Headlines

Dracule Mihawk said, "He developed a kind of invisible door that is difficult to see with the naked eye. Not even Observation Haki can perceive it; only the Mind's Eye can catch a glimpse of the rim. He uses this invisible door to protect his entire body. Whenever any attack approaches, it gets bounced right back at the attacker through this invisible door. I tried to destroy that door, but all my attempts failed."

Hearing this, Shanks wore an expression of astonishment as well. "Transferring attacks through a door, and even bouncing them back at the attacker himself—can the Door-Door Fruit really be used like that? That fellow named Lu Ge is truly a genius. To think he's developed both Devil Fruit abilities to such astonishing extents, I'm actually a little eager to meet him now."

Dracule Mihawk said, "The direction he left in is the same as your course. You might just run into each other."

"Is that so? Well, that's just great! Still, it's been a while since we last saw each other, so we have to drink until we drop! Lads, start the banquet!"

"Oh~"

A crowd of pirates all cheered and shouted.

To their surprise, however, their conversation was overheard entirely by a passing News Coo, which recorded it all.

The next day, the sun was already past noon.

Lu Ge woke up with a start amidst a feeling of suffocation. Looking at Mana pressing down on top of him, no wonder he had trouble breathing; as it turned out, he was almost smothered to death by this tall older beauty.

Hastily pushing her away, Lu Ge climbed up from the pile of women, rubbed his slightly aching head, and felt a wave of discomfort.

Just then, a flurry of footsteps approached. He saw Kikyo holding a cup of hangover tea and handing it to him. "Drink some of this. You'll feel a bit better."

Lu Ge took the teacup and chugged it down in one go, instantly feeling much more refreshed. This hangover tea was truly amazing in effect and acted fast. He immediately looked over at Kikyo. "You don't look like you're drunk at all?"

Kikyo wore a deadpan expression of earnestness. "If I got drunk too, who would keep watch and guard the ship?" Saying this, she looked toward the bow of the ship nearby. "Let's put that aside for a moment. Have a look at that gull—is it a News Coo? I used to hear the sisters of the Kuja Pirates talk about them. When they sailed, they occasionally ran into gulls that sold newspapers. That must be what this is, right?"

Hearing this, Lu Ge looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a gull perched on the bow, a roll of newspapers strapped to its body, staring straight at him. "It really is a News Coo. Go buy a paper so I can take a look."

Kikyo immediately walked over to the News Coo. "I remember buying things out here requires paying in Beli, right? Do you think this is enough?"

The News Coo glanced at the one thousand Beli in Kikyo's hand, nodded with very human-like intelligence, took the money, fished out a newspaper with its beak to hand to Kikyo, and flapped its wings away.

Kikyo took the newspaper and handed it to Lu Ge. Lu Ge, however, waved his hand and said, "My head still hurts a little right now. Have a look at what's written on here."

Hearing this, Kikyo opened the newspaper. The first thing that caught her eye was the portrait of the person who had fought Lu Ge yesterday, followed by a look of utter astonishment as she said, "This says... Dracule Mihawk, the Greatest Swordsman in the World, was defeated, and the title of Greatest Swordsman in the World has changed hands... Lord Lu Ge, the news on here seems to be about you."

Hearing this, Lu Ge's brows furrowed in an almost imperceptible manner. Yesterday, during his battle with Eagle Eye Mihawk, no outsiders were present. How did these newspaper vendors get a hold of this intelligence? Could Mihawk have said it himself? Surely not! Could this newspaper office really be this preposterously capable?

Immediately, he shook his head and dismissed the thought. That newspaper office couldn't possibly possess such ability; it had to be related to Mihawk.

"What news?"

The conversation between the two immediately startled the women who were sprawled haphazardly across the deck, waking them up. One by one, they revealed drowsy eyes and looked curiously at Kikyo.

Kikyo said with some excitement, "It's the newspaper! Lord Lu Ge made the newspaper! And it's the front-page headline."

Hearing this, Sanya instantly grew interested. "Oh~ bring it here let me see."

Kikyo promptly handed the newspaper to Sanya. Seeing this, a group of women all crowded around, showing absolutely no lingering symptoms of a hangover. "Whoa~ it's true! The Greatest Swordsman in the World! That sounds so majestic!"

"But how strange! Why is there only a portrait of that Mihawk, but no portrait of Lord Lu Ge?"

"Doesn't it say right here that they haven't managed to acquire a portrait of Lord Lu Ge yet, and they'll be following up in real-time?"

"Does this mean Lord Lu Ge is already famous?"

"This is truly a joyous occasion worth celebrating! Come on, sisters, let's drink up!"

Lu Ge was rendered momentarily speechless upon hearing this. "More? My head still hurts."

Logically speaking, with his recovery ability, it was impossible for a bit of alcohol to leave him hungover until now. It definitely had to be because he was crushed by Mana; after all, she had pinned him down all night, so it would be a wonder if he didn't ache.

Instantly, he couldn't help but look over at Mana. Seeing this, Mana let out a cheeky giggle. "Come here, let big sis massage it for you." With that, she pulled Lu Ge directly into her embrace and gently massaged his temples with both hands.

Feeling the soft cushions pressing in from all around, Lu Ge's soul practically flew away.

With Mana's towering height, hugging Lu Ge was just like a mother holding a child—she covered him from all directions.

Just as Lu Ge was enjoying this rare moment of peace, a hiss suddenly rang out as Yuda let out a warning screech. Sanya and the other women all looked toward the sea ahead, only to see a massive pirate ship enter their view.

Sanya looked at the flag on that vessel, her expression instantly turning serious, clearly wishing to avoid conflict. "It's a pirate ship! Yuda, detour around them."

Lu Ge also snapped his eyes wide open at this moment, rising to his feet to look at the distant vessel. His mood was somewhat ruined by the interruption.

On the other side.

"Captain, look, that seems to be the Kuja Pirates!"

"The Kuja Pirates? That pirate crew made entirely of women?"

"We've struck it rich! We've struck it rich, Captain! We actually ran into the Kuja Pirates. I heard the Kuja Pirates are all beauties!"

"Even if it's a pirate crew of all women, I heard they all know Haki, so they're a bit troublesome to deal with!"

"Troublesome my ass! I heard they got wiped out all at once a year ago. Now they even dare to put out to sea—they've got some nerve."

"Hahaha~~~ It looks like we really are favored by the heavens! We just plundered a village, and now another pirate crew full of women drops into our laps. Lads, ready your weapons! Delivered welfare has arrived!"

"Captain, preparations are complete!"

"Good, fire the cannons! Cut off their path and don't let them run!"

Boom, boom, boom~~~!!!

Several heavy cannons roared, exploding in the waters surrounding the Kuja Pirate Ship and kicking up towering waves.

Lu Ge's eyes narrowed slightly at once. "We already chose to detour, yet they still dare to actively open fire. Looks like a bunch of people looking for death!"