The Grand Line, Twin Capes.
The sound of Whale Laboon echoed across the sea surface.
The Straw Hat Pirates had just arrived here via the ascending currents of the Reverse Mountain. After saying goodbye to Whale Laboon, Luffy left Twin Capes and officially entered the Grand Line.
Crocus sat on the lighthouse at Twin Capes, looking up at the gradually departing Golden Merry, and rubbed his lenses: "Straw Hat Luffy, really a lively kid, feels like he'll cause more trouble on the sea than that brat Shanks..."
Just as Crocus was reminiscing about the past, a warship rushed down the waves of the Reverse Mountain, heading straight for Whale Laboon!
A silhouette suddenly flew out from the warship!
The figure kicked hard onto Laboon's body, sending the gigantic whale flying away, and this scene made Crocus's eyebrows furrow...
This scene...
Seems a bit familiar?
Three years ago, someone kicked Whale Laboon away, and although this behavior was quite dastardly, it also made Laboon terrified of humans during that period, not daring to easily surface to hit the Red Earth Continent anymore...
On the warship.
Ain looked at Uehara Naraku with increasingly complex eyes.
Uehara Naraku took the juice from Ain's hand and spoke slowly: "Let's go, let's ask the lighthouse keeper at Twin Capes if they've seen the Straw Hat Pirates..."
Twin Capes, under the lighthouse.
Crocus sat in his chair, looking strangely at Uehara Naraku walking towards him. Wasn't this the person who kicked Laboon away three years ago?
Now it's him kicking Laboon away again?
This guy has suddenly turned into a Navy officer?
Does this Navy officer have a problem in his head? Clearly, the Navy warship can freely traverse the Windless Zone into the Grand Line, why insist on coming through Reverse Mountain?
Uehara Naraku slowly sipped his juice, looking at Crocus and said: "Old man, did you see the Straw Hat Pirates ahead of us? Which route did they take?"
"..."
Crocus silently shook his head.
Uehara Naraku tilted his head, looking at Crocus and continued: "Don't know... or just don't want to say?"
"... "
Crocus still silently shook his head, extended his finger and pointed at his mouth, indicating he was mute.
Uehara Naraku's expression was odd.
Does Crocus think he's funny? Forget it, Uehara Naraku just came to find an excuse to capture Crocus anyway.
"Capture him, lock him up in Impel Down."
Uehara Naraku's words made Crocus unable to resist swearing.
Just as Crocus wanted to say something, a group of Navy officers held guns against his body, taking Crocus onto the warship.
"Admiral Uehara..."
Ain's expression was somewhat puzzled.
The beautiful adjutant didn't quite understand why Uehara Naraku wanted to capture Crocus, such an innocent lighthouse keeper.
Uehara Naraku shook his head, without overly explaining.
The identity of this Twin Capes lighthouse keeper is not so simple; he was Gol D. Roger's powerful assistant, providing Roger enough time to become the Pirate King.
Uehara Naraku just wanted to use Crocus, the ship doctor of the Roger Pirates, to try and attract Dark King Rayleigh to join the future Summit War...
Just as Uehara Naraku took this lighthouse keeper away, the Straw Hat Pirates were unaware of Crocus's matter. These newbies who entered the Grand Line were just starting to face the storms and rain of the Grand Line...
However, with the help of Nami, the navigator, the Straw Hat Pirates safely ventured out, entering a route indicated by the magnetic compass from Crocus pointing to Whiskey Peak.
Even though Baroque Works had disappeared, the Pirate Hunters gathered at Whiskey Peak still maintained their business of robbing pirates...
Things took a bit of a delicate turn...
The supporters behind Whiskey Peak's Pirate Hunters were now Alabasta's King Cobra.
After all, only by severing the source of pirates from Whiskey Peak could Alabasta avoid more pirate invasions, as Alabasta no longer had the national hero Sand Crocodile Crocodile to help clear out external pirates!
Unfortunately, the Straw Hat Pirates are tough nuts...
The next morning, the Straw Hat Pirates took Princess Vivi, who was patrolling Whiskey Peak, with them because they were heading to Alabasta to defeat King Cobra...
The development of this situation...
Made Uehara Naraku scratch his head.
Especially the events the Straw Hat Pirates encountered on their second stop along their route at Ancient Island, further showcased King Cobra as a major antagonist...
This Ancient Island was entirely leveled by Uehara Naraku.
Now, this island has become a natural super arena. All pirates hope to fight on this super arena, and it has become known as Duel Island, a place that lures pirates into mutual slaughter.
The ones currently ruling the Dueling Arena on the Ancient Island are the returning Giant Soldier Pirates from Elbaf, who are nearly invincible here.
Moreover, since the place is naturally suited for giants to fight, the Giant Soldier Pirates don't have other plans and don't venture out to plunder; the giants just guard the Dueling Arena on the Ancient Island peacefully, and even help deal with some arrogant and bloodthirsty pirates...
