Chapter 200: Famous Throughout the World
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The Moby Dick sailed leisurely across the sea.
"Dad! Something big's happened!" Marco called out, holding up a newspaper.
On the deck sat a tall, muscular man, built like a small giant, with a crescent-shaped white beard. He lifted a barrel-sized mug and downed its contents in one go, laughing, "Gurararara! What's this interesting news now?"
"Dad, you've had too much!" the nurse beside him, a beautiful young woman, chided gently.
Marco handed him the newspaper. "Someone stirred up trouble in Mary Geoise and killed over a dozen world nobles. His very first bounty is set at 5 billion berries!"
Whitebeard took the newspaper, his expression intrigued.
Shachi, standing nearby, looked shocked. "Five billion? That's just shy of Dad's bounty! Isn't that a bit much?"
Marco shrugged. "They say he's pretty strong. And he killed more than a dozen Celestial Dragons! It's been ages since anyone's dared to do that!"
"I've never heard of anything like it!" Jozu said in disbelief.
"Gurararara! A bold little brat, isn't he?" Whitebeard chuckled.
Thatch, leaning casually against the ship's railing, commented, "Looks like a new Emperor may soon emerge on the seas."
"That's only if he survives the World Government and the Navy hunting him down!" one of the crewmates replied.
"If the World Government couldn't stop him in Mary Geoise, I doubt they'll get another chance. I'd put my money on him!" Marco said with a grin.
"It's not that simple," another added. "He killed over a dozen world nobles! This is going to make waves like we've never seen."
The Whitebeard Pirates continued their lively conversation.
Marco concluded, "The day the Dragon King steps into the New World might be the day war erupts!"
Pirates might share a common enemy, but they were never truly allies. Their conflicts with each other were as fierce as those with the Navy. And the New World, though vast, had limited space. With three reigning Pirate Emperors already, another Emperor-level crew would stir up a fierce storm.
"Gurararara! Then let's wait for him in the New World!" Whitebeard lifted his oversized wine glass with a grin.
"That's right! If anyone dares challenge us, let them come!"
"Hahaha, I'd love to meet the one ruthless enough to kill Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise."
"Cheers!"
The atmosphere on the Moby Dick was relaxed and cheerful.
After all, who were they? The Whitebeard Pirates! In this world, they feared no one!
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Meanwhile, in Wano Country, on Onigashima…
Jack set down the newspaper. "This is what happened yesterday in Mary Geoise."
Kaido sat cross-legged, clutching a massive gourd of sake. "He killed a dozen Celestial Dragons? Hahahaha! Finally, some excitement in this dull world. But it's not enough! We need a full-scale war!"
Queen, frowning, chimed in, "But isn't a 5 billion bounty a bit too high?"
Kaido waved him off dismissively. "When he enters the New World, I'll measure his strength myself!"
---
Over on Totto Land, home of the Big Mom Pirates…
Charlotte Linlin sat on a throne shaped like a giant cake. Her enormous figure, clad in a pink dress, resembled an oversized balloon, but none would dare mock her. She was the most powerful, ruthless, and feared queen of the New World.
"Mom, the Dragon King's bounty is even higher than yours!" Perospero said with a gleeful grin, his tongue flicking out as he spoke.
Charlotte's eyes narrowed, her expression hard to read as she mulled over the news of this new challenger.
Katakuri crossed his arms, speaking calmly, "The bounty isn't the most important thing. Once he enters the New World, we could soon see a fourth Pirate Emperor rise on the seas. Conflict will be inevitable, and we must be ready for war."
"Well, well, well," Charlotte Linlin laughed. "If they want a fight, let them come!"
As one of the reigning Pirate Emperors, she feared no one.
"That's right! Our BIG MOM Pirates are the strongest!" Perospero said confidently. "Maybe we can use this chance to expand our territory."
Charlotte Linlin turned to him. "How are the preparations for the tea party?"
Oven replied, "Everything's on track, but Estelle refuses to attend."
