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Kuraigana Island.
The ruins of the fallen kingdom were still stark against the landscape, but life had already begun to reclaim the scars of war.
Greenery, vibrant and lush, sprouted from the very soil enriched by blood and bone.
Inside the ancient castle, Mihawk was at the stove, searing a fish fillet.
The sizzle and the rich aroma filled the stone hall.
Nearby, at the long dining table, Shanks was reading the newspaper.
"So, Doflamingo lost, huh?" he mused. "This king must be something special. Is he really a rookie who just popped up in the last three years?"
"Hn," Mihawk grunted. Pan in hand, he slid the perfectly cooked fillet onto a plate and set it down in front of Shanks.
"The Marines and Cipher Pol have looked into him. He appeared on Drum Island three years ago out of nowhere and inherited Wapol's throne."
"Sounds a little like Doflamingo's story, doesn't it?" Shanks said, scratching his head. "You don't think he's some Celestial Dragon's bastard son, do you?"
"It's unclear," Mihawk said, wiping his hands and taking a seat. "He's a suspected Devil Fruit user, but the specifics are unknown."
Shanks frowned, running a hand through his red hair. "What a headache..."
Mihawk shot him a sidelong glance and picked up his knife. "A headache? I don't think you're talking about the king."
"Why not?" Shanks sighed. "He's the king of a member nation, a young powerhouse, very ambitious... any one of those things is a headache on its own."
Mihawk scoffed. "More of a headache than your own conflicted heart? You've been freeloading here for half a month, Shanks. Is it because you're too scared to face Uta?"
Shanks had already told him everything. They had been rivals in swordsmanship for years, long before the arm was lost—a friendship forged in the clash of steel. As a master swordsman, Hawkeye was not one for eloquent words, but his perception was razor-sharp. He could see straight into a person's heart.
And Shanks was rarely this indecisive.
Except when it came to the people he loved most.
"Back then... we were the ones who left her behind. Does she hate me for it?" he murmured. "And with Elegia destroyed... does she remember what happened? What would I even say to her?"
"If someone were threatening her, it would be easy. I'd just cut my way in and get her out. But from what I've seen, she's not being threatened. She's happy on that stage. She's shining."
"What if me showing up just drags up the past and hurts her all over again? Maybe... maybe it's better if I just stay away."
He was too close to it.
When he'd first seen the news in the New World, he'd been furious, ready to storm in and demand answers from Gordon. You old fool, how could you let this happen to my daughter?!
But after arriving, after making a trip to Hannabal and seeing Uta's performance for himself—the fear and hesitation had set in.
That's why he was here. He needed Mihawk's help to investigate quietly, to make sure he didn't cause a misunderstanding that could hurt Uta even more.
It was a feeling only a father could understand.
Mihawk cut into his fish with practiced elegance and took a bite. "My advice is to go directly to this king. I have a feeling he's planning something."
Shanks leaned forward. "Did you find something?"
"An intuition," Mihawk replied flatly. "A swordsman's intuition."
Shanks stabbed a piece of fish with his fork, shoved it in his mouth, and chewed aggressively. The doubt in his eyes slowly hardened into resolve.
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Wano Country.
Headquarters of the Beasts Pirates.
Kaido took a long swig from his gourd.
"So, Joker was beaten too, huh? That king... how old did they say he was, twenty-something?"
"That's what the papers say," Queen confirmed.
"In that case, Hanafuda's loss wasn't so disgraceful," King said. "This newcomer is clearly a rising star with immense potential."
Jack stayed silent in the corner, not daring to speak.
The Beasts Pirates of today, though they had occupied Wano for years, were a far cry from the powerhouse they would become. The Numbers? Not yet. The Gifters? Not yet. The Tobiroppo? Still just kids...
The crew was held together by Kaido and his three All-Stars. But an army of grunts couldn't build Kaido's dream. The resistance in Wano was constant, his forces spread thin. He hadn't managed to train a single truly powerful subordinate. In his final battle against Luffy, nearly all his top fighters were recent recruits. And his own damn daughter... was an Oden fanboy, obsessed with backstabbing her own father.
Kaido was just... so tired.
"Has Hanafuda gone to find Ace of the Spade Pirates?" Kaido asked.
"He has," Queen said.
"Let's hope he succeeds," King said, a note of unease in his voice. "Knowing the World Government, if he fails again, I fear..."
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West Blue.
With Crocodile's management and a constant influx of capital, the Bounty Hunters' Guild had expanded completely. In just over half a year, it had established branches on hundreds of islands across dozens of countries in the West Blue.
Guild hunters could now accept a wide variety of missions based on their rank—from finding lost people and pets to protecting merchant ships and assassinating targets, to hunting down pirate captains and fighting in wars.
The model was a success. For both clients and hunters, it was a reliable platform. The Guild's growth was explosive.
Crocodile was already preparing his next move: to push back into the Grand Line.
"So, Doflamingo lost too," he said, a smile spreading across his face as he read the paper. "Excellent news."
The stronger Jin became, the better his own chances of obtaining Pluton.
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Cocoyasi Village.
Genzo and the villagers cheered as they read the news. The sight of the black dragon flag brought them a sense of security.
A fighter jet screamed overhead. They were used to it by now. The kids all dreamed of becoming pilots—far more glamorous than sailing a ship.
The East Blue Trading Company's shipping and trade ventures were proceeding smoothly.
When other crews saw that flag, they gave it a wide berth.
Even the most ignorant pirate had heard the story of the golden treasure trap. The Buggy Pirates had been scared off just like that. Buggy now harbored a deep and abiding hatred for whoever had spread that false rumor.
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South Blue.
Kid and Killer had been at sea for over half a year and still hadn't found a single Devil Fruit. They were furious. The news of a man who had defeated a Warlord only added to their despair. How could they possibly compete with that?
But they would not give up.
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