At the same time.
The Grand Line, New World.
Dressrosa, inside a spacious room in a towering building.
"Hmhmhmhmhm~!"
A distinctive laugh, as if suppressed deep in the throat, echoed through the air.
A blond man, draped in a pink feather coat, wearing cropped pants and red sunglasses, slowly rose from his chair.
He tossed the newspaper he was holding onto a nearby table and strode arrogantly toward the window, his gaze beneath the sunglasses fixed on some distant point.
"Beating up a Celestial Dragon… freeing the slaves of the Bridge Kingdom…"
"A bounty of 650 million Berries…"
"Was it really just about beating a Celestial Dragon…?"
As if struck by a sudden thought, the blond man threw his head back and let out another low, rumbling laugh.
"Hmhmhmhmhm~!"
"How intriguing. Another monstrous rookie, 'Madman' Will…"
Elsewhere.
The Grand Line, New World.
Onigashima.
Kaido, one of the Four Emperors, finished reading the latest newspaper. Unable to contain himself, he opened his mouth and let out a peculiar, tongue-rolling laugh.
"Yorororororo~!"
"To think someone would dare go and beat up a Celestial Dragon! What a gutsy little brat!"
"It almost reminds me of some old memories!"
With that, he abruptly tossed the newspaper aside, grabbed the massive sake gourd next to him, and began chugging the fiery liquor.
After draining the gourd dry, Kaido's expression suddenly shifted. Tears streamed down his face as he smashed the gourd onto the ground with a resounding thud, roaring:
"Just beating them up isn't enough!"
"You should've killed those Celestial Dragons outright!"
Meanwhile, in the Grand Line, Paradise.
The Kingdom of Alabasta, Rainbase.
Inside a spacious meeting room at Rain Dinners Casino.
Sand Crocodile, Crocodile—revered by many as a "national hero" and currently one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea—sat at the head of the conference table, a cigar clamped between his teeth.
His slicked-back hair framed a face marked by a long horizontal scar, an earring glinting on his right ear. He wore a black fur coat over an orange checkered shirt, his left hand idly tracing the golden hook that replaced his missing one, lost in thought.
At that moment—
Click.
The door to the meeting room swung open.
A striking woman with long black hair, a sharp nose, and a cool, elegant demeanor stepped inside. She wore a white cowboy hat, a white fur coat, a purple mini-skirt, and white knee-high boots. Without pausing, she walked straight to Crocodile's side and handed him a newspaper.
"President, you should take a look at this. It's the latest paper, delivered today."
"Hm?" Crocodile raised an eyebrow, mildly curious. He took the paper, leaned back in his chair, and began flipping through it.
After reading its contents, his expression grew pensive. A slow, deliberate chuckle escaped his lips.
"Hm~ Heh~ Heh~ Heh~ Heh~ Heh."
"Beating up a Celestial Dragon?"
"With an initial bounty this high, what this guy's done probably isn't as simple as the paper makes it out to be."
As someone well-versed in schemes and deception, Crocodile immediately sensed something off about the story.
Standing nearby, the vice-president of Baroque Works, Miss All Sunday—Nico Robin—spoke up after hearing his words.
"With the commotion that man's caused, there's a good chance he'll flee to the Grand Line, don't you think?"
"Should we have our people at Whiskey Peak keep an eye out for any information on him?"
Crocodile let out a short laugh as he tossed the newspaper onto the table and stood, heading toward the door.
"No need for that. Whatever that guy's done—"
"Beating up a Celestial Dragon alone is enough to make the Navy Headquarters send an Admiral to deal with him."
"Those monsters in the Navy aren't exactly easy to handle."
"So, chances are, he'll either get captured or killed outright in the East Blue."
"There's no need for us to bother with him."
"Our priority right now is our plan in the Kingdom of Alabasta."
As he opened the door and stepped out, Nico Robin watched his retreating figure and smiled faintly.
"Understood, President."
Once the meeting room door clicked shut, Nico Robin lowered her gaze to the newspaper on the table.
Her eyes lingered on the photograph of the man in question, her expression unreadable as thoughts swirled in her mind.
Loguetown.
Inside an office at the Marine base.
Tashigi, her neck and hands wrapped in bandages, pushed open the door and entered, her tone serious as she reported:
"Colonel Smoker, it's confirmed—Madman Will has left the port by ship!"
Smoker's face was shrouded in a haze of cigar smoke, his expression and eyes unreadable.
After hearing her words, he fell silent for a few seconds before responding in a low, gravelly voice:
"Got it."
The office descended into silence.
Seeing this, Tashigi clutched her beloved sword tightly, hesitating before finally speaking up:
"Um… Colonel Smoker."
"Are we really just going to let that man leave the East Blue and head to the Grand Line…?"
Smoker's eyes flicked toward her, his tone low and heavy as he replied:
"I can't stop him. I'm no match for that man."
"But since you're bringing it up…"
"How about this, Tashigi?"
"You take a ship and some men, chase him down, and bring Madman Will back in cuffs."
Tashigi blinked, stunned, as if she'd misheard. Pointing to herself in disbelief, she stammered:
"What? Me?!"
Smoker straightened up, his expression turning stern as he spoke in a commanding tone:
"If you know you can't do it, then stop wasting words, Tashigi."
"Focus on figuring out how to improve your own strength."
"Because if we run into someone stronger than us again, we'll just have to watch them slip away."
Tashigi fell silent, not daring to argue further. She quickly saluted and said, "Yes, sir!"
At that moment—
Click!
A Marine messenger burst through the door, his expression urgent as he reported:
"Colonel Smoker! A liaison just sent word—Vice Admiral Garp's warship is about to arrive at Loguetown's port!"
"Hm?"
Smoker's brow furrowed. He immediately stood and headed for the door.
Then, as if recalling something, he paused and turned back, issuing an order:
"Tashigi! Round up the Second Unit and have them assemble at the port immediately!"
With that, he strode out with the messenger in tow.
"Yes, sir!" Tashigi saluted again, then hurriedly followed, rushing to relay the orders to the Marines.
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