"I ran into the Navy on my way here."
Hearing Rayleigh's words, Hancock placed one hand on her hip.
"You fought them?"
Rayleigh blinked in surprise.
"Mm. Those bastards tried to block my ship!"
Hancock tilted her head back proudly as she spoke.
Rayleigh fell silent for a moment.
It seemed news of their arrival had been leaked.
"What about Don? Did you tell him?"
Shakky looked at Rayleigh and asked.
"I warned him, but his attitude was strange—he didn't seem to care much."
Rayleigh nodded as he answered Shakky's question.
He gestured for her to hand him a bottle of liquor. After taking a swig, he fell into thought.
"That's why I said something big might happen here. Jumping in now is… unwise."
"It's related to the Celestial Dragons."
Shakky nodded and glanced at Hancock as she said it.
As expected, the moment Hancock heard Celestial Dragons, her expression changed.
"What should we do next?"
Seeing Rayleigh remain calm, Shakky asked seriously.
"We watch and see what he intends to do."
Rayleigh stroked his chin.
"You mean Don… he's a pirate hunter, isn't he?"
Hancock asked, realizing Rayleigh was referring to Don.
"He is a pirate hunter—but also something a bit different."
Rayleigh considered for a moment before turning to her.
"You should've felt it earlier when you clashed. You're not his match. So don't act on your own."
"Rayleigh, are you lecturing me?"
Hancock asked with displeasure, still standing with one hand on her hip.
"I'm only reminding you."
Rayleigh, knowing her personality well, wasn't surprised and shook his head helplessly.
Based on his judgment, even before meeting him, Warlord-level pirates were no longer opponents for Don.
Even Mihawk himself admitted defeat.
Hancock's Devil Fruit was strong, but it didn't work on everyone.
"You should leave early."
Rayleigh decided to stay and observe, but Hancock—he felt—should leave first.
This time, Hancock didn't argue. She simply glanced at Rayleigh, then turned and walked away.
Shakky and Rayleigh exchanged a look, then both shook their heads.
"That was one of the Seven Warlords—Boa Hancock?"
Back at their temporary lodgings, Robin looked at Don and asked.
"That's her."
Don nodded, recalling the moment he saw Boa Hancock.
Even as a transmigrator, he'd been stunned for a split second.
After recovering, Don decisively ended the conversation and left with his group.
"It really is lively out there."
Robin muttered.
"It is."
Don nodded, then fell into thought.
He had already mastered Haoshoku Coating. His purpose in coming to the Sabaody Archipelago was accomplished.
Crocodile's matter was handled, and the Hunter Guild was finally established.
But development would take time—and people. He was in the middle of arranging all that.
Logically, he should leave after handling everything.
If he left now, even if all of this was Doflamingo's scheme, it would collapse immediately.
But walking away like this felt… vexing.
Thinking of that, he turned toward Issho.
"Tomorrow I'll have Rayleigh coat the ship. You three head out first."
"You're sure you want to stay behind alone?"
Mihawk asked in surprise.
"I'm not your subordinate. You can't order me. I want to stay too—this should be interesting."
Don nodded at his response.
"You can handle it?"
Issho asked.
"If I can't, then even if you stay, it won't help. Since I said this, it means I'm confident I can get out under any circumstances."
"So you've made up your mind."
Issho nodded.
"I…"
Robin hesitated.
She knew her current strength would only drag Don down on the kind of battlefield he was preparing for.
"I understand."
She took a deep breath, silently vowing to grow stronger—she never wanted to be this helpless again.
"No need to look like that."
Seeing her expression, Don chuckled and gently ruffled her hair.
"If I'm making this decision, I'm confident I can escape no matter what happens. Besides, everything is just speculation—maybe nothing will happen at all."
"When you say that… something definitely will happen."
Robin brushed his hand away.
"You all dive down to Fishman Island. Go through Fishman Island and into the New World. Once I arrive, I'll contact you."
Don turned to Mihawk again.
"You're not coming too?"
"I've followed you long enough."
Mihawk shook his head.
He had never officially joined Don—he simply stayed because he'd agreed to teach him swordsmanship.
But over time…
Don wasn't truly focused on swordsmanship. He wasn't a pure swordsman.
Mihawk had no intention of following him any further.
He had watched every clash between Don and Rayleigh.
It was time to return and refine his own mastery—especially that Haoshoku technique.
Although he possessed it as well, Mihawk had always prioritized the blade, neglecting the Haki that enhanced it.
But Haoshoku had a massive impact on swordsmanship. It was time to improve that.
Understanding Mihawk's intentions, Don didn't push him.
He had wanted to recruit Mihawk into the Hunter Guild—but that was easier said than done.
Area 1
Jinbe stood guard, staring at Kizaru, who had appeared in front of him.
"I'm only here to warn you."
Kizaru pursed his lips as he spoke.
"You know the consequences of causing trouble here."
"This is the lawless zone of Sabaody. Even the Navy meddles here?"
Jinbe had expected trouble from the beginning.
But with such a large-scale mermaid auction, he couldn't ignore it.
If the auction took place successfully this time, the future of the fishmen would grow even darker.
"This time is different from the past. I'm only reminding you. Leave now, and no one gets hurt."
Kizaru said after thinking for a moment.
But he knew Jinbe wouldn't listen.
And indeed, Jinbe had no intention of agreeing.
Kizaru frowned but didn't strike. He left and reported Jinbe's attitude to Sengoku.
Sengoku could only feel helpless.
If it was any ordinary mermaid auction, even if he knew Jinbe wanted to intervene, he wouldn't care too much.
But this time was different.
"Doflamingo didn't admit it."
Just as Sengoku was feeling a headache, Vice Admiral Tsuru returned and reported her talk with Doflamingo.
"So it was him?"
Sengoku looked at her.
"Most likely. From what I know of him, it fits. And his plan definitely isn't just this."
END OF CHAPTER
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