They've long been making preparations behind the scenes to suppress the growing number of powerful individuals across the seas.
Naturally, they spared no effort in promoting Donquixote Doflamingo.
Even pirates in the New World now recognize the name Donquixote Doflamingo.
East Blue.
A small, unknown island. Inside a tavern.
Amidst the lively clinking of glasses, a red-haired man in a straw hat was burying his face in food,
Eating while pondering—
Where should he go to recruit crew members...
Just as he was deep in thought, the voices of several burly men at the next table caught his attention as they discussed recent events.
"Have you guys seen the latest news?"
"Yeah, I saw it! That big shot Black Gun Orin! A young man actually managed to escape from him!"
"Who's Orin? Is he famous?" one burly man asked dumbly, clearly ignorant—he didn't even know Orin's name.
That really piqued the interest of the man beside him. He had seen Orin split the sky with a single slash in Loguetown. After that reality-shattering experience, he became a die-hard "Orin fan"!
"You don't know him? Let me tell you, Black Gun Orin was a crew member on the Pirate King Roger's ship. He was a top-tier monster back in the day..."
Shanks adjusted his straw hat. When he heard Orin's name, he perked up, ready to listen closely.
But the more that "Orin fan" talked, the more bewildered Shanks looked.
Things like him fighting all the Marine monsters alone, being entrusted with great responsibility by the Pirate King...
Shanks knew Orin, and those things were technically true, but what followed was just nonsense.
"According to rumors, Black Gun Orin has a very secret secret. Do you know why he's called 'Black Gun'?" the man said seriously.
"Maybe... because his gun is really black?" a genius guessed.
"Where the hell did that come from!" the big man glared and continued his story:
"Even though he usually fights with swords and fists, they say his strongest weapon is the gun on his back. You know that Marine monster Kuzan, right? The one who, along with two others, fought Orin and didn't win?"
"They say the injuries on his leg now were caused by a single shot from Orin. If he hadn't barely dodged it at the last second, he might've lost the leg completely!"
"Ooh~" The burly men nearby, clueless as they were, still nodded along. One of them even added:
"So... is Orin a good guy or a bad guy according to the news?"
"Uh... he defends his home, so I guess he's a good guy?"
Shanks: "..."
His mouth twitched. Shanks finally couldn't take it anymore and honestly bought a copy of the newspaper.
But after reading it closely, his expression grew serious. Like most people across the seas, he came to the same realization:
This Doflamingo guy is something else.
As someone who had spent years on the same ship as Orin, Shanks was one of the few who truly understood his strength—after all, he'd been beaten by him more than once.
And it was precisely because of that deep understanding that he was even more shocked.
For a young person to survive Orin going all out to hunt them down and escape alive... just how unbelievable was that?
At least Shanks had to admit to himself—
If Orin truly wanted to kill him, and if Rayleigh or others weren't there to stop him, he'd never make it out alive.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, huh? Another major enemy of the new era... I'll have to fight him someday."
Shanks made a silent vow. Once his strength fully matured, he would seek out Doflamingo and fight him—see who was more worthy to be called the "King of the New Era."
Yes.
He no longer had any illusions about the title "King of the Next Generation."
After all, Captain Roger had said that Orin was a man of the old era. In the new era, he refused to believe there could be anyone that terrifying.
...
East Blue.
A small, unknown town.
With his Chop-Chop powers and the foundation he built aboard Roger's ship, the future great pirate Buggy was now throwing his weight around in a low-level region.
At this moment, he too saw that familiar name in the newspaper—
"Orin..."
Seeing the name stirred a brief wave of emotion in Buggy. A closer look at the content shocked him even more.
"Na... NANI!!"
His jaw dropped, tongue straightened, and his body exploded into pieces midair.
"A youngster could stand against Orin and retreat safely?!?"
"N-No way, this has to be made up! Aren't they afraid Orin will come after them? People really will write anything..."
Ironically, in this vast ocean, the only person who remained clear-headed was Buggy.
Perhaps because Orin had protected him since childhood, Buggy had a uniquely clear understanding of his strength.
To him, Orin was nearly an invincible existence.
If you told him that old-timers like Whitebeard or Golden Lion—those on Roger's level—fought Orin, maybe he'd believe it.
But a young guy, with no help from outside powerhouses, managing to escape from Orin?
Hey! Bastard!
Just how weak do you think Buggy-sama's best friend is, you dumbass!!!
Buggy-sama is furious right now!
"Oi! You lot, shoot down every single news seagull you see!!!"
"Yes!! Captain Buggy!!!"
P.S. (Blacklist +1)
...
Grand Line, first half, an unknown sea.
A young man with a black sword sat alone in a boat, his sharp eyes narrowing, burning with fighting spirit.
"Sabaody Archipelago, huh..."
You got away from me in Loguetown. This time, you're not escaping!"
The youth rowing with his black sword put down the newspaper, clenched the oar, and pushed forward swiftly.
He was one of the most renowned rookies on the seas these days.
The future world's greatest swordsman.
And the founder of a new style following the One-Sword Style, Two-Sword Style, and Three-Sword Style—
The "Small Blade Style"...
Dracule Mihawk!
After seeing Orin unleash that sky-splitting slash with his sword "Ace," Mihawk understood.
This man... might be his next rival on the path of swordsmanship!
As a globally recognized top swordsman and the heir to Roger and Rayleigh's legacy,
He firmly believed—if he could defeat Orin in a duel of blades,
Then he would take an unprecedented step toward becoming the world's greatest swordsman!
"Once I've experienced your swordsmanship, I'm sure I'll gain immense insight. I truly look forward to meeting you... Orin!"
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Chapter for the review