Reverse Mountain, Twin Cape Lighthouse
Recently recovered from a serious illness, Red-Haired Shanks was in high spirits, chatting and laughing with Crocus. Suddenly, a young girl with half-white, half-red hair burst in, holding a newspaper and panting heavily. "Shanks! Today's paper says a new Emperor of the Sea has emerged!"
"What?" Benn Beckman quickly snatched the newspaper from her.
He scanned through the World Economic Journal, his expression growing tense.
Shanks took a sip of his drink, half-jokingly asking, "So, Beckman, has the Fourth Emperor finally appeared?"
"Not quite, but it's complicated. You'd better read this yourself." Beckman handed the paper to Shanks.
As Shanks read, his face became serious. "Quite the powerful group."
The other members of the Red-Haired Pirates began gathering around, looking at the newspaper and the new bounty posters.
[WANTED]
Steel-Man
Bounty: 2.038 billion berries
A Steel-Stone Fruit user, skilled in all three types of Haki, with mastery in swordsmanship and martial arts. Leader of the Hidden Order, mastermind behind the White Mountain Kingdom massacre and the slaughter of Navy soldiers. Highly dangerous. Dead or alive.
Blue-Flame Witch
Bounty: 1.814 billion berries
A Flame-Flame Fruit user skilled in Armament and Observation Haki, and a member of the Hidden Order. Killed a Navy Rear Admiral in the White Mountain massacre. Highly dangerous. Dead or alive.
Candle Man Galdino
Bounty: 554.1 million berries
Wax-Wax Fruit user and former bounty hunter from the South Blue, proficient in Observation Haki. A member of the Hidden Order, responsible for killing numerous Navy soldiers. Highly dangerous. Dead or alive.
Thunder Kirin
Bounty: 1.598 billion berries
A Rumble-Rumble Fruit user with island-level destructive power. Member of the Hidden Order and involved in the White Mountain massacre. Highly dangerous. Dead or alive.
Cat-Claw Glasses
Bounty: 336.98 million berries
Skilled in Haki and martial arts, with specialized cat-claw blades. Member of the Hidden Order, involved in the White Mountain massacre. Highly dangerous. Dead or alive.
Green-Haired Mystery Man
Bounty: 1.011 billion berries
Suspected user of a spatial-type Devil Fruit, capable of large-scale teleportation. Member of the Hidden Order and involved in the White Mountain massacre. Highly dangerous. Dead or alive.
"Two Logia users? That's some serious strength," said Yasopp, fiddling with his rifle in admiration.
Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke. "The key detail is that they managed to kill a Navy rear admiral in front of Kuzan, which means Kuzan was held back by their leader."
"Then even when Borsalino joined him, they still couldn't capture the group. It seems two quasi-admirals aren't enough to deal with this organization," Beckman added.
Shanks looked thoughtful, his gaze distant.
Crocus, watching their serious expressions, broke the silence with a laugh. "You're all overthinking it. The ones who really have to worry now are the Navy and the World Government!"
"Hahaha… Well said, Doctor!" Shanks laughed heartily and downed his drink.
Crocus shot Shanks a look of irritation. "Lucky for you that the Sick-Sick Fruit user hadn't mastered their abilities. Otherwise, you'd never have made it to Twin Cape. You'd better find yourself a professional doctor and give them that medical book I gave you. This old man can't go sailing with you."
"Thanks a lot, Doc!" Shanks laughed, raising his drink in gratitude.
New World, Calm Seas
A group of large, whale-shaped ships sailed steadily through a quiet area. The largest ship bore the name Moby Dick painted on its side.
"Pops! It seems the New World might soon have a Fourth Emperor!" Third Division Commander Jozu called, holding up a newspaper as he approached Whitebeard.
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, whose hair had not yet turned completely white and who still carried no medical tubes, glanced at the paper.
"Gurarara… The Navy and World Government are trying to use others to do their dirty work again. What a tiresome trick," Whitebeard chuckled.
Sixth Division Commander Blamenco laughed, "Who cares? That so-called Hidden Order is probably nothing special. If they try to enter the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates won't back down."
"That's right! Pops is the strongest!"
"They're just a bunch of cowards who hide their faces—how can they compare to the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"Zehahaha… With Pops around, there's nothing to worry about," said Marshall D. Teach, hiding in the crowd. Inwardly, he felt indifferent as long as no new Dark-Dark Fruit user appeared.
Elsewhere in the New World
In the heart of Wano Country, on Onigashima, the stronghold of the Beasts Pirates, All-Star King stood with his steel mask hiding his serious expression as he listened to a report from overseas intelligence.
Suddenly, sounds of loud clashing and a young girl's screams came from the nearby training yard.
"Lord Kaido's at it again, and Young Master Yamato… Well, I'll wait until the evening to report this to Lord Kaido." King sighed, shaking his head.
Though Noah's crew seemed strong, they weren't Kaido's type—no Zoan users. Without a clear intention of entering the New World, King felt no urgency to report further.
New World, Totto Land Sea
Deep within the Sweet City Castle on Cake Island, a plump woman gorged on sweets scowled when her eldest son approached. "Mama… Perospero, you should know better than to interrupt my meal!"
Charlotte Perospero, sweating profusely, spoke quickly. "Mama, I apologize for interrupting, but a major event has occurred on the seas. The Navy and Morgans are both promoting a Fourth Emperor."
"Mamamamama… A Fourth Emperor? And who might be this fool they're pushing forward?" Charlotte Linlin, Big Mom, wasn't in one of her fits and was sharp enough to grasp the meaning immediately.
Perospero quickly explained, "They're calling it the Hidden Order. Apparently, they managed to fight Kuzan and Borsalino and even killed a Navy rear admiral before retreating unharmed."
Charlotte Linlin frowned in confusion. "Oh? And how is it I've never heard of this group?"
Perospero hurriedly elaborated, "I just spoke with the Underworld Emperors, including Morgans. None of them had ever heard of this organization before."
"But this group is indeed very powerful. Among the six known members, there's a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, a Flame-Flame Fruit user—both Logias—and a Steel-Stone Fruit user with a strong skill set. There's also a Wax-Wax Fruit user and a suspected spatial-type ability user."
Linlin's eyes sparkled at the mention of two Logia users. "Mamamama… Send someone to investigate this organization. I want to know everything about them."
Perospero understood instantly what his mother was thinking—another arranged marriage, no doubt.
But this time, he doubted the idea would work. Given the strength of the Hidden Order, marriage alliances seemed unlikely.