Beckman was taken aback, frowning as he said, "That's Wang Zhi's territory. What if we get attacked from both sides?"
Pirates didn't have mutual assistance agreements when operating abroad - more often than not, they slaughtered each other.
Facing a pirate crew like the Red Hair Pirates that challenged his position, Wang Zhi absolutely wouldn't mind joining forces with the Marines to eliminate them!
Shanks curled his lips into a smile: "Since we can't shake him off, then let's lead him to a place with the most 'surprises'."
"You've heard the rumors about his ability before, the Flame Demon Wolf that can smell the scent of treasure..."
"I want to confirm one thing..."
"Whether his precise targeting is only aimed at us, or... at everyone who enters his hunting range!"
...
Beads of cold sweat subtly formed on Shanks' forehead: "If it's really as I suspect... then we're in trouble!"
...
"Griffin, how exactly did you manage to track down Red Hair?"
Just as perplexed as the Red Hair Pirates was Doll. Over the past month, there were several times when she thought they were about to lose their quarry, yet Griffin always managed to recalibrate and catch up.
Griffin's lips parted slightly: "It's not time yet."
"I'm waiting for the right opportunity. It wouldn't be cool at all to just say it casually."
...
Doll sighed helplessly, glancing at the busy crew members behind her before whispering: "Hey, have you considered one possibility..."
"Besides me, there's no one else on this ship who can help you deal with the Red Hair Pirates. Even if we do catch up with them, can we actually defeat them?"
Griffin responded calmly: "You just need to steer the ship to a safe distance. No help is needed."
Doll's delicate brows furrowed: "Are you looking down on me! It's not just you who's improved over these past two and a half years. Do you really think I'm still completely useless!"
No one could know how much Doll had sacrificed over these eight hundred plus days and nights. Just one example...
Before Griffin was promoted to Rear Admiral, Doll was the youngest Rear Admiral in the Marines' centuries-long history!
And she earned this promotion entirely through her own strength!
...
Griffin shook his head: "I've never thought that way."
"As I've said before, you're a genius who works far harder than I do."
"It's precisely because I believe in you that I have the confidence to go all out!"
Griffin turned his head with a gentle smile: "After all, someone needs to fish me out of the sea when I get defeated and fall in."
"Doll, you're that crucial presence."
...
...
Doll struggled to suppress her rising smile, forcing an angry expression: "Hmph! This is exactly how Devil Fruit-eating landlubbers are!"
"Well... I suppose I have no choice but to agree!"
Griffin turned away.
He almost voiced his inner thoughts. Never mind, better save her some face.
Doll...
You really have worked hard, but...
There are some gaps that no amount of effort can bridge.
Even I...
Have begun to unconsciously become addicted to the terrifying power these eyes bring!
...
Watching the direction the Red Hair Pirates were sailing, the curve of Griffin's lips grew wider and wider.
Pirate Island, huh? Perfect...
I can finally cut loose and make a big scene!!
...
Hachinosu.
In a dim stone chamber, a woman with a voluptuous figure was bound to a stone pillar with chains.
She bore injuries, blood still smeared at the corner of her lips, her eyes blazing with unyielding fire as she stared fixedly at the massive figure seated on the stone throne ahead.
He had an elongated, twisted neck and grotesque facial features. As he ate voraciously, his sharp, blackened teeth were exposed, and his forked, lengthy tongue flickered, presenting a horrifying visage.
This was none other than the 'Pirate Godfather' now entrenched on Hachinosu—Wang Zhi!
His colossal frame loomed like a small mountain, his savage gaze scrutinizing the woman bound to the stone pillar.
"Tsk tsk... The women of Nine Snakes, each one is quite the exceptional specimen."
His voice was as grating as nails on a chalkboard, and whether it was his appearance or anything else about him, it all tested the limits of human endurance.
...
The captured woman was Gentian, the sniper of the Kuja Pirates.
She spat a mouthful of blood-streaked saliva. "Disgusting, ugly old thing! Kill me if you dare! Her Majesty the Pirate Empress will avenge me!"
"Avenge you?"
Wang Zhi seemed to have heard an amusing joke, his shrill laughter shaking the dust in the stone chamber.
"Gya ha ha ha! Little girl, do you think I went through all this trouble to capture you just to kill you?"
