At the mention of the New World, Smoker fell silent.
He had been in the East Blue all these years, so he did not know much about the current situation in the New World. Even so, he knew that things there had been far from peaceful lately.
Even The Black Order had issued a warning and was calling back its strongest members from all over the world to its headquarters.
Uta had been at Marine headquarters all these years. Although she spent most of her time carrying out missions in the first half of the Grand Line, she occasionally went to the New World as well. Besides, she had a godfather there, so she definitely understood the situation in the New World much better than he did.
Smoker knew this was probably highly classified information, but he still could not help asking, "Could it be... that the Demon Lord is about to descend again?"
Other than the Demon Lord's descent, what else could make The Black Order so nervous?
"Maybe..." Uta hesitated for a moment before saying softly, "It's even more terrifying than that."
?!
Even more terrifying?!
Smoker's pupils widened, and he looked completely stunned.
To the people of the current world, the Demon Lord was already the most terrifying disaster imaginable. In the past, Aatrox had swept across the Grand Line. The devastation of Jaltzburg and the massacre in the Ait Wall waters both showed the Demon Lord's terrifying power.
The battle against Aatrox back then had been nothing like the simple version promoted by the World Government.
Even the World Government's own propaganda had repeatedly mentioned that the Demon Lord possessed the power to destroy the world.
Yet Uta was now saying that this coming disaster might be even worse than the Demon Lord? How was that possible?
Wasn't the Demon Lord the strongest demon there was?
"This is information that people at our level aren't qualified to know yet." Uta sighed. "At present, only the three Admirals and the Fleet Admiral at Marine headquarters know what's happening. Even my godfather and Vice Admiral Garp don't know the full story."
Smoker clicked his tongue. He knew the rules, so he did not ask any more questions.
Even so, he could not stop wondering what exactly was about to happen in the New World.
"After this incident is over, I should be transferred back to headquarters." Smoker felt somewhat excited. He had wasted many years in the East Blue, and now that he had heard Marine might be making a major move in the New World, the passion in his heart finally began to burn again.
"Sure. Actually, all you had to do was tell Admiral Aokiji." Uta shrugged.
Marine headquarters was not as rotten as it was in the original story, nor did it blindly obey the World Government. Because of that, Smoker was not as dissatisfied with headquarters as he had been in the original story. The same was true of Aokiji.
Aokiji's sense of justice had always been known as "burning justice," and he himself was a highly motivated person.
Later, however, the Ohara incident allowed Aokiji to see the true nature of the World Government. His beliefs were shaken, and his burning justice gradually changed into lazy justice.
But in this version of history, the Ohara incident had been completely changed. Marine headquarters was also only outwardly united with the World Government. Under An's leadership, the entire organization was filled with a positive atmosphere from top to bottom.
Only Kizaru remained as vague and noncommittal as ever.
Aokiji was still an advocate of "burning justice," and he and Akainu were both nightmares to many pirates. Smoker also had a very good relationship with Aokiji. If he wanted to return to Marine headquarters, all he had to do was tell Aokiji.
Smoker had simply not wanted to trouble Aokiji before. Besides, Zephyr, whom he had always deeply respected, was the one who had sent him here, so he had never brought it up.
But after the Muzan Kibutsuji incident and his conversations with Uta, Smoker felt that he really could not keep wasting away in the East Blue.
"Yeah." Smoker nodded. "Once things settle down in the East Blue, I'll return to headquarters and report in."
Uta said nothing. She simply stood atop the tallest building in Loguetown and looked out over the sea.
She had originally come to capture Luffy, but she had not even seen him yet. Now she had to focus on dealing with Rob Lucci instead.
"Luffy, whatever you do, don't run into that man."
Uta spoke softly.
According to the information she had, Rob Lucci was an extremely violent man. On his very first mission outside headquarters, he had killed more than five hundred people. Someone like that coming to the East Blue could only mean disaster.
For some reason, Uta also had a feeling that Rob Lucci's real target was Luffy and the others.
