One Piece: Rayquaza of the Beasts Pirates

"I couldn't ask for more." Dragon smiled as well and reached out to grasp it.

In any case, at this stage, establishing a stable cooperative relationship with a powerful force like the Beasts Pirates is definitely more beneficial than harmful to the Revolutionary Army.

As for how to proceed in the future, that will depend on each person's own abilities at that time.

Kane seemed to remember something and quickly added, "Oh, right. Cooperation is cooperation, but don't expect me to sell you weapons and food at rock-bottom prices."

Dragon had no objection to this and nodded slightly: "Of course, a fair trade is fine."

that's enough.

After so many years of activity, the revolutionary army is not really lacking in money and materials, but rather in the channels to convert those money and materials into resources.

After leaving his contact information, Dorrag turned around and prepared to transform into a whirlwind and leave.

Kane suddenly called out to him, "You should have a young man named Sabo where you are, right?"

"Yes, you know him?" Dragon asked, somewhat puzzled.

Sabo is from the Kingdom of Goa, so he shouldn't have any dealings with Kane.

Kane explained, "I have a friend named Ace. He, Sabo, and Luffy are sworn brothers. Please pass on a message that Ace is doing well, but we miss him very much."

If he hadn't run into Dragon this time, he would have completely forgotten that Ace had a brother in the Revolutionary Army.

"So there was such a past? I'll pass on the message."

Dorrag nodded and vanished like a gentle breeze.

In this way, Sabo should no longer have to suffer the pain of trying to get everything back after losing it all.

Kane's lips curled up slightly.

Chapter 104 The Prelude to War

The New World, Erangelb Island.

The once bustling port is now a wasteland, with towering flames illuminating shattered ships and collapsed buildings, and the air thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood.

The Beasts Pirates lay sprawled on the ground, groans mingling with silence.

In the center of the harbor, the Beast Pirates' flag, which once symbolized dominance and intimidation, drooped helplessly on a half-burnt flagpole, looking particularly desolate.

"Red-Haired Shanks! Lord Kaido will never let you get away with this! He will definitely avenge us!"

A Viking-dressed, battered pirate captain collapsed to the ground, looking up at the red-haired man, letting out a final, fierce roar.

Shanks calmly looked down at him: "Just what I wanted."

He tilted his head slightly and gestured to his companion beside him, "Monsta, let's do it."

"Squeak!"

A monkey with a small braid tied behind its head responded and skillfully tossed the torch in its hand precisely onto the flammable materials already piled up under the flagpole.

Flames instantly rose up, greedily licking the dry wood and quickly spreading upwards along the flagpole.

The flag embroidered with the symbols of a hundred beasts was instantly engulfed in flames.

The pirate, slumped on the ground, stared blankly at the flag that twisted, curled up, and finally turned to ashes in the flames, as if his faith had been destroyed.

This isn't the first time the Red-Haired Pirates have done something like this.

Since we've decided to have a fair and square clash, there's no better way to boost our morale and strike a blow to the enemy's arrogance than to crush them island by island, tear down their flags, and set them ablaze.

The effect of this move can be described as remarkable.

Morgans, who never misses a good spectacle, naturally wouldn't let this prelude to an epic battle slip by.

He specifically reserved an unprecedentedly large space in the World Economic Herald.

From the moment the Red-Haired Pirates first forcefully invaded the Beasts Territory, every issue's front page headline was dominated by the upcoming battle between emperors, and occasionally even extra editions were issued to provide detailed reports on every conflict.

It can be said that not only in the New World, but throughout the entire Grand Line and even the four seas, countless people's eyes were firmly drawn to it.

Everyone held their breath, awaiting the outcome of this war that was destined to reshape the course of the ocean.

Will the Red-Haired Pirates truly be crowned, establishing their undisputed title of "Emperor"? Or will the Beasts Pirates crush the challenger's ambitions with overwhelming force?

The whole world is eager to know the answer.

East China Sea, Orange Town.

"Shanks, you bastard, don't you dare die! I haven't even gotten my revenge on you yet."

The first half of the Grand Line.

The Devil's Triangle.

The enormous, terrifying three-masted sailing ship floated silently like a ghost.

Outside the eerie ancient castle in the center of the ship, a battle had just ended.

"Damn bastard Rayleigh...uh..."

A man with strange reddish-purple long hair and a body like a giant onion was kicked away by a seemingly simple but terrifyingly powerful kick, crashing into the wall of the castle.

