East Blue, Shimotsuki Village.
This was a secluded little village, cut off from the world, where even the News Birds seemed to arrive a bit later than usual.
Just in time for the night of the year's transition.
The old year became the past, and the year 1517 of the Sea Calendar quietly came to an end.
Under the night sky, lanterns hung at the entrance of Isshin Dojo, with kadomatsu and shimenawa decorations flanking the doorway. Koshiro personally led his disciples in cleaning the residence to ward off ill fortune.
All of these were customs passed down from their ancestors in Wano Country, still preserved at Isshin Dojo to this day.
In the kitchen, Bellemere was helping prepare the New Year's Eve soba, humming a tune with a smile on her face.
—Clearly, she had just received some good news and was in high spirits.
As for a certain Mosshead and Curly Brow…
The two of them stood with arms crossed atop the village's water tower, watching the distant sea as the snow fell heavier and heavier, thick as goose feathers.
Tucked under each of their arms was a newspaper they had already finished reading.
"Once tonight passes, we'll be sixteen," Sanji mused.
"Yeah, me too."
"Nojiko and the others set sail at this age."
"Yeah, Kuina too."
"Big Brother Xiano's bounty is already sky-high."
"Yeah, Kuina too."
"Mosshead, is that the only line you know?"
"Because I can't wait any longer!" Zoro finally exploded, shouting in frustration. "Just last year, we were still close in strength, but now he's left us so far behind we can't even see his ass anymore!"
"What a pervy way to put it."
"?" Zoro's face was full of confusion—what did asses have to do with being pervy?
"Never mind, go play… Anyway, let's set sail! I can't wait either!"
Sanji raised his arms and laughed heartily. "We'll leave tomorrow once the snow stops—straight for the New World! I hereby declare the official formation of the Chef Adventure Crew! Hey, my Vice-Captain, you ready or what?!"
"Hah?! Why are you the Captain, and I'm the Vice-Captain?! And why the hell would you name it the Chef Adventure Crew?! You suck at naming things!"
"Then what would you call it?"
"Swords… Two Swords Adventure Crew?"
Even worse! Sanji rolled his eyes. "Well, I'm not gonna be your subordinate either. Might as well go our separate ways!"
"Fine by me!" Zoro scoffed. "When my Two Swords Adventure Crew shakes the Grand Line, don't come crying to join!"
"You'd have to find the Grand Line first," Sanji sneered.
The two glared at each other atop the water tower, locked in a battle of wills.
The cold wind howled, and the snow fell even harder…
———
While some were still bickering at home, others had already embarked on their journey.
Reverse Mountain.
A bright yellow submarine slowly surfaced, riding the upward current to the peak of the Red Line.
From this vantage point, the branching paths of the four seas stretched out below, but the direction they were headed was naturally…
Law adjusted his leopard-print hat, a slow grin spreading across his face.
The Grand Line!
"Captain, are we really going to find Lord Xiano?" Bepo's nervous voice came from behind.
"Yeah…"
Law chuckled lightly. "Joining or not aside, I should at least meet Xiano in person and thank him properly."
Actually, there was another man he needed to thank as well.
However, the newspaper he'd recently purchased coincidentally carried news that the other man had joined the Curtain Closers as one of its three top executives.
With both benefactors gathered in one place, this would save him a lot of trouble.
"Sniff..."
Faint sobbing suddenly came from behind.
Frowning, Law turned to see Bepo crouched in a corner, his furry paws covering his face as his shoulders shook with quiet tears dripping down.
"Bepo?" Law was baffled. "Why are you crying?"
"Sniff... Captain..."
Bepo raised his teary eyes. "I-I just read the newspaper. Lord Xiano is a good person, but his sister... she specializes in eating pets! She's already eaten several!"
How terrifying, waaah!
Law: "?"
"But it's okay!"
Bepo clenched his fists with tragic determination:
"For the Captain's dream! I'm willing to sacrifice myself! If it helps the Captain traverse the Grand Line and meet Lord Xiano properly, I-I'll gladly let her eat me!"
Law took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, though the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He massaged his temples in exasperation. "Bepo."
"Huh?"
Bepo looked at him blankly.
"First, you're a member of the Mink Tribe, our comrade. Not a pet, and certainly not food."
"Second, you idiot, use that big head of yours and think properly!"
