Rowan's original plan was simple: bring Caesar back to Sengoku's custody, return to the New World, find a quiet island, and wait for Hawkeye. After all, the date for their promised duel was fast approaching. Mihawk could appear at any moment.
But now that he had run into Ace, returning to Headquarters would mean a mess of explanations to the Marines. It was better to stay out here and wait for the swordsman's arrival. Seeing Rowan's dismissive wave, Vice Admiral Momonga didn't press for reasons. He simply nodded and went below to relay the orders.
As the warship adjusted its course, Rowan lay on his rattan chair, staring at the sky. He had no idea just how much the world's eyes were about to fixate on the coming storm.
The New World, a certain stretch of sea.
A colossal pirate ship was cutting through the waves at full speed. Along its flight path, any vessel—be it pirate, merchant, or Marine—fled in terror the moment they saw its silhouette.
That ship was the Red Force. The white skull mark on its sails represented the Yonko, "Red-Haired" Shanks!
Strangely, while ships ahead fled for their lives, a massive trail of vessels followed far behind the Red Force. These included news agencies from across the globe, Marine scouts from local branches, New World pirate crews, and even shadowed ships belonging to World Government intelligence agencies.
These disparate forces maintained a silent, mutual truce. They all had a single goal: to witness the duel that had set the world ablaze a month ago.
This was the first time since his rise to fame that the World's Greatest Swordsman, Hawkeye Mihawk, had issued a formal challenge! And the challenger himself was currently aboard the Red Force. Shanks was personally escorting his rival to find the other protagonist of this drama: the Marine Godfather, Rowan!
The Sea of Whitebeard.
Gulp... gulp... gulp...
Aboard the Moby Dick, the "Strongest Man in the World," Edward Newgate, drained a massive jug of ale. He tossed the empty container aside and let out a satisfied roar.
Listening to the grim report from the Third Division Commander, "Diamond" Jozu, Whitebeard let out a booming laugh. He reached up, ripped the medical tubes from his chest, and rose from his massive throne.
"Gurararara! Marine Godfather Rowan, is it?"
With a sudden motion, he spun his polearm—the Supreme Grade blade Murakumogiri—creating a localized gale before slamming it onto the deck.
THUM! The shockwave rippled across the sea surface. Whitebeard stood with peerless dominance, his voice echoing across the waves. "Even if you are the Marine Godfather, if you want to touch my family, you'll have to go through this old man first!"
He scanned his crew and roared, "Boys! We're going to bring Ace back! Who's with me?!"
The Moby Dick erupted in a fever pitch of cheers. Jozu, "Thatch" of the Fourth Division, "Flower Sword" Vista, and all the other world-renowned commanders joined the roar.
"Pops! We've been waiting for you to say that!" "Our creed is never to abandon family!"
"Gurararara... besides, it's high time I witnessed that 'world-shaking' duel for myself." Whitebeard's eyes narrowed as he looked toward the horizon. He recalled what Ace had told him about the newspaper a month ago and whispered to himself, "Even if you are Ace's Great-Grandpa, the boy is my family now. I won't let you run wild with him..."
Whitebeard knew that given Ace's true identity, if the boy fell into the hands of the World Government, even Rowan would find it nearly impossible to protect him. To the World Government, he carried the "Bloodline of the Devil."
The Sea of Hundred Beasts.
Inside a cavern on a nameless island, the colossal Kaido was alternating between guzzling sake and wailing in a drunken stupor.
"Waaaaah! JOKER! Why did you bring me this news?! Marine Godfather Rowan again?!"
Kaido was clearly wasted. His subordinates stood around him, trembling, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
"Lord Kaido... if Joker's supply of ingredients for the Devil Fruits is gone, our deal with him might fall through..."
The subordinate hadn't even finished his sentence before Kaido's spiked club, Hassaikai, sent him screaming into the cavern wall.
BOOM! The entire cave shook from the impact. "Do you think I don't know that?!"
"Lord Kaido."
A tall man in a black coat, wearing a mask and goggles with massive black wings on his back, stepped into the cave. He glanced at the half-dead lackey and addressed Kaido. "Latest news: Jack encountered Rowan's warship during his mission. He was sent flying with a single punch. We still haven't found where he landed."
This was the Lead Performer of the All-Stars, the head of the Three Calamities: King the Conflagration! Within the crew, his status was second only to Kaido.
"Marine Godfather Rowan?! THAT GUY AGAIN!" Kaido's face twisted in a murderous rage.
His roar caused the entire island to vibrate as if struck by a massive earthquake. Tidal waves surged around the coast, and animals fled in a panic. It looked like the end of the world. Both pieces of bad news stemmed from this one man. Kaido could no longer endure it.
"King! Notify Queen! We're moving out!"
Kaido shouldered his club and stormed out of the cave. As he stepped into the light, he let out a roar that echoed across the entire Sea of Hundred Beasts.
"Lord Kaido... is truly enraged!"
Countless members of the Hundred Beasts Pirates stared at Kaido's departing back, shivering with primal fear. They had never seen their captain this furious.
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