothing changed... in seconds her pirate ship would collide with it.
Catarina Devon sneered, unleashing her powers at full force.
In an instant, she transformed into a massive nine-tailed fox.
She had eaten the Zoan-type, Mythical Beast Model, Inu Inu no Mi: Nine-Tailed Fox.
She would crush this warship in one blow—
Her pupils shrank sharply!!
She clearly saw the cold-faced figure standing at the warship's prow.
Marine Admiral! Sakazuki!!!
Cold sweat poured down uncontrollably.
Her mind raced frantically as she moved her body.
The huge nine-tailed fox instantly turned and leapt toward Vasco Shot's ship.
But through the roar of the waves—
Three indifferent words, carrying scorching heat, drowned her out.
"Great Eruption."
Boom—
In Catarina Devon's final moment of consciousness—
She saw the equally terrified Vasco Shot, before a torrent of searing magma engulfed her.
There was no time for a scream. Pressed under the magma, she and Vasco Shot's ship were dragged into the depths of the sea... into darkness.
Crack, crack—
The sound of splintering echoed.
Catarina Devon's abandoned pirate ship was ground to pieces beneath Sakazuki's massive warship.
The pirates aboard were sucked under the hull and shredded into pulp.
Enel chuckled.
"Was that one just trying to attack us?"
---
(For each review +1 additional chapter)
read +170 chapters on Patreon tambeerg