Sea Circle Calendar, Year 1480.
Near the port of Taiwa Island, West Blue — the Land of Kano.
A massive pink sailing ship, the Queen Mama Chanter, cut through the rolling waves. The ship itself was singing a melody, as though it had a soul of its own.
Inside the cabin, Charlotte Linlin — tall, full-figured, with long pink curls — cradled a baby girl wrapped in purple silk. She beamed with joy. "Little Brulee, my eighth daughter! Hurry up and grow strong. We're going to build a great family together! Mamamama!"
Linlin was only 26 years old at this time, but she'd already risen to the rank of captain within the Rocks Pirates. Driven by her desire to have children of every race, she was currently sailing across the seas of the world.
Just then, a Transponder Snail began to ring. "Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru... Click!"
"This had better be good news — I'm in a wonderful mood!" The young Linlin picked up the call.
An urgent voice crackled through the snail. "Mama! I've got critical intelligence!"
"Oh? What kind of intelligence?"
"I've learned that a group of reckless grave robbers broke into the royal tombs of the Land of Kano! They uncovered a huge stash of national treasures, and among them — a Devil Fruit with an unknown ability!" the Big Mom Pirates' intelligence operative reported, barely containing his excitement.
"Oh? A Devil Fruit? Now that's some truly wonderful news! Mamamama!" Linlin's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Mama! The grave robbers were crushed by the royal army, and the treasures are being transported to the Royal Treasury as we speak!" the operative shouted.
At that moment, eight-year-old Perospero licked a lollipop with his uniquely long tongue and said, "Mama, aren't we looking for Devil Fruits too?"
"Exactly, Perospero! Devil Fruits will make our family even stronger!" Linlin laughed and lifted baby Brulee into the air. "It's just that Kano is a mysterious kingdom. There are plenty of powerful fighters we don't know about yet!"
A short, stout man with black hair chuckled. "Kukukukuku. The most famous fighter in Kano is the commander of the Happo Navy — Don Chinjao! He's an incredibly powerful warrior. He's a pirate himself, but he'd never sit back and watch his homeland get invaded. However, word is that Marine Vice Admiral Garp went on a training crusade to beat him and destroyed eight mountains in the process! And now he's come to challenge Chinjao again. The timing works out nicely for us, Linlin!"
"Oh?" Linlin stood up with excitement, a greedy red gleam burning in her eyes. "I've been looking forward to the sweets of Kano! Mamamamama~ Is the cake ready, Head Chef?"
Streusen, the Gourmet Knight, bowed. "Ready at your command!"
"Mamamamama!~" Charlotte Linlin's thrilled laughter echoed across the Queen Mama Chanter.
And just like that, the Big Mom Pirates launched their raid on the Land of Kano!
---
Meanwhile, in the frozen plains of northern Land of Kano, near the Happo Navy's stronghold.
Garp — 36 years old, at the peak of his power, had been fighting Chinjao for two straight days. As time wore on, Garp had gradually taken the upper hand, and the battle was now reaching its conclusion.
"Hasshoken: Secret Technique!"
Chinjao roared as he plunged from high in the sky, channeling every ounce of his Armament Haki into the pointed tip of his skull — Advanced Armament at that. He came crashing down toward Garp like a meteor from beyond the heavens.
Garp roared right back. He made no attempt to dodge as Chinjao hurtled toward him. His massive, jet-black right fist rose to meet Chinjao's skull head-on.
"Drill Dragon: Drill Nail!"
The collision of their Conqueror's Haki and Advanced Armament Haki sent shockwaves ripping outward, blowing back and knocking unconscious the Marines and Happo Navy pirates who stood nearby. Wild arcs of black-red lightning crackled and leapt through the air.
"GAAARP!!!"
"CHINJAOOOO!!!"
The two warriors pushed against each other with everything they had. Garp let out one final roar, concentrating all his strength into his ink-black iron fist, and with the force to shatter anything in its path — he drove Chinjao back!
That devastating punch actually compressed Chinjao's pointed skull right down into his head. Chinjao crashed to the ground, the severe trauma to his skull knocking him unconscious on impact.
"Commander Chinjao!" The Happo Navy stared in disbelief. The twelfth leader of the Happo Navy had actually been defeated!
Garp straightened up, breathing hard. He looked down at the unconscious Chinjao and spoke quietly. "This time... I win."
"Purupurupuru... Purupurupuru..." A Transponder Snail chimed in.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" A Marine soldier hurried over. "It's Fleet Admiral Kong!"
"This is Garp!" Garp took the snail — one that bore a resemblance to Kong's stern features.
"Garp, stop your fight with Chinjao. We just received a distress call from the Land of Kano. The Big Mom Pirates have launched a raid!" Fleet Admiral Kong's voice rang through the Transponder Snail. "This is an opportunity! I don't care how you do it — get the Land of Kano to join the World Government as an affiliated nation! Do you hear me?"
"Already finished!" Garp looked over at Chinjao lying motionless on the ground and asked between heavy breaths, "Why invite the Land of Kano?"
"The ancient martial arts of the Land of Kano could massively boost the fighting power of the World Government and the Marines!" Kong replied. "I shouldn't have to spell out what that means. Move out immediately! Don't bother coming back to Marine Headquarters until this mission is done!"
"Click!" The Transponder Snail hung up, and the snail that bore Kong's likeness closed its eyes.
"That old geezer!" Garp handed the snail back to his subordinate. "Set sail immediately. Destination — the Capital of Kano!"
---
Inside the royal palace of the Land of Kano, a crowd of ministers debated anxiously. Defense Minister Humphrey Wei turned to a subordinate officer and asked, "Has General Kaipert returned with his forces?"
The officer answered, "A messenger has already been sent with news of the pirate invasion, but General Kaipert can't possibly make it back right away, Minister!"
Council Chief Obadiah spoke up in alarm. "Send more soldiers to urge him! The capital cannot fall!"
"Yes, sir!" The officer saluted and rushed off to relay the order.
Humphrey thought for a moment, then turned to the Council Chief. "The pirates' invasion route seems to be heading straight for the Royal Treasury. We need to mobilize every soldier in the palace to defend it immediately!"
"Absolutely not!" Obadiah cut him off sharply. "The safety of the palace and His Majesty comes first! The soldiers guarding the palace must not be moved under any circumstances!"
Humphrey glared. "The guards at the treasury can't hold off a pirate crew on their own. That's Big Mom we're talking about — under the banner of the Rocks Pirates! A pirate with a bounty of 930 million Berries!"