Kin'emon, Kanjuro, and Momonosuke sat hunched beneath the shade of a withered tree, their breath shallow and bodies weary. The last few days had been a relentless nightmare, an endless chase through the forests and alleys of the Flower Capital.
And it was all because of Momonosuke's big mouth.
"Damn it! DAMN IT ALL!" Momonosuke slammed his fist against the dirt, his voice trembling with frustration. "Why are the people hunting us?! The Crimson Empire doesn't even care about us! So why—why are they the ones chasing us down like criminals?!"
Kin'emon exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I cannot fathom it either, my lord. We have done nothing to these people… yet they treat us as if we are the worst of yakuza."
"Hahahaha! Ohohohoho!" Kanjuro's eerie laugh rang through the air as he twirled a twig in his fingers. "How poetic, is it not? The very citizens we once swore to protect now see us as nothing more than scoundrels! Betrayed by our own countrymen! Ah… what a cruel, tragic fate!"
"This isn't a joke, Kanjuro!" Momonosuke snapped, his fists clenching.
Kanjuro wiped a fake tear from his eye, still grinning. "Oh, but it is, young master! A grand performance of irony, written by none other than fate itself!"
Kin'emon, growing more exasperated, shook his head. "Enough. What's done is done. We must focus on finding any surviving retainers." He hesitated, his eyes dark with worry. "Surely, someone remains who still believes in the Kozuki name."
But then, as if fate wished to mock them further, they found themselves before the Kozuki Mansion.
Or rather, what remained of it.
The once-proud estate had been fenced off like some historical relic. And in front of it, a massive wooden board had been erected for all to see.
"CRIMES OF KOZUKI ODEN!"
The words were carved in bold, blood-red strokes. Beneath the title, a list of accusations ran exactly as Buggy had declared before the nation.
Momonosuke's eyes widened. His chest heaved with fury.
"LIES! ALL LIES!" he roared, fists shaking at his sides. "FATHER NEVER—!!"
Kin'emon reached out to stop him, his grip firm on the boy's shoulder. "Momonosuke-sama, please—keep your voice down!"
"I WILL NOT!" Momonosuke bellowed, his face red with rage. "Buggy the Clown… that accursed charlatan! He dares to defile my father's name like this?! I swear upon my very soul—"
"Yes, yes, revenge, blood, and honor… but need I remind you that we have bounties on our heads?" Kanjuro interjected, tapping his finger against his chin. He leaned in dramatically. "Do you know what that means, young master? It means every poor, hungry peasant in this country now sees our capture as their golden ticket to a better life!"
Momonosuke gritted his teeth. He hated that Kanjuro had a point.
Kin'emon exhaled sharply. "We should not linger here any longer. We must continue carving the emblem in the hidden corners. If any loyal retainers remain, they will come."
And so, they retreated once more into the shadows, forced to hide like criminals in the very land they once ruled.
But that morning, a sudden and unexpected piece of news reached Buggy's ears…
And his expression darkened.
At this moment, he stared at the newspaper in his hand, his eyes cold and unreadable.
News of the World
[Shocking! A Mysterious Force Attacks Emperor Shanks—the Red-Haired Pirates flees to elbaf!?]
The world is in turmoil once more! Just yesterday, a shadowy force calling themselves the Knights of God launched a devastating assault on Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors.
Their battlefield? A desolate island deep within the Grand Line.
Leading this audacious strike was none other than Saint Saturn, "War God of Scientific Defense", alongside Figarland Garling, a high-ranking noble of the Celestial Dragons' Figarland lineage. Yes, you read that right—the World Government has finally shown its fangs against one of the Great Pirates.
Despite facing an overwhelming enemy fleet, the Red-Haired Pirates, with only their flagship, the Red Force, obliterated the majority of the Celestial Dragon forces. The fight then raged onto land, where Shanks himself clashed against Saturn and Figarland Garling for three days and three nights.
And the result?
Red-Haired Shanks—defeated.
The Red-Haired Pirates—vanquished!?
The full details remain unknown, but one thing is certain—the tides of power are shifting.
News of the World
[Supernova Straw Hat Crew Clashes with the Blackbeard Pirates—Three of Blackbeard's Captains Forced to Flee!]
The winds of the New Era howl once more.
For the first time, Straw Hat Luffy has bared his fangs against the infamous Blackbeard Pirates.
