ALL NOVEL Chapter 79: CHAPTER 79
As the origin of the incident, the Sabaody Archipelago was naturally the first to receive the shocking news.
In a dimly lit tavern, Silvers Rayleigh, the gray-haired former first mate of the Pirate King, laughed heartily as he sipped his drink. Turning to the proprietor, Shakuyaku, he remarked,
"What a reckless brat. He's even more daring than the captain in his youth."
Rayleigh's "captain" was, of course, Gol D. Roger, the legendary Pirate King. Roger was a larger-than-life figure—charismatic, bold, and unafraid of taking risks. While his journey to claim the title of Pirate King left countless casualties in its wake, Roger had a strict code of honor. He had never stooped so low as to harm a Celestial Dragon, despite his disdain for their tyranny.
Shakuyaku, known as Shakky, swirled her glass of red wine thoughtfully. The wine's deep crimson mirrored the glint in her sharp eyes.
As a former captain of the Kuja Pirates and a witness to the atrocities committed by the Celestial Dragons, Shakky harbored a deep-seated hatred for them. She had also heard whispers of the infamous incident involving the three Boa sisters and their enslavement by the Dragons. Despite her contempt for the nobles, Shakky chuckled at the audacity of the perpetrator.
"That boy has guts, I'll give him that. If he weren't connected to Kaido, perhaps we'd lend him a hand," she mused.
Rayleigh grinned but shook his head dismissively.
"Everyone chooses their path, Shakky. And every choice comes with a price. Besides," he added, his expression growing more thoughtful, "that kid isn't the only one stirring up trouble on this island. Shanks' protégé is here too."
Shakky smirked, downing the last of her wine in one gulp.
"You mean the one wearing Roger's straw hat? He's connected to you, isn't he? Aren't you going to help him?"
Rayleigh's smile faltered slightly before he shrugged.
"Straw Hat Luffy… he carries a weight no one else does. After all, the boy ate that Devil Fruit. His fate was always destined to be extraordinary."
Elsewhere, in Dressrosa…
The news had already reached the underworld. Doflamingo, the deposed Warlord of the Sea and underground broker known as "Joker," received word through his connections in Sabaody.
When the manager of the slave auction house informed him, Doflamingo's reaction was uncharacteristic. For a moment, he froze, stunned by the audacity of the act. Then, his lips curled into his signature sadistic grin, and a burst of chilling laughter filled the room.
"Fuffuffuffu! What a lunatic! Just when I thought his stunts in the New World were insane, he takes it a step further. Killing a Celestial Dragon... That boy might have outdone even me!"
The family cadres looked at their leader, a mix of disbelief and awe on their faces. Trebol, the manipulative strategist, leaned closer and asked,
"What now, Doffy? Should we inform Kaido?"
Doflamingo waved his hand dismissively, his grin widening.
"No need. News like this will reach even the most secluded corners of Wano. Let the world simmer in chaos for a while. I only hope that madman doesn't get caught. A world like this needs lunatics to keep things interesting."
Among the cadres, only Viola, the former princess of Dressrosa turned reluctant subordinate, seemed uneasy. Her hands trembled as she clenched her fists, blood pooling from her nails digging into her palms. A single thought consumed her:
Could it be? Is the man who gave us hope truly in danger of disappearing forever?
Meanwhile, in the New World…
On a desolate island near the Red Line, the Beast Pirates had moored their ships. They were supposed to wait at the New World's entrance for their commander, but the sight of naval warships forced them to retreat further inland.
When they finally learned of the incident through scattered reports, chaos erupted among the crew.
"We need to go back! Master Alastor can't face this alone!" one pirate shouted.
"Those Celestial Dragons deserved it. Why is the navy making such a big deal about this?"
"Alastor did the world a favor!"
While most clamored to return to their leader's side, one figure remained silent: Shimotsuki Onimaru. Stepping forward, Onimaru placed a Den Den Mushi in the center of the gathering. His expression was as calm as ever as he addressed the crew.
"Master Alastor's orders were clear: we are to wait. He will contact us if anything changes."
