The news that the entire Goa Kingdom royal family, including the king himself, had been wiped out in a single night spread across the whole East Blue with astonishing speed.
In no time at all, every nation in the East Blue—whether it was affiliated with the World Government or not—had heard of the existence of Da Hong.
Then came the second bombshell:
The Celestial Dragon Saint Charloss had died in the Goa Kingdom.
That single piece of news detonated across the East Blue like a thunderclap, throwing the entire sea into panic.
A Celestial Dragon dying in the East Blue meant only one thing:
The East Blue was about to lose its peace.
Not only would large numbers of major figures from Marine Headquarters enter the East Blue, but secret departments from Mary Geoise would likely follow close behind.
If the rabbit that killed the Celestial Dragon was captured quickly, then fine.
But if it escaped—
Then wherever that rabbit fled, that place would inevitably be dragged into the coming storm.
Off the Coast of Syrup Village
A pirate ship limped toward the shoreline near Syrup Village.
On deck, a pirate clutching the latest paper from the News Coo rushed into the cabin in panic and shouted to a man with slicked-back hair and glasses:
"Captain Kuro, something terrible's happened! Last night, the Goa Kingdom was invaded by a rabbit, and the Celestial Dragon inside was killed!"
The man with the slicked-back hair was none other than Captain Kuro, the leader of the Black Cat Pirates, known by the epithet Klahadore of a Hundred Plans.
For some time now, the Marine captain of the Roronoa Town base had been pursuing the Black Cat Pirates relentlessly, which had been wearing on Kuro's patience.
To solve that problem once and for all, he had been carefully preparing a plan to fake his death and escape notice.
Hearing his subordinate's report, Kuro frowned slightly and took the newspaper.
After reading the explosive headline, he adjusted his glasses with the back of his wrist and said to the vice-captain standing across from him:
"Jango, our plan must be delayed."
"A major event like a Celestial Dragon dying in the Goa Kingdom is bound to provoke the fury of the World Government. The East Blue is about to fill with high-ranking figures from Marine Headquarters and the World Government."
"We need to avoid the storm and hide somewhere for now."
Cocoyasi Village — Arlong Park
In Arlong Park, built by the sea near Cocoyasi Village, a sharp-nosed, saw-toothed man stared at the newspaper in his hand and burst into laughter.
"Shahahahaha… A Celestial Dragon actually got killed by a rabbit! The East Blue's about to get lively!"
This was Arlong, captain of the Arlong Pirates, a sawshark fish-man and an out-and-out racist who firmly believed that fish-men were inherently superior to humans.
Having come from the Grand Line to the East Blue, he dreamed of ruling the entire sea.
"Boss, Captain Nezumi just sent word telling us to keep our heads down for a while."
One of Arlong's officers stepped forward with a grave look.
"The death of a Celestial Dragon is a massive incident. Marine Headquarters hasn't just sent Admiral Kizaru—Vice Admiral candidate Gion has also entered the East Blue with three additional Headquarters vice admirals after crossing the Calm Belt."
"Once she entered the East Blue, Gion issued orders to all naval bases in the region to lock down their surrounding waters."
"Scared of what?"
Arlong tossed the paper aside dismissively and bared his teeth.
"They need that much force just to catch one rabbit? The Marines really are pathetic."
"Arlong, under circumstances like this, we really should avoid the spotlight."
"The rabbit getting caught is one thing. But if it escapes the waters around the Goa Kingdom, then it could show up anywhere in the East Blue."
"And if it wanders into Cocoyasi Village by accident, the Marines will definitely come after it. They might even launch a Buster Call."
The instant the words Buster Call were spoken, the grin on Arlong's face slowly disappeared.
He was arrogant, yes—but he also knew exactly what a Buster Call meant.
If the Navy launched one, it meant they intended to erase the target from the map completely.
If that rabbit really came to Cocoyasi Village, then everything they had built over the years would be obliterated in an instant.
"Damn that Da Hong!"
Arlong spat bitterly.
"If I ever run into it, I'll make sure it dies ugly."
Somewhere in the East Blue
On the deck of a pirate ship called the Miss Love Duck, a fat woman holding a spiked club looked frantic.
Standing at the bow, she kept lifting a telescope to peer into the distance while shouting nonstop:
"Move! Move! The Marine fleet is almost here! Get moving, all of you! Damn that rabbit! It brought a Headquarters Admiral and several vice admirals down on us! It's going to get me killed!"
This fat woman was none other than Alvida, captain of the Alvida Pirates, carrying a bounty of five million beli in the East Blue.
Covered in freckles, obese, and ugly, she nevertheless sincerely believed herself to be the most beautiful woman on the sea.
She had originally woken up naturally, in a great mood, enjoying breakfast and wine—
Only to be scared half to death by the morning paper.
The headline had been absurdly explosive:
Shocking! Celestial Dragon Saint Charloss Murdered in the Royal Capital of the Goa Kingdom — The Killer Was a Red Rabbit!
Just reading that title had nearly broken her.
She might be a pirate, but even with ten thousand times more courage, she would never dare provoke a Celestial Dragon.
And yet this rabbit had gone and killed one in broad daylight!
Was it trying to make the East Blue miserable on purpose?
"Damn it! I only just started making something of myself! Can you not do this to me?!"
Worst of all, her ship was currently sailing in waters not far from the Goa Kingdom.
If the Marine Headquarters fleet came charging through, she would be one of the first targets to get wiped out.
Then—
Her left hand holding the telescope suddenly froze.
One after another, enormous Marine warships entered her view.
On the deck of the lead ship to the left stood a middle-aged man in a Marine coat, a cigar hanging from his lips, looking every bit like a delinquent. His eyes were fixed sharply on the waters ahead.
"White Hunter… Smoker!"
The instant she recognized him through the telescope, Alvida's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
She shouted at the top of her lungs:
"Hurry! Hurry up! Move, all of you!"
Though Smoker had only recently taken up his post as the highest-ranking officer in Loguetown, the name White Hunter had already spread rapidly across the East Blue, becoming a nightmare for many pirates.
The reason was simple:
Smoker wasn't just a Marine Headquarters-appointed captain—
He was also a Devil Fruit user.
Up to now, every pirate targeted by White Hunter had ended up captured.
"Damn you, Da Hong! You've really screwed me over!"
Watching the Marine warships rapidly approaching, all of Alvida's usual swagger vanished. All that remained was raw resentment and an overwhelming desire to survive.
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