The North Sea, Donquixote family's base.
Just over two months into the new year, Rocinante had prepared everything.
He had arrived here to stop his mad brother.
The brother who had personally destroyed five towns...
At the entrance to the Donquixote family, several fierce pirates eyed the mute man with a long sword at his waist and a colorful necklace.
Their brows furrowed, primarily because Rocinante's aura was clearly not simple.
Although Rocinante's strength was considerably low for Enel, this was the four seas, and they were mere gatekeepers.
To them, Rocinante was unfathomably powerful.
After Rocinante gestured and handed over a piece of paper, his eyes widened as he read its contents.
The pirates' pupils contracted, and they looked up at Rocinante, whispering amongst themselves.
"No way..."
"Is it true!"
"We never heard the Young Master had a brother."
"But their hair color is the same."
"Though they don't have many similarities, still..."
"No one would dare joke about this!!!"
"Hiss!!!"
"Is it real then?"
"No, I have to report this to the Young Master!"
"You guys entertain him well, in case it's true..."
"Understood, understood!"
One pirate rushed towards the center of the family.
The remaining pirates, with fawning smiles, said:
"Please, have a seat!"
"Are you hungry!"
"I'll get you..."
----
The Donquixote family's center.
A group of high-ranking executives were in a meeting, analyzing the family's future development.
Thanks to the large sum of money obtained from the previous arms deal, the family had developed rapidly under Doflamingo's leadership.
But... thinking of Trebol, who had died recently.
Doflamingo's mood soured involuntarily...
*Knock, knock, knock*—
A knock sounded at the door.
Doflamingo frowned.
He had said that no one should disturb him during meetings, and his expression grew cold:
"Enter."
The pirate outside the door, clearly aware of this, directly allowed the outer guard to enter.
The outer guard from the base entered, his body trembling upon seeing so many executives and Doflamingo.
He swallowed and nervously said:
"Young Master, there's a tall, blond man outside the base claiming to be your brother."
Doflamingo's expression changed drastically:
"What did you say!"
He quickly regained his composure, his face returning to a blank expression, and walked out of the room towards the main gate.
The executives in the hall were also stunned, then followed Doflamingo out. This was a major event!
Meanwhile, the expressionless Doflamingo was experiencing immense turmoil within...
He walked to the gate and stopped, looking at the somewhat unfamiliar figure, yet he recognized him instantly.
"Rocinante."
Doflamingo's voice was calm.
Hearing his name, Rocinante flashed a bright smile and looked at him...
----
The West Sea, the "Clean Sweep" Operation Fleet.
Months have passed, and the "Clean Sweep" Operation in the West Sea was nearing its end.
Unlike the chaotic North Sea, only a few years had passed since the Ohara incident in the West Sea.
Coupled with Sakazuki's execution of the operation and the reports from the North Sea at that time.
The operation in the West Sea had gone exceptionally smoothly, with several times fewer pirates than in the North Sea.
As a result, Sakazuki barely felt he had done anything before it concluded.
The fleet had assembled at Reverse Mountain.
They ascended Reverse Mountain against the current.
Sakazuki stood at the bow of the ship, Enel leaned against the railing, and Brannew stood beside him.
Enel turned and leaned against the railing:
"It's a bit boring, is the West Sea this peaceful."
"Haven't encountered any pirates to kill."
Sakazuki chuckled:
"That's because criminal organizations are rampant in the West Sea."
"Those with some strength are basically absorbed into these organizations. Compared to pirates,"
"Criminal organizations are relatively stable."
"There's no need to eliminate them now."
"Combined with the deterrence of Ohara and the 'Clean Sweep' Operation, the West Sea will remain stable for a long time."
Enel tilted his head back:
"Ahhh—"
"I see, so the pirates in the South Sea and East Sea should be more numerous than in the West Sea."
Sakazuki nodded:
"Theoretically, that's correct."
Enel grinned:
"Then....."
His words suddenly stopped.
At this moment, the warship was approaching the summit of Reverse Mountain, and all three raised an eyebrow. If nothing unexpected happened... they were about to collide.
On the other side of Reverse Mountain.
In the same upward current.
Two pirate ships, after a chase, one with a slightly pink hue and a feminine aura, charged forward.
"Moonlight Hunter" Catarina Devon, heavily made up and resembling a witch, stood at the stern.
She shouted at the pursuing "Big Eater" Vasco Shot:
"Go eat dirt, you drunken fool."
"You lost this race."
"I'm entering the Grand Line first."
"Muru-huhuhu!"
"Big Eater" Vasco Shot, holding a wine flask, looking drunk, with a sausage-shaped nose, angrily slammed the railing:
"Damn Nine-Tailed Fox!"
"Wait for me....."
Suddenly, his eyes widened:
"Behind us!!!!"
Catarina Devon, seeing Shot pointing with wide eyes, turned to look.
She saw a massive warship, propelled by the force of the upward current,
Plummeting down from mid-air against the flow. 138 Reading Net.
If nothing unexpected happened... within seconds, her pirate ship would collide with the giant warship.
Catarina Devon let out a disdainful smile and activated her Devil Fruit to its fullest.
She instantly transformed into a giant nine-tailed fox.
She had eaten the Zoan-type, Mythical Zoan, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Kyubi no Kitsune.
She would end this giant warship with one blow...
Her pupils constricted!!
She clearly saw the cold figure standing at the bow of the warship.
Navy Admiral! Sakazuki!!!
Cold sweat streamed down her body uncontrollably.
Her mind raced, and she tried to move her body.
The giant nine-tailed fox instantly turned and leaped towards the pirate ship of "Big Eater" Vasco Shot behind her.
But amidst the roaring waves.
Those indifferent three words, accompanied by scorching heat, engulfed her.
"Great Eruption."
*Boom*—
In Catarina Devon's final moments of consciousness.
She saw Vasco Shot, equally terrified, before being covered by the blazing magma.
Without a chance to even scream, she was crushed by the lava, sinking into the darkness along with Vasco Shot's ship.....
*Crack, crack*—
A sound of shattering broke out.
Catarina Devon's abandoned pirate ship was directly crushed by Sakazuki's massive warship.
The pirates on board were sucked under the ship, churned into a bloody pulp.
Enel said with some amusement:
"Was that guy trying to attack us just now?"