Liu Qing walked up to Dracule Mihawk with a helpless expression. Seeing how utterly relaxed he looked, Liu Qing could not help feeling a little annoyed.
"What's with you? Why did you suddenly come back?" Liu Qing asked irritably.
Dracule Mihawk merely gave him a calm glance, an almost imperceptible smile touching his lips, seemingly unconcerned by Liu Qing's questioning.
"I'm not your mortal enemy. Did you really have to make such a huge fuss?" Dracule Mihawk rolled his eyes at Liu Qing and said unhurriedly, "Why don't you take a look at how terrifying and absurd those moves you just used were?"
As he spoke, Dracule Mihawk took two books from his person and casually tossed them to Liu Qing.
"These are the Haki training methods you wanted. They also contain some insights from my own training. Take your time figuring them out yourselves." Dracule Mihawk stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and turned toward his little boat.
"I'm off. Until next time~" Dracule Mihawk called without looking back, his voice drifting into the distance on the sea breeze.
Liu Qing looked at the two books in his hands with mixed feelings. He knew that, for Luffy and the others, these two books were undoubtedly a precious gift. The same was true even for him.
As Dracule Mihawk's little boat gradually disappeared over the horizon, Liu Qing turned to Luffy and the others and tossed his head. "Wasn't I cool?"
He tossed the two books on Haki training methods to Luffy and said, "Keep these safe. What's recorded in these two books is the key to becoming strong."
"Okay, I'll keep them safe. I'm going to get Sanji to join us first. Haha~" Luffy was happy for some reason.
Elsewhere.
Liu Qing had been completely unaware that, during his fierce battle with Dracule Mihawk, a News Coo had been circling overhead, frantically photographing their every movement and moment at an astonishing speed. Like a professional photographer, the News Coo had captured every thrilling scene of their battle.
These photographs were swiftly faxed to the office of News King Morgans, as fast as lightning. Sitting at his spacious desk, Morgans looked at the photographs coming through the fax machine, and the smile on his face became as impossible to contain as a flood bursting through a dam.
"This is huge news! Absolutely world-shaking news!" Morgans shouted excitedly, his voice echoing through the office. "Quick, someone get in here! Send word immediately-stop every newspaper currently being printed! We're putting everything into printing this story!"
His orders were like an imperial decree, and his subordinates swiftly sprang into action. The photographs were passed to the printing department, where the staff worked overtime, laboring through the night to bring this astonishing news to the world as quickly as possible.
After a night of frantic work, all the News Coos finally took to the skies the next morning, beginning their journeys to sell newspapers around the world. The papers carried stunning images of Hashirama's fierce battle with Dracule Mihawk, beneath a striking, compelling headline.
Everyone who bought a newspaper was utterly horrified by its contents. The headline read, "Shocking! Unknown pirate crew in the East Blue thrashes Shichibukai Dracule Mihawk! Outmatched, Dracule Mihawk is beaten into handing over Haki training methods to save his life." The photographs showed every member of the Straw Hat Pirates, along with pictures of Liu Qing fighting Dracule Mihawk.
In a conference room at Marine Headquarters in Marineford, Sengoku was about to begin a meeting when an intelligence officer suddenly ran through the door.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, there's an urgent document from the East Blue for your review." The intelligence officer placed the intelligence on the conference table, then turned and left.
Sengoku took out the documents and began reading. What he saw left him completely dumbfounded. "Holy shit, is this intelligence serious? How can there be such a powerful Devil Fruit User?"
Once his shock passed, Sengoku handed the documents to those seated below him to read.
"That certainly is a powerful ability!" Kuzan leaned lazily back in his chair, a faint, elusive smile on his lips. "Judging by this intelligence, Dracule Mihawk probably isn't a match for him."
A sleazy smile appeared on Kizaru's face as he spoke. "Oh my~ What a frightening young man! Back when we were seventeen, we were still blowing up cow dung with firecrackers. We certainly weren't anywhere near as powerful as he is at his age."
