"Major Bastille, I'm sorry. I couldn't stop them..."
Several defeated members of the Rod Pirates gathered in a circle. Aside from Colonel Baro, who had only suffered minor injuries and stood off to the side, the rest had given up on keeping up appearances and sat wherever they could on the rubble and wooden crates.
"Don't say something so stupid. I was beaten by them too. They even took my trusty Shark Cutter, which I've had for years."
Bastille's head was wrapped in several layers of bandages.
Not long after the Rod Pirates left, Navy soldiers had found him in the ruins and given him prompt medical attention.
People in the pirate world were naturally tough, and Bastille, a Navy vice admiral, was certainly no pushover. Though one punch from Rod had knocked him out, prompt treatment had helped him regain basic mobility.
"These people definitely aren't ordinary pirates. I have a feeling they'll soon make waves."
In all his years in the Navy, Bastille had never encountered pirates like them.
They were just starting out, yet they dared to challenge a Shichibukai—and they were incredibly powerful, too.
"Have you gathered the basic information about them?"
"We've pieced together their situation from the surviving members of the Donquixote Family and other witnesses in town."
Baro flipped through the intelligence he had compiled.
"This red-haired youth is their captain. His name is Rod. He doesn't appear to be a Devil Fruit user."
Looking at the photograph of Rod that Baro showed him, Bastille felt a dull ache in his head.
Whoever had taken the picture must have been a genius. They'd caught the perfect angle right as Rod sent him flying—you could even see half the back of his own head.
That kid was terrifying. He'd learned Shave after seeing it just once, then used it dozens of times in their fight. His learning ability and stamina both made him a bona fide monster.
And that wasn't even mentioning the monster's strength: he'd defeated a Marine Headquarters vice admiral with a single punch.
"The long-haired one is named Nerl. He might be related to Rod; they both have red hair and green eyes. His marksmanship is terrifying!"
Baro was a skilled marksman himself, but he knew he couldn't compare to Nerl.
Looking at the photograph of Nerl aiming a black rifle, Drake felt the pain in his chest return.
Zoan Devil Fruit users recovered extremely quickly, especially those with Ancient Zoans.
But Nerl's attack had injured him internally, making his recovery very slow. Even now, he could feel pain in his chest when he breathed.
"His Observation Haki is powerful!" Bastille added.
At the very least, Bastille knew his own Observation Haki was no match for Nerl's.
Judging by Colonel Drake's account, Nerl's Observation Haki might have reached an extremely advanced level. But that made no sense.
Haki was a power tied to one's will. How could someone who had only sailed in the North Blue—and was on his first voyage—have developed such powerful Haki?
Without discussing Nerl any further, Baro continued flipping through the intelligence.
"The one wearing the spotted, furry hat is Trafalgar Law. According to the witnesses, he seems to have some connection to the Donquixote Family.
"One thing worth noting: he took down one of the Donquixote Family's officers on his own—Gladius, the Explosion-Explosion Fruit user."
"He's also a Devil Fruit user. From what we've gathered so far, he can teleport any object within his ability's range."
"He took him down all by himself..." Bastille murmured, his head aching even more.
Was there not a single ordinary one among them? How had so many little monsters suddenly appeared in the North Blue?
"As for her, I've heard about her before. Catwoman Nia."
The photograph was clearly taken in the middle of the action, too. Fortunately, Hina wasn't in the background; it was Manudo, a Donquixote Family officer-in-training.
"She's a Zoan Devil Fruit user with the Cat-Cat Fruit: Black Cat Form. She was active at sea for a while, working as both a pirate hunter and a freelance mercenary. We don't know when she joined their crew."
Hina rubbed her shoulder, her expression full of frustration.
Nia seemed to be around her age, if not younger, yet Hina had lost to her in a straightforward one-on-one fight.
"Besides them, there's also a polar bear and two sailors aboard their ship. We didn't manage to get their pictures."
Baro closed the folder and looked at Bastille.
"They're already giving us plenty of headaches. Hurry and send this information to Headquarters. Tell them to take this group seriously and draw up their bounty posters as soon as possible."
"Understood!"
New World, Dressrosa
Plateau of the King
A tall man in a pink shirt lounged on a beach chair, listening to the laughter coming from the nearby pool. A wicked smile played across his face.
He was the king of Dressrosa, a Shichibukai, and a broker in the underworld: Donquixote Doflamingo.
"Hey, hey, hey, Doffy, guess what news I just got."
A scruffy, unkempt man approached and leaned close to Doflamingo, speaking right into his ear.
"You're too close, Trebol."
Doflamingo sat up and looked at the highest-ranking officer in his family.
"If you came all this way to tell me yourself, it must be important."
"Beheheehee~"
Snot hung precariously from Trebol's nose, but he didn't seem to notice. He leaned even closer to Doflamingo.
"It's a message Gladius sent back."
"Gladius? He should be in the North Blue right now."
"That's right, that's right. It's because he's in the North Blue that he found out about this."
Trebol grinned.
"He found Law, and said he'd beat him half to death and bring him back."
"Law!"
At the name from Trebol's lips, Doflamingo's expression shifted. Then the corners of his mouth curled up, and he burst into unrestrained laughter.
"Fufufufufu~~"
"It's been so long since I heard his name, Law!"
"Beheheehee~~"
Hearing Doflamingo laugh, Trebol joined in.
"Young Master, this is terrible!"
Just then, a girl in a maid outfit came running over, shouting. She held a tattered scrap of paper in her hand. Behind her hurried a big man in a yellow jacket. Both of them looked terrified, and a few tears even clung to the corners of Baby 5's eyes.
"Baby 5, Buffalo, what's wrong with you two?"
Seeing their frightened expressions, Doflamingo's smile vanished.
Had some other idiot gone and deceived Baby 5 again?
"Vivre Card..."
She reached him and held the tattered scrap of paper in front of Doflamingo. Baby 5's voice was choked with tears.
"Gladius's Vivre Card... it's burning!"
Before you continue