Unpredictable Winds and Clouds

Since the opening of the Great Pirate Era, the phrase "bounty" has been mentioned more and more.

It was a price set by the Navy to suppress pirates, but many people viewed it as a form of "honor."

A bounty of tens of millions might attract the attention of bounty hunters.

However, once the amount reaches a certain level, the meaning of "bounty" completely disappears.

What a bounty represents is the "threat level" the wanted individual poses to the World Government!

The weak cannot threaten the World Government.

In other words, the higher the bounty, the more it signifies the World Government's acknowledgment of their strength!

As for exchanging those strong individuals for bounties, anyone with a normal mind wouldn't even consider it.

How many lives do they have?

But today, a Navy squad on a mission was the first to witness something extraordinary.

"That's right, it's confirmed!"

On the sea, a Navy squadron arrived on a warship.

The squadron leader at the front held a Den Den Mushi and directly contacted Navy Headquarters.

This matter was too significant for their branch to handle, so they had to seek advice from Navy Headquarters!

The squadron leader looked at the imposing figure before him and said in a deep voice:

"The person we just apprehended is one of the Beasts Pirates' executives, [Flame Calamity] King!"

"..."

"Yes, we will return to the branch immediately and will ensure secret transport along the way."

"..."

Click!

After receiving the instructions from Navy Headquarters, the squadron leader hung up the Den Den Mushi.

He looked up at the man in front of him and couldn't help but swallow.

King was completely bound in Seastone handcuffs, and the ship's doctor was bandaging his wounds.

As for King himself, he had already exhausted his strength and fallen unconscious.

Who could it be?

The squadron leader couldn't help but wonder:

Who defeated King?

They had received battle reports from Alabasta stating that a very powerful pirate had been defeated and that the Navy needed to apprehend them quickly.

But they never expected this "power" to be so outrageous.

[Flame Calamity] King—

Even though he had been stationed in the first half of the Grand Line for years, the Navy squadron leader had heard of his fearsome reputation!

This man was definitely a terrifying existence capable of easily destroying a small country!

Alabasta was indeed a superpower, and engaging it head-on would be akin to directly provoking the World Government, so no pirates would dare to provoke it.

But the squadron leader had never heard of any combat power in Alabasta that could rival [Flame Calamity]!

It seemed like [Sand Crocodile] had been stationed in Alabasta for a long time?

"..."

"Forget it, I can't figure it out."

The squadron leader rubbed his head helplessly.

All he remembered was the order given by Fleet Admiral Sengoku through the Den Den Mushi:

"Listen carefully!"

Sengoku's voice was extremely grave, and he said in a deep voice, "You must absolutely keep the capture of King a secret. Not a single word must leak out!"

Navy Headquarters.

"Hoo!"

Sengoku hung up the phone with the squadron leader and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Beside him, [Chief Officer] Tsuru also had a solemn expression.

After a long pause, both of them uttered the same name—

"[Demon] Evan Lindsey."

"..."

"Yes, it must be him, no doubt about it!"

Sengoku's brow furrowed. "Sand Crocodile is cautious by nature. If it weren't for the Demon, he would never have openly fought Flame Calamity!"

As the two great strategists of Navy Headquarters, Sengoku and Tsuru easily deduced the general situation.

Tsuru said slowly:

"For some reason, that brat Doflamingo interfered in the Drum Kingdom's internal affairs, attempting to profit from Alabasta's side. As a result, he attracted Flame Calamity."

"But in the end, they were both defeated by the Demon..."

These two are indeed formidable.

Apart from the top-secret factor of the Poneglyph, everything else was almost exactly as they had speculated!

Tsuru flipped through the battle report and shook her head helplessly.

"What a bunch of troublesome brats!"

She glanced at Sengoku and then smiled faintly. "Sengoku, a bounty of one billion is no small sum."

"Don't tease me, Tsuru."

Sengoku looked back out the window, his eyes filled with deep worry.

"A mere billion, the Navy can afford it."

"The urgent matter now is that before King is escorted to Impel Down, Kaido must not learn that King has been captured!"

"Once the news leaks, the Beasts Pirates will never let this go."

Sengoku rubbed his face and began to formulate an escort plan for Flame Calamity, King, with Tsuru.

I have to say it again--

These two are indeed formidable.

Under Sengoku and Tsuru's meticulous strategy, everything proceeded smoothly.

A week later.

