Early Morning
News Coo birds flap their wings as they take off from every newspaper office, carrying fresh reports. Copies are scattered across oceans and skies like snowflakes.
From the Four Blues, through the first half of the Grand Line, and into the New World—the news spreads across the seas in one massive uproar.
Grand Line, Twin Capes
A fledgling pirate crew—just formed a few months ago—has finally rounded the Red Line and entered the Grand Line. They stop briefly at Twin Cape.
Calling them a pirate crew was perhaps an overstatement.
They only had one small, battered ship, and merely a handful of crewmates. They looked incredibly shabby no matter how you saw it…
The ship was docked by the tower, neither anchored nor tied, bobbing precariously on the sea—it looked like a single wave could carry it off at any moment.
The unreliable captain, a scruffy, red-haired young man, had just taken off his straw hat and placed it aside, rubbing his hands together with a cheerful laugh at the barbecue grill in front of him:
"Thanks for the meal, Old Man Crocus, I'm digging in!"
He devoured several large pieces of grilled meat in a few gulps, which made the old man in colorful summer attire across from him chuckle. "Take it slow, Shanks. No one's stealing your food."
Just as Crocus finished speaking, he caught sight of the two crewmates sitting on either side—one a chubby guy in a striped shirt, the other a thick-lipped man with naturally curly hair—both already tearing through the meat like a pair of whirlwinds, clearing the grill in seconds.
The old man suddenly choked. "I say, Shanks, it's been years. Where did you find these crewmates? How are they all even bigger eaters than you?"
"Hahaha, you think they're amazing too, Old Man Crocus!" Shanks roared with laughter. "Lucky Roux, I met him in my hometown in the West Blue. Yasopp, I specifically went to the East Blue to find him before the year ended. How about it? I'm pretty good at judging people, right?"
I said they could eat. What does being able to eat have to do with being amazing?
Crocus was speechless. Too lazy to bother with these three idiots, he lazily reclined in his rattan chair and picked up the newspaper that had just arrived this morning—he hadn't had a chance to read it yet due to Shanks' sudden visit.
Unfolding the newspaper, he had barely scanned the front page when Crocus's eyes narrowed, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.
"A newly joined Warlord of the Sea was actually killed by a Marine?" he muttered to himself. "And by an unknown rookie, no less. That's a rare occurrence…"
"What are you muttering about, Old Man?"
Shanks curiously poked his head over. After scanning the report, his eyes immediately widened. "Oh! Amazing! How old is this guy? He can already defeat a Warlord of the Sea?!"
"It says here, Natsuya Nao, from Marine Headquarters, he's only nineteen years old this year."
The old man glanced at him. "He's only a year older than you, Shanks. You've just formed your pirate crew and returned to the Grand Line, look at him…"
"This guy named Nao is really strong."
Shanks nodded thoughtfully at first, then grinned widely and burst out laughing. "But don't underestimate me, Old Man Crocus! Just a Warlord of the Sea, maybe in a few months, I can defeat one to show you too!"
"Is that so?" Crocus said, smiling. "Then put some effort into it, kid. I actually have high hopes for you… Hmm, which one are you eyeing?"
"No idea! I'll see when I get a chance to meet one!"
Shanks laughed heartily, not caring at all, scratching his head and pondering, "I think I remember a guy named Gecko Moria… he seems like a pretty good target… Huh? Where's the grilled meat?!"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly saw the freshly grilled batch of meat get snatched clean. Lucky Roux even performed his special trick of devouring a whole pig in three bites. Shanks instantly flew into a rage: "Hey, you two bastards! At least show some respect for your captain, save some for me!"
...
New World, On the Deck of the Moby Dick
The afternoon sun was a bit scorching, but that didn't stop the Whitebeard Pirates, fresh from a major victory, from holding a grand and joyous banquet here.
Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, known as the "Strongest Man in the World," was currently sitting at the ship's bow, holding a sake jug in one hand, smiling as he watched his cheering and celebrating sons below.
"Hey, Pops, check this out!"
First Division Commander Marco suddenly walked over with a newspaper. "Looks like another big incident happened in Paradise. The new Warlord of the Sea, William, was defeated and killed on the spot by a Marine."
"Oh?" Whitebeard raised an eyebrow, putting down his sake jug. "Such a tough method is rare among those Marines. Was it that Vice Admiral who's gained quite a reputation in recent years, Sakazuki?"
"No, Pops, it was an ungraduated rookie."
Marco said with a wry smile, "Honestly, I was startled when I first saw it. You'll know when you see it yourself."
"A rookie?"
Whitebeard strangely took the newspaper. After carefully Browse the front-page report, his eyes also showed surprise. "A kid only nineteen years old? That old man Zephyr, when did he train another monster of this caliber?"
