Shanks raised his hand, and only then did his crew restrain their surging killing intent.
"I've brought her back. Whether you accept what she told you or not… that's your business."
"We're leaving."
With those parting words, Red-Haired Shanks turned and walked away.
Kaido narrowed his eyes as he watched Shanks and his crew depart.
He made no move to stop them.
Once they were gone, his gaze slowly turned toward Queen the Plague.
"Hey, you brat—what the hell happened?!" Kaido growled.
"I sent you to bring back that bastard Whiteflame, and instead, you're the one dragged back by Red-Hair?!"
Queen bit her lip, her eyes glinting with an odd emotion.
"Sorry, Kaido-sama. I lost."
"That guy… Whiteflame… he's just too strong. I wasn't his match."
"Too strong?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Kaido's eyes.
He knew Queen better than anyone—prideful, vicious, and never willing to admit inferiority to anyone but Kaido himself.
And now she was willingly admitting defeat?
"I see."
"In that case… all the more reason to fight him!"
The Empress – Boa Hancock!
Kaido loved nothing more than battle.
His very blood was infused with violent, destructive instincts—born to crave war, power, and the euphoric thrill of brutal combat.
He'd fought Whitebeard, Red-Hair, Big Mom, and even the Navy countless times.
Win or lose, it didn't matter. Fighting was his truth.
The death of Jack the Drought?
Kaido couldn't care less.
To him, subordinates were just pawns—fodder to spark greater wars and fuel more glorious battles.
But this Whiteflame…
Someone strong enough that even Queen admitted defeat?
Kaido's blood began to boil.
He didn't care how strong Whiteflame actually was.
This fight was happening.
"Kaido-sama!" Queen suddenly spoke, cheeks flushing red.
"He's the man I've chosen. The man I… like."
"Can't you just let him go?"
Clang, clang—
Around them, weapons fell to the ground one by one.
The surrounding Beasts Pirates stared at Queen, stunned beyond belief.
Did she just… act coy?
Queen the Plague—that Queen—was blushing and pleading like a lovesick girl?
What kind of alternate dimension was this?!
Ever since she'd joined the Beasts Pirates, she'd been nothing but ruthless—brutal, cold-blooded, violent. People trembled at the mention of her name, terrified to cross her.
And now… this?!
"Then I've got even more reason to kill him."
Kaido's killing intent surged.
"You're a valuable piece on my board. I need you to wage the greatest war this world has ever seen."
"If Whiteflame makes you hesitate… I'll kill him myself and free you from your weakness!"
"Kaido-sama!"
Queen's expression shifted.
"Shut it!"
"His life is mine!"
Kaido's eyes gleamed with murderous resolve.
"This time… no one's coming with me."
"I'll bring back his head myself—and make sure you get a good, long look at it."
Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World…
"Pops! Big news! HUGE news!"
A member of the Whitebeard Pirates came running with wild excitement on his face.
"Oi, how many times have we told you not to barge in like that?"
"What kind of 'big news' are we talking about? If it's something trivial, you're dead meat."
Diamond Jozu stepped forward, blocking the way like a living wall.
"Relax, Jozu."
Marco the Phoenix smirked, turning to the breathless crew member.
"Pops is right here. Just spill it."
Glug, glug—
Whitebeard downed a massive gulp of sake, then turned his gaze to the newcomer.
"So… what kind of storm is brewing out there now?"
"Pops! You remember that guy I told you about a while back—the one who killed Jack the Drought and Charlotte Cracker?"
"Well… he's gotten even stronger!"
"The Navy sent Admiral Kizaru, the Beasts Pirates sent Queen the Plague, and Big Mom sent several of her Ministers…"
"To hunt down one man!"
Marco frowned.
"That much firepower, just for him? Yeah, hard to forget that kind of thing."
"Exactly! And get this—they cornered him in the East Blue…"
"But just as they were about to fight—Red-Hair showed up!"
"Shanks himself stood in front of everyone… to protect him."
"Shanks?!"
Whitebeard raised a brow.
Red-Haired Shanks might be a peacemaker, but even he wouldn't cross the sea for just anyone—especially all the way to the East Blue.
That meant the boy must be someone very important to him.
"That's not even the craziest part…"
"Whiteflame… refused Shanks' protection."
Gasps rippled through the crew.
"Cocky brat!"
"Kids these days have guts, I'll give 'em that…"
"Refusing a favor from Shanks himself? That's just asking for death!"
Shouts and snickers rang out across the deck.
Getting protection from a Yonko was a once-in-a-lifetime miracle—many pirates never even caught a glimpse of one, let alone earned their backing.
And this punk had the gall to turn it down?
What a cocky little shit.
"Except… he didn't die."
The crewmember gulped.
"He killed them."
"Kizaru… Big Mom's ministers… Queen the Plague… All gone!"
The entire ship fell silent.
It was like someone had hit the mute button on a rowdy tavern.
Whitebeard paused, his gourd halfway to his lips.
"You what?"
"Cut the crap!" someone shouted.
"You expect us to believe he killed all of them?!"
"This ain't funny! Kizaru, Queen, the Juice Minister… These are top-tier names! Together, they could challenge a Yonko!"
"You telling me some greenhorn took 'em all down? You high?!"
Voices rose in disbelief.
They'd fought those opponents before. Each one was a monster in their own right.
And yet this newcomer supposedly slaughtered them solo?
"What kind of sick joke is this?"
"It's true!"
"Reports have confirmed it. Kizaru and Big Mom's ministers were all killed on the spot!"
"If not for Shanks, even Queen the Plague would've died there!"
"Oh, and there's one more thing…"
"Before returning to East Blue, Whiteflame encountered the Golden Lion…"
"And he killed him, too."
Silence fell again—heavier than before.
Many crew members felt their pupils shrink involuntarily.
CRACK!
The gourd in Whitebeard's hand shattered from the pressure of his grip.
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