"Princess Scarlet, today's newspaper has arrived."
"Mm, leave it there."
"It includes news about Vice Admiral Hammer..."
"Bring it here!"
Scarlett snatched the paper and immediately started reading it carefully.
'One of the Twelve Supreme Grade Swords? Pfft. Not as good as my rapier.'
'Hmph! Just you wait, Marine Headquarters!'
"Servants! Bring me my sword sparring partner, I'm training today!"
The domineering princess carefully stored the newspaper away and prepared for another day of rigorous practice.
Ever since awakening her Conqueror's Haki, Scarlett's understanding of swordsmanship had improved dramatically.
Even King Riku was shocked. He had never imagined his daughter would be this gifted with a sword.
Though he tried his best to keep news of her powers under wraps, the immense presence of her Conqueror's Haki couldn't be hidden forever. Word eventually leaked: a royal of Dressrosa had awakened Conqueror's Haki.
.....
Just off the coast of Dressrosa.
A massive pirate ship slowly approached.
It's Jolly Roger depicted a skull pierced by two crossed longswords.
"Captain, we're almost in Dressrosa's waters."
"Mm... Good. Damn Silver Axe and Wang Zhi, refusing to let me stay on Hachinosu! Hah! As if they weren't just scared I'd kill 'em!"
"Captain, you're drunk again. You were literally thrown out by the two of them teaming up."
Hic! "Shut your mouth! Full speed ahead to Dressrosa! I'm taking that Conqueror's Haki user for myself... Heh heh heh... Let's see if that bastard Wang Zhi can keep his grip on Hachinosu then!"
The speaker reeked of alcohol, but his sharp eyes gleamed with calculation. A purple cloak draped over his shoulders, two swords hung at his waist.
He seemed careless, but an aura of power radiated from him.
He was John, a former officer of the Rocks Pirates.
And his target: Princess Scarlett, the newly awakened Conqueror's Haki user of Dressrosa.
.....
Elsewhere, aboard the Warhammer.
"Hammer! Come on, man, tell me already, why are we even at sea?!"
After getting chewed out by Sengoku, Hammer had locked himself in the forge and refused to speak to anyone. Not even the sound of persistent knocking moved him.
Lance had had enough. They'd wandered around the West Blue aimlessly with no destination, no mission. Just drifting.
"Hey, Hammer, if you don't say something, I'm turning this ship around."
"Originally, I wanted to head to the West Blue. There's a Warlord candidate there, some guy named Moria. But since Mihawk's out of the picture, forget it. Let's just cruise around. If nothing else, we'll go back."
'Moria?'
Lance scratched his head. The name sounded familiar… yet distant. He couldn't quite place it.
"Got any details? What does he look like? Height?"
Duang!
"...Okay, never mind. Not getting anything useful out of you."
With no other choice, Lance directed the ship to patrol the first half of the Grand Line. They fought pirates when they found them; otherwise, they just wandered.
They were basically doing nothing.
.....
Marineford.
Purururu purururu
"Sengoku speaking."
"What? A distress call from a member nation? Which one?"
"Dressrosa? Got it. Who's the attacker?"
"Oh... that bastard John, huh? Alright. Notify Sakazuki and send him in for backup."
'Click!'
Sengoku hung up with a furrowed brow.
'John, a former Rocks Pirate, attacking Dressrosa?'
'Something felt off.'
Sengoku knew John well; he was greedy and adventurous, sure, but he had no interest in world domination or politics.
'For someone like him to attack a World Government nation?'
'There had to be something in Dressrosa he wanted.'
'Could it be... something to do with the Riku royal family, who had saved Hammer?'
'Or did that damn brat Hammer hide something from us?'
'He must have! Why else would John go there?!'
Pururu puru
"Lance! It's Sengoku. Get Hammer on the line!"
"What? He's forging and won't answer? Hmph! Tell him his lifesavers in Dressrosa are under pirate attack!"
"Get him to call me back immediately!"
Click!
'That damn Hammer, always hammering! Did his brain turn to iron too?!'
'Hiding things from me? Just wait!'
"Hey! Hammer! Dressrosa's under attack! Pirates have invaded!"
"Admiral Sengoku wants to talk to you directly!"
At those words, the tightly shut forge door instantly swung open.
Hammer stepped out with a dark expression.
'Dressrosa... being attacked?'
'That was a World Government member nation, who would dare?'
'And then he thought of her...Scarlett.'
'That familiar feeling surged again. Concern surged in his chest.'
"Give me the Den Den Mushi."
He snatched the snail from Lance and dialed.
"Sengoku, it's Hammer. What's happening in Dressrosa?"
"Oh? Not hammering away anymore, huh? What made you put the tools down?"
Hammer: 'Damn old man, petty as always.'
"Hmph! I put them down, so what? Just tell me what's happening!"
"John, a former Rocks officer, is there. According to King Riku, he's demanding they hand over Princess Scarlet. Now, Hammer, tell me the truth. What's special about that princess? What did you hide?!"
'Damn it! He really is after Scarlet!'
'It's her Conqueror's Haki, isn't it?'
'Could it be… he wants to use her powers for some kind of leverage?'
Hammer exhaled sharply and came clean.
"Princess Scarlett has awakened Conqueror's Haki… and she's wielding a weapon I forged specifically for her."
Sengoku: ????????
"WHAT?! CONQUEROR'S HAKI?! AND A CUSTOM WEAPON?!"
"Hammer, you traitorous brat! You're siding with outsiders now?!"
"Don't tell me... you're smitten with her! That's why you were always so vague when we asked about Dressrosa!"
"Your soul's been stolen! Was this whole voyage just an excuse to go back?!"
"No way, I'm telling Zephyr! His precious disciple is about to be stolen away!!"
CLICK!!
As the call ended with Sengoku's hysterical screeching, Hammer's eye twitched violently.
"When did Sengoku become the king of wild assumptions...?'
'None of that even made sense!'
But now was not the time to get hung up on it.
"Lance. Full speed. Head for Dressrosa. Move as fast as possible."
Hammer's voice was calm, but laced with tension, an edge of urgency, anger, and murderous intent.
The Warhammer roared to life, engines at full blast, as it stormed toward the New World.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
[email protected]/DaoistJinzu