Red Line.
A tall, white-haired figure stood gazing from the cliff's edge.
King, the "Fire Disaster" and top executive of the Beasts Pirates.
Staring at the desolate, empty red earth, King fell into deep contemplation.
From his earliest memories, he had been confined in a biological laboratory until Kaido rescued him.
It was only through the legends that he learned his Lunarian Tribe once inhabited the Red Line before being driven down by the Celestial Dragons.
With their innate ability to control flames and wings that allowed free flight, the Lunarians were regarded as a divine race living in the "Land of Gods."
King held no particular sentiment toward the Red Line, feeling no emotional connection to this supposed ancestral land.
To him, wherever Kaido was constituted his true home.
...
Upon learning that Kari was likely a fellow tribesman, King's first thought was to bring him under Kaido's banner.
Kaido was the only one with the power to protect the Lunarian Tribe, and the man destined to become the Pirate King!
Hunting a few Celestial Dragons is nothing as revenge...
Kaido was a true hero who would drag all the World Nobles into war!!
If it's you, you'll surely understand!
...
The nostalgia in King's eyes faded as his black wings spread wide, diving straight down.
——
——
Grand Line, certain sea area.
The Kuja Pirates' ship, pulled by two giant serpents, converged with a Marine vessel.
Vice Admiral Momonga of the Marine Headquarters crossed the gangplank, hand resting on his sword hilt, advancing steadily through the ranks of Nine Serpent Warriors.
...
"Marine, state your business."
A clear, haughty voice came from behind the lined-up warriors as Boa Hancock approached with elegant steps.
Her deep black hair fluttered lightly in the wind, an intangible floral scent permeating the air.
Chin slightly raised, her amber eyes swept over Vice Admiral Momonga.
Momonga stepped forward, dispensing with pleasantries, his voice steady as steel.
"Boa Hancock, by order of Marine Headquarters, you are summoned to participate in Marine operations. This is the agreement between the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the World Government—your obligation!"
Vice Admiral Momonga, Commander of Marine Branch Base G-17, was an excellent officer known for his serious and diligent nature.
Among the few officers capable of resisting Hancock's charms through sheer willpower, he was thus assigned liaison duties with the Seven Warlords—the Pirate Empress Hancock.
...
"Obligation?"
Hancock scoffed, her fingers twitching slightly as pale pink Sweet Sweet Wind dispersed through the air.
"What does Marine business have to do with me? I have no obligation to help!"
Momonga's pupils contracted instantly as he drew his sword, a powerful slash cutting through the pink sweet wind.
...
"Pirate Empress... may I interpret this as your violation of the agreement with the World Government!"
"So what?"
Hancock threw her head back dramatically, pointing a single finger forward: "Everything I do will be forgiven."
"Because..."
"I am just too beautiful!"
A more intense fragrant wind spread as Momonga was forced to cut his palm with his blade, using physical pain to resist the enchantment and avoid being petrified by the Mero Mero no Mi's mechanism.
Clutching his bleeding hand, Momonga spoke with unwavering determination: "This operation is of utmost importance. If you refuse, headquarters will reassess the privileges of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"By then... Amazon Lily may not remain untouched!"
...
Amazon Lily was located in the Calm Belt. Due to the giant Sea Kings inhabiting the Calm Belt, the island had always maintained a peaceful existence isolated from the world.
However, the Marines developed Seastone Warships capable of navigating the Calm Belt, completely negating the island's geographical advantage.
Hancock had agreed to join the Seven Warlords precisely to protect Amazon Lily from Marine invasion.
These words struck right at her weakness.
Hancock's eyes suddenly turned cold, with Conqueror's Haki faintly radiating from her, causing the giant snakes pulling the ship to grow restless.
"Are you... threatening me?!"
...
"No, merely stating facts."
Seeing Momonga remain unmoved, Hancock considered taking action, but when she glimpsed her sisters' worried expressions and remembered Elder Nyon's warnings, her anger gradually subsided.
Lifting her chin with an air of condescending arrogance, she declared: "You may explain what this operation entails. I shall consider whether to participate."
Momonga replied in a deep voice.
"The mission codename is..."
"Dragon Hunter Extermination!"
——
——
Sabaody Archipelago - Grove 13.
Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
A handful of customers sat scattered around, the clinking of bottles intertwining with hushed conversations.
At the counter, Shakky held a cigarette between her lips as she turned to look at the robust white-haired old man who had just entered.
"Finished your games early this time, Rayleigh?"
Raising an eyebrow slightly, Rayleigh walked over and sat at the bar, accepting the drink Shakky offered him. He smiled faintly: "Some people came down from above. After some thought, I decided not to sell myself this time. Figured I'd just have a few drinks here instead."
This seemingly ordinary old man once bore a title that shook the world years ago.
Dark King Rayleigh!
The right-hand man of Pirate King Roger, a legendary figure!
Now he was just a coating craftsman at Sabaody Archipelago, selling himself into slavery whenever he needed money for drinks, only to repeat the process when funds ran low again.
Shakky sighed softly, exhaling a smoke ring: "Every time people come down from above, business at the bar suffers quite a bit. Such a hassle."
"This time seems more troublesome though..."
Lowering her voice, Shakky's eyes showed a trace of concern: "According to the intelligence I've received, that fellow Sengoku seems to want to use this place as a hunting ground to capture that person."
"Quite a few Marines and people from other departments have recently entered Sabaody Archipelago."
...
"That guy has indeed gone too far. Rather than opposing the World Government, it seems more like madness before death..."
Rayleigh frowned slightly: "Before the right time comes, all these actions are meaningless."
Leaning against the counter, Shakky gazed into the distance through the window and smiled faintly: "As long as there's action, there's meaning. Isn't that what you told me?"
"Sometimes I really want to ask, what exactly did you and Roger see that made you become... hard to explain..."
...
...
After a moment of silence, Rayleigh chuckled and drained his glass: "Nothing particularly interesting, I suppose. Just something that makes me smile wryly whenever I remember it."
"You're right. I almost forgot my own words. How could I casually deny others' adventures!"
...
"So... do you think he'll come?"
Rayleigh nodded, his expression turning serious: "Kari will definitely come, my intuition tells me so!"
"Will you help him?"
...
Rayleigh fell silent once more.
After a while, he shook his head with a faint smile:
"I don't know. I suppose I can only make a decision when the time comes."
"But I have a premonition—that man is not one to meet his end so easily."
"Honestly... when I first saw him in the live broadcast, I thought he was Roger's child..."
"It's just... too similar."
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