As dawn broke and the sky began to lighten, the editors of the World Economic News Agency, working through the night, finally finished their report.
Newsbirds flapped their wings, carrying the extra reports printed overnight, and joyfully flew off to various destinations.
They swept over towns, ports, and ship decks, scattering newspapers like snowflakes.
The headlines on the front page were so striking and eye-catching that, in almost every place, the four seas, the first half of the Grand Line, the New World…
The newspapers were instantly sold out upon arrival.
This series of news, as public opinion rapidly fermented, swept across the entire ocean like a hurricane, stirring up towering waves!
New World, on the Moby Dick.
"Gurararara, Gurarara, "
A hearty laugh shook the deck slightly. Whitebeard tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of wine, casually tossing the newspaper to Marco. "Look, Marco, those Marines really lost face this time!"
"The Curtainfall Pirates, Shanu..."
Marco caught the newspaper, glanced at it, and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Akainu... he's injured?"
"Huh?"
"Is that so?"
"Let me see, Dad!"
The other captains were shocked and hurriedly gathered around.
"Whoa?!" Diamond Jozu was the first to widen his eyes. "540 million Berries... to have a bounty like that right after entering the Grand Line, that's even more outrageous than Shanks' growth rate."
This level of bounty was even among the top ranks of these captains!
"A swordsman, huh!"
Izo turned his head with interest. "A swordsman even Akainu couldn't capture... Hey, Vista, this guy's swordsmanship is probably better than yours, right?"
"What a joke, you bastard Izo~!"
Vista the Flower Sword roared angrily. "How could such a thing be? Don't compare me to this brat who just entered Paradise!"
Despite saying this, Vista's gaze kept scanning back and forth between that handsome face and the long katana behind him. A pure swordsman who hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit?
To reach this level solely through swordsmanship.
Indeed... it's been a long time since I've encountered someone like this!
Vista narrowed his eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword.
Get into the New World soon, kid! When we meet, let's have a good swordsmanship match and see what you're really made of!
"Dad."
Marco closed the newspaper, lost in thought. "Should we make contact? We can't let the other pirate crew snatch up such a super-powerful newcomer first."
"No rush, let's wait until he enters the New World!"
Whitebeard grinned, waving his hand.
"These things depend on fate, you idiot son, gurararara... Anyway, let the Navy have their headaches first! This sea is finally going to be lively again!"
Onigashima, Skull Castle.
"Hahaha, 'Pay Pay'! Why are you running? I'm not going to eat you!"
"..."
Two figures were running back and forth between the pillars.
At the very top of the hall, the candlelight cast a long, enormous shadow.
"Urrrrrr! Queen, what are you looking at now?"
Kaido lay drunkenly on the main seat, holding a sake jug, glancing sideways at Queen, who was holding a newspaper and looking surprised.
"Boss, there's some really big news from Paradise."
Queen, cigar in hand, handed over the newspaper with a grin.
"Look, a kid who's only eighteen has almost turned Marine Headquarters upside down, giving them a real headache."
"Oh?"
Kaido lazily took the newspaper, squinted at the report, and then fixed his gaze on the wanted poster.
"Eighteen, a few years younger than Yamato, huh, interesting…"
Kaido's gaze lingered on Shanu's face for a moment before he suddenly asked, "To last so long against Akainu… is he a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user?"
"Uh?"
Queen was taken aback, scratching his head. "According to the intelligence, it seems not… This kid is a pure swordsman, he hasn't even eaten a Devil Fruit."
"…?"
Kaido suddenly became interested, flipping over and sitting up abruptly. "Really didn't eat one?"
"No, didn't you see what the newspaper said? He jumped into the sea to escape…"
"Ugh! Who would look closely at that kind of stuff!"
Kaido's drunken eyes gleamed with excitement. "At such a young age, to be so strong just with his physique, he's a rare find!"
"Hey, Queen!"
