At Shambles, inside a bar.
"It's been two years since then. I'm looking forward to seeing how much everyone has grown."
A black-haired woman with an impressive figure rested her chin on her hand, propped on the table, and looked at the white-haired man beside her.
Rayleigh, as always, enjoyed drinking, but the lines on his brow were deeper than the carefree look of two years ago. His face, besides the deeper marks of time, also held a hint of gloom and severity.
For this free-spirited man, the former right-hand man of the Pirate King, Silvers Rayleigh, such an expression was rare.
"Heh heh, you're too impatient. It's not even certain if everyone can gather smoothly. The current situation..."
Rayleigh took a sip of his drink, and remembering that figure from back then, a hint of killing intent and regret flashed in his eyes, and his brows furrowed tightly.
"With that guy in the Marine, basically all pirate with bounties over 100 million Berries are now too scared to show their faces."
Rayleigh's gaze sharpened. Shakky, watching the gloom in his eyes, knew he was still bothered by Hancock's death at Renji's hands back then. She felt the same.
What outsiders didn't know was that Shakky was the previous queen of Amazon Lily, and Rayleigh was the man who had captured her heart. Hancock was like a daughter to the two of them.
The feelings of Rayleigh and Shakky after their 'daughter' was killed were imaginable.
"The Revolutionary Army's contact is still good, but... they can't protect the island of women right now. However, they did say they could accept us joining them." Shakky exhaled a smoke ring.
Whenever he thought of that figure from back then, Rayleigh couldn't help but feel a surge of killing intent. "If I had known it would come to this, I would have killed him right there, no matter the cost."
"Rayleigh..." Shakky looked worried.
Rayleigh savagely drained the wine in his glass.
"Bullet's War Kingdom should be almost established. Compared to the other Sea Emperors who are already stable, a guy like Blackbeard is unfathomable even to me. And since you are all women, joining them would be too dangerous."
"As for Shanks... for some reason, my attempts to contact him are always interrupted. Kaido and Big Mom are also not suitable. In the end, it seems Amazon Lily merging with Bullet's War Kingdom would have a higher margin for error."
"No matter what, they were once on Roger's ship, and most importantly, our goal is the same: to kill Renji."
Shakky sighed at his words, then nodded, somewhat worried about what was to come.
"The name of the Straw Hat is now known throughout the world. The deciphering of the code... I just don't know who will come here."
"Hmph, no matter who it is, no one can stop the dawn of the New World."
Rayleigh's eyes were resolute, and an invisible Haki surged, shattering the wine glasses in the bar.
Screech!
Just then, the old wooden door of the bar was pushed open, emitting a harsh creaking sound.
A green-haired figure stood at the entrance, with three famous swords at his waist.
"Ah." Shakky smiled.
"Yo, you're the first to arrive." Rayleigh noticed the newcomer's presence and was surprised.
"What, no one else has arrived yet?" Zoro, with only one eye remaining, put one hand on his hip, a triumphant smile on his face.
"I really can't do anything about those guys."
In a certain bar, a curvaceous young woman listened to the discussions of the people around her.
"Haha, business on this island is really getting better and better."
"Indeed, I originally thought that after Marineford was moved to the New World by the new Fleet Admiral, the distance from Shambles would increase, and Marine's threat to pirates would greatly decrease."
"And it was true. Countless Pirates avoided dangerous island transfers and flocked here to set off for the New World. But who the hell would have thought that the newly appointed Admiral would come to Shambles every now and then for a sweep, like harvesting crops on a schedule. And it's said that each time he comes with two people, he slaughters all the great pirates attempting to go to the New World on the spot."
Renji!
Nami's eyes suddenly constricted, and her slender hand holding the wine glass trembled and clenched tightly.
The fear this man's name brought them, even after two years, still couldn't be easily washed away.
And in just two years, that Marine Petty Officer from back then not only didn't stagnate but transformed, actually becoming an Admiral.
"Have you seen it? I was there that day and saw with my own eyes. That Admiral used only one move to instantly kill a Supernova with a bounty of 145 million Berries. The kind where not even a speck was left."
"No way, is it that exaggerated?"
"Yes, but Admiral Seiryu only seems to target pirates with bounties over 100 million Berries whenever he moves out. At first, there were some who weren't afraid of death. After hearing this news, they didn't run but instead came here specifically, clamoring to kill an Admiral to make a name for themselves. The result, of course, was predictable. So gradually, the number of pirates with bounties over 100 million on this island became fewer and fewer."
"By now, there isn't a single pirate with a bounty over 100 million Berries left on Shambles. Before that, I could occasionally see Admiral Seiryu. He was so cool. But then I stopped seeing him."
"Of course, the popularity of this island is also very lively because of this. Under the protection of Admiral Seiryu's prestige, almost every shop's business is booming."
"But recently, have you heard? Straw Hats, which caused such a stir two years ago, seems to be making a comeback here."
"Damn, they're really brave. I remember their captain, Luffy, already has a bounty of 400 million Berries. With such a big commotion, doesn't that mean Admiral Seiryu is coming again?"
At the port, a curly-browed blonde figure appeared, his eyes scanning women within his sight like a radar.
Drops of crimson flowed from his nostrils. There was no way around it. Even a normal man, being chased by transvestites for two years, couldn't endure it. Sanji was actually doing quite well.
"Women! Women! All living women! No mistake, absolutely no mistake! Before me are all genuine women!"
...
On a large stage, Brook was preparing to sing when he saw a figure appear before him at some unknown time.
With azure eyes and a cloak of justice, Brook was instantly so startled that his bones jumped.
"Yo, long time no see. Are you preparing to dance?"
Renji's lips curved into a dangerous arc. If his guess was correct, Rayleigh should also be on the island at this time.
And Rayleigh, who had close ties with the Revolutionary Army and one of the Four Emperors Bullet, had been thoroughly investigated by Renji. Soon, the latest bounty warrant for Rayleigh would become effective.
If the New World wanted to set sail smoothly, how could its extraordinary significance be highlighted without the bloodshed and sacrifice of the Old World?