The news of the Ope-Ope no Mi spread wildly once again throughout the underworld.
Unlike last time, the scope of the spread this time was limited only to the high-level officials of the major powers, and the commotion caused was not significant.
However, beneath the seemingly calm surface of the sea lay a terrifying undercurrent.
Dies Barerus woke up groggily from his bed, shook his head vigorously, and suddenly snapped awake.
He instantly grabbed the box he seemed to have been holding the entire time, opened it, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Ope-Ope no Mi lying safely inside:
"It seems I was overthinking things."
"But it truly is strange, why did I suddenly sleep so soundly last night?"
After murmuring this, Barrels didn't take the matter to heart, assuming that acquiring such a treasure had simply caused his mind to be unsettled.
Little did he know that the major powers across almost the entire sea had already begun searching for his whereabouts.
Grace still wore a simple, honest smile on his face, but his small eyes shone with shrewdness as he steered the pirate ship toward the southeastern direction of the North Blue.
This area, a triangular zone formed by the three islands of Rubeck Island, Minion Island, and Sea Swallow Island, was an outlaw territory outside of Marine jurisdiction.
The magnetic fields between the three islands influenced each other, creating a unique system of ocean currents.
Among them, Minion Island, constantly affected by the currents, had developed a unique winter island climate.
This place was originally inhabited, but was later abandoned for unknown reasons, resulting in many remaining architectural complexes on the island.
Logically speaking, the seas of this world are extremely vast, and if one truly wants to hide, it is quite difficult for them to be found.
Barrels thought the same... New World, Cake Island.
Charlotte Linlin hung up Shakky's call, stood up, and instructed Perospero, who was standing nearby:
"Prepare the ship, Mama is going out to sea personally to find that Devil Fruit!"
It must be said that Shakky placed considerable trust in the character of these great pirates.
After receiving an affirmative reply, she immediately informed Charlotte Linlin of the information she had obtained.
Although there were no precise coordinates, being able to pinpoint the specific pirate crew was already enough.
As for capturing that Celestial Dragons brat?
Mama stated that she was not in a hurry.
Blake was right there, he could be caught anytime, but if the Ope-Ope no Mi wasn't secured quickly, it could lead to complications.
Shakky had no objection to this; as long as the promise was kept, it was fine.
Perospero had been standing nearby and had also heard the conversation between Charlotte Linlin and Shakky, so he hesitated:
"Mama, is there a problem with that woman telling us such important news so easily?"
Upon hearing this, Charlotte Linlin's eyes, filled with greed and oppression, swept over Perospero, and her voice echoed like thunder in the room:
"Mamamamama... Perospero, are you questioning Mama's decision?"
Thinking of her high-pressure rule and ruthless nature, even toward her own children, Perospero couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat:
"N-never, Mama! I was just... just worried..."
"Worried?"
Charlotte Linlin leaned down, her terrifying face drawing close to Perospero, her massive body casting a shadow on the floor:
"That is eternal life! E—TER—NAL LIFE—"
"As long as I obtain it, Mama can rule these seas forever!"
"And establish a utopian nation with all races!"
"Now! Immediately! Prepare the ship!"
"Yes, Mama!"
Perospero dared not say another word and hastily withdrew to arrange the vessel.
Before long, Charlotte Linlin's flagship—the Queen Mama Chanter—departed from Cake Island, heading toward the Calm Belt.
Traveling from the New World to the North Blue is incredibly difficult for ordinary people, but for a super power like the BIG MOM Pirates, crossing the Calm Belt is merely a slight inconvenience.
Aboard the ship, besides Charlotte Linlin herself, two important cadres followed—Katakuri and Cracker.
It is worth mentioning that the BIG MOM Pirates did not yet use the term "Sweet Commanders"; Smoothie and Snack were both too young and temporarily did not meet the so-called Commander standard.
Therefore, Katakuri and Cracker were the strongest combat forces under Charlotte Linlin. By bringing both of them along, the BIG MOM Pirates could be said to have mobilized their entire force in this world where top-tier power determines the outcome of battles.
After receiving instructions from Kaido, King immediately arranged for personnel to monitor the movements of the BIG MOM Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates, and the NEO Marines, but he was still a step too late.
The latter two showed no movement, but the flagship of the BIG MOM Pirates had already vanished.
Realizing that something was wrong, King immediately expanded his search area and finally found Charlotte Linlin's trail.
Strong individuals on the sea are generally very confident; even when going to compete for the Ope-Ope no Mi, Charlotte Linlin never considered hiding her tracks, swaggering all the way toward the Calm Belt.
King immediately ran back to the cave:
"Big Brother Kaido, we found them!"
"The BIG MOM Pirates are moving. Looking at the direction... they are heading toward the Calm Belt, so they must be going to the North Blue."
"Wororororo..."
After listening to King's report, Kaido's wild eyes immediately lit up with terrifying intensity:
"Linlin, that crazy old woman, is certainly fast!"
He laughed wildly a few times, his muscles suddenly bulging, and Blake dragon scales pierced his skin, gleaming with a metallic luster:
"The Ope-Ope no Mi belongs to me!"
Before his voice faded, amid a tremendous roar, Kaido transformed into a massive azure dragon. His thick serpentine body was wrapped in purple lightning and Blake clouds, and his claws tore through the air, creating a hurricane that shook all of Onigashima.
King had no choice but to raise his hand to shield his face, retreating repeatedly.
By the time the gale subsided, the azure dragon that was Kaido had already soared into the sky, his massive body churning the clouds and sea as he sped toward the Calm Belt, leaving only a thunderous echo resonating in the cave:
"You lot organize the fleet! I'll go ahead to the North Blue and wait for that crazy old woman!"
...On the other side, Blake, who had secured the Ope-Ope no Mi, ordered the sanctuary to sail toward Mary Geoise.
The North Blue was about to become the center of a whirlpool, and he had no intention of getting involved before his target appeared.
Blake's shadow had been present, to varying degrees, in the major incidents that had occurred in recent years.
Although his involvement wasn't deep—just moving some of the garrison at Red Port, or mistaking Shanks for Shamrock—if he was present every time an incident occurred, it would still raise suspicion.
Since this incident still required some time to brew, Blake decided to leave this troubled area in advance.
Since I'm gone, this matter has nothing to do with me!
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