The great blue sea stretched out to the horizon, vast and magnificent. On its surface sat a familiar landmark: Dela Island. This island marked the border of the Beasts Pirates' territory.
Silla, a bat-like man and a member of the Beasts Pirates tasked with guarding Dela Island, felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
What in the world is happening? he wondered.
It was bad enough when the Big Mom Pirates showed up a few days ago, but now, the Red Hair Pirates were here as well. He stared out at the calm sea under the clear blue sky. A single, massive two-masted ship floated on the water. The vibrant flag flying from its mast—a skull with three red slashes over one eye—seemed to possess a strange power. It was so intimidating that every pirate on Dela Island was afraid to even breathe too loudly.
A single ship was all it took to command the entire sea.
This was the Red Force, the warship of "Red-Haired" Shanks. Like Kaido of the Beasts, the leader of the Beasts Pirates, Shanks was one of the Four Emperors of the New World—a Yonko.
At that moment, on the deck of the Red Force, all the senior officers of the Red Hair Pirates were gathered. Unlike the enormous crews of the Beasts Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates, or the Big Mom Pirates, the Red Hair Pirates operated with a smaller, elite crew. There weren't many people standing on the deck, but every single one of them was an extraordinarily powerful individual.
It was this balanced strength, with almost no weaknesses to be found, that had earned them the title of the "Iron Wall Pirates."
However, today there was someone else on the deck, a man who was not a member of their crew.
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At the bow of the Red Force, the sea breeze gently blew through Red-Haired Shanks' crimson hair. Standing near him was Kozuki Sukiyaki, who looked at the Yonko with deep gratitude.
"Mr. Shanks, thank you for coming to save Wano Country," Sukiyaki said, his voice full of hope.
That's right, the man was Kozuki Sukiyaki, the former shogun of Wano. After being turned away by Whitebeard, Sukiyaki had used his connection with Izo to find his way to the Red Hair Pirates.
But it was clear that Shanks was not here for a full-scale invasion. The Red Force had stopped at the edge of the territory, going no further.
At thirty-seven years old, Shanks was in the prime of his life, radiating an aura of absolute confidence. Even here, deep within the territory of a fellow Emperor, he spoke with a calm and spirited tone.
"No, Mr. Kozuki," Shanks said, turning to face him. "You're Captain Oden's father, and I respect that. But I told you from the start that my goal isn't Wano. I won't help you drive Kaido out of the country."
"But…" Sukiyaki began, completely confused. They were already here, in Kaido's territory. Why couldn't they just take one more step and go to Wano? He remembered when Oden had brought Roger's crew to Wano; Shanks had been just a boy then, but they had all been good friends with Oden.
Benn Beckman, Shanks' first mate, stepped forward. He couldn't stand by and watch any longer.
"Mr. Kozuki, Kaido isn't just some ordinary pirate," Beckman said, his voice serious and direct. "He's one of the Four Emperors, just like Shanks. Putting aside whether we could even win a war against him, even if we did, many of us wouldn't survive it."
"But is there really no other way?" Sukiyaki pleaded anxiously. "That thing absolutely cannot fall into Kaido's hands!"
Beckman's eyes narrowed. "If it's that important, Mr. Sukiyaki, then why don't you tell us what that 'thing' is?"
"I… I can't!"
"That's enough," Shanks said, his tone gentle but firm. "Mr. Kozuki, please go get some rest. When Kaido arrives, I'll let you know."
Sukiyaki looked defeated. He wanted to argue more, but the firm expressions on the faces of Shanks and Beckman told him it was useless. With a heavy sigh, he turned and walked away.
After Sukiyaki was gone, Shanks spoke again, his voice low.
"Actually, I know what it is."
Beckman looked at his captain, surprised.
"Of course," Shanks continued, a strange look in his eyes. "When I traveled with Captain Roger and Oden to Wano, we visited that place. When we saw the Road Poneglyph, Captain Oden told us what was buried deep beneath Wano Country. It's the legendary Ancient Weapon… Pluton."
Beckman's eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he was speechless. "Whoa, whoa, Shanks! Are you sure it's okay to tell me something like that?"
Shanks let out a hearty laugh. "Of course, it's fine. You're my first mate, Beck."
Beckman processed the information, his mind racing. He then looked at his captain with a serious expression. "Then… if it really is Pluton, can we really just do nothing?"
"It's fine, don't worry," Shanks reassured him. "For one, just like you said, a war with Kaido is too risky. But more importantly, even if Kaido finds out about Pluton, he won't be able to get his hands on it. The time isn't right yet. It's still too early."
"Too early?" Beckman asked.
"That's right, too early," Shanks repeated, letting out a soft sigh. "Just like it was for the Captain." His voice was filled with a deep sense of nostalgia. Beckman could feel the weight of those words.
"Then why are we here?" Beckman asked. "This isn't the right time to start a war with Kaido."
"I know," Shanks replied. "I'm here to test something."
"Test something?"
Shanks' usual confident smile vanished, replaced by a rare seriousness. He looked at his first mate and asked a question that hung heavy in the air.
"Beckman, do you think Lady Toki's prophecy will really come true two years from now?"
"That's…" Logically, a man as rational as Benn Beckman shouldn't believe in something as uncertain as a prophecy. But the look on his captain's face made him hesitate. Though Shanks often seemed carefree, when he got serious, his words held an undeniable power.
Beckman thought carefully before answering. "I don't know. But if the world's future can really be predicted, wouldn't that make things a bit boring?"
Shanks laughed at his friend's reply. "When I was young, sailing with Captain Roger to Laugh Tale, Lady Toki was on the ship with us. She used to tell me and Buggy stories from the past. Back then, I was just a kid and listened to them like fairy tales. It was only later that I realized they all had a deeper meaning. You're right, it can feel boring. Sometimes, it's frustrating. I used to think the Captain was the one… but even he said he had arrived too early."
To be honest, Beckman was confused, despite his renowned intelligence. He could only ask, "So, what are you going to do?"
Shanks' answer was simple. He placed his hand on the hilt of his longsword, Gryphon, and stared out across the sea toward the heart of the Beasts Pirates' territory.
"The New Era is coming," he declared. "My job is to protect the young ones and wait for them to grow strong enough to change everything. Until then, anyone who stands in their way is an enemy of the Red Hair Pirates!"
As his voice fell, a sharp shing echoed across the deck as he drew Gryphon from its sheath. At the same time, an immense wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body. It surged across the sea, turning the sky and the water a deep, blood-red.
And on the other side of that sea, a giant ship flying the flag of the Beasts Pirates was sailing steadily toward them.
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