The next morning, newsbirds spread across the world with shocking headlines:
"Earth-Shattering Event! Former Shichibukai 'Crimson Mist Rhett' Massacres Celestial Dragons! The New Era's King!"
"Did you hear? Lord Rhett killed Celestial Dragons!"
"You got a death wish? Even daring to mention them..."
"Now THAT'S a real man! I'm setting sail!"
As expected, whenever men gathered, one would always emerge as the "idea king." A man threw down his hoe and shouted to his fellow laborers: "Brothers! You wanna live an ordinary life here? Be exploited by those so-called nobles forever?" If kings and nobles aren't born special, why can't we rise?
Thus, a new wave of piracy was born.
"Fleet Admiral Kong Severely Punished"—though nobody seemed to care.
In a New World tavern, Shanks' hand trembled slightly as he gripped the newspaper: "Big Bro Rhett... starting your own adventure too? Still as crazy as ever, huh?"
Let us await the dawn of hope together.
Whitebeard tossed the newspaper aside: "Gurarara! Roger's crew just gets more interesting! Boys—start the feast!"
Meanwhile, our protagonist was...
Rhett stared at his wanted poster—the blood-mist shrouded figure standing beneath a crimson moon—before carefully rolling it up and tucking it into his pocket with a grumble.
His current objective?
The main storyline, of course:
To Water 7. Time to raise the sails and let the Bluma Jackson sail again, conquering the seas to become the world's strongest.
The World Government arrived faster than expected. The Gorosei were practically foaming at the mouth for his death.
Three CP0 warships blockaded the sea, their agents staring impassively at Rhett.
Rhett: "Damn, white suits with tiny sunglasses? You out-cringe even me."
"Target spotted!" The lead CP0 agent raised his Den Den Mushi. "Reporting to Mary Geoise immediate—"
His voice cut off abruptly.
Who said you could out-cringe me? You die. No one out-cringes me.
Living blood-mist crawled over the ships, devouring all sound.
Rhett stepped on the last struggling agent's head, Black Tide's tip resting lightly against his throat.
Looking down at them, Rhett snatched their Den Den Mushi: "Weak. Gorosei, can't you send someone competent?"
He crushed the snail without waiting for a reply.
After mocking the Gorosei, Rhett returned to Water 7.
"Yo, Captain. Finally back." Moriah grinned, his towering frame leaning against the mast, fingers coiled in black Armament Haki.
Perona floated mid-air, twirling her parasol as ghosts circled her. "Perona was sooo bored without you~"
Laboon gave a low hum, his tiny top hat tilting, eyes sharper than ever. Clearly, everyone's training paid off.
Rhett scanned the three, smirking: "Seems you didn't slack off."
"Gehihihihi, slack?" Moriah spread his palms—shadows surged like tides, engulfing the entire deck. "Nowadays, I can solo a Vice Admiral."
Rhett deadpanned: "Great. Go kill Garp then."
Moriah froze.
Perona floated closer, whispering dramatically: "Moriah-sama's gotten strong! Some bounty hunter tried ambushing us last week—he dragged them into shadows and beat them senseless!"
Laboon "woo"-ed, tail slapping the sea to erupt a water column—instantly vaporized by his sonic blast.
Rhett raised a brow: "Not bad."
He patted Laboon's head: "Really not bad, Laboon."
To Rhett, Moriah—though never reliant on zombie armies—lacked standout combat prowess. But now? His fighting style had completely transformed.
These past days sailing made Rhett truly feel his crew's growth.
One night, a World Government spy ship crept toward Water 7, attempting to monitor the Bluma Jackson.
Moriah stood at the prow, grinning: "Gehihihihi, perfect chance to test new tricks."
He leapt—shadows tore through the sea like claws, latching onto the warship. CP0 agents panicked as their shadows were forcibly ripped away, bodies paralyzed.
"Shadow Bind: Strangle!"
Moriah clenched his fist—shadows became blades, severing the mast. He ghosted across the deck, Armament-coated fists smashing cannons.
The battle ended swiftly. No distress signal was sent. Standing atop the last fallen CP0 officer, Moriah sneered: "Tell the World Government to send real fighters next time."
Waking the next morning, Rhett stroked Laboon's head, deciding to fulfill his wish.
Pulling out a Jaya Eternal Pose, Rhett smirked—clever readers already guessed their destination.
Indeed. Jaya, located in Paradise (first half of the Grand Line), was the gateway to Skypiea.
"Set sail, crew!"
"OOOOOHHHH!"
While Rhett's crew slept soundly, the Marines would lose sleep.
Kong already intended for Sengoku to succeed him as Fleet Admiral. Currently, Acting Fleet Admiral Sengoku handled all naval affairs.
"Bluma Jackson?" A thick palm slammed the newspaper onto the desk—shattering it alongside a half-broken door (courtesy of Garp's earlier entrance).
Garp laughed: "Sengoku! That brat Rhett's officially sailing now—using a modified Oro Jackson! Ahahaha! That kid's something else!"
Sengoku, deadly serious, snatched Garp's rice crackers and shoveled them into his mouth: "GARP! This is serious! That cannon shot humiliated us!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru gently steadied her old friend's trembling arm, glasses reflecting Rhett and Moriah's bounty posters: "The real problem is this duo. A Shadow-Shadow Fruit user paired with a blood-mist swordsman... now with the world's fastest ship."
Suddenly, the office temperature spiked. Akainu's magma fist incinerated the newspaper: "Pirates remain pirates—fancy names change nothing. We should execute Tom immediately."
"Scary" Kizaru leaned against the window, golden light dancing on his fingertips. "Bad idea, Sakazuki. You'd just enrage Rhett. A madman's terrifying"
Aokiji's iced coffee frosted the desk: "Admiral, send me. I'll capture Rhett and restore our honor. This burns my youthful spirit!"
Garp roared with laughter: "That's the spirit, Kuzan!"
"Yes, Garp-san!"
After long deliberation, Sengoku sighed: "Rhett's bounty is high, but Kaido and Big Mom are greater threats. Very well—Kuzan, you go. Kong already submitted Admiral promotion requests to the World Government. You'll all be Admirals soon."
The Gorosei would approve. With turbulent seas, the Navy needed more strength to maintain balance. Sending Admiral-level Kuzan...
Mostly to shut the World Government up. Truthfully, Sengoku doubted even three Admirals could capture Rhett.
The Navy's F3 (Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru) held little hatred for Rhett. Compared to pillaging pirates, he was far more tolerable.
Celestial Dragons? The Navy hardly cared—except for their lapdogs. And the F3 certainly weren't among them.