Under the Navy's secret escort, Flame Calamity, King, was finally imprisoned on the sixth level of the "Underwater Great Prison," Impel Down.

It was a prison from which escape was absolutely impossible; only one person had ever broken out.

Therefore, even if Kaido of the Beasts discovered King's situation, the Beasts Pirates could do nothing about it!

Just like that, another month passed.

Early Marineford Calendar 1507.

In the expeditionary camp of the Beasts Pirates located in South Blue, a heartbroken cry could be heard.

"King!"

The enormous Kaido of the Beasts sat on the ground, holding a similarly huge wine bowl, drowning his sorrows.

He had only just investigated King's whereabouts and heard the news of his defeat and capture, but it was already too late.

However, despite this, Kaido was not overly grief-stricken.

He was merely captured by the Navy!

As a pirate, Kaido of the Beasts had been defeated seven times, captured eighteen times, and even sentenced to death a full forty times!

As for King, his Lunarian heritage was extremely special, and coupled with eating an ancient zoan Devil Fruit, the World Government would not execute him.

At the same time, out of consideration for the existence of the Beasts Pirates, it was impossible for King to leave Impel Down to undergo human experimentation again.

So, the most likely outcome was that he would be imprisoned in the lowest level of Impel Down, never to see the light of day.

"Orololololo!"

Kaido, already prone to fits of rage, now, fueled by alcohol, burst into laughter.

"King, just you wait, I will definitely rescue you!"

The Beasts Pirates had their own intelligence network, and they had naturally learned the inside story of this matter.

"Sengoku, and that 'Demon' who defeated King, I've noted this down!"

"You just wait to be in a state of utter chaos!"

Almost at the same time, Kaido's words came true.

Sengoku was indeed in a bit of a mess.

Just as the capture of Flame Calamity, King, had settled, another "great incident" that shocked the world occurred!

What was it?

Marineford Calendar 1507, the Holy Land Mary Geoise attack incident broke out!

Fish-Man Hero Fisher Tiger climbed the Red Line, wreaking havoc in Mary Geoise alone and liberating countless slaves!

On that day, the "Holy Land" was engulfed in flames, shocking the entire sea.

Before the sea of fire, Tiger roared at the sky, unleashing the resentment and anger he had held for years!

Countless slaves were freed and scattered, some of whom would become figures renowned throughout the seas in the future.

"Hey, Fish-Man!"

A youth with grayish-green hair, spotting Tiger who had rescued him, called out loudly.

"I owe you a debt of gratitude. I am Gild Tesoro, and I will definitely repay you one day!"

Gild Tesoro—the future "Golden Emperor".

"..."

Meanwhile, on the other side, three young girls stumbled out of the inferno, accidentally bumping into Tiger.

"Oof!"

The lead girl tripped and got up with the help of the other two.

Seeing Tiger covered in blood, the three human girls couldn't help but shiver.

"It's alright."

Tiger knelt down, comforting the girl with long black hair, and softly asked, "Child, what is your name?"

"Hancock."

The girl looked up, her bright pupils fixed on the face of her benefactor, memorizing his appearance.

She continued, "Boa Hancock."

"..."

"--That's roughly my experience in Mary Geoise."

"Compared to hell, it's not really worth mentioning, is it?"

Alabasta, the Royal Capital of Alubarna.

Study.

Lindsey opened the letter mailed by Tiger and read it silently.

He drank some low-alcohol fruit wine, a gentle smile on his face, his eyes narrowed to slits.

"I gathered a bunch of rascals from Fish-Man District and formed the Sun Pirates. You might have heard of me!"

"..."

Tiger's letter was filled with nostalgia for his old friend.

"I originally wanted to visit you for a reunion, but these brats are too much trouble, so I can only take care of them first!"

"Oh, right, right, there's one more thing--"

"The messenger sea beast said you were looking for something related to the 'ancients'? I happened to find this in Mary Geoise."

"I've entrusted it to a reliable sea beast and hope it reaches you safely."

"..."

Lindsey's gaze shifted to the side.

There, placed on a table, was an ancient "book"—the item Tiger had discovered in the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Knock, knock, knock!

At the same time, a knock echoed from the study.

Crocodile walked straight in, looking at Evan Lindsey and asking, "Why did you call me here?"

"Do you want to hear a fairy tale?"

Lindsey smiled, picked up the ancient book, and slowly began to introduce it.

"It's about 'music' and the 'Great Demon King'..."

"..."

Come on, let's go to the concert!