Red-Haired and Hawk-Eye Spread Across the Seas

Looking at the familiar photograph on the large wanted poster, Deuce swallowed hard. "It's... it's him..."

As if recalling the scene where Ian had fought Donquixote Doflamingo, Deuce was still deeply shaken by that battle. As a rookie pirate who had only just set sail, he had been utterly awed!

Back then, he had already thought Ian was an incredibly powerful figure. He never expected what happened afterward to be even more sensational...

Killing Donquixote Doflamingo had only been the beginning. He had sparred with the world's greatest swordsman without falling behind, then later fought Yellow Monkey fiercely on an island, destroying most of it!

The bounty amount with all those zeroes had left him so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped.

"Ones, tens, hundreds... hundred million, one billion... 1.16 billion Beli?" Deuce was stunned. If he remembered correctly, Ian had not had a bounty before, right?

That meant his very first bounty had reached 1.1 billion Beli?

What kind of monster was that?!

Deuce was utterly shaken. He hurried down from the lookout and found Ace.

Seeing the flustered Deuce, Ace could not help but ask in confusion, "Hm? What's wrong, Deuce? Why are you in such a panic?"

Deuce was usually extremely calm, and it was rare to see much expression on his face. Why did he look like this today?

"Captain, take a look at this newspaper." Deuce handed the paper to Ace, his face still full of shock.

"Oh?" Ace took it curiously. When he saw the news, his face also showed some astonishment!

"I never expected the person we met back then to have become this strong. 'Ice Dragon' Ian? A first bounty of 1.1 billion Beli?" Ace muttered.

He had a bounty now too, but compared to Ian's, it was pitifully small...

Deuce gave a bitter smile. "When he killed Donquixote Doflamingo before, I knew he would become a major figure. But how long has it even been?"

"There are too many strong people in this world..." Ace took a deep breath. There were many powerful people in this world. Not to mention anything else, Garp beat him up regularly, leaving him with no room to resist...

"But I believe that one day, I'll reach that level too!" Ace stared intently at Ian on the wanted poster, faintly feeling the urge to compete with him!

He believed that he would one day reach that level as well, perhaps even surpass Ian!

After all, his goal was to surpass Roger!

"I believe in you too, Captain. With your talent, you definitely won't be inferior to anyone in the future!" Deuce was equally certain. He had great confidence in Ace's monstrous talent!

After eating the Flame-Flame Fruit, Ace's strength had grown by leaps and bounds at an unbelievable speed!

As if remembering something, Deuce looked at Ace and said gravely, "Right, Captain. What do you think about the World Government wanting to recruit you as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"

Ace put down the newspaper and shook his head. "I won't become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

He knew his own situation best. If it was exposed that he carried the bloodline of One Piece Roger, the World Government would never let him go!

That was certain. The World Government would never allow the descendant of One Piece Roger's bloodline to live in this world!

That was also why Ace had rejected Garp's plan for him to become a Marine from the very beginning!

Deuce understood Ace somewhat, so he was not surprised by his answer. "But if we reject the World Government's offer, they'll probably be displeased. They may target us in the days ahead."

Ace looked out at the sea and smiled. "Then we'll go somewhere they can't target us. It's time for us to set sail for the New World!"

"Yeah."

This news caused a huge stir not only in the first half of the Grand Line, but throughout the New World as well!

A first bounty reaching the staggering sum of 1.1 billion was something that had happened only rarely, even on the seas!

New World, Whitebeard's territory, aboard the Moby Dick.

The Whitebeard Pirates were holding a feast when someone hurried over. "Pops, you'll definitely be interested in this newspaper!"

After taking a great gulp of wine, Whitebeard wiped the alcohol from his mouth and looked over curiously. "Oh? Did something major happen on the seas again?"

The commanders of the other divisions also turned curious gazes in that direction.

Only after wiping away his sweat did the man speak. "That person who killed Donquixote Doflamingo before has been given a bounty!"

Whitebeard laughed. "Gurarara, isn't that normal? It would be strange if someone like that hadn't been given a bounty!"

"No, no, look at the bounty amount!"