He grinned. "Keep those Devil Fruits you mentioned for now, keep a close eye on this kid, and report back to me as soon as he enters the New World! I'm going to take the Devil Fruits and go find him myself!"
"This..."
Queen wiped his sweat. Kaido was good in every way, except... wasn't he a little too fond of recruiting talent?
A mere kid who'd just entered the Grand Line was already being offered this kind of treatment... even being able to choose any Devil Fruit?
Although he had to admit, that Shanu certainly deserved it.
A bounty of 540 million Berries before even arriving in the New World was truly outrageous.
King had already surpassed 1 billion, while Queen only had a bounty of 700 million Berries, just over 100 million more than him!
If he really wanted to join the Beasts, his status would probably be second only to their two top lieutenants as soon as he entered...
tsk, what should his new title be then? Shanu the Drought?
Just then, two figures finally rushed into the banquet hall.
"Damn it, 'Pay Pay'! Why are you hiding from me!"
Ulti chased her brother all over the hall in a flurry.
"Sister, calm down!" Page One scurried away, covering his head, "Lord Kaido is discussing serious matters!"
"Hey." Queen's forehead veins bulged, his cigar crunching loudly. "You two..."
He held back the first time.
The second time, his fat face twitched.
When Ulti whizzed past him for the third time, clattering over his treasured wine,
"Shut up!!!"
Queen roared, his obese body displaying astonishing agility as he grabbed the siblings, howling,
"You two idiots, go make a scene outside! You're going to deafen Kaido!!!"
"...Ugh, ugh..." Ulti, sprayed with spittle, stared blankly at Queen, her large eyes instantly welling with tears of grievance.
"You're the one who's deafening me, you idiot!!!"
Thud! Kaido's spiked club slammed into Queen's head, sending him sprawling backward, his hands gripping the siblings limply at his sides.
"Take your brother out." Kaido then looked at Ulti. "This place is too small; it's really not suitable."
"Okay! Thank you so much, Lord Kaido!"
Ulti smiled and bowed to Kaido, then made a slight face at Queen, grabbed her brother's ear, and dragged him out.
Kaido quietly watched the siblings leave.
Queen then rubbed his head and sat up: "Ouch…that hurts. Was it necessary, boss? Aren't you spoiling these two brats a bit too much…"
"They're not adults yet. Let them be from now on. Don't do this! I promised Hanafuda I would raise them properly!"
Kaido snorted, then suddenly remembered something and frowned:
"By the way, go and contact Hanafuda yourself. Ask him why the Devil Fruits for this season haven't arrived yet."
Friendship is friendship, and business is business.
That guy promised to send three Zoan-type Devil Fruits each time, and it's been several days past the deadline. Why is there still no word?!
"Yes, boss!" Quinn scrambled to his feet. "Something must have gotten in the way... Don't worry, I'll go and urge him!"
Whole Cake Island.
A sea breeze blew as Katakuri sat alone atop the mast, staring at the newspaper in his hands.
A high bounty, formidable strength, it had been a long time since such a monster-level rookie had appeared on the high seas.
But what he cared about most was...
This guy, does he also have two younger sisters?
Could he just take his sisters with him, carefree and unrestrained, roaming the seas without a care in the world?
"Heh..."
Katakuri's eyes held envy as he recalled his mother's recent pressure on his sister to marry into an arranged marriage... He pulled his scarf tighter, leaning back wearily against the mast.
What an enviable kid.
On a pitifully small sailboat.
Creak, !
Tashigi flung open the hatch, clutching the newly delivered newspaper, her cheeks flushed with excitement:
"Mr. Mihawk!"
She rushed to Hawkeye, unfurling the newspaper with a clatter: "Ta-da! Look! Lord Shanu has new news!"
Hawkeye paused slightly, wiping his black sword, Yoru.
He looked up, scanning the headline, Akainu wounded, Crocodile dead, the Navy fleet returning empty-handed… Each headline made his hawk-like eyes gleam with a strange light.
Had he underestimated him?
Was that guy's swordsmanship really that powerful?