Akainu, meanwhile, looked furious. He slammed the table, stood up, and roared, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, we absolutely cannot let a pirate like this enter the New World! His strength has already reached Admiral level, and he's only seventeen! If we let him grow, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Sengoku sat at his desk with his hands crossed in front of his chest. After a moment's thought, he checked the name of Hashirama's captain in the intelligence, then said decisively, "Leave them alone for now. Our main priority at present is keeping the Four Emperors of the New World in check. This is no time to provoke another powerhouse."
Sengoku summoned the intelligence officer again and said, "Go print Liu Qing's wanted poster. Bounty: 500 million Beli. Epithet: [Thousand-Armed Zen Venerable-Liu Qing]."
The intelligence officer replied, "Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat staring into space, hooked up to IV bottles all over his body. Marco approached with a newspaper and handed it to him. "Pops, here's today's paper. The contents are pretty explosive."
Whitebeard took the newspaper and glanced at it. "Gurararara~ What a frightening brat. His captain must be Ace's little brother, right? If you run into him, ask whether he'd like to become my son."
"Yeah. Ace often talks about his little brother. That should be the one wearing the straw hat. And speaking of Ace, he hasn't even sent word since he left to hunt down Teach. Doesn't he know we're all worried about him?" Marco said helplessly.
At the same time, with the Beasts Pirates in Wano Country.
A burly man sat on the ground, drinking and bawling. Not a single pirate around him dared approach, because any underling who went near him while he was drunk would be clubbed to death with a single blow.
Just then, Queen, one of the All-Stars, came through the doorway holding a newspaper. "Boss Kaido, a powerhouse has turned up in the East Blue. His combat strength should be at Emperor level or above."
Kaido immediately stopped crying, took the newspaper, and read it. "Heh heh~ What a powerful Devil Fruit ability. Looks like he hasn't learned Haki yet. If he does, he'll be the next Rocks. How frightening. You lot hold Wano Country. I'm heading to the first half of the Grand Line to intercept him. If he agrees to join us, fine. If he doesn't, I won't let another Rocks emerge."
With that, Kaido transformed directly into an Azure Dragon and flew into the sky, heading for the Grand Line.
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.
Looking at the newspaper in her hands, BIG MOM could not help remarking, "What a strong man. If he could have a child with me, it would certainly be exceptionally gifted. What a pity..."
Then she turned to her eldest son. "Perospero, take a pirate ship to the Grand Line and find him. Bring my invitation and ask whether he's willing to form a marriage alliance with our pirate crew. I can marry two of my daughters to him. If he refuses, leave it at that and come straight back. A powerhouse like this isn't someone you can provoke."
Perospero hurriedly replied, "Yes, Mama."
The other major powers also received the newspaper, including the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, Dressrosa, Gild Tesoro, and others. Their attitudes toward the matter all differed.
Back at the Sea Restaurant Baratie.
After three days of Luffy's persistent invitations, along with help from Zeff, who had witnessed Liu Qing's immense strength, Sanji finally agreed to join the Straw Hat Pirates.
After Liu Qing finished fighting Dracule Mihawk, Luffy had run off to recruit Sanji again. Zeff had seen all of it. Seeing how determined Luffy was, Zeff decided to lend him a hand.
That evening, Zeff gathered every cook except Sanji and told them, "I know Sanji has always wanted to go to sea, but for certain reasons, he's always felt he owes this old man, so he's kept holding back his dream. You've all seen this Straw Hat crew. They treat their companions sincerely. I want Sanji to go to sea with them."
Plotting...
The next morning, after Luffy and the others finished breakfast, they went over to Sanji together. Luffy said earnestly, "Sanji, we're leaving now. Nami's hometown is ruled by a bunch of horrible Fish-Man pirates. Anyone who can't pay gets killed. I really want you to be our companion, but we can't keep waiting around here forever. This is my last invitation. Be our companion, Sanji. Come to sea with us, for your own dream."
Before Sanji could refuse.
Everyone in the kitchen ran out, and the cooks all talked over one another, putting Sanji down in all sorts of ways.
Before you continue