"Well, well, well, then send him a gift!" Linlin said with a chilling smile.
"It's all set," Oven replied, grinning. "His daughter's head!"
---
Meanwhile, aboard the Red force. Beckman, cigarette in mouth, tossed a newspaper to the side.
"You might want to look at this."
Shanks was drinking with some of the crew, but he glanced over with mild annoyance. "Beck, this better be important. Can't you see we're drinking?"
Beckman remained calm. "Trust me. It is."
With a sigh, Shanks picked up the paper, giving it a quick look. But as he read, the relaxed, tipsy expression faded, and he sat up, his face suddenly serious.
The crew around him quieted, their captain's change in mood immediately alerting them. It was rare to see Shanks like this.
Shanks finished reading, set the paper down, and murmured, "I didn't expect anyone to go this far."
Beckman took a drag, his face half-hidden by smoke. "The real kicker is that he didn't just do it—he got away."
"This world is growing more chaotic by the day."
Shanks stood, looking out at the rough sea as if he could see the entire world unfolding in front of him.
"I never thought the fourth Pirate Emperor would rise so soon—and from someone no one's heard of."
"When a new Emperor takes the throne, the New World will erupt in war. The only question is, how many will be dragged in? If he's smart, he won't provoke the other three."
Each Emperor held their own territory, and while skirmishes at the borders weren't uncommon, most of them were careful not to push things to the brink of war. Each had vast resources and responsibilities and wouldn't gamble it all without reason.
But a newcomer, especially one with such overwhelming strength, might not follow the same rules.
Shanks said nothing more, simply gazing quietly at the churning sea, lost in thought.
---
The ground was strewn with corpses, and thick rivers of blood covered the land.
A young man with short black hair and piercing eyes sat on a chair, surrounded by corpses, a massive long sword resting by his side, still smeared with fresh blood. He held a newspaper, its front page showing an image of a young man with black hair, dark eyes, and a mocking sneer.
"Another strong contender has appeared? What a shame he's not a swordsman," Mihawk muttered, discarding the newspaper. He picked up his sword, gave it a light shake to clear the blood, sheathed it, and strode off.
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"Five billion? Damn, that's insane! I've been a pirate for years, and my bounty's only 20 million!"
"Hahaha! How can a piece of trash like you compare to someone like that?"
"Shut up! Killing a Celestial Dragon? Now that's guts! I hereby declare, the Dragon King is my idol!"
"Dragon King? Celestial Dragon?" Crocodile muttered, glancing at the newspaper before tossing it aside. Those things were trivial in his eyes. Once he acquired the ancient weapon Pluton, neither the Dragon King nor even Whitebeard would stand a chance against him.
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At Marineford…
"A five billion bounty? Isn't that a bit much?"
"This bounty was assigned directly by the Five Elders themselves!"
"Hahaha, they must really hate this guy," Garp chuckled, not bothering to hide his amusement.
Sengoku's expression darkened. "Is that all you came to say?"
Though Garp was still smiling, his tone grew more serious. "A five billion bounty means that as soon as he enters the New World, he'll be the next Pirate Emperor! When that happens, war will be unavoidable!"
Sengoku sighed heavily. "Unfortunately, our influence in the New World isn't strong enough."
They weren't concerned about pirates fighting each other; in fact, the navy found it beneficial if the pirates clashed more intensely. However, pirate wars often ensnared civilians in the chaos.
"First there was Roger and Whitebeard, then Kaido and Big Mom rose, and now there's this so-called Dragon King. The world just keeps growing more chaotic."
"In every era, new powerful figures will emerge," Garp said quietly.
Suddenly, there was a frantic knock on the door.
"Come in!" Sengoku ordered.
A navy soldier hurried in, saluted, and reported urgently, "Marshal, we just received intelligence that the Dragon King has appeared in the Sabaody Archipelago!"
Sengoku immediately stood up. "The Sabaody Archipelago, huh? How bold! Notify Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan at once!"
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