The next day,
The news that Pluton had appeared at Enies Lobby and, with a single shot, completely wiped the symbol of the World Government's absolute justice—the Gate of Justice—along with the entire island from the map,
Spread like wildfire to every corner of the world, faster than any tsunami, through News Coos, Den Den Mushi, and various clandestine channels!
The entire world was once again violently shaken!
In the perpetually noisy bar on the Sabaody Archipelago, filled with the scent of ale and sweat, the afternoon's laziness was abruptly shattered by a newsboy's heart-wrenching shout.
"Extra! Extra!! Earth-shattering news! Enies Lobby completely destroyed!!!"
"World Government's Gate of Justice annihilated!"
"Ancient weapon Pluton, reappears!!"
Like a ladle of cold water thrown into a boiling oil pot, the entire bar instantly erupted!
Pirates, thugs, and intelligence peddlers almost simultaneously sprang from their seats, wildly surging towards the entrance, scrambling to snatch the still-ink-smelling extra newspaper dropped by the News Coo.
Gold coins and Berries flew everywhere, but no one bothered to pick them up; everyone's eyes were fixed on the front page—
A massive, blurry photograph, occupying more than half the page, yet still conveying a sense of world-ending power: a terrifying mushroom cloud connecting heaven and earth billowed over the sea, surrounded by countless architectural outlines instantly vaporized, leaving only remnants!
The bold, almost menacing black headline slammed into every reader's eyes like a heavy hammer:
[Ancient Weapon Appears! Pluton Annihilates Enies Lobby with One Shot! The Gate of Justice is History!!!]
The boisterous bar fell into an eerie, deathly silence at this moment, with only heavy breathing and the rustling sound of newspapers being crumpled by trembling hands audible.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on the photo and headline, trying to digest this overly shocking reality.
Wine glasses hung in mid-air, forgotten; open mouths remained agape; lit cigars burned down to fingers unnoticed.
This deathly silence lasted for a full ten seconds.
Then—
"Hey, hey, hey!!! "
A pirate with a face full of scars was the first to react, slamming the newspaper onto the table with a loud bang, his voice distorted by extreme shock,
"Is this real or fake?! What kind of joke is this?! That Straw Hat Boy Luffy?! He did it?!"
His roar was like lighting the fuse of a powder keg; the entire bar instantly erupted in a chorus of gasps and clamor, mixed with fear and disbelief, almost tearing off the roof!
"Aren't they just a rookie pirate crew who just entered the Grand Line not long ago?!"
Another pirate pointed at Luffy's wanted poster in the newspaper, his eyes practically bulging out, "Last time they caused a big stir, it was just burning the World Government's flag at Enies Lobby... Although that was also ridiculous, at least..."
"But this time... this time..."
A companion next to him stammered, his finger trembling as he pointed at the mushroom cloud photo,
"This time they directly blew the whole damn island away?! Not even a speck left! And they used... they used Pluton?! That ancient weapon that only exists in legends?!"
"Madmen! A bunch of absolute madmen!"
An older-looking pirate took a big gulp of sake to calm his nerves, his voice hoarse,
"This isn't just a provocation anymore! This is grabbing the World Government's face, its dignity, and its so-called 'absolute justice,' pulling it all out, pinning it to the ground, and repeatedly stomping on it with Pluton's sole!!"
Silence fell again, but this time, it was replaced by a deeper, inexpressible fear.
The pirates exchanged glances, seeing the same shock and bewilderment in each other's eyes.
Finally, a dry voice asked the ultimate question on everyone's mind:
"What kind of monsters are these guys, anyway?!"
Only heavy breathing remained in the bar; no one could answer that question anymore.
Only the terrifying mushroom cloud in the newspaper silently spoke of the birth of a new era's outlaw…
New World,
News often spreads with the speed and salty tang of the sea breeze.
When the news of Pluton destroying Enies Lobby rippled out like a shockwave,
Those great Captains who had previously sat composed in their territories, scoffing at the so-called "Worst Generation" or "Supernovas," could no longer maintain their indifferent demeanors.
In the Captain's cabin of a pirate ship adorned with giant skeletons, resembling a mobile fortress,
A Captain, with a bounty of several hundred million and renowned in his region, slammed the latest wanted poster onto a table covered with sea beast fur, his thick finger—knuckles scarred from battles—forcefully pointing at the unfamiliar face at the top of the wanted poster.
"'Captain Ron'? Never heard of this person before... Appearing right in front of Straw Hat Boy, two billion Berries... Humph, those bastards in the World Government must really be desperate."
His gaze sharpened like an eagle's as he meticulously studied Ron's calm yet subtly powerful photograph.
On the other side,
A female pirate leaned back in her throne, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, looking at the news brief and photos presented by her subordinates, her eyes, which had seen countless storms, filled with unprecedented gravity.
"Pluton... The legendary weapon, actually controlled by a bunch of rookies..."
She murmured, a hint of disbelief in her tone, "And their first move... was to destroy Enies Lobby, such an earth-shattering event. This destructive power... it has already exceeded the scope of 'rookie troublemaking.'"
Her first mate, Cruz, added, "Marineford will absolutely not sit idly by this time. Admiral... probably more than one Admiral will be dispatched to hunt them down. This sea is about to face an unprecedented storm."
The female pirate slowly nodded, her gaze returning to the young faces of the Straw Hat crew on the wanted poster, faces that had already stirred up massive waves.
"Terrifying guys... This sea, which seemed calm for a short while, it seems it's going to boil over again because of these rookies who don't know their place, yet wield 'the power of a god.'"
Whether in the "Paradise" of the first half of the Grand Line or the perilous "New World," whether they were pirates living by the sword or civilians yearning for peace, all conversations revolved tightly around two phrases—"Straw Hat" and "Pluton."
Their names and actions were no longer just after-dinner talk; they brought real, world-sweeping shock and fear.
The old order's wall was blasted open with a clear crack by this sudden cannon shot.
The tide of a new era swept in!
....
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