Gum-Gum Fruit.
This fruit, which the World Government had desperately hidden for eight hundred years, seemed to truly possess its own will.
For eight hundred years, it has escaped the control of the World Government countless times.
Just like this time, the Devil Fruit had already been obtained by the World Government. If the ship had simply returned to Mary Geoise discreetly...
Then the fruit will no longer be at risk of being lost.
The Five Elders also feared that a large-scale operation to escort the fruit would attract the attention of powerful pirates in the New World.
Therefore, several elite CP0 members were arranged to travel discreetly.
But who could have imagined that Shanks would happen to run into this ship?
This is also why the Red Hair Pirates were able to easily steal the Heavenly Tribute.
Inside the cabin,
Shanks didn't know why this ordinary Paramecia Gum- Gum-Gum Fruit was placed at the center of the couple's attention.
But who cares?
Anyway, the robbery of the Heavenly Tribute was a complete success.
Beckman appeared at the hatch, looked at the fruit in Shanks' hand, then glanced at the mess outside the cabin, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring.
"Got it. What's next?"
"What's next?"
Shanks tucked the fruit into his pocket, turned around, and his smile was as bright as a child who had just stolen candy.
"Next, of course, is to run."
"Once the Marine Admiral, we won't be able to escape."
Beckman shook his head helplessly, turned and walked towards the deck, ordering the troops to retreat as he went.
The Red Hair Pirates ' officers, one by one, carried their 'spoils' and quickly retreated to the Red Fox.
After the final impact, the ship detached itself from the wreckage of the warship and set sail towards the East Blue.
As night fell, the Red Fosse had already left the half-sunken warship far behind.
Only the embers of the setting sun and the flames of burning warships remained on the sea.
Shanks returned to the captain's cabin, looked out the window at the receding flames, and gently took the Gum-Gum Fruit from his pocket with his right hand, placing it into a wooden treasure chest.
On this vast ocean, no one knows that the Gum-Gum Fruit, which Red-Haired Shanks, will one day change the fate of the entire world.
--Just like Roy is currently far away on the Grand Line.
And today, three months later.
Wano Country, Onigashima ).
Kaido sat on the throne in the banquet hall, his gourd of sake already half empty.
He took a big gulp of wine, the liquid dripping down his chin and onto his muscular physique, where it evaporated into a thin layer of white mist from his body heat.
In the banquet hall, the Beasts Pirates ' officers stood on both sides, none of them daring to utter a sound, all bowing their heads and waiting for Kaido to speak.
Beneath the throne, a figure kneeling on one knee stands out.
He was a tall man with long, light blue hair tied in a ponytail that hung down his shoulders. He wore a bone mask that only covered the upper half of his face, obscuring his eyebrows and eyes, but unable to hide the faint arrogance at the corner of his mouth.
He was wearing the Beasts Pirates ' black uniform, with a snake-shaped armband wrapped around his right arm. It was a protective garment made of Seastone and fine iron by craftsmen from Wano Country, and it was also a symbol of his status as a member of the Beasts Pirates' leadership.
Who's-Who.
Former member of the World Government's CP, currently with a bounty of 280 million Beli, Zoan Cat-Cat Fruit user, specifically the Ancient Zoan, Model: Saber Tiger.
Because of the failed delivery of the Heavenly Tribute, and fearing punishment from the World Government, he defected from the World Government and joined the Beasts Pirates.
Who's-Who's Who was the only member to survive after Shanks stole the Heavenly Tribute Triumph.
" Who's-Who."
Kaido's voice boomed through the banquet hall, shaking the stalactites on the ceiling.
"I've decided to promote you to one of the Flying Six of the Beasts Pirates."
Upon hearing this, the Beasts Pirates executives on both sides of the banquet hall all glanced at him slightly.
Flying Six
This is the top-tier executive group of the Beasts Pirates, second only to the All-Stars; each one is a powerful pirate capable of standing alone.
Who's-Who has risen to this position in less than two months since joining the Beasts Pirates is a testament to Kaido's high regard for him.
Who's-Who lowered his head, his voice steady. "Thank you, Boss Kaido."
Kaido waved his hand and took another big gulp of sake, seemingly unconcerned about the matter.
It doesn't matter who sits in Flying Six's position; they're all just henchmen under a big name anyway.
He simply felt that Who's-Who was capable enough and had decent skills, so he promoted him without much thought.
"Alright, get out of here."
Kaido let out a burp.
"Don't forget to urge Hachinosu to deliver the Seastone weapons order for next month."
"Yes."
Who's-Who stood up, turned and walked out of the banquet hall.
Kaido watched Who's-Who walk away, then suddenly remembered something and yelled at his retreating figure, "Oh, right! King said that Red Hair stole a ship transporting Heavenly Tribute! His whereabouts are currently unknown."
"You should pay attention to this too. After all, the Beasts Pirates and that guy have a grudge."
Who's-Who paused, his heart skipping a beat.
Although he had concealed his identity and joined the Beasts Pirates, he didn't expect that in such a short time, the Beasts Pirates would find out everything about him.
Kaido mentioned the Heavenly Tribute and Red Hair, whether he truly knew their secrets or not, as a warning.
It was Kaido who brought it up unintentionally, but since he had chosen to join the Beasts Pirates, he had no way out.
"Learn!"
After thinking it through, Who's-Who resumed his steps, his gait still steady and his back still straight. Anyone looking at him from the side would think he had simply stopped for a moment—like an instinctive reaction after receiving a command.
But if someone's Observation Haki could penetrate that bone mask, they would see what was churning deep within his eyes.
That wasn't greed for the bounty; it was murderous intent towards Red Hair.
The Flying Six Plant and the Seastone orders are not important.
The important thing was that wanted poster—the one he kept hidden in his pocket, the picture of Red-Haired Shanks on it worn and frayed from being folded so many times.
Who's-Who walked out of the banquet hall, walked along the edge of the cliffs of Onigashima for a while, and then stopped at the edge of a cliff where few people passed by.
He sat down cross-legged, took out the crumpled wanted poster from his pocket, and unfolded it.
Shanks ' face was particularly striking in the moonlight.
" Red-Haired Shanks..."
Meanwhile, over the sea in the Calm Belt.
The Ark Maxim pierced through the clouds, its golden hull leaving a long trail in the sunlight.
Tesoro sat at the bow of the ship, playing with a snake-shaped gem he had brought back from Amazon Lily. It was a parting gift from the female warriors of the Kuja Pirates to the instructors of Hachinosu, one for each person, and the one in Tesoro's hand was the largest and brightest.
I still can't figure it out.
Tesoro twirled the gem between his fingers, his face showing a mixture of amusement and resentment.
Why can't I train them?
Do you know how many times I coordinated the allocation of supplies for them during those three months?
I had to bring over three batches of the Seastone weights for training from Hachinosu alone.
Three batches!
"If my trade fleet hadn't been dispatched quickly, Savi's gravity training course wouldn't have been able to start at all."