On the high seas.
The Thousand Sunny was sailing across the ocean.
At this moment,
It had already been the second day since Kizaru's defeat.
A newspaper fell from high in the sky and was caught by Usopp.
When Usopp saw the contents of the newspaper, his eyes immediately widened!
"B-big news!! Luffy, Zoro, come and see..."
Everyone on the Straw Hat Pirates ship was startled and gathered around.
After everyone finished reading the newspaper, they were all deeply shocked.
"Mondo-senpai is truly too strong..." Sanji murmured.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Even a powerful Marine Admiral was defeated by Mondo, which was enough to prove Mondo-senpai's strength.
"Did that uncle really capture Admiral Kizaru?" Nami still couldn't believe it.
Nico Robin calmly analyzed, "In that case, the Marines won't give up. I'm afraid a war is already unavoidable..."
"Luffy, should we go back and help?" Zoro asked.
Luffy, uncharacteristically, wasn't impulsive and shook his head, saying, "Our strength is too weak; those enemies are far beyond us!"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Thinking about it carefully, wasn't that the case?
A mere Pacifista could push them to desperation!
Yet, in front of Uncle Mondo, a Pacifista could be instantly annihilated with a flick of a finger!!
This was the difference!
Then, Luffy's expression became solemn and unusually serious as he looked at his companions:
"Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami, Chopper... Everyone, listen to me. I hope we can temporarily split up and find suitable places for training to become stronger! If we want to achieve our dreams, we must become strong..."
"The time limit is two years! Two years from now, we will reunite at Sabaody Archipelago!!"
Luffy had been thinking about these words ever since they set sail.
The Sabaody Archipelago incident made Luffy deeply realize that if they wanted to survive in the pirate world, they absolutely couldn't do it without strength.
One Admiral alone could make them despair!
If Uncle Mondo hadn't appeared, they would have been wiped out long ago, let alone become the "Pirate King"?
Upon hearing Luffy's words, everyone looked at him in surprise.
It seemed somewhat unbelievable that such words would come from Luffy's mouth...
Because Luffy's usual personality was that of a reckless idiot who preferred to act rather than think.
For such a person to say these words now was truly surprising.
However, after thinking about it, everyone felt that Luffy's words made a lot of sense!
In this world where the strong prey on the weak, strength was truly too important...
If they were all as strong as Mondo-senpai, why would they have to flee so miserably this time?
"Luffy's right!"
Sanji lit a cigarette for himself and calmly said, "The New World is an even more chaotic and dangerous place. With our current strength, we cannot conquer such a place."
Zoro's tone was firm as he said, "I agree to reunite in two years!"
"Agreed!"
"I second that!"
"I agree too!!"
Everyone nodded, then placed their hands together, agreeing to meet again in two years...
...
Amazon Lily.
The Kuja Pirates.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
A massive figure ran, causing the ground to shake.
The one running was a giant woman with a face that strongly resembled a snake.
Upon seeing this giant woman, all the residents of Amazon Lily would respectfully bow and dared not block her path.
At this moment, the giant woman didn't bother to greet anyone else. Holding a newspaper, she ran at an incredibly fast speed towards the palace in the center of the island.
"Sister! Sister! Big news…"
The giant woman shouted as she rushed into the palace, stopping in a spacious hall.
At the head of the hall,
Sat a woman of unparalleled beauty, captivating all who beheld her!
This woman's appearance, figure, and aura were utterly beyond description.
Any normal man seeing her would find her charm irresistible…
This woman was none other than Boa Hancock, captain of the Kuja Pirates and Empress of Amazon Lily, the island of women!
One of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea!
Reputed as the most beautiful woman in the world!
Her epithet: Pirate Empress!
"Marigold!"
The Empress looked at her hurried sister, a slight headache in her voice, "If you keep running like that, you'll wear out the floorboards!"
"Sister, I didn't mean to… but something really big has happened!"
"What big news?"
"Marine Headquarters has issued a mandatory summons to us, ordering us to assemble at Sabaody Archipelago to capture someone!"
The Empress was surprised to hear this.
For Marine Headquarters to issue a summons to them, pirates, it must indeed be something significant!
"Capture whom?"
"It's our benefactor…" Marigold, exceptionally excited, blurted out a name: "Senior Mondo!"
"What!!!"
Hearing the name Mondo, the Empress was so shocked that she immediately rose from her chair.
Displaying her perfect figure completely…
"Mondo…" the Empress murmured.
This name was the one that haunted her dreams.
She would never forget the heroic sight of Mondo executing that wicked Celestial Dragon on the spot at Marine Headquarters ten years ago.
And it was precisely because of Mondo's actions that she escaped the Celestial Dragons' clutches and regained her freedom.
One could say Mondo was her reborn parent, her savior!
For the past ten years, the Empress had been inquiring about Mondo's whereabouts, never giving up.
Ten years had passed.
She had transformed from a young slave girl into the world-renowned Pirate Empress!
"Ten years, Senior Mondo, you've finally reappeared…"
A look of excitement appeared on the Empress's beautiful face.
"Sister, you 000 shouldn't get too excited. Senior Mondo is in great danger right now."
The Empress calmed down a bit upon hearing this and asked, "What exactly happened?"
"According to the information I received, Senior Mondo suddenly appeared at Sabaody Archipelago yesterday…"
Marigold roughly explained the situation to the Empress.
When the Empress heard that Senior Mondo had defeated Marine Admiral Kizaru and even captured him, a look of shock involuntarily appeared on her beautiful face.
Especially when she heard that Senior Mondo had killed another Celestial Dragon and captured two more, the Empress's heart stirred, unable to control herself.
The Empress harbored a deep hatred for the Celestial Dragons!
"This truly is a major event…"
Afterward, the Empress couldn't help but start worrying about Mondo.
With all that Mondo had done, Marine Headquarters and the World Government would certainly not let it go.
No wonder Marine Headquarters suddenly issued a mandatory summons to them!
"Sister, should we refuse Marine Headquarters' summons?"
The Empress thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "No, we accept the summons!"
"Ah?"
Marigold didn't quite understand her sister's meaning and couldn't help but ask, "But… Senior Mondo is our benefactor!"
"Who said I'm responding to the Marines' summons to deal with Senior Mondo?"
A meaningful look appeared in the Empress's eyes.
"We're going to support Senior Mondo!!"