Ever since the Roger Pirates disbanded, Shanks did not immediately set foot on the path of a pirate.
Instead, after a period of quiet reflection, he chose to return to the Four Seas and start anew.
Other than gradually forming his own crew, he was in no hurry to make a name for himself upon the seas.
Because his instincts—sharper than most men's—told him…
The seas right now were not normal.
The Navy's many recent actions had already exceeded everyone's imagination.
Especially the "Great Purge of Fish-Man Island" half a year ago, and the subsequent formation of the "Joint Front for Fish-Man Island and the Gateway to the New World."
The Navy had actually joined hands with the Whitebeard Pirates to protect Fish-Man Island, and even established a neutral trade zone there!
Who the hell could have imagined that before!?
At the time, he had heard it wasn't Garp the Hero who made this happen, but rather the Rear Admiral always by his side—Michael.
Later, for the sake of certainty, Shanks went alone to the Grand Line, searching for traces of the Cross Guild…
Because he wanted to find the Roger Pirates' former vice-captain, one of the seniors he respected the most, to give him answers and point him in the right direction.
After all his efforts, when he finally found the Cross Guild's mobile sea base, Rayleigh left him with those very words.
Words that confused him deeply.
Why did Rayleigh say one must run when facing this man called Michael?
Rayleigh didn't explain, but instead handed Shanks an Image Den Den Mushi.
After watching the recording it contained, Shanks—normally calm and confident—was utterly dumbfounded.
What did he see!?
A Navy Rear Admiral battling Whitebeard in a fierce, evenly matched fight!?
Even though Whitebeard hadn't used his Devil Fruit powers, who could dare to guarantee that even a peak Whitebeard, without his powers, could be fought to a standstill!?
Who could say that with certainty!?
That was the moment Shanks understood.
Rayleigh's words, though seemingly unrelated, were a golden truth.
And now…
From the mouths of the brats he had picked up, he once again heard that name.
How could he not be shocked?
Most of all—those five little kids called him their uncle!
In an instant, Shanks felt that what had started as a small, uncharacteristic good deed for a pirate, now carried a premonition of disaster.
"Hey, Shanks, that name…"
As the only one who knew the content of his conversation with Rayleigh, Ben Beckman couldn't help but step forward and remind him quietly.
"Yeah, I know… tch, I really hope I misheard." Shanks sighed. "But we can't just stop halfway, can we? We already promised to send the five kids home—can't break our word now."
"You might be the most faithful-to-his-word pirate alive."
"If you can't even keep a small promise… how the hell are you supposed to be Pirate King?"
Shanks stood, letting out a long breath.
"Besides… it's not like anyone said we'll definitely run into their uncle, right?"
The up-current of Reverse Mountain soon reached its peak, then flowed into a completely unfamiliar sea.
"This is it—the Grand Line."
"Our adventure begins now."
As Shanks spoke, the crew aboard the Red Force all turned their eyes to the strange new waters.
Most of them hailed from the Four Seas.
"The Log Pose to Alabasta is already set… time to move forward."
All the crew immediately returned to their posts and the ship began sailing.
...
"Seriously, why is it that you're either looking for kids, or on your way to find kids?"
Crocodile swept across the sky as a sandstorm, taking the chance to complain about the man beside him—Michael.
Stella didn't speak, but her eyes clearly spelled out one word: "Agree."
"What can I say? There are a lot of kids at home—not like I asked for that." Michael shrugged. "But since they're my kids now, I've got to take responsibility, don't I?"
"Tch, don't you think you're getting more and more like that old geezer Whitebeard?"
"Don't talk nonsense! He and I are worlds apart!" Michael rolled his eyes. "I'm just being responsible… that old man Whitebeard is simply starved for love!"
"Hope when you see Whitebeard again, you've still got the guts to mock him like that."
"Hmph, I don't just mock him, I curse him too!"
Just mentioning Whitebeard made his blood boil.
Every month he exchanged letters with Whitebeard, trading intel and coordinating commerce, making sure no third party could sabotage things.
And every single time, after business was done, Whitebeard would tirelessly ask: "Become my son!"
And every single time, Michael would respond with a string of Germa-style curses.
But that old bastard Whitebeard never got angry—he just laughed happily as Michael cursed him out.
Every time, it left Michael feeling like he had punched a pillow.
"Honestly, if not for knowing the Cross Guild can't handle Whitebeard, I'd have already put a bounty on his head myself!" Michael sighed. "Thank god Marco is at least a reasonable guy to talk to—or else I'd die of rage!"
Complaints aside, he had to admit—the Whitebeard Pirates conducted themselves with absolute integrity.
Not a single underhanded trick!
This left Michael too embarrassed to even consider poaching from Whitebeard's crew.
"Michael! We've spotted a pirate ship up ahead…"
"A pirate ship? Don't have time for them. Our people will deal with it if we cross paths."
"But… why do I hear Reiju's voice?"
Stella frowned.
Perhaps because she had once been a singer, her Observation Haki was especially sensitive to voices.
She could even sense the state of someone's body through the frequencies hidden in their voice.
Recognizing someone's voice? Child's play.
"What!? Pirates!?"
Michael snapped his head around and shot down toward the ship below.
"This guy wasn't even this excited when fighting Whitebeard…"
"As his comrades, how do you not know this about Michael? He's always valued bonds above all else."
Crocodile and Stella exchanged glances, then followed after the trail Michael's flames had left in the air.
...
"So, the legendary Vinsmoke family no longer exists."
"That's right. Our surname now is Maria—Maria D."
"D… you're part of that lineage too?"
Hearing Reiju's story, Shanks couldn't help but give them another look.
That letter…
It had stirred up countless great storms across the seas.
Now…
Was it the Navy's "D" family's turn to move?
"Hey! You down there, with the red hair, you pervert!"
"Stay away from my kids!"
"Or I'll summon the Lord of the Coast!"
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