"Interesting," he murmured, a long-dormant fighting spirit igniting in his eyes.
Since that unsuccessful duel with Shanks, no one on this sea had ever made him so eager to draw his sword.
The black sword, Yoru, trembled slightly in its sheath, as if sensing its master's thoughts. Hawkeye suddenly looked up into the depths of the Grand Line and said,
"After tonight, let's part ways."
"Eh?!"
Tashigi, who had been happily holding her newspaper, widened her eyes upon hearing this. "Why, Mr. Mihawk? Isn't our goal to find Lord Shanu?"
"Your ship is ultimately too slow."
Hawkeye shook his head slightly. "At this rate, we'll never catch up with that guy."
"Your ship is fast, but it sinks fast too." Tashigi grumbled pitifully. "What do you mean by complaining about the ship being slow? You're clearly complaining about how noisy I am!"
"..." Hawkeye rubbed his temples in exasperation. "You know that's good."
These past few days, Tashigi had been pestering him every day, wanting to become his apprentice and learn swordsmanship, which had been quite a nuisance.
As for why he was on the same ship as Tashigi...
That story begins on the day he left Loguetown.
At that time, he set off for Reverse Mountain to continue chasing Shanu's ship.
During his descent down the mountain, the mysterious disappearance of Laboon the whale distracted him, causing him to lose focus and capsize.
He fell into the sea, soaked to the bone, and the boat crashed into the Twin Capes, shattering into pieces.
Just then, Tashigi, who had set off before him, was sunbathing on the grass at Twin Capes. This embarrassing scene was witnessed by the sword-obsessed girl before him, who stared in disbelief.
His first instinct was to knock her unconscious and board her boat.
But remembering what she had said at Loguetown harbor…
He couldn't bring himself to do it. And so, things turned out this way. He became a hitchhiker.
The clueless Tashigi, after recognizing him, was overjoyed and pestered him daily for sword lessons, even crouching outside the cabin door at night with her sword.
He couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep, muttering in his sleep,
"Mr. Mihawk... please take me as your apprentice... only by becoming stronger can I be qualified... to catch up with Lord Shanu's pace..."
It was incredibly annoying.
He was used to being alone and always hated being disturbed, let alone the troublesome matter of taking on an apprentice.
But strangely, he had never truly chosen to leave. He didn't know why.
Perhaps… it was because this sword-obsessed girl, with her pure and simple dedication to the way of the sword, reminded him so much of himself back then?
"…"
Hawkeye was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke:
"How about this?"
Tashigi abruptly looked up, her eyes wide, holding her breath.
"Before catching up with Shanu," he said calmly, "I will teach you a few moves every day, and then check your progress the next day."
Tashigi's pupils instantly lit up.
"If I'm satisfied, taking you on as my apprentice in the future isn't out of the question."
"But…" Hawkeye calmly looked down at her, "If your progress is too slow, and I feel you have no talent, it's a waste of my time, "
"I promise I won't!" Tashigi stood up abruptly, her cheeks flushed with excitement, "I will practice desperately! I will definitely not let you down! I, I'll go get my sword right now!!"
She dropped the newspaper, turned to rush out, but tripped over the hatch threshold and fell flat on her face.
"..."
Hawkeye watched this clumsy fellow frantically searching for his glasses, and couldn't help but close his eyes, wondering if he had made a terrible mistake.
Shanu, Shanu.
Where are you? Stop now, let me catch up...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"What did you say?! Garp!!"
Sengoku slammed the newspaper on the table, his incredulous roar almost lifting the roof off the Fleet Admiral's office.
"Did I say something wrong again?"
Garp paused, then nonchalantly continued picking his nose. "But it's true, I've known this kid for a long time. I even taught him Armament Haki."
"That's exactly what I care about!"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, wanting to punch the old bastard in front of him:
"Such a big thing, and you only told me after seeing the bounty? Your good disciple has now become a major problem for headquarters, killing two vice admirals and taking down a Shichibukai!"
