Small-time pirates acknowledged him.
The true giants of the sea? Not in the slightest.
The New World
In a sea region that once belonged to Whitebeard, fierce conflict was erupting.
"Biscuit Soldiers!!"
Charlotte Cracker unleashed his Devil Fruit ability, crushing a group of pirates who dared to compete with him for territory.
A subordinate hurried over and handed him the latest newspaper.
"Lord Cracker, the news says that Leno has become one of the new Four Emperors…"
Cracker casually glanced at Leno's portrait on the front page and let out a contemptuous snort.
He crumpled the newspaper and tossed it onto the ground.
"Bah! What trash dares call himself an Emperor? Just a lucky rookie!"
His tone dripped with disdain.
"And he dares to be compared to Mama? What a joke!"
"Keep attacking! Take this sea region for Mama!"
"Even if he's a so-called Emperor, does he dare make a move against the Big Mom Pirates?!"
On the other side—
The Beasts Pirates were doing much the same.
"Lord Jack, the new Emperor…"
"Huh?"
Jack snatched the newspaper, gave it a glance, and tore it to shreds.
"New Emperor my ass!"
His face was full of scorn.
"That kind of trash isn't even worthy of carrying Lord Kaido's shoes!"
"Move faster! Strip this place of all resources!"
Whether it was the Big Mom Pirates or the Beasts Pirates—
Their upper ranks didn't take this newly crowned Emperor seriously at all.
Somewhere on the Calm Seas – The Red Force
Shanks stood aboard the Red Force, holding the freshly delivered newspaper, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Leno… one of the Four Emperors now?" he murmured, his tone complicated.
He had intended to kill him at Marineford—
But the opportunity hadn't been ideal.
Beside him sat Ace.
His appearance hadn't changed.
But his eyes were dim, stripped of their former light.
He stared at Leno's photo, his fist unconsciously tightening—
Then loosening weakly.
There was nothing left in his heart but confusion.
Revolutionary Army Headquarters – Baltigo
Dragon slammed the newspaper onto the table with a loud bang.
"Leno! That bastard!"
Unrestrained fury twisted his face.
Scenes from Marineford replayed in his mind—
Especially Luffy's severe injuries.
…And Garp's.
If Shiki hadn't stopped him that day—
He would have torn Leno to pieces himself!
Standing nearby were two figures.
Sabo's face was terrifyingly dark.
His memories had returned—
But he hadn't even had time to enjoy being reunited with his brothers.
The brother he should have protected—
Was gravely wounded.
Psychological wounds counted too.
"Leno…" Sabo forced the name through clenched teeth. "I will kill you."
On the other side—
Luffy had awakened.
But he had lost one eye.
He stared silently at the newspaper.
"Stronger…" Luffy muttered hoarsely.
"I need to become stronger… and then defeat him."
Holy Land, Mary Geoise
The Five Elders also received the paper.
"Leno… to rise to Emperor so quickly," Saint Nusjuro said gravely, the bald swordsman's voice heavy.
"His growth rate is highly abnormal," Saint Peter added.
"Especially that ability of his to ignore Devil Fruit weaknesses… there must be a tremendous secret behind it."
Saint Warcury's eyes gleamed with killing intent.
"An uncontrollable factor like this should be erased early. We cannot allow him to continue growing."
"But Lord Im seems… interested in him," Saint Mars stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"The key is uncovering why he fears neither seawater nor Seastone. That value may exceed the threat he himself poses."
"We'll reach no conclusion arguing," Saint Saturn said calmly.
"Until Lord Im issues clear instructions, maintain the status quo. Increase surveillance."
The Five Elders were split into two camps.
One advocated immediate elimination.
The other wanted to obtain the secret behind his power first.
Amazon Lily
The man at the center of the world's discussion—
Had already arrived at the shores of Amazon Lily.
The moment their ship docked—
A crowd had gathered at the harbor.
Welcoming them?
Not exactly.
At the front stood the former former former Empress—Gloriosa.
Along with Hancock's two sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold.
"Sister! So it was you! You're finally back!" Sandersonia sighed in relief.
But Gloriosa's expression was far from pleasant.
She looked at the man behind Hancock—
The one who had stirred the seas into chaos—
And slammed her cane against the ground.
"Hancock! You are too reckless!"
"As the Empress of Amazon Lily, how can you act so willfully? The ancestral law strictly forbids men from setting foot on this island! This is absolute!"
Faced with Gloriosa's scolding—
Hancock merely lifted her delicate chin slightly, one hand on her hip.
With the other, she gracefully brushed back her hair, striking her signature pose.
"No matter what I do… I will be forgiven."
She turned slightly, her voice dripping with natural arrogance.
"Because… I am simply too beautiful!"
Then—
Without giving Gloriosa another chance to argue—
She kicked her flying.
Bang!
The troublesome old woman was gone.
Sandersonia and Marigold watched Gloriosa disappear into the distance and sighed helplessly.
They were used to it.
"Lord Leno, please follow me."
Hancock turned back to Leno, instantly switching to a shy, affectionate expression.
The face-changing was seamless.
With her orders given—
The citizens dared not object.
And so—
Leno and his crew, as men—
Took up temporary residence on the all-female island of Amazon Lily.
That Night
Inside their lodgings—
Leno gathered his core crew.
Domino, Nico Robin, Kalifa, Perona, little Ailiche, and Bonney stood before him.
Looking at them, Leno spoke directly.
"I have two Devil Fruits."
All eyes immediately locked onto him.
"Both are extremely powerful," he continued.
"One we know the name and ability of. The other—we don't yet know exactly what it is."
Perona floated closer curiously.
"What fruits, Captain?"
Robin looked intrigued.
Kalifa simply adjusted her glasses.
It wasn't her concern—she was already a user.
Leno didn't keep them in suspense.
"One of them… is Whitebeard's. The Paramecia-type Tremor-Tremor Fruit."
"The Tremor-Tremor Fruit?!" they gasped in unison.
Whitebeard's display at Marineford had been overwhelming.
No one doubted its power.
"The other," Leno paused,
"Was a 'reward' of the Celestial Dragons. Without even thinking about it, you know it must be top-tier."
The women exchanged glances, shock in their eyes.
The origins of these two fruits—
Were immense.
But soon—
Regret flickered across several faces.
Robin. Kalifa. Perona. Bonney.
All Devil Fruit users already.
On the ship, the only non-users left—
Were Domino—
And little Ailiche.
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