A cool sea breeze brought the fragrance of grass and trees as it blew past the lush green lawn. The faint sunlight shone comfortably on the body, bringing an incomparable coziness.
On the Merry's lawn deck, a picnic blanket was spread under the shade of a tree. The group sat around it, leisurely enjoying afternoon tea, chatting and laughing.
Robin leaned against the tree trunk, reading a book quietly, a smile on her face. She didn't mind the noisy sounds beside her. Instead, it made her concentrate more, as if such sounds could bring her inner peace.
Nami sat sideways serenely, her two fair, long legs stretched out diagonally.
Reiner lay on the lawn with his legs crossed, his head pillowed on Nami's perfectly round thighs, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the warmth brought by the sunlight.
Nami gently took a sip of her black tea, put down the teacup, picked up a small cake and took a small bite, her other hand casually flipping through the newspaper.
"Hmm? This is...?"
Suddenly seeing some unbelievable news, Nami frowned slightly, a hint of puzzlement in her eyes.
Hearing her voice, Reiner couldn't help but open one eye, glancing over with some curiosity.
Nami turned the newspaper over for him to see and asked:
"Reiner, do you still remember him? Buggy the Clown. This guy is pretty incredible now. Look at this, they're all people we know..."
Without needing Nami to explain, the moment Reiner saw Buggy's photo, he already knew the situation.
I saw a poster that also took up a large area in the newspaper. Two swords were crossed to form an 'X', and that 'X' divided the poster into four areas.
On the left and right were the headshots of Hawkeye Mihawk and Crocodile, respectively. Below was Moria. And at the very top, the headshot that occupied the largest area was, surprisingly—
—Buggy!!
"The Cross Guild, an organization founded by Buggy the Star Clown, has risen overnight and is now one of the five emperors of the New World."
Nami said with a grave expression.
Hearing this, the others also couldn't help but gather around.
The Four Emperors who had ruled the New World for many years had been pulled down one after another. However, new powerhouses had sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Kaido had just been defeated on the front foot, and now there was another Cross Guild.
Why are there always five Yonko?
"Eh! Isn't that the big red-nosed guy?! And the Sand Crocodile and Moria!"
The moment Luffy saw Buggy, he was shocked, his eyes wide. He cried out in disbelief:
"What's going on! How did this guy become their boss?!"
"The Marines must have gotten it wrong. Hawk-Eye is not a guy who would submit to others."
Zoro couldn't help but frown. Not only did the picture look like Buggy was the boss of the Cross Guild, but even the text introduction next to it directly stated this fact, which made him completely bewildered.
Besides the news article, the newspaper also had several wanted posters tucked into the next page, corresponding to the members of the Cross Guild one by one.
Among them, the former Royal Warlords, who had lost their status as legal pirates and were re-issued bounties, and who now posed an even greater threat by gathering the Cross Guild organization...
The World's Strongest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk—3,590,000,000 Berries.
Crocodile—1,965,000,000 Berries.
Gecko Moria—1,240,000,000 Berries.
And then there was the one who possessed the 'prestige' to 'command' these three powerhouses, a member of the original Pirate King Roger's crew, the 'great pirate' 'on par with' Red-Haired Shanks, Buggy the Star Clown. Bounty:
—3,189,000,000 Berries.
So the Marines are the biggest Buggy fans. Reiner couldn't help but complain internally. The wording in this report made him speechless.
Besides these four, Buggy and Crocodile each had some decent subordinates, the bald guy with the Dice-Dice Fruit, Mr. 3, and the like.
Among them, a person with a particularly conspicuous appearance caught Reiner's attention. Exaggerated makeup, long eyelashes, and a flamboyant expression on his face.
It was the former Baroque Works senior agent, codenamed Mr. 2, the Okama, Bon Clay.
"This guy... actually hooked up with Crocodile again."
Reiner gave a bitter laugh.
Two years ago, because Bon Clay hadn't met them, he hadn't been captured and sent to Impel Down to cover for them as in the original story.
He had thought he would successfully find Kamabakka Kingdom, but it seemed Sanji hadn't mentioned meeting him there.
Although the Cross Guild was composed of pirates, this organization was not like a pirate crew, but more like a company.
After chatting about the Cross Guild for a while, the group also learned that this organization had actually issued bounties on the Marines.
A captain was one star, a rear admiral three stars, and a vice admiral five stars. One star represented 100 million Berries.
As for the Marines' highest combat power, the three Admirals and the former Marine Hero Garp, they were each three crowns, representing a bounty of 3 billion Berries.
And the current Fleet Admiral, Akainu, had reached a terrifying five crowns—a bounty of 5 billion Berries!
"That's even more exaggerated than Reiner's bounty, Akainu's bounty!"
Usopp cried out in alarm.
Originally, Reiner's 4.2 billion was the highest bounty in the world, followed by Red-Haired Shanks's 4,048,900,000 Berries. But now, a 5 billion one had appeared.
"You can't really compare them like that. The Marines' bounty system and the Cross Guild's bounty system are not the same. But this is enough to show that that guy is very strong."
Reiner sat up and said with an amiable smile.
The Cross Guild's bounty rules were basically based on rank, but in fact, within the same rank in the Marines, the strength of individuals also varied greatly.
As the old saying goes, the difference between a Vice Admiral and a Vice Admiral is greater than the difference between a human and a pig.
Now it was the same for the Admirals.
The three admirals of the past, Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, were also on a different level than the current Ryokugyu and Fujitora. Reiner had fought them and could clearly feel this.
If they were compared based on strength, 3 billion was looking down on Kizaru a bit.
Soon, the afternoon tea desserts were swept away by Luffy. The coffee and black tea had also gradually cooled. Nami, who had taken back the newspaper, continued to flip through it. Her eyes suddenly widened in shock, and she abruptly stood up, looking at the bow.
The newspaper fell from her hand. On it was a report about the Revolutionary Army's attack on the Holy Land. The inheritor of the Float-Float Fruit, Sabo, had descended from the sky with a dozen or so isolated islands and crashed them into Mary Geoise.
But Nami had no time to pay attention to this matter now. The wind blowing against her skin was strongly warning her of the impending crisis for the Merry.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Ouch!"
"Ahahaha! What's going on!"
Suddenly, the calm sea became turbulent, and the ship began to shake violently.
"Crosswind from the two o'clock direction! Quick, furl the sails, Reiner! Steer to the eleven o'clock direction!"
"Got it!"
Reiner shouted in response to Nami's command, summoned his undead to work, and at the same time, jumped up to the second-floor helm.
The temperature suddenly dropped, and a chill pierced to the bone. Ahead of the Merry, a layer of vast white cold air permeated the entire sea surface. A fierce wind swept up snowflakes, which danced within it.
"Hold on tight, everyone! We're about to enter a sea area radiated by a winter island's magnetic field!"
Nami shouted anxiously, bending down and squatting, her two hands tightly gripping the railing.
Although the climate of the Grand Line was strange and unpredictable, her rich meteorological knowledge and extensive sailing experience had still allowed her to summarize some patterns.
Looking at the turbulence of the sea and the bone-chilling, cold, frosty wind, the winter island they were about to enter was probably extremely harsh.
Everyone held on tightly to the surrounding structures. Entering a sea area with strong magnetic radiation meant that there was an island with a corresponding climate nearby. They would soon be able to end their sea voyage and land on the island.
Luffy lay on his exclusive throne, hugging the Merry's sheep's head, his eyes showing a hint of anticipation.
Soon, the sailboat plunged into the snowstorm. The seawater churned madly, and giant waves crashed heavily against the side of the ship, kicking up spray. The water droplets that hit their bodies were icy cold.
Far behind the Merry, two small warships were shaking violently in this rushing current. Watching the Merry gradually disappear into the vast white snowstorm, the Marine colonel on the deck, who was in a firm horse stance, shouted into the Den Den Mushi:
"Calling headquarters! We've lost the Straw Hat crew in a snowstorm! The other party has already entered the Egghead sea area! Repeat! The other party is already approaching [Future Island]!!"
At the same time, at the entrance to the New World.
Gurgle, gurgle~
A large number of bubbles appeared on the sea surface. A dark shadow gradually rose from below. With a 'splash', it broke through the water's surface, kicking up a giant wave.
Pop!
The overburdened bubble was popped by the air pressure, revealing a warship within the ship's coating, its hull made from a row of giant round logs.
"Zehahaha! I'm finally back!"
A burly, coarse-looking man stood at the bow with his arms spread wide. He wore a black pirate coat, his chest bare, and his thick beard was tied into three short braids.
Blackbeard Teach forcefully breathed in the fresh air, grinning to reveal a row of gapped teeth.
"Even the air in the New World makes one excited! I heard Kaido was defeated! Zehahaha!"
"That guy really deserved it! If he had agreed to join forces with me from the beginning, this kind of thing wouldn't have happened! We wouldn't have had to run all the way to the first half of the Calm Belt!"
Turning his head, the sinister smile on Teach's face relaxed. He looked with a cold gaze at the bottom of the ship's building.
A hard, human-shaped ice sculpture stood motionless on the deck.
Around the ice sculpture, there were also several stone statues, as if carved by a skilled craftsman, their appearance lifelike. They were none other than several of his cadres: Vasco Shot the Heavy Drinker, Catarina Devon, and Lafitte!
There was naturally only one person in the world with the ability to turn them into this state. And that was the human-shaped sculpture that had been frozen: Boa Hancock!
"Damn Smoker! The strength of those Seraphim is really exaggerated! And Rayleigh...!"
"Luckily you came along too, otherwise this old me would have been in danger! Zehahahaha!!"
The gloom on Blackbeard's face gradually dissipated. He began to laugh loudly, looking at the curly-haired figure who was lying on a lounge chair with boredom.
"I really have to thank you this time, Kuzan."
"Well~. You have to find something to pass the time during these lazy days."
Kuzan said nonchalantly, lifted his eye mask to his forehead, and turned to look at the completely frozen Hancock.
"This is really troublesome now. According to her, besides her, the petrification ability cannot be undone even by the next ability user."
"With Hancock's personality, they will probably have to spend the rest of their lives like this."
Kuzan sighed at the several statues.
Hearing this, Teach also fell silent, his eyes unable to help but radiate a murderous intent.
After being mocked by Kaido, he had given up on the idea of going to Wano to snatch those powerful abilities.
He already had a grudge with the Straw Hat crew. And after sounding him out, Kaido's attitude towards him was not very friendly. Teach knew in his heart that if he rashly went over, he would most likely be caught in a pincer attack.
Just at this time, he had received the news of the abolition of the Warlord system and had immediately shifted his gaze to these powerful combatants.
If he could recruit one or two, his power would be greatly enhanced. Even if the other party refused, it didn't matter. He could still kill them and take their abilities.
But Crocodile and the others had formed the Cross Guild. The risk of touching this steel plate was too great. So Teach had first set his sights on Kuja Island in the Calm Belt.
Originally, Teach had planned to have Aokiji and Van Augur sneak into Totto Land and try to secretly abduct Pudding, who possessed the bloodline of the Three-Eye Tribe. But Pudding had been taken away by the Straw Hat crew.
Originally, because of this, Teach's resentment towards the Straw Hat crew had deepened. Now it seemed this was a good thing.
If they had split up, the consequences this time would have been unimaginable.
In the battle of Kuja Island, several of his subordinates had been petrified after just a few moves. If he had to face Smoker, who had brought two Seraphim, and the siege of Rayleigh and Hancock, never mind successfully capturing Hancock, it would have been uncertain if he could have even left Kuja Island alive.
In a one-on-one fight, he could still use the Dark-Dark Fruit to defend against Hancock. But to fight so many people at the same time, while also having to guard against that fatal petrification ability... it was almost impossible.
"Let's go back first. If it really doesn't work, then it can't be helped."
Teach glanced at the several statues and said in a low voice.
These words made Van Augur at the side fall silent.
From the sound of it, is he going to abandon his petrified comrades?
"I'm afraid it won't be that easy to go back. I hope nothing unexpected happens."
The navigator, Lafitte, had been petrified, so he had to act as the navigator for now. Van Augur took out the Hachinosu eternal pose from his pocket and looked at it.
It was also lucky that they had Aokiji, with his power to freeze the sea. Otherwise, in the absence of a navigator, to sail from the entrance of the New World to Hachinosu would have been a fool's dream.
On the other side.
In the Egghead sea area, under the pull of the Super Express Shrimp, combined with the dual thrust of the power system, the Merry struggled forward in the snowstorm that covered the sea.
Until the thick snow on the deck had already passed their shins, Reiner and his group finally saw a bright light piercing through the snowstorm.
"Hee hee hee! Charge!!"
Luffy grinned, sitting at the bow and raising his hands, cheering.
The light gradually became dazzling. The Super Express Shrimp, with one last burst of effort, pulled the Merry out of the encirclement!
Splash!
The giant red shrimp leaped cheerfully out of the sea with the ship, smashing heavily back into the water and kicking up a giant wave like a blue high wall. The spray then turned into silver threads and rained down.
"Eh? Strange. How can this be?"
After a violent shake, the group finally steadied themselves. Nami observed her surroundings with surprise.
Unlike the vast white snowstorm behind them, the front was unexpectedly calm. The sun was warm, and a refreshing breeze filled the air with the feeling of summer.
"Woohoo~~ Hahahaha! I see an island, everyone!"
Luffy sat at the bow, laughing loudly and turning his head, his face full of excitement as usual.
At any time, in any place, always bringing a burst of hot-blooded passion.
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