Even people who have never left their tiny island know what kind of existence the Celestial Dragons are.
But now—someone actually attacked the Celestial Dragons…
And even destroyed the place where they lived?
Hunter Guild President Don.
Although his name had appeared in the papers during his previous clash with Rayleigh,
now, everyone finally understood the true weight behind that name.
West Blue
"Godfather… this favor we owe him is worth a lot now!"
The gangster sharpshooter Vito trembled as he held the newspaper.
Capone Bege bit down on his cigar, jaw clenched so tight it nearly cracked.
Even he found this unbelievable.
"…We can't use that favor anymore."
Bege shook his head after a long silence.
Truthfully—he didn't dare use it.
Vito looked confused.
"What kind of situation would even let us use a favor like that?"
Bege saw the puzzled look on his subordinate, paused, and sighed.
When he agreed to Don back then, it was simply an investment.
But now the return was too huge—so huge it had become a burden.
A person of this level… even the slightest misstep in conversation could lead to consequences he couldn't bear.
And the World Government had yet to officially respond.
"Besides… West Blue isn't suitable for us anymore.
The Grand Line is the only place worth going."
When Bege said this, his eyes flashed—clearly, he'd made a decision.
Flower Country
Chinjao sat on his massive ice block, one hand rubbing his pointed head, the other holding the newspaper.
"Old man! Don is insane strong!"
Lao G was practically vibrating with excitement.
So little time had passed… and he caused a disaster of this scale?
Too impressive.
This—this is what a real man should be!
Chinjao glanced at the overly excited Lao G.
"Can you handle something like this?"
He snorted coldly.
What kind of person does what kind of thing—that's the truth.
If they had dared attack a Celestial Dragon, the Flower Country would've been annihilated by now.
But Don?
The power he had shown now was too exaggerated.
If Don had revealed this level of power back when they fought, Chinjao would've been beaten to death on the spot.
"So… old man, what do we do?"
Lao G whispered.
"This is not something we have the qualifications to meddle in.
One careless move—total annihilation."
Chinjao glared at him.
"…Understood, old man!"
Lao G drooped in disappointment
and immediately got punched by Chinjao and sent flying.
"Idiot! Go practice Hasshoken properly!
And don't you dare enter the Grand Line for the time being!"
North Blue – Germa 66 Battleship
Judge stood with his children assembled before him, a newspaper in hand.
They had once accepted a mission from Don to raid Doflamingo's weapons factory in West Blue
and the profits were enormous.
Even though Don had destroyed much of it, the remaining stockpile was still a money printer.
Large quantities of weapons were absorbed into Germa's own forces, and they sold many more.
So Judge had always kept his eye on Don's movements.
His clash with Rayleigh already shocked him.
That was the former right hand of the Pirate King.
But he never expected something even greater would come.
Even his three genetically modified sons—normally arrogant beyond saving—were quiet now.
"Father,"
Reiju gently reminded him,
"Don previously said we should send people to join the Hunter Guild."
A part of their earlier agreement during the weapons-factory deal.
Back then the Hunter Guild had little presence.
But now? Their first big piece of news shook the world.
"Yes. Reiju—you go to the Grand Line and make contact with the Hunter Guild.
Ask what they require."
Judge had no intention of refusing.
In fact, even without such an arrangement, he would have wanted to establish ties with Don.
A powerhouse of this magnitude would inevitably become one of the rulers of the world.
And the Hunter Guild…
might soon rival even the Marines themselves.
Getting involved early would bring massive rewards.
"I understand," Reiju nodded.
"Father, we want to go too!"
Ichiji immediately shouted.
"No."
Judge knew his three sons too well.
They were his proudest creations—but absolutely not suitable for diplomatic tasks.
They must avoid unnecessary risks.
East Blue – Marine Branch 16
Captain Nezumi stared at the newspaper, hands shaking uncontrollably.
What the hell is this…?
He could barely believe his eyes.
His clash with Rayleigh already felt surreal.
But now Don had done this?
Even the Pirate King Roger—the most notorious criminal in history—hadn't done something like this!
Attacking the Celestial Dragons.
Fighting two Admirals.
Shattering the Red Line.
Storming Mariejois.
Any one of these alone would shake the world.
And Don had done all of them.
Thinking back on his recent meeting with Don, cold sweat drenched Nezumi's back.
But Don had seemed easy to talk to…
So why? How did he end up doing all this?
Wasn't he a "pirate hunter"…?
Nezumi shook his head violently.
"No, no… this is not something I should think about!"
He jumped up.
"Prepare my warship!
I'm going on patrol!"
Whatever Don said before—he had to take it seriously.
Shimotsuki Village
The dojo was closed today.
The students were not present.
Inside, three people—one adult and two children—sat across from each other.
Koushirou knelt before the table, brows furrowed as he stared at the newspaper.
Kuina and Zoro sat silently beside him, dazed.
"I truly didn't expect him… to grow this strong,"
Koushirou murmured, eyes fixed on the image.
The picture showed a sun-like blast smashing into the Red Line.
Just that one image alone conveyed the unimaginable destruction of the impact.
"That guy's… that strong now?"
Even Zoro, stubborn as an iron pole, felt crushed.
The difference was absurd—so big it made Zoro's brain go blank.
"Don said… Kuina and I would become the world's greatest swordsmen,
and he'd just loaf around afterward…"
Zoro muttered again.
Kuina rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out.
She turned to her father, worry in her eyes.
"Father… will Don be okay?"
"Hm?"
Koushirou blinked, then looked at her.
"You should be asking whether everyone else is okay."
END OF CHAPTER
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