"Does that make him my disciple? I only taught him some basics to pay off a debt."
Garp shrugged, then glanced at the close-up of Akainu's injury on the newspaper, and suddenly chuckled:
"But... to push that Sakazuki kid to this point, that's quite impressive, puhahahaha!"
"Garp!!"
Sengoku's roar shook the windows: "You're still in the mood to laugh?!"
"Why are you being so fierce?"
Garp picked his nose and stuck his hand to the goat next to him. "Onigumo got himself killed, didn't he? You know exactly what happened, and that Mumaya, she's a complete madwoman, isn't she?"
"They're dead, why should I be sad? On the contrary, I feel like the air in Marineford is much fresher to breathe..."
As for that Shichibukai Crocodile.
Garp clicked his tongue. He'd seen him a few times in recent years, and his intuition told him that the guy had never reformed.
He used to be an ambitious great pirate, but after going to Alabasta, he put on a righteous act, catching pirates more actively than the Marines...
Who knows what he's up to behind the scenes!
As for Shanu.
He's never raided any towns or robbed any merchant ships since he set sail, and even the title of "pirate crew" was a label forcibly imposed on him by headquarters.
"Anyway, I don't have any ill feelings towards this guy. Of course, if I happen to run into him, I'll still take care of him and bring him back!"
Garp grinned. "Speaking of which, since you're so eager to solve this problem, I have a plan. The position of Shichibukai is vacant, so why not recruit him as a new Shichibukai?" It's killing two birds with one stone!
It would stop that brat Shanu from causing trouble for the Navy, and it would also add another Shichibukai who wouldn't bully the people just because he has the right to plunder. It's a good thing no matter how you look at it.
"Shichibukai..."
Sengoku's face darkened.
It has to be said that this is indeed a feasible method. In fact, he didn't even need Garp to come up with the idea; he had already considered it, and even considered it as a preliminary option when Crocodile had just died.
But now it's not possible!
At least not in the short term!
Sengoku stared at the World Economic News newspaper on the table, his temples throbbing.
That bastard Morgans... this time he even added an extra issue overnight, distributing the newspaper all over the world before headquarters could put pressure on him!
"Naval Defeat! Two Vice Admirals, One Dead and One Wounded, Admiral Akainu Also Seriously Injured!"
"Shichibukai Crocodile Confirmed Dead, Mastermind is the Same Person!"
"Highest Bounty Ever in the First Half of the Grand Line! 540 Million Berries!"
These headlines, fueling the fire, were like slaps to the face of the Navy Headquarters. Sengoku could even imagine the gloating faces of the pirates in the New World after seeing the newspapers.
In this storm of public opinion, if the Navy turned around and offered him a position as a Shichibukai, what would become of the Navy's reputation ?
Where would he put his old face?
"Let's wait and see..."
Sengoku took a deep breath, his gaze returning to the bounty poster on the table.
The black-haired boy in the photo stood with a sword on his back, a wanton smile on his lips, his sharp black eyes seemingly piercing through the paper, looking straight into his own eyes, it was mockery.
Naked mockery!
It was as if mocking the Navy's massive encirclement operation, which ultimately ended in a dismal failure with an admiral wounded and the fleet returning empty-handed.
Sengoku's fingers unconsciously tightened, wrinkles forming at the edges of the bounty poster...
Grand Line, a certain sea area.
On the deck of the Curtainfall, everyone huddled together, carefully reading the newspapers they had just bought, occasionally whispering excitedly.
"Ha, I knew it!"
Nami was the first to finish reading, hands on her hips, laughing triumphantly, "What kind of Navy admiral is he? He's nothing special, he can't do anything to me!"
They were quite anxious because they couldn't get through to him via Den Den Mushi.
Fortunately, the World Economic News Agency acted quickly this time, bringing them the good news that Shanu was safe and sound early in the morning.
"Is that so?"
