Although the [Shichibukai] organization had not yet been officially announced by the World Government,
it had long since made preparations to suppress these seas, where powerful figures were becoming increasingly numerous.
Naturally, it spared no effort in building up Doflamingo's reputation.
Even pirates in the New World now recognized the name Donquixote Doflamingo.
East Blue.
An unnamed island, inside a tavern.
Amid the boisterous clinking of cups, a red-haired man in a straw hat was hunched over his food.
As he ate, he pondered
where he ought to recruit crew members...
Just as he was contemplating life, the conversation about current events from several burly men drinking at the next table caught his attention.
"Have you seen the recent news?"
"Yeah! That big shot, [Black Spear] Austin! A young man actually managed to escape from him!"
"Who's Austin? Is he famous?" one burly man asked stupidly. He was clearly ignorant, not even knowing Austin's name.
That whetted the appetite of the man beside him. He had seen that man split the heavens with a single slash in Loguetown. After that life-questioning experience, he had immediately become a genuine Austin fanboy!
"You don't know that? Let me tell you. [Black Spear] Austin was originally a crew member on Pirate King Roger's ship. Back then, he was one hell of a ruthless man..."
Shanks adjusted his straw hat. Hearing there was news about Austin had initially perked him up, and he pricked up his ears to listen carefully.
But as the Austin fanboy went on, Shanks's expression grew stranger and stranger.
One man battling every Navy commander, entrusted with an important duty by the Pirate King...
Shanks knew Austin. Those claims could barely be considered true, but the boasting that followed became increasingly outrageous.
"According to insider sources, [Black Spear] Austin has