The bartender's voice rang out.
Ron nodded in appreciation and reached out to take the glass.
But before he could take a sip—
A heavy palm slammed against the counter.
"Quit joking around!"
The sudden outburst made heads turn. The bartender and other patrons all glanced over, their eyes filled with curiosity and shock.
"Wait… isn't that White Hunter?"
"It's rare to see him lose his cool …"
"Who's that guy sitting with him? A friend?"
Ron remained unfazed, taking a slow sip of his drink. The icy, rich liquor burned slightly as it slid down his throat. Only then did he finally speak, his tone as calm as ever.
"Relax, Smoker. You wouldn't want your subordinates to start a fight with me here, would you? Sit down. I'll explain a thing or two."
Smoker clenched his fists, his eyes locked onto Ron with unrelenting intensity. But after a long moment, he finally sat back down.
Meanwhile, across the vast ocean…
The news of Ron's return—after two years of disappearance and presumed death—spread like wildfire. Reports of his duel with Dracule Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had already begun circulating.
At Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines, the news reached the highest levels of command.
"So, that brat really didn't die…"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's gaze darkened as he scanned the report in his hands.
"Call in Vice Admiral Garp and Tsuru."
The Marine officer who delivered the report hesitated. "Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Garp is currently not in Marineford."
"Then which Admirals are present?"
"Admiral Akainu is here."
Sengoku thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Forget it. Just call in Tsuru."
Soon, Tsuru, the sharp-minded strategist of the Marines, entered the room. Upon reading the report, her expression turned serious.
"Disappeared for two years… and now he resurfaces by challenging Hawk-Eye Mihawk for the title of the world's strongest swordsman?"
Her fingers tapped the document thoughtfully. "If he managed to fight Mihawk to a draw, that means his strength has grown tremendously during these two years."
"That much is obvious," Sengoku muttered, leaning back against the counter, his fingers interlocked. "What do you think, Tsuru? Should we dispatch an Admiral to capture him?"
Tsuru narrowed her eyes. "This news will spread across the seas in no time. If the Marines move against him immediately, it could trigger a massive upheaval. If Kaido decides to get involved, we'll have a war on our hands."
"And that…" Sengoku's tone grew heavy, "...would be a disaster."
"Two years ago, he already managed to wound Kaido. Now… even if we send Akainu, there's no guarantee we'll be able to capture him," Tsuru mused, rubbing her chin. "For now, I suggest we wait. See what he does next. More importantly, watch how the New World reacts."
Sengoku nodded slowly.
"That's our best option for now."
On this day, carrier gulls spread across the seas, delivering newspapers to every corner of the world.
The bold, black headlines were impossible to miss:
[Ron the Wanderer is alive! Two years later, he returns to the sea!]
[A slash that split the sky! Ron vs. Hawk-Eye Mihawk in the East Blue—The Outcome?!]
Both headlines sent waves of shock throughout the world.
"Oi, oi, have you seen today's paper? That guy, Ron the Traveler, is still alive!"
"You're joking, right?"
"It's true! It's all over the papers! And he fought Dracule Mihawk as soon as he showed up!"
"The Hawk-Eye Mihawk? The strongest swordsman in the world?! Who won?!"
"Seems like it was a draw…"
"Ron is alive… which means…" One man's voice trembled with excitement. "The Calamity of the Sky still walks this earth! The legend continues!"
"I knew it! There's no way a monster like him would die so easily!"
"Showing up after two years and immediately causing an earth-shaking event… Looks like the seas are about to get wild again."
"Even though I despise pirates and criminals, I have to admit… I don't dis traveler. I'm actually glad he's still alive."
"A criminal is a criminal! No different from a pirate! It's because of people like him that the seas are in chaos! It'd be better if they were all dead!"
"Hey, do you even know what he did in Dressrosa?"
"I don't know, and I don't care! A mere criminal is nothing to talk about."
"A mere criminal? You ignorant fool! Do you even realize that he joined forces with Zephyr and saved a nation that had been drowning in darkness for ten whole years under Doflamingo's rule? Is that something a so-called criminal would do?"
"W-What…? That's a lie! I don't believe it!"
"If you don't believe me, go to Dressrosa yourself and see. The people there—how do you think they view him? A so-called criminal saved their entire country, while the Marines granted the true tyrant, the one who ruined their lives, the title of Warlord of the Sea and gave him special privileges. Isn't that just ironic?"
The man was left speechless.
Similar conversations erupted across the islands of the Grand Line, spreading like wildfire.
Grand Line, Somewhere on the Sea.
The Heart Pirates' ship drifted along the ocean currents.
Trafalgar Law, the captain who had recently accepted the Marines' invitation to fill the vacant Warlord seat left by Doflamingo's death, silently gazed at the newspaper in his hand. His voice was barely a whisper.
"So… he really is still alive…"
Bepo, the white-furred mink, turned his head in curiosity.
Bepo's eyes widened in shock. His mouth gaped open.
He hurriedly leaned over, scanning the headlines, his expression filled with astonishment.
"It's true… He's alive! And he even fought Mihawk to a draw in a sword duel?! Does this mean the title of the World's Strongest Swordsman is about to change hands?!"
"Shut up, Bepo! You're too close, and you're too damn loud! Lower your voice!"
Law scowled and shoved Bepo away. His gaze returned to the newspaper, focusing on the image printed on its pages. His eyes darkened, a flicker of emotion passing through them.
It was him. The man who had killed… that person.
Florian Triangle, Thriller Bark.
"What do you mean he's still alive?! How is this guy not dead yet?! He fought Kaido, how could he still be alive??!"
Moria's sharp, screeching voice echoed through the eerie halls of his castle.
Floating in the air, Ghost Princess Perona winced and covered her ears.
"Moria-sama, could you please lower your voice?"
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