It all began when First Captain Jesus Burgess was caught pillaging and slaughtering on Cana Island. But his rampage was cut short when he encountered none other than the Straw Hat Pirates.
A clash was inevitable.
Straw Hat Luffy overpowered Jesus Burgess, forcing him to call for reinforcements.
In response, Second Captain Shiryu of the Rain and Sixth Captain Catarina Devon arrived, launching a vicious counterattack.
And what of the legendary duels that followed?
Roronoa Zoro—locked in a brutal standoff with the former Impel Down Warden, Shiryu of the Rain.
"Devil's Child" Nico Robin single-handedly crushed "Nine-Tailed Demon Fox" Catarina Devon.
When the dust settled, the Straw Hat Pirates stood victorious.
For the first time, a Supernova Crew has proven its might in the New World—and the world can no longer ignore it.
Is this the beginning of a true war for the throne?
The era of chaos is here.
...
Inside the Conference Hall
Seated at the head of the long table, Buggy lowered the newspaper in his hand and swept his gaze across the room. His expression remained calm as he spoke:
"So… what do you all make of today's news?"
To his left sat the senior officers of the Buggy Pirates. On his right, however, were some of the most powerful figures in the world.
First was the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock. Seated beside her was Monkey D. Dragon, Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army, followed by Zephyr, then Emporio Ivankov and Sabo, with the four Revolutionary Army commanders filling the remaining seats.
A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone wore deep frowns, clearly shaken by the implications of the news. Even now, they are still processing it.
Sabo exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the edge of the newspaper. "Shanks isn't just some pirate—they know what taking him down means. And if they're willing to go this far, then it's only a matter of time before they set their sights on Luffy." His eyes burned with determination as he looked around the room. "If they're making moves like this, then war isn't just coming... it's already started."
Monkey D. Dragon exhaled through his nose, his fingers steepled in front of him. "If they're targeting Shanks directly, then this is a clear declaration of war. We expected aggression, but not like this." His tone remained calm, but his sharp gaze betrayed his concern.
Zephyr scoffed, shaking his head. "That fool Saturn… He's just a relic of a failed past. But Garling? That bastard's playing a long game." His fists clenched. "If they've truly brought down Shanks, then the balance of power is already breaking."
Emporio Ivankov leaned back, fanning himself dramatically. "Ooh~ honey, this is getting messier than I expected! And here I thought the world was already in chaos. What do you plan to do, Buggy-chan?"
Sabo tapped the hilt of his pipe, his gaze unreadable. "It's not just about Shanks. Elbaf is maybe Shank's last stronghold. If it's fallen… then what's next?"
But before anyone could speak further—
"Forget it. The intel isn't detailed enough. Let's ask someone directly."
Buggy raised his hand, signaling for silence. The others exchanged uncertain glances. Then he turned his gaze toward Blueno.
"Can we still track down Morgans?"
Blueno closed his eyes, focusing. A few moments passed before he responded with certainty:
"Yes, Captain."
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and clapped the air in front of him.
Crunch.
Under the curious eyes of everyone present, a dimensional door creaked open.
Beyond it, they could see the legendary journalist himself—Big News Morgans—standing atop a stack of newspapers, wildly gesturing as he barked orders at his overworked staff.
Buggy smirked, leaning forward. "We're about to find out."
"Stamp harder! I want that ink deep in the paper! We don't do lazy prints here!"
His laughter rang through the factory as he twirled his cigar between his claws.
"Hah! Who would've thought the Celestial Dragons would finally make a move against Red-Haired Shanks?! Now this is a story! I can't wait to see what Buggy thinks about—"
A voice interrupted him from behind.
"You could've just come and asked me."
Morgans' feathers puffed out in shock. His head whipped around, eyes wide with horror.
There, peering through the space door, was Buggy—smirking alongside some of the most dangerous individuals in the world.
Morgans immediately understood the situation.
With an exaggerated wave, he dismissed his confused workers and casually stepped through the portal, entering the conference hall. He sauntered toward the long table, slumping into the seat directly across from Buggy with a helpless sigh.
"Buggy, Buggy, Buggy… If you wanted to see me, you could've just called first! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
Buggy grinned, tossing the newspaper onto the table in front of him. "C'mon, we're old friends. No need to be so formal."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "You should have the full story on this, right? I've fed you plenty of big scoops over the years—it's about time you returned the favor."
