On this day, the skies of the West Blue were unusually busy with News Coo messengers.
"Leader of the underworld organization Coral, Mafia Victor, effortlessly defeats 'Coal-Brow' Umrich at the harbor of the Country of Flowers!"
"The Past and Present of the Coral Organization! Our reporters uncover the history of its successive leaders!"
"Shocking! The ruthless mafia boss actually has such an unexpected background!"
…
Bang!
A stack of newspapers was slammed violently onto a desk.
At this moment, Marine Colonel Crone felt as though he had just eaten a spoiled cake mixed with strange-flavored beans. His emotions were a chaotic mixture of disbelief, irritation, and dread.
Was this Mafia Victor determined to embody the phrase "silent until the moment he astonishes the world"?
Under his leadership, Coral had expanded rapidly and had already grown into a power that could no longer be ignored.
Although Crone himself lacked great combat strength, his judgment was far from poor. The faster a battle ended, the greater the disparity in strength between the combatants.
Previously, Mafia Victor had crushed Talma Pippin and Suleiman Shaon with overwhelming force. That could be explained by careful preparation and hidden strength.
But this time, the battle against Coal-Brow Umrich had also ended within minutes.
Did this man believe no one in the West Blue could stop him anymore?
…Not necessarily.
After all, Umrich had once been driven off Solinalfa Island by that man, forcing him to seek refuge in the Country of Flowers. If that man took action, perhaps he could restrain Mafia Victor's growth.
Poor Colonel Crone still had no idea what Victor had actually gained in the Country of Flowers.
If he had known, he would certainly regret not doing everything possible to stop Victor from going there.
Near the Waters of the Country of Flowers
Aboard the merchant ship Croissant
Clansna Edmond stood guard outside the VIP cabin door.
Inside the room, Mafia Victor was having a private discussion with Mai Benihime.
"So that's how it is… Wano Country has already fallen into such a dire state?" Victor sighed.
He had not expected that ten years before the events of the original story, Wano had already been devastated by Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido.
After the battle with Umrich—and Victor's later explanation—Mai Benihime finally understood that this handsome young man merely possessed knowledge about Wano. He was not the assassin she had initially suspected to be sent by Orochi.
As a result, she no longer held anything back.
"That is correct," Mai Benihime said.
"My journey to the West Blue was not merely for refuge."
She pulled the short blade from her sleeve and respectfully presented it to Victor with both hands.
"This item is a replica of the treasure I seek. Please take a look, my benefactor."
Victor accepted the dagger and carefully examined it.
It was a beautifully decorated short blade with a straight edge and only a slight curve. The hilt was wrapped in crimson cloth and decorated with a carp pattern.
"This is a replica of one of our nation's treasured blades," Mai Benihime said solemnly.
"One of the Twenty-One Great Grade Blades—Beniyuki Samonji."
"Thirteen years ago, our country suffered a shocking theft. The stolen items were not only famous swords like Beniyuki Samonji, but also the remains of the legendary swordsman Shimotsuki Ryuma, along with his blade."
"Half a year ago, I learned that Beniyuki Samonji had appeared in the West Blue. That is why I set out for this sea."
"Unfortunately, I was injured while leaving Wano and pursued by Orochi's agents. My wounds never had time to heal. Thankfully, I managed to shake off my pursuers after reaching the Country of Flowers."
Victor returned the dagger to her and leaned back against the sofa thoughtfully.
After a moment, he spoke.
"I know where the item you're looking for is."
"And our goals happen to align."
"You… you know where Beniyuki Samonji is?" Mai Benihime grabbed Victor's hand excitedly.
"Is that truly the case?"
Victor smiled warmly.
"So… would you be interested in temporarily joining my team?"
"I believe we could become excellent partners, Miss Mai."
Mai Benihime looked at Victor's face—so handsome it seemed almost radiant—and her cheeks flushed slightly.
"If it is only temporary… then please take care of me."
"Stop calling me benefactor," Victor said with a brighter smile.
"Just call me Victor."
Her face reddened even more under the full force of Victor's devastating charisma.
"Then… you may call me Benihime."
Victor valued Mai Benihime highly for a very specific reason.
When his special Observation Haki—"Revelation" had first sensed her, it immediately provided information:
A swift swordswoman… currently heavily injured.
For swordsmen, the title of Swordmaster was a nearly insurmountable threshold.
Some people believed that anyone capable of launching flying slashes could be called a swordmaster.
Victor disagreed.
To him, only when mind, technique, and body were perfectly unified could someone truly reach that level.
The fact that this woman had become a swordmaster despite her injuries proved her extraordinary talent.
Back in the alley, Victor had deliberately exposed her origins to provoke a reaction.
When she attacked him in panic, he confirmed it.
After all, very few swordsmen could nearly slit the throat of someone whose Observation Haki was fully activated, using nothing more than an ordinary short blade—while suffering severe injuries to the left foot and right shoulder.
For now, the ship's doctor was treating Benihime's wounds.
Once they returned to Algelo Town, Victor planned to have Doctor Rurta treat her properly.
Suddenly, a faint cold smile appeared on Victor's lips.
He asked Benihime to remain in the VIP cabin and rest. Before leaving, he instructed Clansna Edmond to continue guarding the door.
Then Victor headed directly to the captain's cabin on the top deck.
The door was locked.
Victor no longer bothered pretending.
He kicked the door open.
The room was empty.
Victor's smile widened slightly.
A flash of cold light appeared in his hand as a long sword emerged from a zipper in his palm.
He grasped the weapon lightly and traced an elegant semicircle through the air.
CLANG!
The sharp sound of metal striking metal rang out.
"…You are merely a warrior. How did you detect my presence?"
A figure slowly appeared out of thin air.
It was a man with long black hair that spread wildly like flames.
He wore a black ninja outfit and held a wakizashi in reverse grip, blocking Victor's strike. In his left hand he formed a ninja seal, and a scroll was clenched between his teeth.
Victor pressed his blade downward lazily.
"Oh? That wakizashi of yours isn't ordinary either."
"Let me see…"
"One of the Fifty Skillful Grade Blades—Midare-giri, correct?"
The ninja knocked Victor's blade aside and leapt backward while flicking his arm.
At the same moment, Victor casually deflected several incoming blackened shuriken, which clattered onto the floor.
"Excellent skill. Excellent perception," the ninja said.
He flipped backward several times before landing near the window of the captain's cabin.
Holding the blade Midare-giri, he assumed a combat stance.
"Even under Lord Kaido, someone of your ability could become one of the top fighters."
"Hand over Mai Benihime."
"You may leave freely. I will not pursue you."
Victor rested his sword on his shoulder.
His usually gentle expression now carried a hint of cold amusement.
"I prefer diplomacy before violence."
"So I'll give you a chance too."
"Jump off this ship right now."
"Whether you drown or get eaten by sharks afterward is none of my concern."
"Otherwise…"
"…you'll serve as the first test for this newly acquired blade of the Fifty Skillful Grade Swords—Scarlet Fang."
"And you'll die here, ninja of Orochi's Oniwabanshu."
"…You know who I am and still draw your sword?" the ninja said coldly.
"Then you must already be prepared to die."
Victor's patience ran out.
"A man only has one destiny."
"Yours was decided long ago."
"Enough with the threats."
"…The dead speak no words."
"…and the defeated keep their mouths shut."
Two flashes of steel collided in an instant.