The battle on Winter Island had ended in a crushing defeat, and the whole world was buzzing with the news: Vice Admiral Zephyr, the "Unkilling" Marine, had been taken down by Kaido.
Some people maliciously exaggerated Kaido's strength to stir up fear. Others just scoffed, claiming "Black Arm" Zephyr was all talk and no substance. But when news of the Oren Kingdom nobles' brutal purge spread across the seas weeks later, the world was truly shaken. People finally realized just how ruthless and bloodthirsty Kaido actually was.
In the wake of these events, the Marines issued new bounties for Kaido and the Wald Pirates:
Kaido: 1,111,000,000 Berries
"World Destroyer" Byojack: 300,000,000 Berries
Gairam: 60,000,000 Berries
Nacho: 58,000,000 Berries
Sebastian: 30,000,000 Berries
Somewhere on the Grand Line, Silver Axe sat on the stairs leading to the second floor of a captured warship. Dressed in heavy knight's armor, his physique was massive—like a small mountain of muscle. Two heavy axes rested against the mast beside him.
Three or four charming women sat on his lap, wearing thin, transparent gauze skirts. Their legs were draped over him, teasing his nerves and stoking a lust in his eyes that he didn't bother to hide.
"Captain, new intel!" a subordinate called out.
Silver Axe glanced at the report, and his face instantly darkened. He let out a cold sneer. "So, that little brat from back then is finally making a name for himself?"
He crushed the paper in his hand. "Shiki, Newgate, John, Ochoku, Linlin... every one of them is out there throwing the world into chaos! They don't give a damn about their old friends' reputations!"
His First Mate, a man known as Grim Reaper, stepped forward. He wore a spiked mask that contrasted with his large, noticeable bald head. "Captain, what's the plan? Who's our next target?"
Silver Axe looked up, the shadow of his helmet masking his eyes, though his tone was chilling. "Where's the nearest Marine base?"
Elsewhere on the Grand Line, the Moby Dick sailed steadily through the waves.
Recently, Whitebeard had taken in another son—a youth named Vista. Though the boy had a tender face, his eyes were resolute, and he already had a fierce air about him. Whitebeard watched from his massive chair as Marco and Vista sparred on the deck, letting out a hearty laugh.
Whitebeard had been an orphan born on a starving island; to him, forming a family was his only lifelong wish.
Whitey Bay, wearing a wide sun hat, walked over and handed him a newspaper. "Pops, there's news about Kaido."
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed as he took the paper. "That little brat?"
A flash of memory crossed his mind. He remembered when he had gone to recruit Kaido years ago at Rocks's request. Back then, Kaido was only fifteen, yet he was already incredibly tall and lacked any of the innocence a boy his age should have. He had been nothing but wary and full of a burning fighting spirit.
Even then, it was clear Kaido knew exactly what he wanted. By the time the God Valley Incident happened, he had already grown into a monster nearly on their level. Now, at twenty-two, he had defeated Zephyr—a man as famous as Garp and Sengoku. His potential was terrifying.
Whitey Bay lit a slender cigarette and blew a smoke ring. "The Peace Research Institute has been applying for a ton of patents lately. Stussy is hanging around that group, too. I wonder what kind of conspiracy they're cooking up."
Whitebeard didn't answer. He just stared out at the distant horizon, lost in thought.
Ten thousand meters above the sea, the clouds surged with a golden-red glow from the setting sun.
Several warships soared through the sky, their oars flapping like wings as gears ground together. These ships, hidden within the swirling mists, traversed the sea of clouds.
"Kekekeke! That brat really has some nerve. I knew he was special back at God Valley, but I didn't think he'd actually take down Zephyr!"
Shiki, dressed in a golden kimono and wooden clogs, sat with a woman tucked under each arm. He looked down at his subordinates, the Golden Lion Pirates. Since the Rocks Pirates had disbanded, they had become the most powerful crew on the seas. Because they were almost impossible to track and constantly caused chaos, the Marines had labeled them the most dangerous pirate crew in existence.
Shiki had gained new power after God Valley, and he planned to use it to build a force that would dwarf the Rocks Pirates and dominate the world.
"Have you found any sign of Roger?" Shiki asked, looking at his intelligence officer, Jambon.
Jambon was a thin, dark-skinned man in a sharp black suit and white gloves. "Based on a Den Den Mushi interception from the Marines, the Roger Pirates were spotted on Old Man's Island not long ago."
A dangerous glint flashed in Shiki's eyes. "Keep a close watch. Predict his route. Ever since God Valley, the Marines have made him their primary target. If I can get him to join me, taking over the world will be a piece of cake."
On Elrosa Island in the Grand Line, it was late at night.
A group of villagers moved through the forest with flickering torches, armed with sticks and scythes. They looked like they were hunting for something.
"Did you find her?"
"Nothing yet. You think she ran back to the village?"
"No way. We already killed Grandma Misong for taking her in. Where else would she go?"
These were just commoners in patched clothes, their faces thin and pale from hunger. Their eyes were dull, but there was a hint of desperate madness in them. Elrosa was a poor island with few resources. Because they couldn't pay the Heavenly Tribute, the World Government wouldn't protect them.
Usually, the villagers looked after each other, but this year was different. Locusts had destroyed their crops, and people were starving. Then, they found out that Grandma Misong, who lived on the mountain, had rescued a Mink girl who had washed ashore.
A Mink girl could be sold to traffickers for at least 700,000 Berries. That kind of money could buy enough rice to save the whole village from starving. They had tried to convince the old woman to hand the girl over, but she refused to give her up. So, they decided to "send the old lady on her way."
"Keep searching," the leader said grimly. "We control the only boat off this island. She's trapped. And tell the others—if anyone hides that girl, we'll burn them alive."
As the group moved deeper into the woods, a pair of furry ears twitched in the bushes nearby. A young girl peeked out, her golden eyes scanning the area for danger. Once she was sure they were gone, she started to sob quietly.
Her name was Lola, a nine-year-old tiger Mink. She and her parents had been sold to the Leviathan Kingdom to fight in a bloody arena for the entertainment of nobles. Before they died, her parents had bitten through her chains and covered her escape. She had hidden in a wine barrel on a cargo ship, carrying nothing but her parents' hope that she would survive.
She was supposed to start a new life here. But now...
"Grandma..." Lola whispered through her tears.
She looked up through the trees and saw the full moon hanging high in the sky. Shivering, Lola pulled her tattered hood over her head, hugged her arms tight, and started stumbling back toward the mountain.