Though reluctant, the crew knew better than to defy Alastor's commands. His rules were absolute—orders were to be followed to the letter, no matter the circumstances.
And so, they waited.
The Empress, Boa Hancock, widened her strikingly beautiful eyes in disbelief. This insolent man dared to threaten her? Her elegant composure gave way to barely concealed fury, and she gritted her teeth in frustration.
In all her years, Hancock had never encountered such a brazen, shameless man!
Before she could retort, there was a knock at the door. Her sister, Marigold, called from the other side:
"My Lady, a naval ship has appeared ahead and blocked our path."
Hancock shot a venomous glare at Alastor, her annoyance simmering as she swept out of the room to address the situation.
On the deck of the Perfume Snake, Hancock saw the naval warship obstructing their path. A young officer on the ship's deck greeted her with forced politeness.
"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, we are here to conduct a search—"
"Mero Mero Mellow!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Hancock unleashed her Love-Love Beam, turning the officer into stone instantly.
The sailors on the warship froze in shock, their eyes darting nervously between the petrified officer and the Empress.
"Pirate Empress!" one of them stammered. "Why would you—"
Hancock raised her chin imperiously, her voice laced with disdain.
"Does this concubine require a reason to act as she pleases?"
The remaining sailors fell into chaos, their panic turning to adoration as they gazed at her beauty. Their cries of "Empress-sama!" and "How graceful!" echoed across the water. One by one, they too succumbed to the Mero Mero Mellow, transformed into statues with lovestruck expressions.
The Amazon Lily crew, accustomed to their captain's capriciousness, found nothing unusual in the scene. Even her sisters, Marigold and Sandersonia, exchanged knowing looks as the warship's sailors fell like dominoes.
Another naval warship soon approached, stopping at a distance. The vessel's commander, a stern-faced vice admiral, assessed the situation grimly. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the petrified sailors aboard the first ship.
"Boa Hancock! Do you know what you've done?" he shouted. "We're pursuing a world-class criminal who killed a Celestial Dragon, and you're interfering with our operations!"
Hancock's gaze turned icy as she pointed at the vice admiral, her voice dripping with condescension.
"How dare you block the concubine's path. Such insolence is unforgivable."
Marigold stepped forward, her tone deliberately casual yet firm.
"We haven't seen the man you're looking for. You should leave while you still can, or my sister might decide to add you to her stone collection."
The vice admiral hesitated, his expression clouded with frustration. He sensed that Marigold was telling the truth but knew Boa Hancock's reputation made her unpredictable. Even invoking the authority of the Navy Headquarters would likely have no effect on her whims.
After a tense silence, the vice admiral sighed in resignation. "Very well," he said grudgingly. "But release the sailors you've petrified, or this incident will escalate."
Hancock tilted her head with a haughty smirk but relented, releasing the sailors from their stone prison. The Perfume Snake sailed past the blockade unscathed.
In Hancock's chamber…
Alastor reclined casually, his expression smug.
"Thanks, Hancock."
Hancock glared at him, her delicate brows furrowed. "You're thanking this concubine too soon. I haven't turned you into stone yet."
She raised her hand, preparing to unleash another attack, but Alastor only smiled, his demeanor unruffled.
"If you want revenge, you might want to wait," he said cryptically. "There's going to be a war soon—one that will shake the entire world."
Hancock paused, lowering her hand slightly. Her curiosity outweighed her anger, and she frowned.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Alastor replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Then, as if the topic no longer interested him, he added, "By the way, I need an oxygen tank. I plan to leave by traveling underwater. Got one I can borrow?"
Hancock arched a brow, her annoyance creeping back. "Are you planning to swim to the New World? Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
"And I'll need something else," Alastor continued, ignoring her incredulity. "That snake of yours, Salome. She swims faster than I do. I'll need her help."
At his suggestion, Salome recoiled in visible terror, slithering behind Hancock as if Alastor were more dangerous than any sea beast.
Hancock's sharp gaze returned to Alastor. She studied him for a long moment, her expression a mix of exasperation and grudging intrigue.
"Do you ever stop being outrageous?" she asked, more to herself than to him.
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