In the New World, within Whitebeard's territory.
On the massive ship called the Moby-Dick.
Numerous pirates are sprawled across the broad deck, still tasting the remnants of the last night's feast.
There are turned-over wine containers, bowls, chopsticks scattered around, and signs of a bonfire.
In a secluded spot.
A lively, dark-skinned, plump man sits in the shadows, discreetly pulling out a crumpled newspaper from behind him.
The signature at the bottom doesn't belong to the World Economic News but to an unfamiliar small newspaper from the New World.
Around the globe, Morgans' World Economic News isn't the sole player. There are other newspapers, both big and small, that hold significant competition.
Having an absolute monopoly can stifle creativity, and that's why Morgans, the newspaper president, tirelessly travels the world to uncover valuable news.
Gently smoothing out the newspaper with calloused palms, he eagerly examined a blurry photo in the corner.
The black and white picture made it hard to distinguish colors, but the pattern resembled a snail, creating a mysterious vibe.
Devil Fruit! ! !
The hands of the dark-skinned, plump man trembled slightly, as if he couldn't quite believe what he was witnessing.
Dark-Dark Fruit! ! !
He was absolutely certain he hadn't made a mistake; this was undoubtedly the fruit with the abilities he had always dreamt of.
To obtain this Devil Fruit, he willingly concealed himself among the Whitebeard Pirates for decades. The rationale behind this decision was that a pirate crew of such caliber would undoubtedly come across numerous Devil Fruits regularly, presenting the highest probability for him to obtain one! !
Throughout this period, he received news about this particular Devil Fruit no less than ten times.
And this time, it's the closest he's ever been to it! !
Long ago, he had stumbled upon this fruit, and its image was etched firmly in the recesses of his memory!
That pattern!
No mistaking it! !
His bloodshot eyes rapidly scanned left and right, meticulously going through the newspaper's contents word by word. A line of small characters caught his attention.
Pleasure District Auction! ! !
Pleasure District is a globally renowned entertainment hub, and naturally, it includes spaces for activities like auctions.
"Thatch! I got wind of a spot with incredibly delicious Cherry Pie. I want to check it out first!!"
Treading carefully around the numerous pirates sprawled on the deck, the plump, dark-skinned man approached Thatch, the cook on Whitebeard's ship, and restrained his excitement as he gently woke him.
Throughout his time with the Whitebeard Pirates, he had concocted various excuses to leave the ship more than once. Lying and being caught were no qualms for him.
"Huh? Cherry Pie? Teach, you're quite the food lover!!"
Thatch glanced at the plump, dark-skinned man beside him, bewildered, muttering with a hint of speechlessness.
"Zehahaha! Can't resist it, I just have a liking for it."
Blackbeard scratched the back of his head honestly, expressing a bit of embarrassment.
"Do you want me to come along!! What if you run into trouble going alone?"
Even though Thatch was resigned to Teach's love for food, being the crew member with the closest relationship to him on the ship, he naturally had reservations about the tricky character among Whitebeard's crew.
"No, I'll go alone. You had quite a bit to drink last night and you're not fully sober yet!!"
Upon hearing this, Teach hastily waved his hand, declining the offer.
This Devil Fruit held immense significance for him, and keeping it a secret was, of course, a priority.
"But..."
Thatch still harbored some concerns.
"Hahaha! If I'm in danger, just a mention that I'm Whitebeard's son, and I'm sure no one would dare lay a finger on me. After all, dad is really fond of his family!!"
Teach feigned a casual demeanor and dismissed Thatch's suggestion.
He bid farewell but kept an escape route open for himself. After all, he hadn't witnessed the fruit's color, and he remained uncertain whether this was indeed the Devil Fruit of his dreams.
"Then...take care of yourself, okay!!"
Learning that Teach had even invoked Whitebeard, Thatch found himself at a loss for words.
After all, it's common knowledge on the seas that Whitebeard would never tolerate anyone threatening his family. There are very few individuals daring enough to provoke the fury of the strongest man in the world.
"Zehahaha! No need to fret, I'll be away for a bit and return!!"
Blackbeard chuckled, turned around, and headed towards the lower decks of the Moby Dick.
Soon, a small boat was launched into the sea, and the imposing Blackbeard leaped onto it, causing a surge of white waves.
.....
In the New World, a massive three-masted sailing ship glided slowly across the sea.
The ship's hull is remarkably vast, featuring an abstract dragon head with spread-out fangs at the bow. Despite being pounded by turbulent waves, the hull appears exceptionally sturdy and resolute! !
Adorning the large white sail is a skull and crossbones flag, weathered with scratches, and two crossed Western sword-style knives. The emblem transforms freely with the sea breeze.
If a Marine were present, they would unquestionably identify the owner of this ship!
Red-Haired Shanks! !
The red-haired pirate Shanks, last year's supernova, and his crew.
The World Government had extended a Shichibukai invitation to the other party last year, but regrettably, it was outright rejected by them.
At that time, a storm was raging at sea.
This is the Shichibukai! !
Even though they are officially considered lackeys of the World Government and are despised by many pirates, deep down, it undeniably signifies acknowledgment of their identity and strength. Being invited by the World Government as a Shichibukai means they are renowned and formidable pirates.
On the Red Force. (T/N: This is the new ship name, I didn't find a name for the old ship so I used this one.)
A red-haired young man, sporting a straw hat, tilted his head slightly under the influence of the sea breeze. He opened his mouth wide, exposing red gums, and his white teeth gleamed against the sun, creating a slightly dazzling sight.
"Hey! Beckman, where are we in the New World?"
"I don't know. Captain, don't you believe in the freedom of navigation? It doesn't matter where you are."
Beckman, casually leaning against the ship's side, responded to him.
"You're right, we've explored the entire world, and our journey in the New World has just kicked off a year ago, Dahahaha!!"
Shanks adjusted the long knife at his waist, spread his arms, and shouted to the sky.
"By the way, Captain, why did you linger in East Blue for so long?"
Beckman paid little attention to Shanks' theatrics and inquired with a furrowed brow.
"Uh-huh, true, we could have entered the New World earlier. But, you see, I haven't had my fill of tasting delicious food yet."
The plump man, clad in a striped top and clutching a chicken leg, also mumbled in puzzlement.
"Dahaha! It's the captain of my former ship who had a strong desire to explore it."
Noticing the lack of response to his exclamation, Shanks scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Suddenly, from the corner of his eye, he spotted a massive ship with a red lantern approaching. The young man with the straw hat promptly leaped to his feet, swiftly changing the subject.
"Look! What's that thing? It looks enticing."
As soon as he uttered those words, Shanks leaped up with an eager expression on his face.
Before anyone on the boat could react, he had already vanished from view.
The remaining members of the Red Hair Pirates stood there, exchanging bewildered glances. Surprisingly, in a matter of moments, their captain deserted them and made a run for it!
After a prolonged silence, a pirate with curly yellow hair and a spear on his back asked with uncertainty:
"Uh, that..."
"It seems like a pleasure ship, doesn't it?"
"Disregarding the appearance, that's indeed the pleasure ship, and the most renowned one - Pleasure District!!"
Beckman's expression stayed as stoic as ever, but the corners of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
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