Red-Haired Pirates

Mark and Daisy were having an open-air barbecue.

The weather was wonderful today, and the sun was not too harsh. Daisy suddenly felt like eating barbecue.

So Mark set up a grill on the deck.

Grilled steak, grilled fish, grilled pork slices, and all kinds of other grilled meat let Daisy and Chiu Chiu feast to their hearts' content.

Of course, that was also because of the unexpected windfall Chiu Chiu had mentioned.

More than 300 million Beli in total!!!

The Arlong Pirates' spoils from plundering the East Blue for over a decade, along with more than a dozen 12-pound cannons, six 24-pound cannons, and one 32-pound cannon aboard the ship.

The armory was packed with ammunition and firearms.

Altogether, it was a haul worth six or seven hundred million Beli.

They had truly struck it rich. It was like Arlong had spent more than a decade quietly building himself up, only for Mark and the others to swoop in and steal everything—his life energy, his ship, and all his savings.

With money in hand, naturally they could eat as much delicious food as they wanted.

Not long ago, they had also encountered a small Sea King. Even a small one was rare in the East Blue, and it had still been as large as their ship.

After Mark killed the Sea King, they had another kind of meat ingredient to add to their supplies.

It had to be said that, as deep-sea creatures, Sea Kings not only had highly nutritious meat, but their meat tasted exceptionally good.

It was several times, perhaps even more than ten times, better than beef or pork.

Just as Mark stuffed a piece of Sea King meat into his mouth, he spotted a huge pirate ship.

It was a very familiar ship, one he had seen in Moss Town several years ago.

"The Red Force!"

Mark said in surprise, "It's Shanks's ship!"

Several years ago in Moss Town, Shanks had approached Jaba alone and invited him to join his pirate crew, but Jaba had refused.

Still, Shanks had stayed in Moss Town for several days.

It was during those days that Mark and Daisy had gotten to know Shanks.

"Yo! Mark, Daisy, is this your pirate ship?" Shanks leaned over the side of the Red Force and shouted.

"It's Shanks!" Mark said. "Chiu Chiu, take Daisy and me over to that ship."

"Boss, you know them?" Chiu Chiu put down the barbecue, then carried Mark and Daisy as it flew toward the Red Force.

"Yeah," Mark said with a sigh.

The Red Force was not especially large, but it was much bigger than Mark's Moss, which had been renamed from Arlong's ship.

Three figures flew over to Shanks.

Dege, Building Snake, Yasopp, and the others greeted Mark warmly. They were fairly familiar with Mark and his group.

Mark returned their greetings, then looked at Red-Haired Shanks and asked, "Shanks, what are you doing in the East Blue?"

"I came back to see that brat Luffy. When did you set sail, kid? And you even brought little Daisy with you. Jaba must be furious." Shanks opened a bottle of liquor for Mark, then waved Lucky Roux over to bring two bottles of juice for Daisy and Chiu Chiu.

"Uncle Lucky Roux, there's no need to trouble yourself. We just finished eating, and we're still stuffed!" Daisy pointed at her slightly bulging stomach.

Chiu Chiu also declined Shanks's offer. Under normal circumstances, it definitely would not have refused, but it truly could not eat another bite right now.

Shanks laughed heartily and clinked glasses with Mark.

Mark said, "I only set sail recently. Don't you know Daisy? The sea is where she belongs, so she came out to sea with me. The old man couldn't stop her."

He pulled Chiu Chiu over and introduced it to Shanks. "This is my newest crew member, Chiu Chiu!"

Then Mark introduced Shanks and the others to Chiu Chiu. "Red-Haired Shanks, a great pirate of the New World!"

Benn Beckman interjected, "He's one of the Four Emperors now."

"The Four Emperors?" Mark pretended to be shocked.

Red-Haired Shanks had finally become one of the Four Emperors? The New World's balance had already begun to stabilize.

The situation of the Four Emperors standing against one another had taken shape.

"Yeah, he's been one for three years already!"

"That's really impressive, Shanks!" Mark praised.

Shanks took a swig of liquor and asked with anticipation in his eyes, "Mark, join my pirate crew. Bring your companions and join the Red-Haired Pirates."

Mark smiled and refused. "Shanks, this isn't the first time you've invited me, is it? I still refuse."

Four years ago, Shanks had invited him as well, but Mark had turned him down.

Mark's reason was simple. He would not join anyone else's pirate crew. He would form his own crew and lead its members to become the strongest and freest pirates in the world.

Shanks glanced at Mark, Daisy, and the others beside him, then gave a carefree smile. "I got rejected again! How heartbreaking!"

Building Snake shouted, "Captain is terrible at pretending! Shouldn't you be crying if you're heartbroken? Look at him—his grin is practically reaching his ears."

Yasopp said, "Anyway, it's not the first time he's been rejected. Captain is probably used to it by now!"

Lucky Roux said, "Jaba rejected him once, and Mark has rejected him twice. The captain's reputation really has no effect on that family."

"Hahahaha!!!"

Shanks laughed loudly, then turned to Mark. "Then do you want to come with me to Windmill Village and see Luffy?"

Mark replied flatly, "He is the inheritor of Roger's will. I don't know him."

He placed extra emphasis on the words "Roger's will."

"Oh!!!" Benn Beckman said steadily, "There seems to be more to Mark's words."

Shanks said, "Looks like Luffy has a rival. I'm suddenly looking forward to the sea of the new era even more!"

After Mark and Shanks talked about Mark's pirate crew and the New World Shanks spoke of, they bid each other farewell.

Before they parted, Shanks said goodbye to Mark in a firm tone. "Mark, then let's meet... in the New World!"

"See you in the New World!"

Back on his ship, Mark watched the Red Force drift farther and farther away, a surge of excitement rising in his heart.

Red-Haired Shanks was already one of the Four Emperors, and he was the same age as Ace. Ace would set sail next year, while Luffy would do so three or four years later. With Luffy's departure, the Worst Generation would arrive as well.

"How exciting—the Four Emperors, the new era!"

As a transmigrator, he could not help feeling a different kind of excitement at the arrival of such a great era.

This was... a real world.

"Boss, what are the Four Emperors?" Chiu Chiu asked.

Mark said, "The Four Emperors are the New World's title for the four top great pirates. They are also the four strongest pirates in the world."

"Beast Kaido, Big Mom Charlotte Linlin, Whitebeard Edward Newgate, and Red-Haired Shanks, whom we just parted with!"

"They're... that strong?" Chiu Chiu opened its mouth wide and stared in disbelief at the vanished Red Force.

"One day, we'll become Four Emperors too," Mark said with certainty.

As long as he did not die, with his potential and abilities, he would definitely become that kind of powerhouse.

"Four Emperors... can they challenge the Celestial Dragons?" Daisy suddenly asked.

Mark reached out and took Daisy's small hand, comforting her. "The Four Emperors... can't... but I can!!!"

Daisy looked at Mark's resolute face, and her eyes reddened slightly.

"Mm..."