New World.
Red-Haired Pirates' Territory.
With Shanks' rise as one of the New World's Four Emperors, pirate factions aligned with the Red-Haired Pirates gradually gathered together, usually operating within the territory's waters and handling patrol duties.
Because Shanks had suddenly left the New World, his subordinate pirate forces dared not let their guard down, rotating daily patrols around the territory.
These factions were relatively weak pirate crews in the New World—without Shanks' protection, they could be attacked at any moment.
Today was the Social Club Pirate Crew's turn to patrol.
Early in the morning, they set sail, leisurely cruising the seas aboard their ship.
On deck stood an elderly man past his sixty—Captain Fugar of the Social Club Pirates.
"Captain, when will Boss Shanks and the others return?"
Just then, a crew member approached, scanning the surroundings with binoculars before sighing and grumbling.
"Did they forget about us? With the New World situation so tense, they still went off to have fun. If the Marines suddenly attack, we won't be able to handle it!"
"What do you mean 'have fun'?"
Fugar glared at the crewman and said sternly, "It's precisely because the New World's situation is tense—with the Marines executing Kaido and Big Mom—that Shanks couldn't just sit idle in the territory!"
After a pause, Fugar changed the subject.
"Any abnormalities in the surrounding waters?"
"None," the crewman shook his head, muttering softly, "Who would dare come to our territory now besides the Marines?"
"What do you know?" Fugar widened his eyes again. "Now is the most dangerous time. With Kaido and Charlotte Linlin gone, someone will surely seize the opportunity to rise."
"Even if someone tries to rise, they wouldn't dare come to the Red-Haired Pirates' territory!" The crewman raised his voice proudly.
"Our boss is Shanks, one of the Four Emperors—Sha… Sha… Sha…"
He repeated "Sha" three times but never managed to say 'Shanks'.
Because right as he spoke, the surrounding sea surface indeed showed no abnormalities, yet high up in the sky ahead of him, a massive island ship abruptly appeared.
As the enormous island ship slowly emerged from the clouds, suspended in the sky, the crew member suddenly snapped awake and stammered loudly.
"Captain Fugar... th-the sky... there's an island ship floating in the sky!"
Hearing this, Fugar's pupils contracted slightly before he looked up.
The moment Fugar raised his head, a figure swiftly dashed out from the island ship suspended high above, rapidly enlarging in his vision at an astonishing speed.
With the sound of fluttering robes growing louder, Golden Lion Shiki descended from the skies, hovering mid-air opposite the two.
"Jihahaha, are you subordinates of Red-Haired Shanks?"
"Who would've thought that a mere apprentice from Roger's ship back then would grow into one of the Four Emperors of the New World? Truly surprising this old man!"
Before Fugar and the other crew members of the Social Club Pirates could react, the distant sea behind them suddenly surged with countless pirate ships—at least two to three hundred—advancing in a grand formation towards Red-Haired Pirates' territory.
At the same time, Shiki lightly landed on the deck like a king descending, gazing down arrogantly at Fugar and the other man before issuing an unyielding command.
"Go inform your captain, Shanks. Tell him Shiki has arrived!"
...
Meanwhile.
Shanks and his crew immediately set sail from the East Blue, charging through the Grand Line with a "death to all who stand in our way" attitude.
However, unless they could fly over the first half of the Grand Line into the New World, no matter how fast they pushed their ship, they wouldn't make it back in time to save their crew.
Yet, despite knowing they couldn't return immediately, Shanks and his men refused to give up.
Standing at the bow, Shanks urged incessantly as he watched the turbulent waves ahead.
"Faster, faster! Snake, push the speed higher!"
"Captain, we're already at max speed!"
Building Snake, the navigator of the Red-Haired Pirates, strained with all his might, barking orders at the crew.
Unable to bear Shanks' impatience, he finally snapped, "Captain, calm down! Even if we could return now, the future you foresaw through Observation Haki is already unfolding. All we can do is hope Shiki doesn't go too far!"
Shanks' eyes lit up. "Does anyone have Shiki's contact?"
Silence answered him.
Turning his last hope to Beckman, Shanks waited.
Beckman frowned slightly. "In the future you saw, who else was there besides Shiki?"
"The Social Club Pirates, Puddle Pirates, Butterfly Pirates, and Brujoa Pirates—"
Suddenly, Shanks' expression brightened.
"I know who to call!"
Without another word, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and dialed.
As the "Brrr Brrr" tone rang out, an unfamiliar voice answered.
"Who is this?"
"It's me!"
Hearing the voice coming from the Den Den Mushi, Shanks' expression instantly darkened, his tone laced with suffocating killing intent.
"Shanks!"
"Hmm?" The voice on the other end trembled slightly. "Sh-Shanks..."
"Don't be nervous!" Shanks struggled to suppress the rage in his heart, speaking in a low voice.
"I saw that you've all been recruited by Shiki! There's nothing wrong with siding with the strong, but if you dare slaughter my crew in my territory, not even Shiki—no, not even Whitebeard—can save you!"
"Now, go contact Shiki immediately and have him speak to me!"
Just then, Lucky Roux suddenly ran over, whispering into Shanks' ear.
"Boss, a Marine warship has been spotted ahead in the waters."
Before Shanks could react, the crew of the Red Force gathered on the deck, watching the approaching threat with tense readiness.
"What are you doing?"
Noticing his crew preparing for battle, Shanks quickly intervened.
"Our priority right now is to return to the New World. Avoid conflict with the Marines—steer clear of that warship!"
"It's too late, Boss!"
"The warship has already spotted us!"
"Then we still won't fight!" Shanks pressed down on the Den Den Mushi, his voice grave.
"Engaging them now will only provoke the Fleet Admiral's ruthless retaliation."
With that, Shanks handed the Den Den Mushi to Benn Beckman.
"You handle Shiki. I'll go talk to the Marines!"
Before Benn could respond, Shanks removed the saber from his waist and handed it to Lucky Roux beside him.
Then, without hesitation, he leaped into the air, skimming across the sea at astonishing speed towards the opposing warship.
"Hmm?"
The moment he landed on the warship's deck, Shanks' pupils constricted in shock.
"Katakuri!"
Standing alone at the bow of the ship, clad in a Marine captain's uniform and gripping his trident, was Charlotte Katakuri.
As if he had anticipated Shanks' arrival, he spoke calmly, "Shanks, you didn't need to come. The Fleet Admiral has given orders: whoever spots the Red Force is to let them pass."
"The Fleet Admiral also said that if Shanks is in a hurry, he's permitted to enter the New World through the Holy Land. Perhaps you could even reunite briefly with your father, Garling and your elder brother... Stinky Shamrock."