Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.
Luffy was quite impressed by that man.
During his last invasion of the Holy Land, it was this very figure who, with a single sword strike, split in half the artificial moon Luffy had launched—an absurd feat even by New World standards.
"If he truly dares to come personally to cause me trouble…" Luffy thought, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"…then I need to prepare properly and make sure he doesn't leave."
An opportunity like this was far too rare to waste.
There were only four days left until the wedding.
With that in mind, Luffy stood up immediately.
"I'm heading to Onigashima now."
—
Flower Capital, Prison.
Under Law's leadership, Black Maria was brought to see the captured members of the Beasts Pirates.
The atmosphere was cold and silent.
Four of the Tobiroppo were locked in one cell, while in another were confined together:
King, Jack, and Kaido.
All of them were firmly bound with Seastone chains.
Especially Kaido.
His entire body was wrapped from head to toe in Seastone.
The only part left uncovered was his face.
In Wano Country, the place of origin of Seastone, the material was not rare.
Local craftsmen possessed extraordinary skill with it, capable of shaping Seastone into tiny pieces—even as small as a thumbtack.
"Black Maria!"
Upon seeing their comrade, Ulti spoke immediately, her expression tense.
"You were captured too?"
Law crossed his arms, leaning against the wall.
"You have ten minutes. And don't try anything funny. Your hearts are in Straw Hat's hands."
Black Maria nodded slightly.
Her gaze first fell on Kaido.
She tried to listen, but there was no heartbeat.
Kaido's heart had also been removed.
Realizing this, she sighed inwardly.
But outwardly, she maintained her usual smile.
"Ulti… I only came to visit."
The other Tobiroppo narrowed their eyes upon hearing that.
In the adjacent cell, King was already awake.
As soon as he heard her words, he spoke:
"What does Straw Hat intend to do with us now?"
Black Maria did not hide anything.
She repeated, word for word, everything Luffy had said.
About the two possible paths for the Beasts Pirates' fate.
When she finished, she added:
"Kaido-sama is still unconscious."
Her gaze grew more serious.
"When he wakes up… I hope you can convince him to accept this."
She knew Kaido's pride and stubbornness well.
If no one persuaded him, there would be only one outcome.
Total annihilation.
—
Onigashima.
The atmosphere was heavy.
Since Kaido's fall, the Beasts Pirates had been in complete disarray.
Deep within the castle, in the lounge—
Queen sat, eating his favorite soup.
Across from him, a subordinate spoke with concern:
"Maria has been gone for a day… and still hasn't returned. I'm afraid she's been captured."
Queen finished an entire bucket of soup in one go.
He wiped his mouth.
And replied indifferently:
"Then we run first. After that, we think of a plan to rescue Kaido-sama."
"No!" the subordinate shot back. "If negotiations fail, we fight! We still have 20,000 men!"
Queen snorted.
"Numbers mean nothing…"
He lit a cigar, his expression dark.
"With that guy's Conqueror's Haki… only a handful would remain conscious."
The subordinate clenched his teeth.
"Master Queen… you're an expert in viruses and plagues. Can't you come up with something?"
Queen looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"What can I do against someone who defeated Kaido-sama?"
He exhaled smoke slowly.
"I don't think you understand what it means to be a Sea Emperor."
He raised one finger.
"My suggestion remains the same—run."
The moment he finished speaking—
BOOM!!!
A massive wave of Conqueror's Haki descended upon Onigashima.
The entire castle trembled as if the very air had been crushed.
Pirates began to collapse one after another, like wheat being harvested.
Falling unconscious en masse.
Even Bao Huang dropped instantly.
Queen's eyes widened.
"…Straw Hat…!!"
The pressure was overwhelming.
Even heavier than Kaido's.
"I told you we should've run…!"
Without wasting a second, he stood up and dashed out of the room.
As he ran, he activated his Observation Haki.
In an instant, he realized that almost no one in the castle was still conscious.
"This is ridiculous…!"
With no intention of fighting, he decided to flee.
His massive body moved with surprising agility.
"Stealth!"
Suddenly, his body became transparent.
An ability reproduced through technology, similar to a Devil Fruit power.
"There's no way to beat that kind of monster…"
He rushed out of the castle and reached the mountain at the back of the island.
A barren and silent area.
Then he stopped.
A figure slowly descended from the sky.
Luffy.
Queen turned pale.
"You…!"
Luffy smiled faintly.
"You're the most troublesome among the three All-Stars."
He tilted his head.
"The other two are just strong… you have too many tricks."
Queen's eyes widened.
"Impossible… how did you find me?!"
Luffy answered casually:
"When Observation Haki is strong enough… invisibility doesn't matter."
In the next instant, he disappeared and reappeared right in front of Queen.
"Elbaf's Spear… Hakoku."
Queen's pupils shrank.
BOOM!!!
The attack struck his abdomen directly.
The shockwave passed through his body, making his fat ripple like water.
"Ugh—!!"
He was forced out of invisibility.
He spat out a large amount of gastric fluid and dropped to his knees with a heavy thud.
Even so, he was still conscious.
Luffy raised an eyebrow.
"Good durability…"
he commented, almost impressed.
"Better than Katakuri's."
Queen gritted his teeth and asked with difficulty:
"What do you want?"
Luffy shrugged.
"For now, nothing."
He looked toward the horizon.
"Let's wait for your captain to wake up."
Then, he placed his hand on the ground.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The entire island trembled—and in the next moment, Onigashima began to rise.
It was torn from the earth and started floating in the sky.
"This island could be useful…"
Luffy smiled faintly.
"As a 'surprise attack.'"
His plan was simple: use Onigashima against the Five Elders during the wedding.
He did not kill Queen.
Not yet.
Everything would depend on Kaido's decision.
As for the 20,000 pirates—they were merely expendable pieces.
Cannon fodder.
—
After returning to the Flower Capital—
Luffy gave a few quick instructions to Zoro.
Then he departed alone aboard the Thousand Sunny.
"Sunny… let's go to Water 7."
The ship advanced, passing through a space-time portal, and in an instant appeared on the coast of Water 7.
As he stepped onto that city once again, Luffy felt a faint sense of nostalgia.
The last time he had been there was before the Battle of Marineford.
Back then, Vice Admiral Momonga had come to meet him for the Shichibukai meeting.
Now, everything had changed.
Luffy closed his eyes and released his Observation Haki.
Sensing the presences around him—until he found one in particular.
He smiled.
"Found you, old man…"
---
(End of Chapter)