Whitebeard's Shock, Bellamy's Arrogance

New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

"Pops, look at this newspaper!"

Marco waved the newspaper in his hand and shouted.

"Gurararara, Marco, what has you so excited?"

Whitebeard asked skeptically. Marco was usually not this excitable.

Whitebeard took the newspaper and read it carefully.

"Crocodile tried to seize a country and was defeated by a rookie."

Looking at the news in the paper, Whitebeard was somewhat surprised.

More than twenty years ago, Crocodile had challenged him. Though he had ultimately lost, he had still left a deep impression on Whitebeard.

Although his Haki had been somewhat weak, he had developed his Devil Fruit ability exceptionally well.

In terms of strength, he had been evenly matched with Marco, whose Haki was similarly mediocre.

"The young ones these days are really something!"

Seeing Luo Wen's young, heroic face in the newspaper, Whitebeard sighed with emotion.

In the blink of an eye, a new generation of powerhouses had emerged. He could no longer keep up with this era.

"Pops, Ace is the strongest of the new generation!"

Seeing Whitebeard praise someone else, Marco could not help feeling competitive.

In his eyes, Ace was the strongest among the new generation, more outstanding than any rookie.

"Gurararara, Ace is excellent, but he still falls a little short compared to this Luo Wen."

Whitebeard laughed heartily, pinching a tiny universe between his thumb and forefinger.

As far as he knew, Ace could not even defeat Marco yet.

It was still far too early for him to compare himself to Luo Wen. At the very least, he would need another four or five years.

"Huh?!"

Marco was greatly shocked, unable to believe those words had come from Whitebeard's mouth.

Ace was Pops's favorite and proudest son. Pops had never been stingy with his praise before.

Yet in Pops's eyes, even Ace could not measure up to that Luo Wen?

It seemed that Luo Wen really was frighteningly outstanding. He was likely destined to become one of the sea's top powerhouses.

Revolutionary Army. Monkey D. Dragon looked at the newspaper in his hand and smiled.

"Haha, Sabo, another outstanding hero has appeared on these seas!"

Monkey D. Dragon pointed at the news in the newspaper and laughed as he spoke to Sabo.

"Chief, who could possibly make you this happy?"

Sabo was somewhat puzzled.

As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon had always been a steady, calm, dependable figure. It had been a long time since he had laughed so loudly.

Sabo looked toward the newspaper, and his eyes immediately widened.

"He just entered the Grand Line and already foiled Crocodile's scheme to seize a country?!"

"He's not a Marine, not a pirate, but a Bounty Hunter!?"

Sabo's expression changed as he cried out in shock.

As one of the Shichibukai, Crocodile's strength was beyond question. There were not many people in the entire Revolutionary Army who could defeat him.

For him to be defeated by a rookie was indeed shocking news.

But what drew Sabo's attention even more was Luo Wen's identity as a Bounty Hunter.

He did not follow hollow justice, nor did he fall into the sinful chaos. He only pursued the justice in his own heart.

"No wonder you laughed, Chief. A heroic and righteous man like this truly lifts one's spirits!"

Sabo spoke with an excited expression, filled with emotion.

The appearance of someone like this on these seas set his own heart ablaze, making him want to go take down a Shichibukai himself.

"Sabo, find an opportunity to meet him."

Monkey D. Dragon picked up the newspaper again and carefully studied Luo Wen's photograph, committing Luo Wen's appearance to memory.

If they could recruit Luo Wen into the Revolutionary Army, they would gain an enormous asset, and the Revolutionary Army's influence would soar.

"Sabo, make preparations. The Revolutionary Army may gain a deputy leader."

Monkey D. Dragon carefully tucked the newspaper into his clothes and spoke calmly.

Sabo stared at Monkey D. Dragon in shock, his heart filled with uncertainty.

The position of deputy leader of the Revolutionary Army had remained vacant to this day. No one within the Revolutionary Army dared set their sights on it.

Was the Chief not placing too much importance on Luo Wen?

Monkey D. Dragon did not explain himself to Sabo. He turned around and began arranging the Revolutionary Army's new mission.

In his heart, Luo Wen's strength and reputation were worthy of such careful consideration.

Based on the potential Luo Wen had displayed so far, he was unquestionably a candidate for one of the Four Emperors.

If he truly was, as the newspaper described, a genuine hero and great champion, then Monkey D. Dragon would willingly give up even the position of leader of the Revolutionary Army.

Dressrosa, Donquixote Family.

"I really didn't expect Crocodile to want to steal a country too."

"But he was still too green."

Doflamingo looked at the newspaper and smiled smugly.

They had both planned to seize a country, but he had done far better than Crocodile. Dressrosa was now completely under his control.

Only smart people like him could pull off something like stealing a country.

Doflamingo swirled his wineglass, a sense of superiority rising in his heart.

However, the name Luo Wen was truly an eyesore.

Looking at Luo Wen's high-spirited appearance in the newspaper, Doflamingo narrowed his eyes.

As someone who had also seized a country, Doflamingo naturally disliked Luo Wen for ruining Crocodile's plan.

"You must be very proud after defeating Crocodile."

"Come to my place soon. I'll give you a proper welcome."

Doflamingo crushed the newspaper in his hand and revealed a dangerous smile.

A Bounty Hunter defeating a Shichibukai—what an ugly phrase.

Doflamingo would not allow such humiliation to hang over his head.

Given the chance, he would use Luo Wen's blood to wash away this disgrace.

"Brr, brr!"

"Brr, brr!"

A Transponder Snail suddenly rang, interrupting Doflamingo's thoughts. Frowning, he answered it.

"Lord Doflamingo, this is Bellamy, one of the pirates under your command."

On Jaya Island, Bellamy held the Transponder Snail in both hands and spoke respectfully yet fervently.

"I want to officially join the Donquixote Family. Please give me a mission!"

As Doflamingo's loyal fan, joining the Donquixote Family was his greatest wish.

After thinking for a moment, Doflamingo remembered Bellamy.

A small pirate with a bounty of 50 million Beli. He had once wanted to join the Donquixote Family and had been one of his fervent fans.

Doflamingo had rejected him then, only giving him a Donquixote Family flag. He had not expected him to come crawling back now.

"You're currently on Jaya Island, right?"

Doflamingo stroked his chin as he asked.

He thought of Luo Wen in the newspaper. He seemed to be somewhere near Jaya Island.

"Yes, Lord Doflamingo! It is such an honor that you remember me!"

Bellamy said excitedly, flattered beyond measure.

"Very good. Kill that Bounty Hunter Luo Wen, and you'll become an officer of the Donquixote Family!"

After saying that, Doflamingo hung up the Transponder Snail.

He did not take the matter to heart. He merely wanted to cause Luo Wen a little trouble.

On the other end, Bellamy was extremely excited after receiving the mission.

"Woohoo, wonderful! I can finally join the Donquixote Family!"

Bellamy did a backflip on the spot, unable to contain his joy.

As long as he defeated Luo Wen, he could become an official officer of the Donquixote Family and take another step closer to his idol!

"Luo Wen, I'll kill you!"

Bellamy licked his lips and revealed a bloodthirsty, twisted smile.

So what if Luo Wen had defeated Crocodile? He had only bullied a man with one arm, hadn't he?

He was a super rookie with a bounty of 50 million Beli, a rising star of the seas, an invincible presence on Jaya Island!

Wouldn't defeating Luo Wen be as easy as taking candy from a baby?

I, Bellamy, am invincible!