"Since when has the World Government's word been trustworthy? Those bastards will use any despicable means to slander Xiano. How could something like this possibly be true!"
"Really?"
Bepo lowered his head, pinching his round belly. "But I do look really fresh and delicious... I was planning to lose more weight, become skin and bones so she wouldn't have an appetite..."
"I said there's no such thing! And don't you dare lose my napping pillow!"
Finally losing patience, Law delivered a karate chop to Bepo's head. "Pull yourself together! Stop worrying about nonsense and focus on sailing! We're about to enter the Grand Line!"
The submarine finally rushed down the mountain peak, speeding toward the Grand Line. Law stood at the bow as the Heart Pirates' flag flapped violently in the fierce wind.
Gazing at the unpredictable waters ahead, his eyes were profound.
"Xiano."
Law murmured to himself, "Let me see with my own eyes... just what kind of man could defeat Doflamingo and make the World Government so wary..."
———
New World, Oni Island.
Shrouded in thick fog, within the horned Skull Castle.
"Worororororo!!!"
A certain enormous creature who'd just woken up pulled out his gourd of sake, laughing heartily. "That brat really did well this time! The World Government hasn't suffered such humiliation in ages!"
Meanwhile, King leaned against the window, silently reading the newspaper in his hands.
2.86 billion Berries?
That was approaching the level of the Four Emperors.
Staring at the glaring bounty figure far surpassing his own, a complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.
Bad news—his bounty and strength were completely overshadowed. If that guy joined the Beasts, he'd probably instantly become the second-in-command, stepping right over him.
Good news—a man who'd reached that level would never, under any circumstances, willingly submit to someone else…
But was that really good news?
King set down the newspaper, casually placing it on the windowsill, his eyes thoughtful… Perhaps it was time to have the underlings increase surveillance of the nearby waters.
That kid's momentum was clearly aimed at the position of the Four Emperors.
And with his grudge against Kaido, there was a good chance the Beasts would be his first target.
Hm?
King suddenly sensed something and sharply looked up.
Only to see Kaido set down his gourd and walk over to the window as well. He stretched lazily, then cracked his neck, producing a series of popping sounds.
Wait…
King's pupils constricted.
This reaction… Was he really planning to go out alone again to challenge Xiano to a fight?
"Big Brother Kaido!"
He hurriedly reached out an arm to block the window, but Kaido had already yawned and leisurely returned to his throne.
King froze mid-motion.
"What?"
Kaido gave him a baffled look. "I just slept wrong last night and threw out my back. Can't I stretch without you getting in the way?"
Was he messing with him on purpose?
A vein throbbed on King's forehead. He didn't even want to deal with this guy anymore.
Neither of them noticed as a sea breeze swept in, lifting the newspaper from the windowsill and sending it spiraling into the distance.
Who knew how far or how long it flew…
Snap.
A pair of pale, slender hands suddenly reached out and caught the newspaper, unfolding it curiously.
Clink-clank—
The movement was a bit too forceful, causing the chains to jingle sharply, their crisp echoes reverberating across the quiet grassland…
———
Dressrosa.
A full week had passed since the world-shaking incident, yet the Sunset remained anchored at this passionate, fiery island.
Xiano hadn't originally planned to stay long.
But it just so happened to be the New Year in the Sea Calendar…
And Dressrosa, known as the "Land of Love and Passion, Home of the Fairies," was a place where both humans and the Tontatta Tribe exuded an innate boldness and warmth.
As a result, they were practically dragged into one banquet after another, with no way to refuse.
So they simply gave up resisting and decided to stay and celebrate the New Year properly.
Once the festive atmosphere faded and everyone had rested and recuperated, they could set sail again.
"Boss! Boss!"
Jack, clutching a huge barrel of alcohol, drunkenly shouted outside the window:
"Another invitation just came in! This time, it's from those tiny Tontatta folks—they want us to visit Green Bit! Are we going?"
"You guys go. I've already been invited by them once. I've got something to handle right now, so I'll skip it."
Xiano, lounging on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, replied offhandedly.
"Oh, alright."
Outside, Jack's footsteps gradually faded away.
Only then did Xiano's gaze shift back to the coffee table in front of him.
Three suits of varying colors, a yukata, and a flat cap were neatly arranged in a row.
These had just been delivered today by CP0, fulfilling the Five Elders' promise.