Kuina raised her head expressionlessly, "How come I remember, if I hadn't knocked you unconscious with a hand chop, you would have rushed back already?" She would probably have been blasted through the chest by Akainu as soon as she showed up, what's the difference between that and being a free kill?
"I..."
Nami was momentarily speechless, but quickly retorted, "Well, I was just too worried! How dare you say that to me? Who was it that stood on the deck all night, facing north with a sword? Their neck must have been about to break!"
"..." Kuina's ears instantly turned red.
Damn it, why did she have to say it in front of everyone!
"Hey, you two."
Nojiko interjected helplessly, but was interrupted by the commotion across the table,
"Woo, woo... Awoo!"
Gin suddenly stood up, excitedly slapping the newspaper with his front paws. Everyone looked over and saw a large stack of bounty posters falling out from the newspaper's folds.
The first one was Gin's, and the bounty was astonishing,
"150 million Berries?" Kuina turned her head in surprise, "Wow, Gin, that's quite a jump."
"You're not bad either." Nojiko handed over the next bounty poster with a grin, "140 million."
Kuina raised an eyebrow and compared it to the others.
Besides Lord Shanu, is she second?
The Navy certainly thinks highly of her, putting her ahead of Uncle Zeff and Smoker.
As for not being as good as Gin… she thinks that's normal, since her strength is still slightly inferior to Gin's, and Gin was the most outstanding presence in the battle at the docks.
"Me? Me?!"
Nami raised her hand high, her eyes full of expectation, "I also made a great contribution this time, the Navy should know I'm a Logia-type Devil Fruit user now, how much has my bounty increased?"
If not 100 million, 90 million… no, if all else fails, 80 million Berries will do!
"Let me check for you… Wow, the captain's bounty has increased to over 500 million Berries? But with such achievements, giving him that much is only natural… Oh, found it, the captain's bounty is yours."
The others immediately leaned over to take a look.
Then they all turned their heads and cast pitying and sympathetic glances at Nami.
"Hey…"
Nami squinted, a bad feeling flashing through her mind. "Why? Why are you all looking at me like that…"
"80,000 Berries!" Nojiko slammed the bounty poster down in front of Nami, suppressing a laugh. "Congratulations, that's ten times higher than before!"
Nami's expression froze instantly.
One, two, three, four… she counted again and again, confirming that there were really only four zeros on the bounty poster. Her vision blurred, and her whole body trembled. "Why, why!!!"
"Are the Navy's staff all a bunch of useless idiots who only know how to hold meetings?!" she screamed in despair. "Didn't you see the wall of fire I released? Where's the fire snake? Where's the fire phoenix? I even defeated a Navy captain who came to stop me one-on-one!"
"Uh, well, according to the battle description in the report, and Gin's new nickname…"
Smoker flipped through the newspaper, "probably, perhaps, it should be… the Navy mistook your Flame-Flame Fruit ability for Gin's."
Gin?
Nami suddenly turned her head and stared intently at Gin.
"What's going on?"
Gin was sprawled on the ground, stretching lazily, when Nami approached step by step with a dark expression... He looked completely bewildered...
...
Two minutes later.
"Gin, Gin, Gin... Gin!!!"
Nami, bruised and battered, knelt on one knee, gritting her teeth and crying as she repeatedly pounded her left arm, on which was a Gin sticker that had been recently applied.
Nojiko stood beside her, sighing. This little sister is a complete idiot.
This state wasn't caused by Gin. Gin couldn't bear to lay a hand on his master's sister, so he kept avoiding her. As a result, Nami bumped into corners several times during the chase, ending up with a bruised and swollen face...
"Waaah..."
Nami suddenly looked up, pitifully pleading, "Nojiko, help me! Help me beat up Gin to vent my anger!"
"Logically speaking, as your older sister, I should pat your head and shout 'Of course!'"
"But I can't,"
Nojiko sighed, "because even with me, the two of us together can't beat Gin."
Damn it!!!
