The eerie silence of the unknown sea was broken not by a scream but by the familiar crackle of a News Coo's Den Den Mushi. Aboard the gothic ship, still reeking of ozone and the lingering tension of dislocation, the tiny mollusk blared with the zeal of a street hawker.
"EXTRA! EXTRA! INCREDIBLE! ADMIRAL FUJITORA ROUTS HAWKEYE MIHAWK! THE TITAN FLEES SABAODY UNDER THE NEW MARINE'S PRESSURE!"
Perona, sulkily sipping tea, jumped so hard she spilled her cup. "WHAT?! FLED?! THAT'S A SHAMELESS LIE!" Her negative ghosts writhed in fury, mimicking strangling the innocent snail.
Korran, hunched over a railing repair, gripped his hammer so tightly the handle cracked. "Those bastards… they dare say the Captain fled?!" His voice was a low growl, brimming with barely contained rage.
Kiku, studying a navigation chart, lifted eyes filled with a newfound coldness. "Disinformation… it's a potent Marine weapon." Her calm facade belied the faint tremor in her fingers on the parchment.
Mihawk, standing at the prow, didn't even turn. His yellow gaze fixed eastward, toward the New World's turmoil. A subtle smile played on his lips.
---
Marine Headquarters, Marineford - The Next Day
The front page of the World Economy News slapped onto Sakazuki's desk like a victory flag. Morgans' chosen image was artfully vague: a towering Fujitora, staff raised, facing a silhouette of Mihawk seemingly retreating in a suggested gravitational vortex. The headline was merciless: "THE AGE OF LENIENCY IS OVER! FUJITORA CRUSHES MIHAWK'S ARROGANCE! THE MARINES RECLAIM CONTROL!"
Sakazuki, a smoldering dragon quill between his fingers, eyed the page with dark satisfaction. The conference room brimmed with senior officers, including Fujitora himself.
"See this, gentlemen," Sakazuki thundered, smacking the newspaper, "this is the message the world must hear! The Marines are no longer a sleeping giant, a hesitant jailer!" His voice blazed with iron conviction. "A pirate, even a former Warlord cloaked in unearned repute, can no longer sail freely in World Government waters! Those who defy Justice will face this fate—or worse! Fear must return to the hearts of criminals! The Marines are stronger than ever!"
A storm of applause and cheers greeted his speech. Fujitora, however, stayed silent, lips faintly pursed. "Fled"… the word was a convenient lie. Deep down, he knew Mihawk had chosen to shield his crew, absorbing the spatial tear rather than risking all-out combat. But contradicting the Fleet Admiral, especially on a narrative so galvanizing for the troops and the world, was unthinkable. Sakazuki's "Justice" sometimes crushed nuance.
The news spread like wildfire, sparking a cacophony of reactions across the seas.
Totto Land - Whole Cake Chateau: Big Mom, devouring a mountain of birthday cake, roared with laughter that rattled the stained glass. "MAMAMAMAMA! The little hawk got plucked by the new blind guy? PATHETIC!" Her glee vanished, replaced by a scornful grimace. "What did that defector think, playing in the big leagues with his puny crew? The New World'll crush him like a cookie! The throne's MINE!"
Hachinosu Island - Blackbeard's Lair: Teach, scarfing down a massive bite of cherry pie, let out his signature laugh. "ZEHAHAHA! Mihawk, the man who cuts everything… cut down by gravity? Ironic!" His lone eye gleamed with calculation. "Sakazuki's fanning the flames… weakness or strength? Zehaha! Interesting! It means he's got gaps to exploit… and the Marines are nervous. Very, very nervous." He ordered another pie, his mind buzzing with schemes.
