The paw-shaped air bubble sped across the sky.
Hawkeye Mihawk watched the islands below with interest as they shrank into the distance one by one.
"Ian, don't tell me you've planted spies in the Red Hair Pirates too?"
He chuckled. "Otherwise, how could you have found their location so quickly?"
"No need."
Ian replied calmly. "The Red Hair Pirates have never bothered to hide their movements."
"So how much longer?! I want dessert already!"
Aunt Linlin's lips were practically dripping with drool.
They had flown all the way from the New World to the West Blue to hunt down Cross Guild.
After resolving the Cross Guild situation, they didn't stop at all. They immediately set off again to find the Red Hair Pirates. It was true—she hadn't eaten dessert in a very long time.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that if Aunt Linlin were a machine, dessert would be her engine.
Without enough sweets to fuel her, she felt like she was shriveling up.
"Almost there."
Kuma acting as their transport finally spoke. "At most another half hour."
To be fair, the distance between the Red Hair Pirates' location and Cross Guild's base was extremely far—almost spanning half of the entire West Blue.
Even with Kuma's incredible speed, they'd already been flying in the sky for two whole days.
It was perfectly normal for Aunt Linlin to be starving and restless. In fact, the surprising part was that she hadn't gone on a rampage yet. Her years of training had definitely paid off.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma!"
Hearing they were close, Aunt Linlin suddenly burst into strange laughter.
She glanced at Ian unintentionally.
Her own misfortune was painful, yes—but if she could see others suffering too, then her heart would naturally feel much lighter.
Originally, she'd been furious about being kidnapped by Ian.
But after seeing Crocodile and Moria get taken down by him at Cross Guild, that anger had eased quite a bit.
Now she was even looking forward to what kind of conflict would erupt when Ian finally met the Red Hair Pirates.
In her eyes, since that Shanks brat was Roger's successor, then of course his personality should resemble Roger's, shouldn't it?
No matter what powerful enemy he faced, he definitely wouldn't bow down.
Such a guy… if he ever crossed paths with Ian, heh, that would definitely be a show worth watching.
Aunt Linlin looked forward to it with genuine anticipation.
Hearing that they were already close, Uta couldn't help tightening her small fist, her expression becoming complicated.
They were finally going to meet again.
After all these years apart, what should she even say?
At this moment, the Red-Hair Pirates were holding a banquet in a small town.
They had already stayed there for several days.
Drifting on the sea all year long was exhausting. The ocean never changed, and even though they had refrigerators, the food they carried was far from fresh.
Land was still the best.
After every long voyage, they would stop on some island and enjoy themselves for a while.
This time was no different.
The largest tavern in this port town had been fully booked by the Red-Hair Pirates.
They never pillaged or burned, but that didn't mean they were broke.
There were simply too many brainless pirates in this world. Even with Shanks' bounty exceeding a billion, idiots still rushed up screaming challenges at them.
Just by dealing with those fools, the Red-Hair Pirates could live more than comfortably.
On the bar counter, the sniper Yasopp was boldly standing shirtless, twisting his body in a flamboyant dance.
The pirates cheered and clapped wildly for him.
Even Shanks was laughing so hard that tears were about to spill out.
Behind the counter, the tavern owner continued wiping glasses quietly, but even he couldn't hold back his amusement.
When he first saw the Red-Hair Pirates, he had been terrified.
But after spending some time with them, he realized they were incredibly easy to get along with.
Even Shanks—an infamous Great Pirate with a multi-billion bounty—showed no arrogance at all. He spoke politely, joked around, and acted no different from a friendly neighbor.
It was truly remarkable.
To stand high yet never look down on others… that was not a quality everyone possessed.
If all the world's powerful figures were this humble, who knew how much better the world would become.
The change happened without warning.
Just moments ago, Shanks had been laughing loudly, but suddenly he lifted his head.
At the same time, the tavern owner who had been wiping a glass felt his mind go blank, and his body collapsed to the floor.
He wasn't the only one—within a single instant, the once-bustling port town fell into complete silence.
"Shanks!"
Vice-captain Beckman's voice trembled with shock.
"Looks like this old friend of ours doesn't want anyone knowing he's arrived."
Shanks lowered his head. "Yasopp."
"Captain!"
The dancing Yasopp now held two guns in his hands, his expression serious. "Do we fight?"
But Shanks shook his head.
"It might not be very polite, but go bring out all the finest wine the owner's been hiding."
A grin tugged at his lips. "We'll need a much bigger feast."
"Huh?"
One of the world's top snipers twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Was this really the time to talk about throwing a party?
That man had knocked out an entire town in an instant just to conceal his presence!
Right then, a dull thud sounded from outside the tavern.
The door was pushed open.
"It really has been many years, hasn't it, Shanks?"
Ian looked at Shanks seated at the bar, lifting a glass toward him in greeting, and couldn't help smiling.
"Six or seven years, I think!"
The pirates of the Red Hair Pirates stared at Ian with intense caution—everyone except Shanks, who laughed heartily. "The boy from back then has completely grown into a man."
Beckman's expression darkened.
Because behind Ian, he saw the young girl who had followed him inside.
And it wasn't just him—the faces of every member of the Red Hair Pirates shifted in alarm.
Uta!
The little girl from back then had grown into a graceful young woman, beautiful and striking.
But in those bright eyes, the gaze she cast upon them was icy and cold.
"..."
The smile on Shanks's face froze. He instinctively glanced at his daughter, but the next second he quickly looked away, afraid to meet Uta's eyes.
"Ian,"
His expression suddenly hardened. "Why did you bring her here? Didn't I already say it? I don't ever want to see her in front of me again."
Uta's lips lowered slightly, a surge of anger rising from deep within her chest. She couldn't help but scoff, "See? Ian, what's the point of talking to people like them? We should just get rid of them!"
"Get rid of us?"
Beckman instantly tensed, his already sharp eyes locking directly onto Ian. "Ian, what's your real purpose for coming here this time?"
"My purpose?"
Ian smiled.
The tavern door behind them was pushed open once more.
"My advice is—don't rush. Sit down and talk properly."
A calm voice sounded as Hawkeye stepped inside. "Otherwise, the outcome might be… unpleasant."
"Hawkeye…"
Beckman wasn't surprised.
His observation was just as keen. He had sensed them from the moment they arrived.
"Mamamama! Personally, I think starting a fight right away sounds pretty fun!"
A wild laugh echoed from outside.
"Damn it! Why is this door so small?!"
A massive hand reached through the doorway, grabbed the frame, and with a light pull—an entire section of the wall shattered apart.
Then a towering woman stepped inside.
"Hm?"
Aunt Linlin lowered her head to look at Shanks, her brows narrowing.
So strong!
This Shanks brat had an aura no weaker than that damned Hawkeye!
Ian really wasn't wrong about that bastard.
That brat truly had gained enough power to stand on equal footing with her.
**********
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