Chapter 176: The Supernovas Make Their Move
"Phew..."
In a small village called Cocoyasi Village in the East Blue, a young woman with a blood-red mohawk and a ponytail opened the newspaper to start a new day.
"New World, Great Pirate Alucard’s bounty exceeds 1 billion! The Explosion Pirates completely annihilated; all 168 crew members slaughtered by Alucard the Immortal."
In the picture section, there was a brand new bounty poster: Alucard’s bounty had officially surpassed 1 billion, and the date in the final section read July 11th, 1502, Marine Calendar.
"The Grand Line is still so restless." The woman’s name was Bell-mère, and she had just retired from the Marines and returned to live in the small village.
"Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!" Just then, the cries of a child came from the other side. Bell-mère quickly put the newspaper aside and hurried over. "Oh my! Nami, why are you crying again?"
Underneath where Bell-mère had placed the newspaper were several other newspapers from the past few days.
"Bounty over 1.5 billion! The Great Pirate Golden Lion Shiki, his old sword still sharp, has slaughtered over forty new pirate crews in one month!"
"The Beasts Pirates bites off a chunk from the Whitebeard Pirates for the first time, taking an island."
"Marines and Pirates’ Supernovas display formidable talent: Hawkeye, Crocodile, Kuma for the pirates; newly promoted Vice Admirals Momousagi and Chaton for the Marines."
...
Grand Line, First Half: Paradise.
On Jaya Island, one of the seven sea routes, in a seemingly ordinary pub, two Supernova pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million were gathered.
They sat facing each other, both in strange postures. One, like a monkey, squatted on his chair but exuded an inexplicable aura. He wore goggles over his sunglasses. This was Supernova Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha!
The other man had his legs crossed on the tabletop, wearing an extremely flamboyant, rose-patterned shirt with a cape. Beside him lay a pitch-black sword. This was Supernova Dracule "Hawkeye" Mihawk!
Doflamingo chuckled as he glanced at the black blade resting to Mihawk’s right. "A Supreme Grade blade... You actually managed to get your hands on something like that, Hawkeye."
Mihawk crossed his arms. He wasn’t wearing his hat or sporting a beard yet. His young face still held sharp eyes as he met Doflamingo’s gaze. "Do you want to test its power, Doflamingo?"
"Fuffuffuffu... No need to be so bloodthirsty. Can’t we just chat nicely?" Doflamingo chuckled and settled back into a bow, maintaining his smile. "However, you should have a more suitable opponent to train with that sword, shouldn’t you?"
Mihawk was silent for a moment. Doflamingo chuckled again. "Isn’t it very suitable? He’s currently in the first half of the Grand Line. The title of ’World’s Strongest Swordsman,’ you’re quite tempted, aren’t you?"
Mihawk abruptly stood up, sheathing his sword behind his back.
"Boring."
Without him needing to say it, Mihawk’s most desired opponent was undoubtedly the current World’s Strongest Swordsman, the Golden Lion Shiki. And Doflamingo had guessed correctly; Mihawk indeed intended to challenge Shiki.
A few minutes after Mihawk left, a man entered the pub and said to Doflamingo, who was beside him, "Doffy, isn’t it time for us to head to the New World?"
This was Diamante, a combatant of the Donquixote Pirates and one of Doflamingo’s earliest followers.
Doflamingo slapped his forehead with one hand and chuckled sinisterly. "No hurry, no hurry, Diamante."
Doflamingo picked up today’s newspaper. Seeing the grinning devil on the bounty poster, he sneered, "Entering the New World, ruled by the Three Monsters and Whitebeard, so quickly is not a wise move. For now, we need to open up channels in the underworld, starting in ’Paradise,’ and then enter the New World. Fuffuffuffuffu..."
At the end, Doflamingo couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh. "Those fools who carelessly enter the New World without any preparation are destined not to live long! Fuffuffuffuffu!"
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
"That’s the ruins left by Alucard the Immortal and Patrick Redfield two years ago. How terrifying." Three crew members of the Crocodile Pirates stared at a deep pit not far away.
"Shut up." Suddenly, a cold voice came, startling the talking crewmates. They looked back to see a man in a dark black overcoat with purple hair slicked back, speaking in a low voice, "I’m preparing for the coming battle."
"Crocodile-sama, are you really going to challenge him?"
"Whitebeard isn’t someone to be trifled with."
The crew members tried to dissuade him, but Crocodile remained silent, evidently ignoring his subordinates’ words. This was Supernova Crocodile, "Desert King."
...
A Secret Island in the West Blue, outside the Grand Line.
"Captain, what are you doing?!" Red-Haired Pirates crewmate Cordo complained. "Pirates of our generation have all gone to the New World, and we haven’t even set sail yet, not even entered the Grand Line! It’s embarrassing!"
The captain of the Red-Haired Pirates, Shanks, with a bounty of less than fifty million, was not listed among the Supernovas. He was currently training in his hometown, the West Blue. Facing Cordo’s dissatisfaction, Shanks merely smiled faintly and began his sword practice.
"Don’t rush, Cordo." At this moment, Beckman, an officer of the Red-Haired Pirates, who had a foxtail grass in his mouth, walked over and said, "The Captain has his own ideas."
"What ideas?" Cordo was still very unhappy.
When he saw newcomers like Doflamingo, Hawkeye, and Kuma making waves in the Grand Line, he couldn’t help but feel itching with desire. And yet, Shanks was saying it wasn’t time to go to the Grand Line, suggesting they train first.
He had abandoned his wife and children to join him; how could Cordo accept this?
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