"They have a good relationship, you're not mistaken, are you?"
"Yeah, yeah, we used to go to Windmill Village often. That kid practically grew up under our watch."
"Yeah, yeah, but we never saw that little girl named Luna."
The key executives of the Red Hair Pirates spoke one after another, engaging in a heated discussion about the matter.
"Benn Beckman, you didn't misspeak, did you?" Shanks also looked skeptical.
"Ugh, no, I didn't! How did I end up with a bunch of idiots like you as crewmates, and a captain like you? Couldn't they have met after Luffy set sail?"
Benn Beckman rolled his eyes at all of them, then immediately spoke in an irritated tone. He nearly picked up his rifle butt to hit someone.
Damn it, what kind of miraculous teammates are these?
Was he the only smart person in the entire crew?
"Ah."
"Oh, oh, oh, right."
"How did we forget that point?"
"Hahaha, yeah, we really shouldn't have."
Shanks and the other executives of the Red Hair Pirates suddenly realized their mistake and laughed awkwardly.
"In that case, Benn Beckman, tell us, what exactly is the situation?"
Shanks immediately smiled apologetically.
"Sigh, it's like this. According to some of our informants and subordinate Pirate Crews in that area, Luffy and Luna definitely became friends after Luffy set out."
"Furthermore, one saved the other once, and helped several times. At the same time, I investigated through these subordinates and informants and discovered some connections between members of the Pink Hat Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates."
Benn Beckman then immediately recounted everything he knew.
First was the official meeting between the Straw Hat Pirates and the Pink Hat Pirates right at the start.
That is, the two crews rode the Knock Up Stream together, reaching the clouds above, and then reappeared on the sea a few days later.
"The Knock Up Stream near Jaya Island... did they go to Skypiea?"
Hearing this, Shanks was instantly startled, an expression of disbelief on his face.
Although he had never been there, he had heard that it wasn't a legend but a real place, because Captain Roger and his crew had gone there back in the day. When he and Buggy were still apprentices, he had heard Captain Roger and the others tell this story.
He just hadn't expected that both the Straw Hat Pirates and the Pink Hat Pirates had gone there. This was essentially retracing the path Captain Roger and his crew took back then. Luffy and his friends probably also saw the special historical inscription Captain Roger left behind.
If that was the case, wasn't Luffy truly the person he had been waiting for? Thinking this, Shanks immediately smiled. This was great; his investment and the loss of an arm hadn't been wasted, and the straw hat hadn't been given away for nothing.
The others noticed Shanks' expression, and the fact that he mentioned Skypiea wasn't a legend immediately drew their attention. They quickly asked about it, and Shanks recounted the story.
They immediately felt disbelief and surprise, realizing that Skypiea actually existed.
"Of course, there is one thing about this incident that concerns me greatly: that Blackbeard guy was also present and tried to capture Luffy and his crew."
Benn Beckman immediately reported this, interrupting their enjoyment and interest. Hearing this, let alone the other executives, even Shanks grew serious, his face filled with caution and killing intent.
After all, he had long sensed that this person was not simple. Of course, Buggy had sensed it even earlier than him.
And don't forget, the three scars on his face were left by that Blackbeard.
Furthermore, because of the Blackbeard situation, he is now specifically heading to the Whitebeard Pirates.
They were already underway and would arrive in another day and a half.
Precisely because he knew that Blackbeard was not simple, he took this matter very seriously: why would Blackbeard target Luffy?
"Wait a minute, had Luffy's bounty already exceeded 100 million at that time?"
But suddenly, as if realizing something, and combining it with a previous incident, Shanks had a rough guess. Was this guy aiming for that position?
But to get that position, one must capture a pirate with a bounty over 100 million, as this is the basic requirement for taking that currently vacant position.
"It had indeed exceeded 100 million," Benn Beckman confirmed.
"It seems my trip to the Whitebeard Pirates this time is truly important," Shanks immediately said, and then continued.
"Right, Benn Beckman, continue telling us what happened next between the Pink Hat Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Oh, alright." Seeing that Shanks had brought up the matter and that everyone else's attention was drawn once again, Benn Beckman started speaking again, looking at the collected intelligence reports in his hand.
Benn Beckman immediately continued, detailing how the Pink Hat Pirates rescued the Straw Hat Pirates from Aokiji, even defeating and driving Aokiji away. Then, at Enies Lobby, they helped the Straw Hat Pirates cover their retreat, cleaned up the mess, annihilated many Marines, and destroyed Enies Lobby. This then led to the subsequent battle, triggered by the negotiation between the two sides for the Marines to redeem their hostages.
The incident at Jaya Island was known because they had informants within the Saruyama Alliance. Regarding the incident at Enies Lobby and the matter concerning Aokiji, they also had corresponding informants and subordinates.
Finally, Benn Beckman recounted how the Pink Hat Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates stayed on Enies Lobby for several days and had friendly interactions.
In particular, upon hearing that his son Usopp actually won a pure sniping competition against Asada Shino, a junior girl he had known for a long time and was fond of, Yasopp immediately became as happy as a child and burst into laughter. He then spoke proudly to his companions around him.
"See that? That's definitely my son! Hahaha! He truly is Yasopp's son! Hahahaha!"
Seeing his smug, punchable look, many people strongly suppressed the urge to beat him up and offered sincere congratulations, though some of their words were laced with sarcasm.
"Congratulations, congratulations."
"Yes, you have a great son, even if he has a long nose just like you."
"Congratulations, Yasopp."
"It's just that the kid didn't follow his old man and choose a sniper rifle; he only uses a slingshot."
"But in a sense, this is called the student surpassing the master."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes, that is the truth, absolutely correct."
"Hahaha, not at all!" Yasopp laughed proudly, though at the same time, he made a mental note of the guys who had mocked him. He vowed not to let them find an opportunity, or else he would definitely make sure those guys had a bad time.
Some people suddenly felt a chill, though they didn't know why, as the place they were in was clearly very hot.
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