Before long, Allen and his crew arrived at the Sea Train station in the "Painted Port" on the southern coast. They boarded the fastest train available and departed immediately.
"Choo—choo—!!"
The train's whistle blew loudly, and the steam engine rumbled as the pitch-black, retro-style train gradually accelerated out of the station.
Inside the train car.
Sanji and the others, who had just been called back and immediately set off, were still completely confused, having only heard scattered bits of information from their subordinates.
"So we're heading to Dressrosa right now to stop Doffy and the Straw Hat kid from fighting?" Sanji couldn't help but ask. Based on his understanding of Allen, this kind of thing sounded quite bizarre.
After all, whether it was Doffy or the Straw Hat kid, Allen wasn't the type to care whether outsiders lived or died, nor did he ever make unnecessary interventions.
"Doffy is very useful to me. It took him years to build that massive trading network. If it collapses, it will be hard to find a suitable person to take over," Allen explained in a calm tone.
Doffy was a talented man. His ability to govern a country was hard to evaluate, but he at least did an excellent job when it came to the underground trade.
The underworld was a chaotic place, and it was rare to find a faction like the Donquixote Family that maintained their reputation so impeccably.
If Doffy fell, the first person to step in and seize those resources would definitely be Kaido. After all, this underground trading network was originally established to serve Kaido's arms dealing. Even as it continuously expanded later on, the most circulated goods in the network remained weapons and Seastone products manufactured in Wano Country.
The territories under Allen's control mostly dealt in legitimate businesses; they didn't have enough black market resources to prop up such a massive underground trading network. Even if they did, Allen couldn't find a more suitable person to take over these operations.
"Uh..." Sanji's mouth, which was biting down on a cigarette, parted slightly. He froze for a moment before saying with a strange expression, "Why does it sound like you think Doffy is going to be defeated by the Straw Hat kid?"
At this, Luffy's figure couldn't help but surface in Sanji's mind.
The last time he saw him was two years ago on Sky Island... No, it should have been when he watched the live broadcast of the Summit War.
As far as the first half of the Grand Line was concerned, the Straw Hat kid was quite strong, but if placed in the New World... to be honest, it wasn't quite enough.
Let alone Allen, even among the "Demon" level powerhouses in their Demon Lion Grand Fleet, there were probably quite a few who could easily defeat the Luffy from back then.
Although two years had passed and the other party's strength should have grown considerably, to say he could defeat Donquixote Doflamingo, a Warlord of the Sea, Sanji reckoned it was still highly unrealistic.
He just hadn't expected Allen to think so highly of him.
"Don't forget how we defeated those veteran powerhouses to get to where we are. Underestimating the growth speed of the new generation will cost you dearly," Allen smiled faintly.
Even though he wouldn't believe it himself if he said it out loud—beating Doflamingo this week, Katakuri next week, Kaido in half a month, and the Five Elders a few days after that. Becoming the Fifth Emperor a month after entering the New World, and ascending to the Four Emperors in two months. Anyone who read that in the newspaper would go crazy.
But that was just the truth.
If Allen didn't intervene, there was a high probability that Doffy would fall at Luffy's hands. It would be a real pity for such a great talent to rot in prison.
At this moment.
BOOM!!!
"Ah!!"
A massive explosion suddenly echoed from the rear! The entire train car shook violently, instantly sending a large number of passengers tumbling to the floor!
"What happened?!"
"The sound came from the rear cars!"
"It's an attack!!"
"Did we run into train-robbing pirates?!"
The passengers scrambled up from the floor in a panic. Once they regained their footing, they swarmed toward the passageway leading to the front cars.
Sanji and Gin reacted swiftly, standing up and shouting loudly.
"Prepare for battle!!"
"Hurry and get out there to see what's going on!"
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, the pirates in the surrounding train cars sprang into action, using their swords to tear open holes in the roof of the cars and leaping out.
Bang!!
Gin leaped high into the air, kicking the roof of the train car. He sent the cover flying and crouched on the edge of the car.
Looking closely, he saw several pirate ships aggressively closing in from both sides of the sea, attempting a pincer attack on the train. Meanwhile, in the sky, dozens of pitch-black cannonballs lined up and whistled through the air, about to crash down.
Gin hurriedly turned his head and shouted, "Watch out for the cannonballs! The rear cars have derailed, and we're surrounded!"
BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!
Just as he finished speaking, a barrage of cannonballs scattered across the train, triggering a series of explosions!
Amidst the violent shaking, the train's speed gradually slowed down until it came to a complete halt.
Allen didn't even need to look to know that their section of the train had likely derailed.
"Damn it! The Fifth Division got left behind!" Sanji gripped the back of a seat with one hand, gritted his teeth, and quickly shouted, "Gin! Lead the counterattack! I'll go pull the Fifth Division back!"
"Got it!" Gin waved his large hand and yelled, "Second Division, get on the roof! Give them everything we've got!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!
Clang!! Clang!!
Soon, a fierce counterattack erupted. Countless powerful cannonballs and Flying Slashes filled the sky.
Allen sat calmly in his seat, his gaze looking out the window toward the sea. He could clearly see about a dozen warships on the distant sea bombarding them while aggressively closing in.
"Hmm? That's the flag of the On Air Pirates, isn't it?" Allen suddenly spoke up. Among the opposing fleet, he spotted a familiar pirate flag hanging on one of the ships.
Hearing this, Nami leaned close to the window and squinted her eyes to look. Sure enough, she saw a Longarm Tribe man with a long braid standing at the bow of a ship.
Right at that moment.
Allen's eyes darkened, a flash of red light passing through them. An image of a figure launching an attack surfaced in his mind.
"I see. That guy is finally here."
The corners of Allen's mouth curled up slightly. He suddenly stood up and leaped out onto the roof of the train car.
"That guy? Who are you talking about, Allen?" Nami couldn't help but ask in confusion.
Allen didn't respond. After reaching the roof, he reached up, took off the pirate cloak draped over his shoulders, and tossed it back into the car.
He cast his gaze toward the distant sea, only to see a figure speeding toward them at an incredible velocity!
"Long time no see, you bastard! I'm here to take your life, just as promised!"
Kid glared with ferocious eyes and laughed maniacally. Riding on a mechanical eagle made of metal, he skimmed across the surface of the sea, leaving a trail of white waves in his wake!
"Two years have passed, and your arrogance hasn't diminished in the slightest."
Allen's eyes filled with interest. He raised his arm horizontally, and black mist surged from his palm. A black thundercloud crackling with electric arcs flew out from his hand.
Although this day had come later than he expected, it had finally arrived.
"Punk Gibson: Spear!!"
Kid shouted loudly. The mechanical flying eagle beneath his feet suddenly reared up, spreading its wings and blasting out countless pitch-black steel spears with sharp arrowheads at the ends!