Whitebeard smiled and unfolded the newspaper. When he saw the news, he was slightly surprised. "'Ice Dragon' Ian... I never expected that after killing Donquixote Doflamingo, he would go on to do something like that. A bounty of 1.16 billion Beli? Gurarara, what an outrageous bounty. He really is an extraordinary rookie!"

Although 1.1 billion Beli was not much to him, the world's strongest man with a bounty of around five billion Beli, he had spent many years roaming the seas before his bounty rose that high.

When he had first been given a bounty, it had not been anywhere near that much!

The other division commanders also gathered around. When they saw the news recorded in the paper and 'Ice Dragon' Ian's wanted poster, they were all greatly shocked!

"Gasp, a first bounty of 1.16 billion Beli? Isn't that too outrageous?" Thatch of the Fourth Division could not help sucking in a breath when he saw that number.

His own bounty was only five or six hundred million Beli, less than half of 'Ice Dragon' Ian's!

"Hey, hey, what is the World Government doing? I was almost surpassed by a 'rookie'..." Marco of the First Division curled his lips, looking somewhat displeased.

Marco's bounty at this time was not the 1.374 billion Beli from the original story, but 1.19 billion Beli. That was already the second-highest bounty in the Whitebeard Pirates, yet he had nearly been surpassed by a rookie...

This was after they became one of the Four Emperors and their bounties had all risen somewhat. Otherwise, even Marco's bounty would have been surpassed!

Though bounties did not represent strength at their level, as pirates, they naturally wanted their bounties to be as high as possible!

"Gurarara, the world is changing too fast. Even that Red-Haired brat who once served on Roger's ship has risen up. If you don't work hard, you'll be left behind. You might even catch up to me!" Whitebeard laughed, his tone bold and heroic.

"Haha, you're joking, Pops. How could anyone in the world possibly surpass you? You'll always be the strongest in the world!"

"Exactly! Even if that Red-Haired brat has risen up, he still can't be Pops's opponent!"

"A draw with Hawk-Eye? That really makes me look forward to it!"

"Gurarara, I'll grow old someday too. I can't remain invincible forever. You all need to work harder!" Whitebeard laughed again, but as he looked at his sons, a trace of helplessness appeared deep in his eyes.

He had not felt it when he was young, but after growing old, the side effects of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit had gradually begun to show.

Though he did not yet need medicine to ease his condition like in the original story, Whitebeard had already noticed that his body was worsening day by day, and his strength had begun to decline.

And because of his presence, these sons of his no longer felt much sense of crisis. Their strength had improved very slowly, or even stagnated.

This could not go on...

But because he doted on them, Whitebeard kept his thoughts to himself. He would not force his sons!

Because he was still the world's strongest man!

He still had enough time to protect these sons until they had fully grown!

The others did not take it seriously, assuming Whitebeard was joking. The atmosphere became lively again as they ate and drank.

However, off to one side, a burly man with an honest smile on his face and uneven teeth heard Whitebeard's words. The honest smile on his face faded, replaced by a strange grin that vanished in an instant. Almost no one noticed it!

No one can remain invincible forever. Pops is no exception! But Pops is still the strongest in the world. If I stay here, I'll have a greater chance of finding that fruit... Zehahaha... Countless thoughts flashed through the burly man's mind, but his expression remained honest. He clinked his wine cup against that of a companion beside him and began drinking heavily...

New World, the territory of the Red-Haired Pirates.

At this moment, a famous and influential figure had arrived in Red-Haired territory.

He wore a black coat, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, with a long cross-shaped black blade strapped to his back.

When the Red-Haired Pirates stationed around the island saw him, shock appeared on their faces. "The world's greatest swordsman, Hawk-Eye Mihawk?"

"Why has Hawk-Eye come here?"

"Could he be here to fight the boss?"

"Quick, notify the boss!"

The Red-Haired Pirates at the island's edge fell into a panic, and one man hurried toward the center of the island.

Hawk-Eye merely swept his gaze over them without saying a word, then walked step by step toward the island's center.