Otherwise, she could not understand why someone like him would come to the East Blue.
That was not to say that the other four seas had no places worth watching, but the East Blue was especially unique among them.
It was the birthplace of the Pirate King, Roger, and Vice Admiral Garp. Marine headquarters had never paid closer attention to any other sea. The people here also enjoyed the highest standard of living in the world, and every year, large numbers of people from other seas immigrated to the East Blue.
There were no powerful pirates, the standard of living was high, and oppression was relatively rare. An environment like this also made it difficult for powerful demons to emerge. In theory...
The East Blue was a sea of peace!
If there was anything unusual about it, it was Luffy.
Could Rob Lucci be planning to capture Luffy and use him as a hostage?
As Uta pondered this, she suddenly sensed something. She could not help murmuring,
"Looks like Luffy and the others got there first."
.........
Not far from Loguetown, the Going Merry sailed across the sea.
The members of the Straw Hat Pirates were running all over the deck.
"Usopp, you have to shoot faster next time!" Nami shouted angrily.
She was standing in front of the ship's wheel. A huge hole had been blasted open around her. Although the hole was slowly repairing itself under the influence of a strange power, the energy that remained was still terrifying to look at.
Usopp stood nearby, looking embarrassed. He said quietly, "I didn't expect that monster to become even stronger when it appeared again."
Just moments ago, the huge black Hollow had appeared once more. This time, it had prepared a Cero the instant it appeared. A red beam of energy had blasted toward them, and Usopp had only barely managed to fire an arrow in time to cancel out part of its power. Otherwise, the Going Merry might have been sunk outright.
Apart from Usopp, who could clearly see the monster, everyone else could only make out a blurry shadow. None of them had been able to react in time.
"Still, thank goodness the Going Merry has a Shikon Jewel shard. Otherwise, we'd be drowning right now." Ben sounded relieved.
The power of the Shikon Jewel shard truly was extraordinary. It could heal the wounds of living beings, and it could even repair objects that were not alive.
"With the Going Merry, we can explore any sea we want!" Luffy jumped down from above and stared excitedly at the huge hole as it slowly repaired itself.
That was absolutely true. After all, no one else in the world was as rich and reckless as they were.
When other people obtained Shikon Jewel shards, they did everything they could to merge with them and use their power to strengthen themselves. Who would have thought that Luffy and the others would actually be willing to fuse a Shikon Jewel shard into their ship?
If the major figures of the New World heard about this, they would definitely think Luffy and his crew were insane.
"I really don't think you care about anything at all." Nami rubbed her forehead as she looked at the excited Luffy and Ben. "We're almost at Loguetown!"
"Yeah, the smoke guy's territory." Luffy rubbed his cheek.
"If you already know that, then get ready for a fight!" Nami snapped. "I don't want Marine to capture us."
"Don't be so nervous, Nami. The Going Merry is really fast. We can just sail straight through Loguetown, and that smoke guy won't be able to catch us." Usopp sounded quite confident.
He was not confident in himself. He was confident in the Going Merry.
He had built the Going Merry with his own hands, so of course he trusted its abilities. On top of that, he had even fused the Shikon Jewel shard his father had left him into the ship as a protective charm.
"I hope it goes that smoothly." Nami was not nearly as optimistic as they were.
Loguetown was not only Marine headquarters' territory; it was also very close to The Black Order. If a fight broke out and The Black Order was drawn into it, they would never be able to defeat the combined official forces.
When Nami had been working under Muzan Kibutsuji, she had deeply sensed how wary Muzan was of The Black Order. The main reason Muzan had hidden in the shadows was to avoid being investigated by The Black Order.
The organization had always kept a low profile, acting as if it wanted no attention. But if even Muzan was so wary of it, then it was clearly not something to be taken lightly.
As she thought about this, a beautiful melody suddenly drifted over from the distance.
The lovely tune spread across the sea. The singing sounded like music from heaven, filled with the singer's happiness. Yet after that happiness came a deep sadness. Overall, it was a melody that stirred powerful emotions in anyone who heard it.