Aboard the Red Force - Shanks' Territory: Shanks, perched on a barrel, stared at the newspaper Benn Beckman handed him, letting out a long sigh. A sad, knowing smile curved his lips. "Flee? Hawkeye? Not a chance." He shook his head, gaze lost on the horizon. "That Admiral forced him to play a card. Sakazuki's turning it into propaganda… clever, but dangerous. It'll fan Mihawk's flame, not snuff it." He raised his missing arm in a vague gesture. "Things are gonna get messy…"
Revolutionary Army Headquarters - Baltigo: Dragon, standing before a vast world map, studied the front page. "Blatant disinformation," he murmured, his deep voice echoing in the spartan room.
Sabo, beside him, nodded. "Fleet Admiral Sakazuki wants to restore the Marines' invincible aura after Marineford and the Impel Down fiasco."
Dragon stroked his tribal mark. "It's a risky double game. Painting Mihawk as an arrogant upstart put in his place stokes both fear and scorn toward him. But underestimating his response… they risk lighting a fuse they can't extinguish. Monitor his movements. His New World entry will be… explosive."
Amazon Lily: Luffy, snatching the newspaper Rayleigh just received, squinted at the headline. "Mihawk? Flee?!" He burst into hearty, disbelieving laughter. "No way!" He slammed his fist into his palm, eyes gleaming with excitement. "A super-strong Admiral throwing meteors and ripping space? COOL! And Mihawk heading to the New World?! AWESOME! I'm gonna beat 'em all! Shishishi!"
Somewhere in the New World: Ace, sitting by a mast, eyed the newspaper with a tight smile.
World Economy News Headquarters: Morgans, ecstatic, hammered his typewriter. "Sensational! An Admiral versus a Legend! The Marines roar! Mihawk painted as an arrogant fugitive! Sales will skyrocket! The public loves a braggart humbled! Well played, Sakazuki… well played. But…" He paused, a glint of clarity in his birdlike eyes. "…is it really wise to provoke the hawk?"
---
One Week Later
A new newspaper shook the world.
Seagulls screeched above Dressrosa, their white wings stained with ash. The city lay in ruins, streets littered with debris and unconscious bodies. At its heart, Doflamingo's palace stood gutted.
The front page was a thunderclap: "CATACLYSM IN DRESSROSA! THE STRING MAN'S REIGN COLLAPSES! HAWKEYE MIHAWK DEFEATS DOFLAMINGO AND SEIZES THE KINGDOM! THE NEW WORLD QUAKES!!"
An engraving showed Mihawk, Yoru drawn, standing atop the ruins, his shadow stretching over the city. At his feet, a broken Doflamingo lay unconscious, his sunglasses cracked.
In the New World, Shanks, sake cup in hand, roared with laughter. "Hah! I knew that vulture wouldn't stay quiet!" He slapped the newspaper, admiration in his eyes.
Beckman, his first mate, puffed his cigarette and grinned. "The Marines tried to paint him as a loser. Bad bet."
At Totto Land, Big Mom crushed the newspaper in her fist, rage and admiration in her eyes. "MAMA-MAMA! That filthy bird's got guts!" She turned to Katakuri. "This Mihawk's dangerous. Very dangerous."
Katakuri nodded. "He's not just aiming for the throne. He's challenging the world's order. His next target's obvious now."
Blackbeard, hearing the news, stopped laughing. "ZEHAHA…" His smile froze. "Mihawk… took Dressrosa?" A flicker of fear crossed his eyes. "This guy's not messing around." He clenched his fists.
At Marineford, Sakazuki stared at the newspaper, his smoldering fists charring the paper. "Dracule Mihawk…" he growled, voice quaking with rage. "This insolent… dares defy us?" Fujitora, silent, bowed his head. Aramaki snickered.
The Marines had lost a key ally, and Mihawk's name now echoed like a—
---
Mihawk stood amid the palace ruins, gazing at the horizon. Beside him, Perona pouted ("This is too much work!"), Kiku watched silently, and Korran grinned savagely. "Next stop, Captain?"
Mihawk turned to his nakama.
"Set course for Wano."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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