The Sea Stirred

New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

The massive white whale ship crossed the sea, lively and bustling, with the warmth of a family spreading throughout the vessel.

Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—had been born an ordinary man, yet through sheer talent had become an "Emperor of the Sea." He watched his children roughhousing with a cheerful grin.

Hailed as the strongest man in the world, he had no ambition to rule or dominate. The only thing he treasured was his family.

"Hey, hey, hey, something incredible has happened~"

Marco, thirty years old and only recently appointed commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' First Division, held the newspaper he had just bought from a News Coo, his face full of shock.

"What is it, Marco? Has another talented brat appeared on these seas?"

Whitebeard asked with an amused expression.

Aside from the several years after Roger's death, when quite a few talented pirate brats had emerged, Whitebeard had not encountered any promising newcomers in a long time.

"Pops, it's not a pirate. Someone powerful attacked the Celestial Dragons' holy land. Not only did he successfully set it on fire, he also freed several thousand slaves!"

Marco spoke with admiration. He knew what kind of scum the Celestial Dragons were. Anyone who dared lay a hand on them had to be a true warrior.

"Oh? He attacked the Celestial Dragons!?"

Whitebeard's expression abruptly turned grave, as though he had recalled some terrible memories.

He had Marco hand over the newspaper, then took it and rapidly scanned through it.

After flipping through the newly issued wanted posters, Whitebeard nodded in understanding.

As a pirate who had made his name long ago, none lacked intelligence—unless they had already lost their drive.

The newspaper did not explicitly state who had carried out the attack, but checking whether any new faces had appeared among the wanted posters was enough to reveal what had happened.

Pulling out the brand-new wanted poster, Whitebeard looked at the red-faced, long-bearded Fish-Man depicted on it and knew it was him.

"Fisher Tiger. No prior record, no wanted poster, yet he appears for the first time with a bounty of 230 million Beli."

"So you were the one who attacked the Celestial Dragons' holy land and freed the slaves?"

Whitebeard slowly muttered, growing deeply interested in this Fish-Man.

"Pops, who did you just say? Big Brother Tiger!? What happened to him?"

The moment he finished speaking, an urgent voice rang out aboard the ship.

Namur, commander of the Eighth Division, was a shark Fish-Man born on Fish-Man Island. He had grown up in the Fish-Man District, and Tiger was the big brother he had always looked up to.

Seeing that it was Namur, Whitebeard did not keep him in suspense. He handed over the newspaper and wanted poster, then explained the matter clearly.

After reading and listening, Namur's blood surged, turning his face bright red.

"Big Brother Tiger actually dared to wreak havoc in the Celestial Dragons' holy land, all to save slaves..."

Thinking of Fish-Man Island's circumstances, Namur could not help gritting his teeth. Then, recalling what Big Brother Tiger had done, his blood began to boil.

"Pops, I... I want to return to Fish-Man Island. At least right now, I want to help Big Brother Tiger!"

Clutching the newspaper tightly, Namur's voice came out muffled.

He could hardly imagine what tragedy Big Brother Tiger must have suffered to attack Mary Geoise!

"Gurararara, is that so? I understand."

Whitebeard rose to his feet. At nearly seven meters tall, he exuded an imposing presence merely by standing there, while the lush golden hair atop his head gleamed brilliantly.

At fifty-nine years old, Edward Newgate was nearing the end of his prime.

"It has been a long time since I last went drinking with Neptune. Boys, set sail! Fish-Man Island—we're going to meet this Fisher Tiger!"

"OOOOH!"

At Whitebeard's command, every crew member answered in unison.

Namur stared blankly at Whitebeard's actions, and in that instant, he understood everything.

"Pops..."

Wano Country, Onigashima.

"Wororororo! A Fish-Man who dared attack the Celestial Dragons' holy land!?"

A wild laugh rang out. A hulking man with horns held a newspaper and wanted poster, having grasped the entire situation.

He drained a gourd of liquor in huge gulps, his throat constantly bobbing. He drank too quickly, and alcohol spilled down his body in thin streams over muscles as knotted and solid as a demon god's.

Kaido of the Beasts Pirates, one of the New World's legendary great pirates, Governor of the Beasts Pirates, and currently a powerful contender for Emperor of the Sea beneath Whitebeard.

Casually flinging away the newspaper and wanted poster, Kaido tilted back the gourd until not a single drop remained. His face flushed as he let out a huge belch.

"King!"

"I'm here, big brother."

At Kaido's call, a burly man dressed head to toe in black leather, completely concealing himself, immediately stepped forward.

King, a Lunarian whose original name was Alber, was now Kaido's right-hand man.

"I'm going to meet that Fish-Man. If his fists pack enough power, we'll have our fourth All-Star!"

Kaido stated bluntly. That fellow named Fisher Tiger was exactly to his liking!

"I'll leave this place to you and Queen!"

With that, Kaido's body suddenly shifted. A ferocious, gigantic blue-scaled dragon appeared, smashing straight through the base's roof and soaring into the sky before vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"Yes, big brother Kaido."

King answered loyally, then called for someone to clean up the enormous hole Kaido had smashed through the roof.

Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.

"That's the situation, Mama. Another formidable figure has appeared on the seas. The one who attacked the Celestial Dragons' holy land must have been Fisher Tiger!"

A tall, slender man dressed in a long yellow high-collared coat respectfully reported to the woman before him.

The Minister of Candy—Charlotte Perospero—the eldest son of the Charlotte Family, third on the ranking of most popular big brothers, and Totto Land's chief strategist.

Lying in bed was a woman whose physique rivaled that of a giant. Though middle-aged and plump, traces of her former beauty could still be seen—Charlotte Linlin. After listening, she murmured softly.

"He attacked the Celestial Dragons?"

Old memories resurfaced, and Charlotte Linlin immediately wore an intrigued expression.

"Mama mama, I already have a mermaid child, but I don't have a Fish-Man child yet!"

"Last year, I had a child from the Three-Eye Tribe. That Tiger will make a perfect husband for this year!"

"Perospero, make the arrangements. Go capture that Tiger and bring him to Totto Land!"

"Yes, Mama!"

Perospero replied in a way that was unexpected yet entirely reasonable, his clever mind already beginning to work.

"Mama, let Katakuri and the others go, and bring Mont-d'Or as well. It'll make capturing him easier. If the opportunity is right, we might even be able to bring Fish-Man Island under our control."

"It hasn't raised anyone's flag yet. It is said to belong to the World Government, but no one pays it any mind."

"Mama mama, let's do that!"

An attack involving the Celestial Dragons had drawn everyone across the sea who was interested in its "culprit." Naturally, that included...

"Mister, this ship is heading to Fish-Man Island, right?"

"Could I catch a ride?"

"Why am I going to Fish-Man Island? Hahaha, what do you think? Of course, I'm going to see those legendary, beautiful mermaids!"

"Oh, my name~"

The young man laughed heartily and pointed his thumb at himself.

"My name is Mobius. Pleased to meet you!"