Nami sniffed hard, feeling even more aggrieved. Her pet had stolen her battle achievements and become the second highest bounty holder on the ship, while she was treated like a pet by the Marine Headquarters...
Was there any justice in this world?!
When her brother came back, she would definitely tell him everything!
"Trying to complain to your brother?"
Nojiko saw through it immediately. "We can't get in touch with him yet. We've discussed it, so we'll just continue sailing aimlessly until we reach an island, then stop, build up our magnetic energy, and wait for his call."
"As for when that call will come,"
Nojiko gazed at the distant sea,
"We'll just have to wait. It's only the second day. Knowing my brother, he's probably exhausted and fast asleep somewhere on the sea..."
Somewhere
"Huff, huff..."
Shanu was indeed fast asleep.
But he wasn't floating on the sea; he was lying on her soft lap.
Robin, with one hand supporting her chin, leaned back on the sofa, her legs covered with thick clothes, and Shanu was lying across them.
There was no other way; the seat on the turtle's back was so small, and this position, while not elegant, was at least more comfortable for both of them.
As for throwing Shanu onto the hard, uncomfortable turtle shell next to her...
Robin gently shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. She couldn't do such a thing.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze softly fixed on the handsome sleeping face before her.
For some reason, the bluish-purple toxins on the boy's body would surge up and then disappear without a trace.
Was this his body's internal resistance fighting the deadly poison?
Robin guessed. Anyway, his breathing remained steady, and they were getting closer to that medical superpower, so there was no need to worry too much.
And now, he was back to normal.
The boy's black hair was disheveled, his eyelashes casting faint shadows under his eyes, and a faint smile lingered at the corners of his mouth, as if he were experiencing something interesting in his dream.
"Really..."
Robin couldn't help but reach out and gently brush away the stray hairs from his forehead, murmuring softly, "He just went through a great battle, yet he sleeps so soundly."
A "most heinous criminal" who gave the Marine Headquarters a major headache, a terrifyingly powerful figure who easily killed her former boss, Crocodile.
Yet now, in her arms, he was like a completely defenseless child.
"Heh." Robin chuckled.
This contrast inexplicably...
Made her want to protect him.
She suddenly remembered what happened last night.
She had just lifted him onto the turtle's back and hadn't gone far when he suddenly opened his eyes, glanced at her groggily, and said, "Oh, it's you."
Before the words were even out of his mouth, he collapsed and fell asleep again. This was too strange.
He trusts me way too much!
Wasn't he afraid that she might be a malicious enemy who would turn around and take him to the Navy to collect the bounty?
And what did that sentence mean? Did he already know her?
That didn't make sense…
On the other hand, it didn't matter; she had indeed known him for a long time.
After her call with Crocodile, she couldn't help but gather information about this black-haired boy.
When Crocodile went to Whiskey Peak to ambush him, she, having already completed her mission, became even more interested and secretly set off to follow him from afar.
Then, she witnessed him kill Crocodile, practice with a Giant in Little Garden, and single-handedly cover the retreat on Tor Island, letting his companions go first while he stayed behind to fight Akainu, ultimately achieving an astonishing feat that shocked the world…
If at first she was only driven by curiosity, and also by Baroque Works' bankruptcy leaving her with nowhere to go, and thus chose to continue following him, seeking a new boss for protection…
Now, what mattered more to her wasn't just the formidable strength displayed by the Curtainfall Pirates, but the enviable atmosphere among the crew.
Freedom, trust, bonds.
These were things she had never truly possessed in her twenty-plus years, yet they seemed so natural on this ship.
If only she could be accepted and become a member of the crew…
A gentle sea breeze stirred, and she snapped back to reality, a self-deprecating laugh escaping her lips. Someone like me… how could I possibly be fantasizing about such things again?
But why did this person recognize her?
Robin lowered her eyelashes, her fingertips unconsciously tracing Shanu's forehead.
Perhaps he was too exhausted, his mind clouded, mistaking her for a familiar face with a similar appearance?
That was the only guess she could have.