Morgans chuckled, stretching out his wings. "No problem! But… this situation's a little tricky. Give me a second to think it through."
His eyes gleamed with excitement as he processed the unfolding chaos.
The room fell silent once more.
Everyone was waiting.
Morgans' sudden cooperation left Dragon and the Revolutionary commanders stunned. Was this really the same money-hungry Morgans?
In the past, whenever the Revolutionary Army tried to confirm the authenticity of news or intelligence, Morgans always held out for payment—and even then, he'd drag things out for half a day before finally spilling anything useful.
But now?
Buggy had barely said a word, and the Big News King agreed without hesitation.
Was this the power of that man's charisma?
Before they could dwell on it, Morgans clapped his wings together and launched into his report, "Here's the situation!"
His voice carried the weight of someone who had just uncovered a story that would shake the world.
"That fleet belongs to the Celestial Dragons."
Silence gripped the room.
"The leader is explicitly mentioned in the report: War God of Scientific Defense—Saturn Saint. Alongside him is the head of the Knights of God—Fegarland Garling."
The atmosphere turned heavy. Morgans' tone grew serious.
"Their power is terrifying. I expected them to be strong, but I never imagined Shanks would still be overwhelmed by two of them. That was the real shock."
He paused before adding,
"From what I observed, the aura emanating from Garling… isn't much weaker than Gabban's."
"What?!"
Everyone's expressions shifted in alarm.
Gabban's strength was undeniable. He had already mastered the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, and at this point, his combat power easily rivaled that of a top-tier Admiral.
Yet Morgans was saying that someone from the Celestial Dragons could match him? The implications were staggering.
Morgans continued, his voice dropping lower.
"And that's not all. The other members of the God's Knights? While their exact number and strength are unknown, they are rumored to possess combat abilities that could rival even the Yonko.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
'In other words,' Morgans concluded gravely, 'the God's Knights comprise combatants of extraordinary power, with their Supreme Commander potentially at or above Admiral-level strength.'"
He exhaled sharply.
"Because of their monstrous Observation Haki, we didn't dare get too close to the fight. I couldn't confirm their Devil Fruit abilities, but based on my sensory perception… there's a chance some of them might be full-fledged Admiral-level threats."
The room remained deathly quiet as they processed the gravity of Morgans' words.
The power of the Celestial Dragons was far beyond anything they had anticipated.
"War God of Scientific Defense—Saturn Saint, one of the helmsmen of the world, isn't just powerful—he possesses the strength of a true top-level Admiral!" Morgans declared.
The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in. Then, as if delivering the final blow, he continued, "By the next day, he personally joined the battle. And the moment he did—everything changed. It was his intervention that completely shifted the tide of the fight. In the end, Red-Haired Shanks and his crew… had to flee to Elbaf."
A collective gasp filled the conference hall. No one had expected this outcome. An old man, one of the true rulers of the world, possessing power on par with an Admiral? It was almost unthinkable.
Dragon and the Revolutionary Army commanders exchanged glances, their expressions grim. Was this the true might of the World Government? If Morgans was telling the truth, then the implications were terrifying. If Saturn had Admiral-level strength, did that mean the other Four Elders did as well? If not, they would be unable to stand as equals. Maybe this was the real reason why the Celestial Dragons had managed to rule the world for eight hundred years.
The Knights of God was already an overwhelming force, but now the revelation of a Five Elder with Admiral-level power added an entirely new layer of danger. It wasn't just the Marines or Cipher Pol that enforced the World Government's will. Monsters were hiding in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal their power.
Despite the heavy atmosphere, Buggy remained calm. His expression was unreadable as he turned to Morgans and asked, "What about Shanks? His crew? Any casualties?"
Morgans' eyes gleamed as he licked his beak, his excitement barely contained. "None," he said, his voice carrying an undeniable sense of awe. "That's what shocked me the most! Despite an overwhelming siege, not a single Red Hair Pirate was killed. And Shanks… his strength is absolutely terrifying."
He paused for a moment as if trying to find the right words. "My news birds were knocked out cold by his Conqueror's Haki—from tens of kilometers away! I couldn't even get a clear look at the fight! But through the reports of countless stunned birds, I managed to piece together some details..."
Morgans suddenly stopped, letting the suspense linger.
A spark of electricity crackled in the air as Enel scowled, his impatience flaring. "What details?! Spit it out already!"
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