By the end of the year 1508 of the Sea Calendar, a pattern began to emerge in the New World. Alucard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido started systematically sweeping through the mid and latter halves of the New World, clearing out rival forces with an unspoken understanding.
This created a new power dynamic: Whitebeard dominated the very end of the New World, while Alucard, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin carved up the middle and mid-to-end sections. Any pirate who was not part of these four factions faced a brutal purge.
Shortly after, a rumor surfaced that Big Mom had found one of the four Red Poneglyphs. Kaido immediately broke the pact the three of them had made years ago in Dressrosa—a treaty to maintain a balance of power—and publicly declared war on Big Mom, determined to seize the Poneglyph for himself.
This was happening less than two weeks after Alucard obtained Poseidon and entered the New World with Wolf.
"That mad dog, casually breaking our agreement… well, it's surprising it lasted this long
anyway." Alucard read the day's newspaper, which prominently featured the war between Kaido and Big Mom.
The matter of the Red Poneglyphs was something only high-level pirates were aware of. Lower- ranking pirates had no source for such information. Alucard had only inferred the connection to the Red Poneglyphs based on the actions of the two Emperors.
For the past two years, Kaido and Big Mom had been sending people to follow Roger's path, but it seemed Big Mom had gotten a head start. Now, Kaido couldn't sit still and was determined to take the Poneglyph by force.
"That mad dog, even if he steals it, can he even read it…?" Alucard mused inwardly. He had a Red Poneglyph himself and was also unable to decipher it. Roger could read them most likely because he had an expert in decoding Poneglyphs among his crew, just like Nico Robin.
"Captain~~"
At that moment, Wolf lifted his head from the water below. "Lately, we've only been eating small-time pirates. It's so boring~"
After seeing the news that Kaido was going to war with Charlotte Linlin, Wolf was itching for a fight. He also wanted to step onto the grand stage of the pirate world. He had finally entered the New World, but in the last two days, they had only taken out small fries, and he was getting restless.
"Pere pere pere pere~~"
Just then, a Den Den Mushi on a table nearby began to ring. Alucard's eyes narrowed as he picked up the receiver. He heard Otohime's voice, a hint of nervousness in her tone. "U-um,
Alucard-san, Whitebeard… Whitebeard-san will probably be coming to see you soon. Please be careful."
"What?"
Alucard squinted.
He had an agreement with Fish-Man Island: they would get one of his twelve islands to use as their surface colony in exchange for him receiving the Ancient Weapon Poseidon. A week prior, Alucard had received a message from Neptune saying they had chosen Laguna Island. The island was only of medium size among the twelve, but it was very close to Fish-Man Island, so a mermaid could swim there in two days.
Another issue had been which pirate flag to fly over this "New Fish-Man Island." Fish-Man
Island had always flown Whitebeard's flag, but the new island was on Alucard's territory. After a long consideration, Neptune decided to ask Alucard for his opinion. Alucard had no preference and said they could fly whichever flag they wanted. In the end, Neptune chose to fly Whitebeard's flag over Laguna, or what was now called New Fish-Man Island.
Yesterday, Alucard had even seen an article in the newspaper: not only had Fish-Man Island moved to the surface, but a fish-man named Namur had joined the Whitebeard Pirates. Alucard hadn't planned to get involved in any of this, but he never expected that after seeing news of Neptune and Whitebeard meeting, Otohime would call him today to warn him that Whitebeard was coming for him.
"What does he want?"
He asked the question, but immediately answered himself. "Never mind. You don't need to tell me. If he wants to come, let him."
With that, Alucard hung up the call without waiting for Otohime's reply. On Otohime's end, on New Fish-Man Island, the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship, the Moby Dick, had just departed.
After hearing the line go dead, Otohime also put down the receiver and walked over to Neptune. "I couldn't stop him."
Neptune turned his large body and looked down at his wife. "This was never something we could have stopped. I just hope… the vortex of their battle doesn't sweep us up."
"I hope so too."
Otohime nodded, then looked out at their "New Fish-Man Island." Due to Alucard's previous massacre, there were no humans on the island, but most of the buildings were relatively intact. In time, she believed they could build a paradise rivaling Fish-Man Island.
However, was it truly that simple? With Whitebeard's flag, they might be safe from most pirates, but would the Marines simply sit by and do nothing?
"Captain, I heard it! I heard it!"
After Alucard hung up the phone, Woof shouted excitedly. "It's Whitebeard, right? It's that
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, right? Are we going to fight him? Are we going to fight him?"
"Hmph…" Alucard snorted and looked up at the sky. "Looking for me? Is he coming to get payback for his friend?"
....
In recent days, the Marines were swamped with problems. In just two weeks, Fleet Admiral Kong felt as if a heap of major issues had been compressed into a few days and were all being thrown at him.
First, the war between the Beasts and Big Mom. Then, Alucard entering the New World. And now, Fish-Man Island migrating to the surface, choosing Alucard's former territory, but flying the Whitebeard Pirates' flag.
What the hell is going on?!
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