He rose to his feet, his enormous shadow enveloping Gentian, and leaned down, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes. "The world's most beautiful woman, the Pirate Empress, the sole remaining strongest of the Worst Generation... Each of these titles is worth a fortune!"
"Do you know... the astronomical price I fetched when I captured the Pirate Empress from two generations ago?!"
Wang Zhi revealed a cruel grin, drool dripping from his mouth. "Listen, little girl. You are the perfect bait. You will witness with your own eyes how that supremely arrogant Empress walks step by step into a trap—for your sake!"
...
Gentian struggled fiercely, the chains clanking loudly as she screamed with all her might, "You'll never succeed! You bastard!! Her Majesty would never come!!"
"She will come."
Wang Zhi's tone was filled with certainty.
"Because 'love' is the easiest weapon to exploit on these seas. Don't underestimate the love your Empress holds for her people, gya ha ha ha ha!!"
——
——
New World, uncharted waters.
A white pigeon alighted on Lucci's shoulder, and he took the newspaper it carried in its beak.
...
"So you've gone there again..."
A faint smile touched Lucci's weathered face, carrying a hint of affection.
"So active... After all these years apart, I truly wish to see how much you've grown..."
"And I want you to know that I, too, am no longer the man I once was!"
"Griffin! Let us have a grand reunion!"
——
——
Hachinosu Port.
As always, it was a scene of uproar and chaos.
There were no ordinary residents on this island; every person was either a pirate or someone serving the pirates.
Groups of three or five were scattered about—some unloading plundered goods, others brawling while drunk, and even a few corpses lay strewn across the filthy steps.
The air was thick with the stench of sin.
Just then, a distorted shriek came from the port's watchtower, the terror in the voice overpowering the clamor of the harbor:
"Red Hair!! It's the Red Force!! The Red Hair Pirates are here!!"
...
The entire port fell silent. Fists halted mid-swing in brawls, and treasures slipped from the hands of unloading pirates.
Countless eyes turned in unison toward the horizon.
The massive ship, adorned with a distinctive red dragon figurehead and exuding an intangible pressure, was advancing steadily and resolutely straight toward Hachinosu!
"Red-Haired Shanks... Why is he here?!"
"Didn't he just suffer a major defeat against the Whitebeard Pirates? Why does he look like he's coming to start a fight?!"
"Quickly inform Boss Wang Zhi! Red Hair is here!!"
"Could he be competing for the throne of Pirate Emperor?! Is Red Hair challenging Beehive Island this time?!"
...
As a great pirate whose reputation was no less than Wang Zhi's, Shanks' sudden arrival was no different from a heavy bomb dropping, stirring up not just waves, but a tsunami!
...
"Wait... behind him! What's that behind him?! Is that a marine warship?!"
In their field of vision, the silhouette of a massive ship emerged.
It didn't resemble the standard giant warships commonly used by the Marines; its design was more slender and sharp, painted entirely in a cold gray-white color.
The most eye-catching feature was the figurehead—a massive, lifelike white wolf howling skyward, its wolf eyes seemingly embedded with some kind of gemstone that shimmered with an eerie, cold light.
...
Just as the Marines were well-versed in intelligence about great pirates, information about notable Marine figures was essential knowledge for pirates too.
After all... failing to recognize a special warship could mean death if you hesitated even for a moment.
This warship, which had vanished from sight for years after its construction, had recently resurfaced across the seas alongside a certain name.
...
"The White Wolf... I recognize that ship!! It's the flagship of Marine Rear Admiral White Wolf!!"
It took some pirates a moment to process this information.
...
"Flame Wolf!! You're saying that's the Flame Wolf?!"
"Dammit! Is he chasing Red Hair?! All the way to Beehive Island?! What a joke!!"
"What do they want to do... Are they planning to start a battle on Beehive Island?!"
"Hurry... hurry... hurry..."
"Someone's already gone to fetch Boss Wang Zhi, boss, catch your breath, don't rush!"
...
"Idiot!!"
"What I meant was... run for your lives!!!"
——
——
As the Red Dragon entered the port, Shanks turned to look.
His vision was filled with an endless sea of fire.
"Quite an aggressive way to greet someone, Flame Wolf... no, I should call you Griffin."
"Don't think I'll keep running forever, you brat!!"
Swish—
Gryphon was drawn, unleashing a condensed black-red slash that rippled through the air without a sound.
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