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On the other side, the Straw Hat Pirates had also seen the latest newspaper.
However—
with Robin gone, their most well-informed member,
their understanding of the Celestial Dragons was actually quite vague. They didn't truly grasp the full implications of killing one.
So although they reacted, it wasn't extreme.
Nor were they in the mood to chat idly with others.
They simply gathered together and exchanged a few remarks.
"Leno… could he have come to Water 7 too?"
"Then we need to leave as soon as possible!"
"With our current strength, we can't beat that monster at all!"
"That's just speculation! We don't even know if Leno is in Water 7!"
Zoro crossed his arms over his swords, his tone displeased.
"You guys didn't lose your fighting spirit just because he beat you once, did you?!"
"Of course not!" Usopp shot back, though his voice lacked confidence.
"But we really do need time to grow stronger! If we run into him now, it's just suicide!"
In the end, it was Nami who shouted angrily, silencing the argument.
"Enough! Stop arguing! This is all just your guesswork!"
"That bastard Leno isn't necessarily in Water 7! And we're about to leave anyway—we won't be that unlucky to run into him!"
At that moment, Franky ran over as well, seeing them bickering.
He brought good news.
"Super~! By this time tomorrow, the Thousand Sunny will be finished and ready to set sail!"
Hearing this, everyone temporarily set aside their concerns about Leno and cheered up.
It wasn't that they were cowardly—
they simply understood clearly that they needed time to grow stronger.
Meanwhile, the world-shaking newspaper spread rapidly across the latter half of the Grand Line.
The New World.
In a certain sea region—
aboard the Moby Dick.
The World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard, stared at the photo of Leno gripping a Celestial Dragon by the throat.
A booming laugh erupted from him.
"Gurarararara!"
"What guts that brat has! He… should become my son!"
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.
"Mamamamama~"
Big Mom licked her lips as she read the newspaper.
Interest gleamed in her eyes.
"He killed a Celestial Dragon? Mamamama~ What an interesting young man!"
"I've never had a marriage alliance with the Marines before!"
Wano Country, Onigashima.
"Worororororo!"
Kaido took a huge swig of sake, staring at the paper.
"Another lawless madman, huh? Killed a Celestial Dragon? Interesting!"
"I wonder what kind of Devil Fruit user he is. If it's a Zoan, that'd be perfect!"
Amazon Lily, Kuja Tribe.
The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, gazed at the clear photograph in the newspaper.
And at the name—Leno.
Her delicate body trembled slightly, complex emotions flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Her slender fingers gently traced Leno's cold profile in the photo.
"He actually… he actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon…" she murmured softly.
There was indescribable shock in her voice—and a trace of hidden satisfaction.
Her past suffering and humiliation had all come from the Celestial Dragons.
Now that one of them was dead, how could she not feel a sense of relief?
It would have been stranger if it hadn't stirred a storm within her heart.
"Leno…" she silently etched the name into her memory.
——
——
Leno had no idea how the rest of the world was reacting to the newspaper.
At this moment, he had already brought the three women to the harbor.
The battered wreck from yesterday had been completely transformed.
The entire ship now bore a black-and-red color scheme, its lines sleek and brimming with power.
There wasn't the slightest trace left of the former Heavenly Tribute transport vessel.
Seeing this domineering new ship—
all four of them revealed looks of delight.
It perfectly matched their aesthetics and needs!
Just then, the shipwright in charge walked over.
But unlike yesterday's enthusiasm and shrewdness, his face was now filled with terror.
He trembled as he looked at Leno and the others.
Clearly, he had recognized from the newspaper that his client was the audacious man who killed a Celestial Dragon—the Fallen Leno.
Seeing him like this,
even Leno felt a bit speechless.
"You don't need to be so afraid. That trash deserved to die. This was just a normal transaction between us."
Hearing that didn't calm the shipwright in the slightest.
If anything, he looked even more terrified, his voice shaking.
"N-No… no! Sir! I don't want the Beli anymore! Please take it back!"
He had brought the chests of Beli from yesterday.
"The money… I'll return it all! Consider the ship a gift!"
"I'm begging you, please leave quickly! If this money stays here… my whole family will lose their lives!"
At first, Leno was confused—but after a second's thought, he understood.
The man was afraid the World Government and the Celestial Dragons would settle accounts later—
and treat him as an accomplice.
That did put Leno in an awkward spot.
It almost felt like he was trying to freeload.
Just then, despair filled the shipwright's face.
"Sir! Lord Leno! None of this is your fault!"
"But… please, have mercy and take in my daughter!"
"I'm not afraid of dying… but my daughter is still young!"
"She knows nothing! If those people investigate this place… she won't survive!"
He even dropped to his knees before Leno, kowtowing repeatedly.
Leno stepped aside.
What was this guy even saying?
He was a pirate now. Since when did people entrust their children to pirates?
What was he supposed to do with a little girl?
He wasn't running a kindergarten!
The disdain on Leno's face was obvious.
The shipwright looked desperate—but suddenly noticed a trace of sympathy and reluctance in the expressions of the three women beside Leno.
Seizing the chance, he waved behind him.
Soon, a little girl—around seven or eight years old, with a neat ponytail and glasses—ran over.
Her appearance was youthful, but her face carried a composure and sharpness far beyond her age.
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"Alice," the shipwright said, holding the girl's hand.
He urgently instructed her, "From now on, you'll stay by Lord Leno's side! You must be obedient! Do you understand?!"
The girl named Alice didn't cry or protest.
She merely pressed her lips together and cast a complicated glance at her father.
Then she nodded solemnly at Leno.
Leno was completely speechless.
What the hell…
You're just going to force this on me?
Shouldn't you at least ask the person involved?
Still… the name Alice sounded vaguely familiar.
If he remembered correctly, after the Water 7 incident in the original storyline—
Mayor Iceburg had recruited a remarkably intelligent, precocious little girl as his secretary.
Her name… seemed to be Alice?
Could it be her?
Leno studied the little girl in front of him, a flicker of surprise crossing his mind.
If she really was that genius child, then perhaps… keeping her wouldn't be entirely useless.
With that thought, he carefully observed her.
Hmm… she looked decent enough, and her eyes were steady.
As for anything else? Hard to tell.
Not crying or panicking in a situation like this—the odds weren't low.
In that case, keeping her might not be bad. At least she wouldn't be dead weight.
With a shipwright father, even if her practical skills were lacking, her theoretical knowledge should be solid.
This shipwright truly was an innocent victim.
"Celestial Dragons really are damnable…" Leno cursed inwardly.
He then recalled the ordinary Zoan Devil Fruit he had obtained from the Heavenly Tribute.
After a brief pause, he said to the trembling shipwright:
"Two choices."
"Either you take this Beli and leave Water 7 immediately with your family. The farther, the better."
He paused, then took out the box containing the Zoan Devil Fruit.
"Or I give you this Devil Fruit."
"It's just a standard Zoan, but it'll be enough to give you the strength to protect yourself."
Before the shipwright could weigh his options—
Alice spoke first.
"Father, choose the Devil Fruit."
"You can't carry that much Beli away. Without strength, you won't be able to protect it."
"Eat the Devil Fruit, then leave Water 7."
"Find a remote island to settle on. At least you'll have the ability to protect yourself and live in peace."
The shipwright trusted his daughter's judgment completely.
Without hesitation, he declared,
"Sir! I choose the Devil Fruit!"
Leno nodded and tossed him the box.
"Take it. Leave."
"The World Government and the Navy won't arrive that quickly. You still have time."
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