The Straw Hat Pirates caused a huge commotion on the Ancient Island.
Monkey D. Luffy desperately defeated a giant who was chasing them and, dragging his heavily injured body, escaped the Ancient Island with the Straw Hat Pirates...
When Uehara Naraku arrived here, he took the opportunity to report to Marinford and helped raise Straw Hat Luffy's bounty to 130 million Belly.
This matter...
Wasn't handled very well.
Since they were dragging heavily injured bodies, they naturally needed a ship doctor.
Fortunately, Princess Vivi pointed them in the right direction and led them to the medical powerhouse Drum Kingdom first.
Along the way, the members of the Straw Hat Pirates learned from Princess Vivi that King Cobra is a king who loves his people as his children, and they put down their grudges.
Drum Kingdom.
Due to the Drum Kingdom's citizens crowdfunding a million Belly to kill the previous tyrant king Wapol, their lives have gradually become prosperous over the past few years.
When the new king Dalton saw the Straw Hat Pirates' flag, he had no intention of attacking them. Instead, he enthusiastically led them to find Dr. Kureha.
As they went to Dr. Kureha's home, Nami glanced at Dalton with suspicion in her eyes: "This group of guys... they don't have any plots, do they?"
"Don't worry!"
Dalton's smile was bright: "Mr. Luffy is Mr. Ace's brother, right? We just want to repay the favor owed to Luffy's brother, Portgas D. Ace.
Last week, our country was invaded by Blackbeard Pirates Marshall D. Teach, fortunately, Ace and Uchiha Sasuke helped us drive him away. I even have a letter from Ace for Mr. Luffy."
This event truly speaks of destiny.
Last week, Marshall D. Teach led his newly formed Blackbeard Pirates to the Drum Kingdom, and before they could even spend a day there, Uchiha Sasuke and Ace caught up, leaving Marshall D. Teach with no choice but to flee hastily.
At this moment, Teach had no desire to encounter Uchiha Sasuke; no matter how bold he was, he wouldn't gamble on a certain death situation!
However, Marshall D. Teach did not leave empty-handed!
On this Drum Kingdom island, Teach confirmed his own body and grew ambitions to acquire the Quake-Quake Fruit power!
On the raft of the Blackbeard Pirates.
This newly established pirate gang didn't have many people, and they didn't even have their own large ship, temporarily relying on this raft for travel.
Marshall D. Teach's face no longer had the previous confidence, subtly tinged with worry: "If this continues, I feel we'll eventually be caught by that Uchiha Sasuke guy. At this time, I have no confidence in fighting Sasuke..."
"Then try to redirect the trouble eastward!"
Black Zetsu's sinister voice appeared in Teach's ear.
Marshall D. Teach really seems to have no sense of crisis; if not for Black Zetsu always secretly using words to intimidate and obstruct Uchiha Sasuke...
Teach would have long been sliced in two by Sasuke!
Black Zetsu's body emerged from Teach's arm, speaking in a creepy tone: "In the First Half of the Grand Line, the strongest are the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the Navy. Let them help deal with Sasuke and Ace..."
"Zehahaha, that's easier said than done!"
Marshall D. Teach couldn't help but laugh: "In the entire First Half of the Grand Line, few can rival Sasuke... That guy, Sasuke, is a monster that can topple the Four Emperors!"
"Truly troublesome..."
The Blackbeard Pirates' ship doctor spoke weakly: "I didn't expect that after just joining your pirate gang, we'd face the pursuit of Red-Eyed Sasuke and Fire Fist Ace. Perhaps we should divide the supplies on the ship and dissolve here..."
"Doc Q, some words shouldn't be said carelessly..."
Another new member of the Blackbeard Pirates smiled lightly, "Haha, doesn't this precisely indicate our captain isn't a simple character?
Not just anyone can catch the eye of those monsters from the New World, let alone while our captain faces pursuit by former super rookie pirates..."
"Laffitte, you really aren't afraid of death..."
Doc Q, the Blackbeard ship doctor, shakily handed an apple from his basket to Laffitte, "Why don't you try it; see if you can survive after eating the apple. If you live, we will continue; if you die, we'll have fewer people sharing the supplies..."
"Zehahaha... Alright."
Blackbeard halted the dispute among his crew, a confident smile still on his face: "Now what we need to do is make contact with the Navy, it'd be best to take down a Warlord of the Sea and take that position myself..."
"Speaking of which, I did receive some information."
Black Zetsu's body moved slowly, his hoarse voice falling on everyone's ears, "A White Zetsu lurking in Marinford transmitted a piece of intelligence, saying the person most in power in the Navy now is someone named Yakushi Kabuto..."
"Zehahaha, I remember clearly!"
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach nodded quickly, the grin on his face almost uncontrollable: "One must find a way to contact Yakushi Kabuto... Because the last time we were in our most dire state with Sasuke, it was due to Yakushi Kabuto's schemes!"