On the rocky edge of the mysterious island of Zou, the atmosphere was heavy with the weight of history. A massive Road Poneglyph, an ancient stone slab of immense importance, was wrapped completely in a thick, rugged beast hide. Lucky Roux, one of the elite officers of the Red Hair Pirates, grunted as he heaved the heavy object onto his broad back. It was a burden few men could carry, but he managed it with the ease of a veteran pirate.
Standing beside the ancient treasure, the two rulers of the Mokomo Dukedom, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, could not help but linger. They reached out, their paws reluctantly caressing the rough surface of the hide that protected the stone. For eight hundred years, the Mink Tribe had guarded this secret with their lives. It was more than just a rock to them; it was their sacred duty. Now, seeing it prepared for transport felt like the end of an era.
While his crew handled the logistics, Shanks, the captain of the Red Hair Pirates and one of the Yonko, walked toward Kozuki Hiyori. He stood tall, his presence commanding yet gentle. "Thank you, Princess Hiyori," he said, his voice sincere. Shanks understood better than anyone that her cooperation had been the key to this mission's success. If Hiyori hadn't revealed the truth about her grandfather, Sukiyaki, things might have been much harder. She had shared the secret that Sukiyaki possessed the rare ability to decipher the ancient texts of the Road Poneglyph. Without that knowledge, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi might not have realized how dire the situation truly was.
Hiyori looked down, a soft blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks as her private motivations were brought to light. She quickly composed herself and looked up at the legendary pirate. "I just hope everyone on Zou can finally live a peaceful life," she whispered. Her eyes reflected a deep longing for a world without the constant threat of war.
Shanks nodded slowly. After speaking with Sukiyaki and learning the tragic history of what had happened in Wano Country, he understood her heart. She wanted to distance herself from the blood-stained legacy of her homeland. He reached into the folds of his cloak and pulled out a weathered letter. "This was left to you by Sukiyaki before Kaido captured him," Shanks explained. "I never had the chance to bring it here before, but now, I am returning it to its rightful owner."
Hiyori glanced at the envelope for only a second before she pulled her hand away. "No, this isn't for me," she said firmly. "This belongs to my brother." Her eyes remained fixed on the nine characters written on the front of the envelope: To my grandson, Kozuki Momonosuke.
Shanks stood there, momentarily at a loss for words. He could feel the pain radiating from Oden's daughter. Since escaping the horrors of Wano, she seemed to want nothing to do with the Kozuki name or the politics of her country. She was actively avoiding her past. Respecting her wishes, he didn't force the matter and tucked the letter back into his coat.
He decided to change the subject, focusing on the mission at hand. "Princess Hiyori, is there anyone else left in Wano who knows how to read the Road Poneglyph?"
Hiyori shook her head sadly. "No, only those of the Kozuki bloodline can do it. My mother once thought about teaching us the secret, but Momonosuke and I were far too young back then. By the time we were old enough to learn, it was already too late."
"I understand," Shanks replied, his tone somber. He realized there were no more answers to be found here. He turned his attention back to the two Mink kings, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. "I'm truly sorry. I wanted to stay longer and catch up with you both, but the sea outside is too chaotic right now. We must set sail immediately."
The two rulers looked at him with emotional eyes. Despite the years and the different paths they had taken, they were still the best of friends who had once shared laughter and adventure on Gol D. Roger's ship. Those were the happiest days of their lives. "Take care of yourself, Shanks," Inuarashi said softly.
"We'll take our leave then!" Shanks called out as he turned toward his ship.
While Shanks was departing from Zou with the Road Poneglyph, a very different scene was unfolding elsewhere in the New World. On a desolate island where the very ground seemed to burn with volcanic heat, a group of dangerous men gathered. This was the landing point for the Blackbeard Pirates, who had recently fled the chaos of Marineford to make their mark on the New World.
They hadn't planned on stopping here. Their original pirate ship had been unable to carry the weight of the Colossal Battleship, San Juan Wolf, and had splintered and sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Now, the giant was sitting in the scalding seawater just offshore. The water was so hot it steamed like a giant hot spring, and the surrounding flames cast orange light over his massive frame.
"Ah, it's so hot! My body feels so weak," San Juan Wolf complained, his voice a deep, dull rumble. "I feel fish biting at my feet! Ow... it hurts!"
Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, was busy stuffing his face with food. He looked over at the giant with an annoyed expression. "Wolf, you talk too much," he barked. "If it weren't for your massive size, we wouldn't be stranded on this piece of rock in the first place."
Nearby, the former head jailer of Impel Down, Shiliew of the Rain, leaned against a jagged rock. He took a slow sip of sake and looked at his captain. "How can you even think it's possible to cross the New World on a simple raft?"
Blackbeard growled, his eyes flashing with anger. "Damn it, I should have just stolen a Marine warship like Kaido did."
"Hey, Teach, what should we do next?" Burgess asked, an ambitious and toothy smile spreading across his face. "If you can't figure it out, maybe you should just give me the Captain's position!"
The comment didn't sit well with the rest of the crew. Laffitte, the crew's navigator, narrowed his eyes, and his gaze became cold and dangerous. "Hey, don't get it twisted. We are the Blackbeard Pirates. Be careful with your words, Burgess, or I'll have to kill you."
"This isn't helping anyone," Vasco Shot shouted, his face flushed from drink. "My sake is almost gone! Why don't we go find a town nearby? We might find something useful."
Catarina Devon nodded in agreement. "Yes, I need new clothes too! This place is dreadful."
"Zehahahahaha!" Blackbeard's loud, iconic laughter echoed across the burning island. "Don't worry! This is what adventure on the high seas is all about. Let's just fill our stomachs first."
Doc Q, looking as sickly as ever atop his pale horse, coughed weakly. "That's right. Heaven already knows our fates. We just have to wait and see what happens."
Suddenly, the group fell silent. They all heard a faint sound from above. When they looked up, a look of surprise crossed their faces. A News Coo was flying through the smoke and heat, heading directly toward them.
"Hey, hey! A News Coo in a place like this? That's incredible luck!" one of them shouted.
"Van Auger!" Blackbeard called out.
"I'm on it, Captain," the sniper replied. In an instant, Van Auger's body blurred and vanished from his spot. Those who didn't have Devil Fruit powers watched with envy.
"The Warp-Warp Fruit... what a convenient ability to have," someone muttered.
A moment later, Van Auger reappeared in a flash, holding a stack of fresh newspapers. "Captain Teach, you need to see this. There is big news!"
"Oh?" Blackbeard leaned forward, his interest piqued.
The entire crew gathered around as Van Auger held up the first paper. On the front cover was a newly issued bounty poster that made everyone's blood run cold. It was a face they would never forget.
Kaido of the Beasts Bounty: 5,211,100,000 Berries Dead or Alive
Below the massive number was a line of bold text: Kaido of the Beasts, Overlord of the New World, the man closest to the Pirate King's throne!.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Burgess yelled, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "Captain, this bounty has already surpassed Whitebeard's!"
Shiliew of the Rain squinted at the paper, his expression serious. "To be precise, Kaido has now become the number one person in the world, second only to the late Roger himself."
A heavy silence fell over the crew. They could feel the sheer weight of that bounty. Teach clutched the newspaper tightly, his eyes filled with a dark, greedy hunger. "Zehahahahaha! I told you all not to be so scared," he laughed, though his grip on the paper tightened. "Don't worry, I won't make you fight Kaido yet. We'll wait until the Blackbeard Pirates have the strength of a Yonko crew. That is when we will challenge him".
Laffitte gave a clever smile. "I thought you would lead us straight into a fight to kill him, Captain."
Blackbeard's laughter was his only answer for a moment. "Zehahahahaha! I'm not an idiot like Ace was. But make no mistake, I will always remember the grudge from that blow he dealt me."
He flipped to the second newspaper and his eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Did the Marines fill the Shichibukai positions already?"
"Hey, look at this woman..." someone pointed out.
"Kaido's woman actually became a Shichibukai too!"
The newspaper revealed the new lineup of the Seven Warlords of the Sea chosen by the World Government. Alongside familiar names like Dracule Mihawk, Boa Hancock, Donquixote Doflamingo, and Bartholomew Kuma, three new names were listed: Buggy the Clown, Edward Weevil, and Yamato.
"Zehahahahaha!" Blackbeard's eyes lit up with excitement as he stared at the photos. "This sea is becoming more and more interesting every day! Get ready, my lads! We need to set off soon. We can't let these guys take all the headlines for themselves!"
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