New World, Moby Dick.
"Pops, look at this newspaper!"
Marco waved a newspaper in his hand, shouting loudly.
"Gurarara, Marco, what's got you so worked up?"
Whitebeard asked curiously. Marco wasn't usually this noisy.
Whitebeard took the newspaper and began reading it carefully.
"Crocodile tried to seize a country but was defeated by a newcomer."
Seeing the headline, Whitebeard looked a bit surprised.
More than twenty years ago, Crocodile had challenged him. Though he lost, he had still left a lasting impression.
His Armament Haki was weak, but his mastery of his Devil Fruit was exceptional.
In terms of combat ability, he was comparable to Marco, who also had ordinary Haki.
"Young people these days are truly impressive."
Looking at Caelan's young and determined face in the newspaper, Whitebeard sighed.
In the blink of an eye, a new generation of powerful figures had emerged. He was beginning to feel like he couldn't keep up with the times.
"Pops, Ace is the strongest of the new generation!"
Marco couldn't help but compete when he heard Whitebeard praise someone else.
In his eyes, Ace was the true standout of the new era—stronger than any rookie.
"Gurarara. Ace is excellent, but he should still be slightly behind this Caelan."
Whitebeard laughed heartily, pinching his fingers together to show a small gap.
"Ah?!"
Marco was a bit surprised. He couldn't believe those words had come from Whitebeard.
Ace was his favorite and most trusted son. He had never hesitated to praise him.
But now, Pops believed Ace wasn't as good as Caelan.
…
Revolutionary Army Base.
Monkey D. Dragon looked at the newspaper in his hand and laughed heartily.
"Haha, Sabo, there's another hero rising in these seas!"
He waved the paper, pointing to the news as he laughed.
"Leader? Who could get you this excited?"
Sabo was a bit confused.
As leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon was always calm, composed, and reliable. It had been a long time since Sabo had seen him laugh like this.
Sabo glanced at the paper and his eyes widened.
"He just entered the Grand Line… and foiled Crocodile's plan to seize a country?!"
"It wasn't the Marines, or pirates, but a bounty hunter?!"
Sabo's expression changed dramatically.
Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had unquestionable strength. Few in the Revolutionary Army could match him.
Now he had been defeated by a rookie? That was indeed shocking.
But what stood out to Sabo even more was Caelan's identity as a bounty hunter.
Not bound by the Navy's flawed justice, nor falling into the sins of piracy, he simply followed the justice in his heart.
"No wonder you're smiling, leader. A hero like this is truly inspiring."
Sabo said with admiration.
The appearance of someone like Caelan on the seas ignited a fire in his chest. It made him want to take down a Warlord himself.
"Sabo, find a way to meet him."
Dragon picked up the newspaper again, studying Caelan's photo and committing his face to memory.
If Caelan could be recruited to the Revolutionary Army, it would be a huge gain. Their movement would gain incredible momentum.
"Sabo, prepare yourself. The Revolutionary Army may soon gain a new deputy leader."
Dragon tucked the newspaper away carefully and spoke with calm resolve.
Sabo looked at him in disbelief, uncertain of what to say.
The deputy leader position had remained vacant for a long time, and no one in the organization dared to even consider taking it.
And yet, the leader was now placing that much importance on Caelan?
Without giving further explanation, Dragon turned and began issuing new orders for the Revolutionary Army.
…
Dressrosa, Donquixote Family.
"I really can't believe Crocodile tried to seize a country."
"But he's still too naive."
Doflamingo read the newspaper with a smug grin.
It was the same idea—usurping a kingdom—but the execution was different.
He had succeeded where Crocodile failed. Dressrosa was already entirely under his control.
Only someone as cunning as him could pull off such a feat.
Doflamingo swirled his wine glass, a sense of superiority rising in his chest.
Still, Caelan's name was getting on his nerves.
Looking at Caelan's confident photo in the paper, Doflamingo narrowed his eyes.
As a fellow schemer, he couldn't help but dislike the one who had ruined Crocodile's plan.
"You must be feeling proud after beating Crocodile."
"Come see me soon. I'll give you a warm welcome."
Doflamingo crumpled the newspaper and gave a sinister smile.
A bounty hunter defeating a Warlord? What an ugly headline.
He wouldn't allow that shame to be cast upon his own reputation.
If the chance came, he would wash it away with Caelan's blood.
Brrring, brrring!
Brrring, brrring!
A Den Den Mushi suddenly rang, cutting off his thoughts. Frowning, Doflamingo picked it up.
"Doflamingo-sama, this is Bellamy, your loyal pirate."
On Jaya Island, Bellamy held the Den Den Mushi with reverence and excitement.
"I want to officially join the Donquixote Family. Please give me a mission!"
As a die-hard fan of Doflamingo, joining the Donquixote Family had always been his dream.
Doflamingo thought for a moment and remembered Bellamy.
A minor pirate with a 50 million Berry bounty, once obsessed with joining the family. Back then, he refused and just gave him a flag.
Now he had come knocking again.
"You're on Jaya Island, right?"
Doflamingo stroked his chin.
He recalled that Caelan's location was not far from Jaya.
"Yes, Doflamingo-sama! I'm honored you remember me!"
Bellamy was ecstatic.
"Very well. Kill that bounty hunter Caelan, and you'll become a cadre of the Donquixote Family."
With that, Doflamingo hung up.
He didn't think much of it, but figured he'd throw Caelan some extra trouble.
On the other end, Bellamy was ecstatic after receiving the task.
"Awesome! I can finally join the Donquixote Family!"
He flipped backward in celebration, unable to contain his joy.
As long as he defeated Caelan, he'd become an official cadre. One step closer to his dream!
"Caelan, I'm going to kill you!"
Bellamy licked the corner of his mouth, eyes gleaming with a twisted, bloodthirsty grin.
(To be continued.)
***
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