The change in Chinjao's head was caused by that punch from Garp back then.
Or perhaps, to this old man, that horn on his head had always been a symbol of his honor.
Of course, there was also the key to the treasure accumulated over hundreds of years.
On that same day, both his honor and his fortune were taken away, which is why his entire personality changed.
And now, with just one punch from Don, both his honor and his fortune had returned.
Watching Chinjao repeatedly raise his hand to stroke the sharp horn atop his head, Don twitched the corner of his mouth and turned his gaze away.
It looked a little indecent.
He put an arm around Robin and turned.
"I'm going to borrow one of the Happo Navy's ships to make a trip to the North Blue."
"No problem!"
Chinjao agreed instantly, without a shred of hesitation.
Lao G and Bu Wu, who had just been knocked aside and were now approaching again, exchanged looks.
You could've just asked to borrow a ship—why'd you have to hit him first?!
"Grandfather, we're supposed to head for the Grand Line. If we're going to the North Blue, we'll either have to wait for the Reverse Mountain currents to shift, or risk crossing the Calm Belt."
Lao G reminded him cautiously.
"Fool! If our benefactor wishes to go to the North Blue, then of course we must take him there!"
Chinjao bellowed angrily, glaring at him.
"Ugh…"
Seeing his grandfather's whiskers bristle and eyes bulge, Lao G didn't dare say another word.
"Go tell everyone—we're holding a banquet tonight!"
Chinjao waved his hand decisively.
Lao G and Bu Wu exchanged a glance, then turned and ran off.
Looking at his two grandsons, then at Don with his arm around Robin, Chinjao's eyes bulged again.
That boy looked younger than his grandsons, yet the difference in power was staggering.
The more he looked, the more useless his grandsons seemed.
But the thought no sooner surfaced than he went right back to stroking his horn.
It was back.
Heh heh…
Hearing that lecherous chuckle behind him, Don felt a chill run down his spine.
He hadn't even felt this way when they were trading blows.
"What do we do next?"
Robin noticed Don's body stiffen and asked softly.
"We wait. After that, we'll board their ship and head for the North Blue."
"So you really are going to the North Blue… Is it truly to go after Doflamingo?"
Robin's eyes narrowed as she looked at him.
Back when they'd met Capone Bege, Don had briefly mentioned his North Blue trip.
But Doflamingo was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, with no small amount of influence.
And Don… he was just one man.
Well, two if you counted her.
"I already said I would. Back when I took out some of the Donquixote Family officers, I even spoke to that flamingo over the den den mushi. Since I said it, I'll see it through."
"What?! You told them in advance? Then of course they'll be prepared!"
Robin sighed in exasperation.
If you're going to strike at someone, wouldn't it be smarter to do it in secret?
"Doflamingo's in Dressrosa in the New World right now. I doubt he'll come running himself. But if I go to the North Blue, at least I won't have to chase him all the way to Dressrosa later."
Don pressed his sword into Robin's arms as he spoke.
She nodded, adjusting to the surprising weight of it.
"So… you bear a grudge against him?"
"Not really. I just killed some of his men. But he's vindictive. This won't end cleanly, no matter what."
Don understood Doflamingo's personality well enough.
He treated his own officers decently, like family. But outsiders? Completely different.
Baby 5 might cry and complain about him, but he never minded.
Yet those who exploited her flaws and used her… he slaughtered them to the last man, wiping out entire towns.
All told, he killed eight of Baby 5's fiancés.
Not that they weren't out to scam her in the first place.
Of course, that was still in the future. At this time, Baby 5 was probably only fifteen or sixteen—and maybe already on her way to being conned.
Robin understood enough of the situation and didn't press further.
On the Happo Navy's side, with orders from Chinjao and Lao G, everything moved quickly.
Tending to the injured, repairing the houses, and then preparing for the banquet.
A news coo, its neck draped with a camera den den mushi, flew straight into a branch office of the World Economy News Paper in the West Blue.
When the staff developed the photos, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
Here in the Flower Country, of course they recognized Chinjao, the backbone of the Happo Navy.
A pirate whose bounty had surpassed five hundred million berries in the old days—now crying and kneeling.
And then there were the photos of Don fighting him.
"Quick, report this to headquarters immediately!"
None of them dared to be careless.
Even on the Grand Line, a bounty that high surpassed ninety-nine percent of pirates.
Soon, a fresh issue of the newspaper was sent out by countless news coos across the seas.
"Unknown Powerhouse Battles Pirate of the Old Era!"
The front page screamed with a shocking headline.
To ensure nobody missed the significance, they included Chinjao's old bounty and his past exploits.
Of course, the paper didn't stir up too big of a wave.
After all, in recent years there had been no shortage of major news.
The titles of the Three Emperors of the New World had emerged one after another, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea were still a topic of constant rumor.
An old relic like Chinjao, who hadn't even set foot on the Grand Line in ages, naturally didn't attract much attention.
But Don—the unknown man who defeated him—sparked no small amount of curiosity.
And among those who already knew of Don, reactions were mixed.
Dressrosa.
The veins on Doflamingo's forehead throbbed violently as he glared at the paper in his hand.
"That bastard…!"
For him, Don was someone to kill on sight.
And as for his picture—Doflamingo had long since obtained it.
But he hadn't expected Don to stir up such chaos in the West Blue.
"Doffy, this guy doesn't look weak. Chinjao may not have shown his face in years, but his old bounty was still over five hundred million."
Trebol sniffled as he reminded him.
"Just an old fossil. But tell Lao G and the others to stay sharp."
Doflamingo's gut told him Don would definitely go to the North Blue.
The tone of his words back then had carried an absolute certainty.
Still, the weapons factories in the North Blue must not be disrupted. He had just signed a sales agreement with Kaido. If he couldn't deliver the arms…
Even Doflamingo didn't want to face Kaido's wrath.
That man's strength was absurd—especially with his habit of rampaging across the Grand Line looking for ways to die.
Impossible to predict.
Shimotsuki Village.
"Kuina!"
Zoro came rushing into the Isshin Dojo, waving a newspaper in his hand.
"You're late again. Did you get lost this time?"
Kuina, who was in the middle of her training, planted her hands on her hips and scolded him.
"No, it's Don!"
Zoro shouted, waving the paper excitedly.
"News about Don? Let me see!"
Before Kuina could even react, a surprised voice came from the side.
Koushirou stepped forward, his expression intrigued.
END OF CHAPTER
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