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"Even Mihawk is interested now?"
Somewhere in the first half of the Grand Line, a man with red hair and a missing left arm excitedly held a newspaper, his face unable to hide a smile. This was the captain of the Red Hair Pirates, "Red-Haired" Shanks.
"It does seem like something he would do, doesn't it?" Ben Beckman, casually smoking a cigar, commented, "Ever since you lost your arm, he's been looking for fun across the seas."
"If what's in this photo is real, then these creatures called Pokémon are quite remarkable," Lucky Roo added while munching on a chicken leg.
They had visited Water 7 and seen the Sea God "Aqua Laguna" themselves. It was a disaster not just anyone could handle—only a top-tier force at sea could manage a tsunami hundreds of meters high!
"Indeed, it is said that even ordinary people can become companions of Pokémon, assuming the responsibility of caring for and training them. This profession is called..."
"Trainer?"
...
In the New World, on the island of Baltigo, "Dragon, we must harness this power!"
A man with a purple afro spoke to the man beside him.
"Ivan, I know, but we must first verify the accuracy of this information."
"Morgans hardly spreads false news; this photo must be real."
"Still, we must be cautious. We cannot afford a single misstep."
Dragon was careful, fully aware of the gravity of their cause.
"Karasu, I need you to look into this."
Dragon turned to a figure behind him, clad in a fluffy black feather coat, a metal beak mask covering his face, with two crows circling around.
"Hmm."
As Karasu departed, Dragon's gaze returned to the photo, focusing on a green-haired figure in the bottom left corner.
That man, standing beside such a creature during a disaster, could not possibly be just a bystander.
...
In Wano Country, "Yo, meat meat meat meat~"
Ton ton ton.
A bulky man laughed at the news in the paper, "King, what do you think?"
This man was one of the emperors of the New World, the captain of the Beasts Pirates, "Kaido of the Beasts."
"Promising creatures, as if they've eaten Zoan-type Devil Fruits."
King glanced at the green figure in the paper, sensing Kaido's intent, "Should Jack take a trip to Water 7?"
"No need. Right now, Water 7 must be bustling. The Marines and the World Government surely won't be absent."
Kaido's fierce gaze revealed no urgency. There were still unresolved matters in Wano, leaving no manpower to spare for overseas affairs.
What's his will come to him eventually.
"We'll just take it all later."
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
In this hub of traders and underworld dealers from across the Grand Line, the existence of Pokémon caused quite a stir.
Many set their sights on Pokémon, planning to buy eggs in bulk and sell them at higher prices.
Ambitious figures began plotting to carve out a domain in the underworld with this power.
For a time, interest was high, but no one made a move.
First, no one knew where to find the Mystery Hatchery House. Second, no one could confirm the potential and value of Pokémon.
The credibility of Morgans's report was high, but some speculated it was part of a grand scheme.
As the Whitebeard Pirates had initially thought, if Pokémon held such potential, why would the Mystery Hatchery House, wielding this power, not seek to dominate the world but sell it instead?
No ghosts believed that.
But believing in ghosts would be the real folly.
Most adopted a wait-and-see approach, with all sorts of talk in the underworld. Mihawk was continually brought up in discussions due to this event.
Island No. 13, Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
"Amazing, to think such powerful creatures quietly emerged at sea. I hadn't received any intel on this," Shakky, resting her chin on one hand and tapping the newspaper with the other, mused.
Once the former empress of Amazon Lily and captain of the Kuja Pirates, Shakky was involved in the slave liberation incident of 1507, alongside Rayleigh and Gol D. Roger, helping the Boa sisters escape from Mariejois.
Now, as the largest information broker of Sabaody Archipelago, Shakky was surprised by the Mystery Hatchery House and Pokémon, completely unknown to her until now.
"The World Government must be sweating," Rayleigh commented leisurely from the bar.
Seeing the Pokémon details in the paper, Rayleigh foresaw the World Government's actions.
"Indeed, they won't allow ordinary citizens to have such power," Shakky smiled, almost seeing the reaction of the Five Elders, "Sweating bullets, World Government."
...
As Shakky and Rayleigh guessed, atop the Red Line in Mariejois, five elders gathered around a table, a Den Den Mushi in the midst of a call on the table.
"Sengoku, do you know about the Mystery Hatchery House?"
"What hatchery?"
"The Mystery Hatchery House."
"Mystery what?"
"The Mystery Hatchery House!"
"What mystery house?"
"Get lost!"
The call ended, and the elder who had been talking to Sengoku, visibly enraged and red-faced, obviously fumed.
"This fool, becoming more useless by the day."
"Rather, becoming more disobedient."
The elder beside him sipped tea calmly, "Can't you see he's feigning ignorance?"
"The World Government doesn't need a Marine Admiral who won't listen."
"The current global situation allows no change. Plus, Sengoku has high prestige in the Marines and handles most matters well; we can't replace him yet."
"True, Sakazuki is still too young, lacking sufficient support within the Marines to take over as Admiral."
"What about the Mystery Hatchery House?"
The elders began discussing, as they had always done.
"The usual approach: persuade them towards the path of justice, making Pokémon our exclusive force."
"And if they refuse?"
"Label them as criminals and place bounties."
(End of Chapter)