"What a beautiful voice! Anyone who can sing a song like that must be a heavenly fairy!"
Sanji suddenly burst out of the kitchen. His lovestruck expression was so ridiculous that even Zoro could not stand looking at him.
Zoro said coldly, "A song suddenly coming from somewhere out at sea? How could that possibly not be suspicious?"
"What's suspicious about it? Moss-head, listen to me. A beautiful woman can do no wrong."
"Mo..."
"Moss-head?"
Zoro raised an eyebrow. "Only a curly-browed idiot like you would have that kind of stupid idea."
"Hm? Is that how you treat someone who saved your life?" Sanji instantly moved right in front of Zoro.
Sanji really had saved Zoro before. Zoro's injuries had already improved greatly after the incident in West Rob Village, but if Sanji had not arrived to help them in Orange Town, they would certainly have died.
That did not make Zoro back down. He immediately said, "Don't worry. I'll save your life soon enough."
"Really? I don't see how you're capable of saving me."
The two of them truly seemed to have been born as natural enemies. They quickly started arguing, and before long, their argument turned into a fight.
Zoro drew his sword, while Sanji did not hold back and attacked with his kicks.
They seemed to be fighting in earnest now, and the force of their battle even began damaging the Going Merry.
Usopp's heart bled when he saw this. He glared at them furiously.
"Hey! You two!"
But neither of them listened. Usopp grew even angrier. He controlled spirit particles and formed a bow and arrows, then fired rapidly at the two of them.
The fight quickly turned into a three-way battle. Soon, Nami, Ben, and even Luffy were dragged into it as well. None of the six showed any intention of holding back.
The Straw Hat Pirates had begun fighting among themselves.
At that moment, the song coming from somewhere unknown grew louder and more powerful. Its rhythm became faster and faster. Though only one person was singing, it sounded as if thousands of soldiers and horses were charging across the battlefield.
The cheerful music made their blood race. Everyone who heard it suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to go out and save the world.
The more urgent and joyful the song became, the fiercer and more reckless the battle between the six grew.
Luffy was hot-blooded and especially simple-minded, making him the perfect target for this kind of ability.
Jango's hypnosis was one example. Miss Goldenweek's powers were another. Abilities like theirs could easily affect Luffy, even when there was a huge difference in strength between the two sides.
By now, Luffy's eyes had practically turned red. He had even activated Gear Third!
His hand grew enormously large. It was the giant's strike from Gear Third, and if that fist came down, it might send the Going Merry straight to the bottom of the sea.
But just as he was about to bring his fist down, the Going Merry suddenly released a strange wave of energy. A soft, colorless power spread from the bow and quickly wrapped around the entire ship.
The moment the ship was completely enclosed, the singing abruptly stopped.
The music had been building toward its climax, growing faster and more intense, but it suddenly vanished. The silence that followed made everyone on the ship feel deeply uncomfortable.
But in the next moment, they all came to their senses.
"What... happened to me just now?" Luffy looked at the Gear Third fist he had been about to throw and quickly pulled it back. He looked completely confused.
The other five also lowered their fighting stances. Many wounds covered their bodies, all of them caused by one another during the fight.
"It was the music!" Nami was quick to figure it out. "That music could amplify the anger, recklessness, and desire to fight in our hearts. That's why we couldn't control ourselves and started attacking each other!"
"How dare they!" Luffy shouted angrily. "They tried to make us kill each other!"
"Did the Going Merry save us?" Usopp finally came to his senses and spoke in surprise.
Then he looked at the Going Merry's battered and broken condition. During their fight, the ship had nearly been torn apart.
The Going Merry was still repairing itself under the power of the Shikon Jewel shard, but everyone felt guilty when they saw how badly damaged it was.
After all, the ship had blocked the song at the very last moment.
"Damn it!" Ben shouted angrily. "I'm going to find whoever's singing!"
----
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