New World, first half of the seas, aboard the Straw Hat ship, the Thousand Sunny.
Following a piercing scream from Nami, the entire crew gathered around. She pointed a trembling finger at the newspaper headline: "World Government Toppled, Gorosei Assassinated?"
After sailing for so long, they were no longer the greenhorn pirates who had set out from the East Blue not even knowing what the Seven Warlords were. They understood perfectly well what the Government and the Gorosei represented.
Nami held the paper, her face pale with dread, her voice shaking. "This was published by the World Economy Newspaper, the most widely circulated paper in the world. It was personally written by the president, 'Big News' Morgans himself. The credibility is nearly 100 percent."
"S-so, this place that's been destroyed beyond recognition! Is this... the legendary Holy Land, Mariejois?"
Brook pointed at the lead photograph. It depicted Alucard sitting before the Holy Palace of Mariejois, with Hancock and the rest of the Kuja Pirates standing regally at his side.
Sanji spat out his cigarette, his expression one of pure shock. He had spotted someone in the corner of one of the images and pointed. "Hey! Look at this. Isn't that... Robin-chan?"
Everyone leaned in to look at the fourth photo.
Sure enough, in that shot, members of the Black Thorn Pirates and Iron Arm Pirates were hauling treasures out of the palace. Robin was there, having changed her outfit and hairstyle, cradling several ancient volumes.
Despite the change in her appearance, the Straw Hats recognized her instantly.
"No-Life King..."
Nami read the contents of the report. "The Undying King... Is this the world's new evaluation of that man?"
"A year ago, the Immortal Pirates lost to the Gorosei and vanished. It's said they returned specifically for revenge. The report says the Gorosei have all been killed, Mariejois and Marineford are complete ruins, and the Immortal Pirates have occupied them. The entire world is being engulfed in the flames of war." Nami wiped a bead of cold sweat from her forehead.
"Immortal... that guy!!!"
Luffy's eyes narrowed as he recalled Alucard's face.
"To defeat a Government that stood for eight hundred years the moment he returned... the strongest man in the world..." Nami was terrified. It felt like every time news regarding Alucard surfaced, it was a world-shaking event.
"Hey, Luffy... you're not seriously still going to challenge that guy, are you?" Usopp looked like he was about to wet himself as he grabbed Luffy's arm. "Give it up! It's too scary! Even the World Government was beaten! Let's just ignore him, okay? Please?"
Luffy shook off Usopp's hand. He smashed his fist into his palm with a heavy thud and shouted, "Stop joking around! That guy did that to Shanks... I'll never forgive him!"
"With your current level, you won't be able to touch a single hair on Captain Alucard's head even in twenty years."
A voice rang out unexpectedly as a submarine surfaced abruptly alongside the Sunny. The Straw Hat crew jumped in surprise, and in the next second, everyone drew their weapons, standing on high alert.
"Did that voice just come from that loudspeaker?" Franky, the shipwright, noted the external speakers mounted on the hull of the submarine.
However, Nami and the others were focused on the emblems on the submarine's sails. The small sail in front bore a heart-shaped smiley face; the large sail behind it bore the mark of the Immortal.
"The... the Immortal Pirates!"
"Why are they here?!"
"Hey, hey! We just got to the New World! We don't want to die yet!"
Brook, Chopper, and Usopp were jumping and screaming in a panic.
"You lot are noisy."
The owner of the voice stepped out from a cabin door onto the deck: Law, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, and the rest of the Heart Pirates.
"Ah!! You!" Luffy ran to the railing, pointing at Law. "Back at Fish-Man Island, when I was fighting that 'Cockscomb' guy, you were the one watching from the back!"
"He is the Captain of the Heart Pirates, a subordinate of the Immortal Pirates... Trafalgar Law, the Surgeon of Death," Nami said, gripping her Clima-Tact tightly. "Careful, Luffy. He's an enemy."
"Calm down, Straw Hat-ya."
Law walked to the edge of his submarine. Because of the height difference between the two vessels, he had to look up. "While I am a member of the Immortal Pirates, from a personal standpoint, I have no grudge against you. If I did, I would have joined forces with Bartolomeo to take you down at Fish-Man Island."
"Captain, is that kind of explanation really going to lower his guard?" Shachi muttered from behind him, deadpan.
"Oh, right! So you're not an enemy. Sorry about that!" Luffy nodded vacantly, looking like he had just realized something.
"He actually believed it!" the Heart Pirates cried in unison. The Straw Hat crew, meanwhile, just looked exasperated; their captain was always like this.
"Straw Hat-ya, to tell you the truth, Captain Alucard doesn't hold much hostility toward you. As long as you don't go looking for trouble with him, nothing will happen. You can rest easy," Law said, adjusting his white hat.
Chopper, Usopp, and Nami were overjoyed upon hearing this. they rushed to Luffy's side, grabbing his shoulders and arms. "That's great news, Luffy! From now on, whenever we see their ships, we'll just take a detour!"
"If we avoid them, we have a chance to survive and then you can become the Pirate King!"
"It's too scary, Luffy! Don't make an enemy out of a monster like that!"
Facing the tearful pleas of the trio, Luffy gave a blunt, two-word reply: "I refuse."
"Heh." Law's lips curled into a slight smirk. "With your current strength, challenging Captain Alucard is impossible. You can only set your sights on the other two Yonko for now."
Law looked up. "So... how about it? Want to form an alliance with me to take the head of one of the Yonko?"
"What?!" The Straw Hats were stunned.
Zoro stepped to the front. "Hold on. Even if you say your Captain isn't hostile toward Luffy, given the history between our sides, why are you looking for us for an alliance?"
"Because our Captain has dealings with the other Yonko, making it inconvenient for him to topple them personally. But I want to overthrow the reign of the Yonko and obtain the great treasure, the One Piece."
Law continued, "Right now, the secrets to the One Piece are held by Yonko Kaido and Yonko Big Mom. As for the portion of the secret held by our Captain... I have already secured it."
"I admit we are using each other. Our alliance will last until we obtain the secrets of the One Piece. What do you say? Are you in, Straw Hat-ya?"