While the Red Hair Pirates didn't clash with the Big Mom Pirates, at least not on the surface, a week later, as they passed through Kaido's territory, they clashed with one of his Three Calamities, Jack the Drought, and defeated him.
The news broke the same day, shocking the New World. Shanks' bounty was high, but still slightly less than Jack's, who had a bounty of 700 million Beri, putting him above Hancock. Shanks defeating him made his reputation truly resonate throughout the New World.
Rumble rumble!
Inside the Red Force, during a rainstorm.
Shanks and his crew gathered in the ship's cabin, drinking hot sake. Shanks twisted his one remaining arm and laughed self-deprecatingly, "How terrifying, Jack the Drought. The scar still hurts a little."
Benn Beckman held a cigarette in his mouth, exhaling a wisp of smoke. "Well, it's a good thing we didn't run into Kaido. We should be fully prepared before fighting them."
"Dahahahaha! It's fine, it's fine."
Shanks laughed heartily and without a care. Seeing this, Benn Beckman held his cigarette with one hand and turned his head away, sighing. It was quite tiring to assist a captain like this.
Lucky Roux, on the other side, took a bite out of a ham hock and glanced at Shanks. "Captain, are you really going to visit all the Yonko one by one?"
"Ah, of course," Shanks replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
After entering the New World, Shanks had sailed all the way, defeating countless Marine and pirate forces, but he didn't have any specific plans to fight the Yonko. He simply wanted to "visit" them one by one.
He and Big Mom's crew didn't fight, at least not on a large scale, just as the news reported. There were some interesting little things that happened. However, his clash with Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates was a different story. Although they won, it was nothing to be happy about, as they had now completely offended Kaido.
"So, according to our course, the next Yonko we'll face is…" the sniper Yasopp said, his eyes shifting.
Benn Beckman let out a puff of smoke. "Alucard the Immortal?" "The most dangerous Yonko?"
"Didn't the Captain say he was already making a name for himself back when you were on the Pirate King's ship?"
The dozens of members of the Red Hair Pirates began to discuss heatedly.
"Immortal, huh? That brings back memories," Shanks said with a grin. "The last time I saw him was during the Battle of Edd War against Shiki the Golden Lion."
Benn Beckman spread a map on a table. It showed Alucard's territorial distribution. He said wisely, "In that case, we need to be well-prepared just in case. The other side is not to be underestimated."
"Ah, the First Mate is going to show off his skills now, huh?" Yasopp teased. So far, in the face of multiple formidable enemies, Beckman's role had been no less significant than Shanks'.
"It's necessary," Beckman said, giving him a side-eye.
....
"Alucard-sama, the operation to retrieve the Gold-Gold Fruit has failed," Matthew and his crew reported from below the throne in the dark palace.
"A group of infiltrators appeared in the Donquixote Family's managed territory and stole the fruit amid the chaos," another person added.
"Who was it?" Alucard asked, resting his cheek on one hand. "..."
Matthew and the others hesitated, then said in shame after a long silence, "We've investigated for a long time and looked through many bounty posters, but we couldn't find them. They had a Devil Fruit user in their group."
"Doflamingo claims he will get it back. This is a huge embarrassment for them," Matthew said, clenching his fist.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came quickly. Urdaha ran to Matthew's side and reported, "A-Alucard-sama, the R-Red-Haired Pirates are here."
The faces of everyone around him turned serious. "Red-Haired Shanks?"
"The guy who beat Jack?" "Did they attack?"
Urdaha's face broke out in a cold sweat as he was bombarded with questions. He replied with difficulty, "N-no, they didn't attack. It's just that…"
BOOM!
Suddenly, an invisible force rushed into the castle through the windows. In an instant, more than half of the people standing below Alucard's throne had their eyes turn white and felt a suffocating sensation in their heads, causing them to faint.
Matthew saw this and the pupils in his exposed eyes behind his iron mask constricted. "Conqueror's Haki…"
"That guy, Shanks…"
Alucard's glasses reflected a strange light. On the floor, Urdaha saw this and shouted in frustration, "Captain, that bastard Shanks is using his Haki recklessly! We should teach him a lesson!"
Now that Alucard was among the Yonko, their pride had soared. How could they tolerate Shanks' behavior?
"I'll go too," Matthew said, drawing his long sword. "I want to see the strength of the man who beat Jack."
Poot. Poot. Poot. Poot.
Just then, a farting-like sound of footsteps came, instantly killing the serious, murderous atmosphere. Urdaha and Matthew turned around and roared, "Dr. Indigo! If you don't do something about that disgusting sound of yours, I'll kill you!"
The serious atmosphere that had just been created was completely ruined by the farting footsteps!
Dr. Indigo ignored their anger. With an exaggerated out-toed walk, he stood in front of them and said to Alucard on the platform, "The Blacklight test subjects are doing well. How about we use them?"
After joining Alucard's crew, Dr. Indigo had not participated in a single battle, dedicating himself entirely to Blacklight virus research. He had created many superior virus monsters that were more effective than the ones used in Marineford.
"Can you control them?" Alucard asked. Since he was also interested in the research, he had not stopped Dr. Indigo.
"Uh… not yet. How about we have our people retreat and observe from a distance?" Dr. Indigo said, rubbing his hands together.
....
"Shanks, I told you not to use your Haki recklessly. Do you want to suffer the same fate as Jack?" Benn Beckman said, looking annoyed as they walked on the land of Arderay Island.
"Dahahahaha! Isn't that what I have you for?"
Benn Beckman shook his head helplessly. The further they went, the more serious his expression became. "We're getting in too easily. It's not normal…"