The Marines moved quickly.
Once Sengoku took a detachment of Marines back to the New World, the bounty on Doflamingo spread across the entire pirate world.
Even though Doflamingo, training up on Sky Island, hadn't seen the newspaper himself, he was never behind when it came to intel. On the very day the new issue came out, he received word of the bounty.
He only smiled faintly.
In this world, strength was what truly spoke. Things like "status" and "bounties" were nothing but business cards. Sooner or later, the Marines and the World Government would pay the price for underestimating him today.
New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
On the deck, the Whitebeard Pirates were having a grand feast, stuffing their faces with meat and swigging booze as they sang Binks' Sake at the top of their lungs.
In the center of the deck, seated in a chair, was the towering figure with a crescent-shaped mustache—Whitebeard. Jug in hand, he poured one mouthful of sake after another down his throat with hearty abandon.
Squatting beside him, Marco was holding a newspaper that had taken a lot of haggling with the News Coo to finally get dropped. Sifting out the important information, he read it aloud to Oyaji with a serious expression.
"Oyaji, there's a pretty interesting brat on the seas lately. A Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) user, goes by Doflamingo. Younger than Teach, and his very first bounty from the Marines is already seventy-five million Beli."
At the mention of the Goro Goro no Mi, Whitebeard's eyes lit up, as if something had come to mind.
"Gurararara… now that's no small thing. But that surname 'Donquixote' sounds familiar. Feels like it's connected to a certain family. Look into it, Marco. If there's a chance, bring him into the family. I'm sure everyone would be happier with a kid like that around."
"Got it, Oyaji."
One hundred nautical miles outside the Edd War Sea…
The Flying Pirates' grand fleet—dozens of warships—were currently besieging the last Marine base deep in the New World: G-35 Branch.
Dozens of pirate warships were bombarding the base in a full broadside. The sky-darkening hail of cannon fire blasted the port facilities on the outskirts into rubble.
The Marines of G-35 did fight back, but it was obvious at a glance that their firepower was sorely lacking.
Inside G-35 Branch, in the commander's office…
Vice Admiral Nazca bit down on a cigar, roaring in fury at his adjutant, Joey Bonner.
"Damn that Golden Lion! Has HQ gotten back to us yet? Isn't Garp-sensei in the nearby Edd War Sea? Why hasn't Garp-sensei shown up?!"
Joey Bonner, knowing full well his commander was good at everything except remembering orders, couldn't help reminding him.
"Vice Admiral Nazca, you're forgetting what Fleet Admiral Kong told us. If we encounter the Flying Pirates, we're to abandon resistance and evacuate the branch immediately. Most of the brothers have already retreated. Some casualties are unavoidable. Please, you have to come with me and pull out now."
Hearing this, Nazca slapped his forehead, suddenly recalling something, his expression clearing. But almost instantly, his face darkened again.
"What? You want me to abandon my men and run away like a deserter in the face of pirates? Impossible. Absolutely impossible. My justice will never allow it!"
Joey Bonner fully understood what Nazca meant. In every battle, Nazca led from the front, deeply caring for his subordinates.
That was exactly why the entire base, fully aware they were marching to their deaths, had still chosen to stay and hold the line.
But understanding it was one thing. He didn't want to watch his superior die pointlessly. Grabbing Nazca by the arm, Joey tried to drag him away by force. But the difference in strength was too great.
In the end, Joey could only plead.
"Vice Admiral Nazca, please, you have to withdraw with me. This is an order from HQ. These five hundred brothers staying behind are our last resort. Rear Admiral Green will cover the retreat for us. We can't let Rear Admiral Green die for nothing!"
"They're brothers who've fought by our side. How can I abandon them and run? Don't try to talk me out of it, Joey Bonner. I'm not leaving. For justice, I'm going to stand in front of my men like a mountain."
Nazca's eyes were firm. Death didn't scare him—especially not death in the name of justice.
With that, he ignored Joey, grabbed the three-meter greatblade from the rack, and rushed out of the office.
Seeing that persuasion was useless, Joey Bonner gave up on trying to stop him. Instead, he used a Den Den Mushi to contact Navy HQ. After giving them a brief rundown of the situation, he followed right on Nazca's heels, heading out to face the invading Flying Pirates.
The outcome was simple enough.
After several hours of fighting, Nazca was beheaded by Shiki the Golden Lion, who hung the severed head at his waist. With Nazca dead, the entire G-35 base quickly turned into a sea of fire, stripped bare by the Flying Pirates.
Later, when Shiki entered the commander's office to search for useful intel, he found exactly the information he'd wanted to confirm in a hidden compartment. His resolve hardened, and his confidence in the success of his grand plan grew even stronger.
Just as he was about to leave the office, his eyes happened to land on a freshly posted bounty notice on the wall.
Especially that face—veins bulging on the forehead, wearing sunglasses, heavily muscled, and with a thoroughly punchable expression—Doflamingo's wanted poster.
Shiki's lips curled into an amused grin.
"Jihahahahahaha… a Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) user, huh? Not a bad brat. Not a bad ability. When you make it to the New World, I might just graciously take you in as one of my division commanders."
"Jihahahahahaha…"
New World, Onigashima.
Headquarters of the Beasts Pirates.
The number three of the Beasts Pirates, King, was presiding over an initiation ceremony for new recruits, held together with a grand welcome banquet.
The most important new recruit among them was none other than the scientist Queen, who had escaped from MADS.
Brought in as a special talent, Queen naturally wasn't comparable to ordinary small-fry pirates. From the moment he joined, he was treated with great favor and warm hospitality from Kaido himself.
Kaido slung an arm around Queen's shoulders, drinking with him like an old friend, while earnestly dangling big promises as bait.
"The Beasts Pirates are thriving, right at the peak of our growth. You stick with me, you've got a solid backing. Money, women—there's more than you can spend or enjoy.
"You know Wano Country, right? The courtesans there live a real cushy life. I'm telling you, the Kurozumi clan and I already have it all planned out. Our next step is to take Wano. Then you'll have more beauties than you can handle, and more Beli than you can burn."
Queen was simple and straightforward, and he believed Kaido's tall tales completely.
What they say is true—"people who aren't family don't end up in the same house."
He couldn't help bursting out excitedly,
"Kaido-boss, following you really was the right choice! You want singing and dancing and rap, yeah!? I'm an old hand when it comes to science, but when it comes to singing, I'm even more of an expert! Let me dedicate a song to Kaido-boss—Binkusu~ no~ Sake~"
The moment Queen opened his mouth, it was clear what he was.
By the time he finished his completely off-key Binks' Sake, Kaido was moved to tears.
Of course, as a newcomer, and wanting to prove his worth quickly, Queen offered some intel related to the Marines right off the bat.
But Kaido didn't seem particularly interested, so Queen could only shut his mouth and sit there, sulking in silence.
(End of Chapter)
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