In the past decade or so, Zephyr, the former Marine Admiral who had retired to the second line, had trained many brilliant younger generations.
Among them, the three Logia-type Vice Admirals, led by Sakazuki, were the most famous and prestigious. Their outstanding achievements even made the Great Pirates of the New World take notice, causing them to pay more attention to that so-called Marine Headquarters Elite Training Program.
Now, only a few years have passed, and there's an even more terrifying rising star? The other Commanders near the bow, Jozu the Diamond, Namur the Fish-Man, and others, heard their conversation and couldn't help but be curious. They took the newspaper and passed it around to read. "Hoh, and he's a swordsman!"
When it was the turn of Fifth Division Commander Vista, "Flower Sword," he looked at the photo of Nao and his eyes lit up. "And he's a Two-Sword Style user too! Haha, if I get the chance, I really want to cross blades with this kid!"
"You always get excited when a new famous swordsman appears."
"But this one is really strong, Vista. I don't think you'd necessarily win against him!"
The other Commanders immediately started teasing him with chuckles.
"Gurarararararara! Never mind him, keep drinking!"
After finishing the report and barely committing Nao's name to memory, Whitebeard casually tossed the newspaper aside. He waved his hand and burst into hearty laughter.
"Today is a day to celebrate victory, my sons! We can't let a capable new brat among the Marines spoil our main event and dampen our mood!"
Defeating a Warlord of the Sea at nineteen was indeed an impressive achievement.
But in Whitebeard's eyes, it was only worth remembering a name. After traversing the vast and tumultuous seas for decades, what kind of scene hadn't he witnessed?
For him to take them seriously, those wet-behind-the-ears brats still had a long way to go!
...
New World – A Mountain Summit
"Mama, Smoothie just sent back a message saying Guldrost Island has been captured. Big Brother is in charge of the nearby Yachaka Island, and that should be soon too."
Katakuri hung up the Transponder Snail in his hand, standing in the sea breeze, reporting in a low voice to the enormous figure in front of him. "There are still many islands scattered evenly in that sea area, very suitable for your nation-building plan."
"Mamamama! Well done, Katakuri."
Big Mom was eating a supersized mousse cake and laughed heartily upon hearing this:
"But the names of these islands are all so tongue-twisting and unpleasant. Once we take them, I'm definitely going to change all their names!"
"The first island, that one called Guldrost, we'll change it to Cake Island. How does that sound, Katakuri?"
She was 47 years old at the time, having just given birth to her 60th child. She hadn't yet become the monstrously obese figure she would later be, but her body had already begun to put on weight and deform, losing the enchanting beauty of her youth.
"Everything is according to your wishes."
Katakuri bowed slightly. When he looked up, he suddenly noticed a News Coo flying overhead. He thought for a moment, then, gripping his trident, soared into the air.
"I'll be right back, Mama."
The rock and earth beneath his feet suddenly distorted and stretched, like long strips of mochi, lifting him hundreds of meters into the sky, where he intercepted the News Coo.
"One new newspaper for today, please."
Katakuri politely said this to the News Coo. After the bird lowered its head and pulled out a newspaper from its pouch, he took it, dropped a 30-berry coin, and was about to turn and leave.
However, the News Coo anxiously flew in front of him, blocking him, and pointed its wing at a sign hanging on its chest.
"It's 40 Berries now?"
Katakuri looked at the number on the sign, his eye twitching. "Are you kidding me? Didn't the price just go up a while ago? You guys are just hiking up prices…"
The News Coo whistled and turned its head, pretending not to understand anything, but it absolutely refused to budge, not allowing Katakuri to take the newspaper.
"You're impossible."
He rubbed his forehead in annoyance, dropped another coin, and finally returned to the mountaintop, watched by the satisfied News Coo.
"How is it, Katakuri?"
Big Mom glanced at him. "Recent news has been a bit boring. I haven't paid attention for a long time. Is there any decent news today?"
"Let me see…" Katakuri unfolded the newspaper. He hadn't scanned much when his eyebrow twitched. "There really is, Mama…"
"Give it to me!"
Big Mom snatched the newspaper directly. Still eating her cake, she squinted at the content. "Oh? A Marine brat defeated a Warlord of the Sea? Is that all it takes for big news?"
She shook her head disdainfully, just about to toss the newspaper back, when she suddenly saw the photo below…
Hmm?
This kid…
Big Mom stared at the photo, for a moment even forgetting to chew the cake in her mouth. Her gaze remained fixed on Nao's handsome and spirited face, and she stayed silent for a long time, completely forgetting about Katakuri beside her…
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin