Punk Hazard, the secret base where the Donquixote Alliance clandestinely produces artificial Devil Fruits.
At this moment, a group was stealthily climbing up from the eastern coast.
"Is that really true? Artificial Devil Fruits?"
Even after landing on the island, Usopp still looked incredulous. Artificial? If such things could truly be manufactured, wouldn't the number of Devil Fruit users grow without limit?
Law led the entire Heart Pirates off the submarine. "Yeah. Our first objective is the rubbing of the Poneglyph that records the location of the final island, Laugh Tale, currently held by Kaido of the Beasts. Kaido presently has about eight hundred Devil Fruit users under his command. If we don't stop the growth of his power, we won't even get to see their captain before we're all dead and buried."
"Eight hundred..."
Just hearing that number, Usopp and the others almost choked on their own spit in terror.
Law turned to the Straw Hat crew. "I know many of you still doubt me, but let me be clear: this is a relationship of mutual utility between the Heart and Straw Hat pirates. Once we obtain the rubbings from Kaido and Big Mom, we go back to being enemies immediately."
"Before that, I have a question."
Nami raised her hand. "Rayleigh once told us there are four Road Poneglyphs that record the route to Laugh Tale. Two are with Kaido and Big Mom. Where are the other two?"
Law was silent for a moment before replying, "Both are in Captain Alucard's hands."
The Straw Hat crew gasped. Law continued coldly, "So, out of the four rubbings, I already possess the secrets of two. I desperately need the remaining two, which is why I'm forming this alliance."
Law looked toward the gas-filled regions of Punk Hazard and raised an eyebrow. "There's a secret passage nearby that leads to a zone without poison gas. Follow me."
As Law led the Heart Pirates forward, Zoro hesitated in the rear. "He already knows the secrets of two rubbings..."
"I see. No wonder he sought us out for cooperation. It makes sense now." Sanji's suspicions had mostly dissipated.
"In that case, Tra-guy is the man closest to the position of Pirate King! Is that okay, Luffy?" Chopper asked Luffy, sounding quite worried.
Compared to Law, who already held the secrets of two stones, Luffy had none. Even if they managed to get the rubbings from Kaido and Big Mom, they would only have two, while Law would have four and could already go to Laugh Tale.
"It's fine! We're an alliance now. When the time comes, I'll just ask him," Luffy said with a grin.
The rest of the crew stood there with black lines over their faces. Did this guy not hear a word Law just said? Once they get the rubbings, they go back to being enemies. You think he's just going to tell you the secret? Keep dreaming...
…
Somewhere in the New World, on the secret base island of the Kid Pirates.
"Will you lot stop it already!"
Facing the chaotic and messy scene before him, Killer couldn't help but roar at the three pirate captains. "We are here to discuss the alliance between our three crews!"
The brawling captains, Eustass Kid, Scratchmen Apoo, and Basil Hawkins, all turned to look.
Killer shouted again, "Do you not understand the current situation? If we don't take effective action now, are we just going to wait to be swallowed whole by the Yonko?"
Hawkins stopped his move to leave and sat back down, saying coldly, "To survive in the New World, you either submit to the Yonko or oppose them. For any single crew here to face them, the failure rate is 100 percent."
Apoo squatted on his chair. "Ahhh~ I'm not used to being a subordinate. Fine, let's talk."
Under Killer's gaze, Kid finally reined in his explosive temper and signaled for Killer to speak.
"Everyone chooses to oppose the Yonko, correct?" Killer sat down as well. "Our target is Yonko Big Mom!"
"Big Mom?" Hawkins' eyes shifted, lost in thought.
"Why her? Well, the Immortal is obviously out of the question as a first target, but rumors say Kaido and Big Mom are roughly equal in strength, right?" Apoo asked dubiously.
Regarding this point, Killer tilted his head, and a man walked in from the side door of the base.
He wore small round sunglasses, had an exceptionally long tongue, and wore a black suit as he walked in with a crab-like gait. "Long time no see, Magician and Roar of the Sea."
The expressions of Hawkins and Apoo stiffened. "You're Vito of the 'Monster Gun' from the Fire Tank Pirates?"
"Isn't Bege that guy who became Big Mom's lapdog? What do you want?" Apoo mocked.
A fellow member of the Worst Generation, the Fire Tank Pirates' captain Capone "Gang" Bege had married into the Big Mom Pirates to become one of her combat commanders, a fact the world had known for a year.
"Calm down and listen. I'm here on behalf of our Father, Bege, to negotiate with you."
…
New World, on one of the Immortal Pirates' territory islands: New Fish-Man Island.
"Yo, long time no see. Issho, Momonga, and..."
Inside a mermaid bar, Kuzan faced Momousagi and Alessia. He puckered his lips and said, "Still as beautiful as ever, Vice Admiral Shirokitsune, Vice Admiral Momousagi. So? Are you free tonight?"
"Please call me by my real name, Alessia Andoria, Kuzan-san," Alessia said coldly.
Slash!
Momousagi took Kuzan's head off with a single sword stroke, but due to his elemental transformation, he reformed two seconds later.
"Do you have a death wish, Kuzan?" Momousagi asked with a plastic smile.
"Arara... as expected of a sexy powder keg."
Kuzan waved his hand and said, "It must have been hard work after being stripped of your commissions. So, what does our terrifying Captain want now?"
"Before that, could this old man have a word with you first, Kuzan-san?" Issho spoke up slowly.
"Ehhh~" Kuzan drew out the sound, then lay sideways on the floor. "Sorry, this posture is just more comfortable. Fine, speak."
"During these two years acting as a pirate," Issho asked, emphasizing every word, "what is it that you have seen?"
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