For some reason, however, when the members of the Red-Haired Pirates met Hawk-Eye's eyes, they felt as if they had been stabbed by a sharp blade, their entire bodies turning cold.

Everyone swallowed nervously. Pressured by Hawk-Eye's presence, they became frightened, and not a single person dared to block his path.

At the center of the island, the officers of the Red-Haired Pirates were all present. Some sat while others lay about, looking completely relaxed. Ordinary people who saw them would never connect them to the officers of the Red-Haired Pirates, one of the Four Emperors who controlled the balance of the New World...

When they saw someone rushing over, the officers all turned to look.

Large beads of sweat ran down the man's forehead as he spoke in a panicked tone. "Boss, this is bad! The world's greatest swordsman has come to attack us!"

"Oh? Hawk-Eye?" Red-Haired's eyes flashed. He sat up from the ground, an interested look appearing on his face. What was Hawk-Eye doing here looking for him?

The other officers also straightened up and looked at the man.

The man wiped his sweat, his tone urgent. "Y-yes, Boss. It's... it's Hawk-Eye Mihawk!"

Benn Beckman took a drag of his cigarette and looked behind the subordinate. "Don't panic. He's already here."

Hearing footsteps behind him, the man abruptly turned around. He saw Hawk-Eye standing behind him, and his breath caught as he fell to the ground. "H-Hawk-Eye?"

Hawk-Eye paid no attention to the man on the ground. Instead, his gaze swept across everyone present, passing over each high-ranking officer before finally landing on Red-Haired and his empty sleeve.

Every officer of the Red-Haired Pirates was looking at Hawk-Eye, yet no one spoke. They were all curious about Hawk-Eye's visit...

"Hawk-Eye, you really are a rare guest..." Red-Haired sat upright, half his body concealed in shadow. He slightly raised his head to look at Hawk-Eye and said calmly, "Are your hands itching? Did you come to spar with me? Unfortunately, I'm not in the mood right now..."

Hawk-Eye looked at Red-Haired and said only, "A one-armed man is no longer worth my drawing my blade against!"

Red-Haired froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you really haven't changed at all, Hawk-Eye!"

Hawk-Eye glanced at Red-Haired and frowned. "Don't tell me... you're hungover again?"

Red-Haired did not respond. His expression shifted unpredictably, as if he were considering something, and the air around them seemed to freeze...

The surrounding subordinates trembled. Was a great battle about to break out?

But in the next moment, Red-Haired's words instantly dispelled the oppressive atmosphere and even made it cheerful...

Red-Haired stroked his chin in thought, then looked at Benn Beckman with a grin. "Now that Hawk-Eye is here, as the host, we can't possibly just let him leave like this, right?"

Without waiting for Benn Beckman to answer, Red-Haired slapped his thigh and laughed. "Boys, to celebrate Hawk-Eye's arrival, let's have a feast!"

Benn Beckman's mouth twitched, though he was helpless. Their feast had only just ended, and they had already drunk for a full day and night. Another one?

Besides, they did not have much Beli left. Now they had to spend more again. Having a captain like this was truly exhausting...

The feast was extremely lively.

After taking a huge gulp of wine, Red-Haired looked at Hawk-Eye with curiosity in his eyes. "So, what did you come to see me for? I don't believe someone like you would come just to chat."

The two had gotten along fairly well in the past and often sparred in swordsmanship. But ever since he lost an arm, Hawk-Eye had stopped coming to spar with him...

In Hawk-Eye's words, he did not want to bully a disabled man!

Hawk-Eye also took a sip of wine and said, "Not long ago, I met an interesting person. That person..."

But before Hawk-Eye could finish, someone suddenly rushed down a small path and said breathlessly, "Boss, huge news! An incredible guy has appeared this time!"

But in the next moment, he saw Hawk-Eye beside Red-Haired and froze. "H-Hawk-Eye?"

He had only just returned from the sea and did not know Hawk-Eye was currently on the island.

He was an old member of Red-Haired's crew and knew a little about the relationship between his captain and Hawk-Eye, but Hawk-Eye being here at this moment still surprised him.

Remembering the news he had just seen in the newspaper, his expression became somewhat strange...