Without hesitation, Xiano proceeded to offer them up one by one.
[You have offered the Science Defense God Saturn's flat cap and gained 2000 Points.]
[You sacrificed Environment God Marcus Mars' suit, obtaining 2000 Points]
[You sacrificed...]
The five old men were identical, with no differences—each provided exactly two thousand Points.
Added together, it made a neat ten thousand, quite a substantial bonus income.
However.
He'd made this request to earn Points, but not solely for the Points.
There was also crucial combat intelligence to gather...
"Only two thousand?"
Xiano's eyes flickered slightly.
Those five old men—regardless of how many years they'd lived or how many bizarre powers they'd obtained from Imu—if their belongings were only worth this much, even less than the cowboy hat taken from Chaton...
Then their strength ceiling probably wasn't particularly high either.
At best, Yonko Commander level.
Just troublesome to deal with due to their immortality.
The World Government's so-called top combatants still ultimately relied on the Marine Admirals and the God Knights.
Xiano glanced at his remaining Points again.
Besides this ten thousand, Enel had contributed 1,500 Points.
As for King Riku, Violet, Cyrus, Rebecca and others, all the scattered amounts added up to another 2,500.
Totaling 14,000, bringing Xiano's current remaining Points to 57,600.
This could be considered comfortably sufficient again.
Additionally...
Xiano's gaze shifted to the greatsword at his back.
Over these past few days, he'd noticed something—when organizing Devil Fruits, his katana "Masamune" would always vibrate faintly, like a child spotting candy.
And the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was undoubtedly its favorite sweet, causing the most intense vibrations.
Not a chance.
Xiano had absolutely no intention of indulging it.
He wasn't truly a Master Swordsman—currently, the only sword technique he'd mastered was Roger's Divine Departure, and he rarely used blades otherwise.
Moreover.
A Logia-type that allowed elemental transformation at will, especially the exceptionally rare Rumble-Rumble...
Feeding it to a sword would be too wasteful.
If he obtained some Paramecia-type that the greatsword also showed interest in, he might consider it then.
As for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he'd already decided to keep it for a promising crewmember.
With the right candidate and proper Devil Fruit ability development, it could practically create a top-tier officer approaching the level of the "Three Calamities."
"Three Calamities..."
Xiano shook his head.
The Marine Headquarters' intelligence was fairly reliable—Kuma had indeed officially joined his ranks and was currently one of the strongest fighters aboard besides himself.
But those staff officers' naming sense... left much to be desired.
Three Calamities? Three Great Misfortunes?
In his opinion, it sounded overly edgy, more fitting the Beast's style. Though admittedly quite intimidating—perhaps "Three Disasters" also originated from Marine Headquarters...
Overall still acceptable.
Besides Kuma.
The Tontatta Pirates, led by Captain Leo, had also officially joined the Curtain Closer's forces.
Calling them a pirate crew was generous—it was really just these little folk who'd never left their homeland jumping on the trend with a makeshift name.
Only about 200 members strong, essentially just the Tontatta Kingdom's royal guard in disguise.
Having returned from Green Bit to the main island, they were now active here, just like the Riku Army, serving as protectors of this nation under the banner of the Curtain Closers.
That's right.
In Dressrosa, whether at the ports or the highest point of the King's Plateau, the flags of the Curtain Closers now flew proudly, just as they did in the Agatha Archipelago.
The status of a World Government affiliate nation was disdainfully cast aside by King Riku, who officially pledged allegiance to Xiano's command.
The same was true for the Tontatta Kingdom. Compared to the Riku royal family, these little ones had an even deeper and more complicated grudge against the Donquixote Family—one that could be traced back 800 years.
Xiano and Kuma had killed Doflamingo, driven out the Donquixote Family, and saved not only Dressrosa but them as well.
Xiano turned his gaze to the inventory and unrolled the parchment.
On the map, amidst the mist, a second island—vastly larger than the Agatha Archipelago—and a third island further north had both been illuminated simultaneously.
[Territory: Dressrosa]
[Land Area: 26,000 sq km]
[Population: ~1.3 million]
[Regional Leader: King Riku]
[Happiness Level: Low → Medium]
...
[Territory: Green Bit]
[Land Area: 2,800 sq km]
[Population: ~8,000 (all Tontatta dwarves)]
[Regional Leader: Gancho]
[Happiness Level: Medium → High]
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