His eyes rolled back, his consciousness blurred, and from his gaping mouth, a shadow like a black tide uncontrollably dissipated and peeled away.

The enormous body, which had originally expanded to tens of meters, shrank rapidly like a punctured balloon, eventually returning to its original size of about six meters.

The man was none other than Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Around him lay countless zombies and his two companions, Hogback and Absalom.

"Lord Moriah!"

Perona, a gothic Lolita girl with pink twin ponytails, a crown, and a burgundy parasol, rushed over with tears in her eyes and stood in front of the unconscious Moria, looking at the old man in front of her with horror.

With his long, curly silver hair, glasses, and a vertical scar on his right eye, Hades Silvers Rayleigh did not continue to attack Perona.

He simply let out a soft sigh, stretched his wrists, and remarked with a touch of self-deprecation, "It's been so long since I've stretched my muscles like this... I guess I really am getting old. Even dealing with Moria has left me feeling a bit tired."

Rayleigh's eyes, once sharp, now held a hint of wistfulness, a touch of melancholy born of the passage of time.

“We are all remnants of the old era, Rayleigh.”

Crocus, who was standing nearby, walked over with a newspaper that had just been delivered and still smelled of ink. He also remarked something and handed the newspaper over.

"Now, this turbulent sea ultimately belongs to the young people."

"Oh? It's news about Shanks?"

Rayleigh took the newspaper, his gaze sweeping over the triumphant group photo of the Red-Haired Pirates on the front page. A broad smile immediately spread across his face. "Hahaha... Has he really come this far?"

"But he was facing the Beasts Pirates after all."

Crocus's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible worry. He looked at Rayleigh and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, if I had known it would be at this time, perhaps I shouldn't have rushed to ask you for help."

"It's none of your business."

Rayleigh waved his hand dismissively, his gaze still fixed on the newspaper:

"Since Shanks hasn't asked us for help, it means he believes he can handle it. We old guys can just watch from the sidelines. Like you said, the new era has its own course."

They are partners with Shanks and Bucky, and are juniors who deserve care, but they are by no means babysitters who need to do everything for them.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Rayleigh! Mr. Crocus!"

At this moment, the skeleton dressed in a gentleman's suit and sporting an afro bowed solemnly to the two of them at a ninety-degree angle.

"Without your help, I would never have been able to get my shadow back."

Brooke's voice was filled with genuine excitement as he expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

“No need to be so polite.” Crocus smiled gently. “I’m just fulfilling my promise to Laboon.”

His gaze then fell on the katana that Brook was gripping tightly in his left hand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Isn't that the sword of the Dragon Slayer Ryuma?"

"Yes."

Brooke explained, "After gaining true freedom, Mr. Ryoma voluntarily gave up his life and returned the shadow to me. As a final request, he entrusted me to help find a true master worthy of this sword."

He didn't want his beloved knife to sink with him on this sunless ship.

Although Ryoma was resurrected using his shadow and his swordsmanship originated from him, he was no match for him due to his immense strength in life.

This is why Brook failed to reclaim his shadow in the past years.

Fortunately, Rayleigh stepped in to help this time, completely defeating Moria and giving Ryoma the opportunity to make his own choice.

With their business concluded, the three of them did not linger.

They sailed away from the Devil's Triangle aboard the island whale Laboon, accompanied by the soaring and majestic strains of "Binks' Wine".

Alabasta.

Inside the luxurious office.

"Just wait... Once I find that ancient weapon... I'll bring down all of you emperors!"

A golden hook suddenly pierced through the World Economic Newspaper, even carving deep through the hardwood tabletop below.

The pastoral landscape outside the castle on Klaigana Island.

The world's greatest swordsman, "Hawkeye" Djokovic, finished his morning of farming.

He wore a straw hat to shield his eyes from the sun and was dressed in simple farmer's clothes, blending seamlessly with the lush vegetable plots around him.

If outsiders were here, they would be absolutely stunned to see this scene.

At this moment, Mihawk sat on a luxurious sofa by the edge of the field, completely out of place with his surroundings. In front of him, an exquisite coffee table was piled high with seaweed rice balls for lunch.

Several giant apes, also wearing small straw hats and mimicking his mannerisms, sat quietly to the side, enjoying their peaceful lunch together.

"The Red-Haired Pirates and the Beasts Pirates?"

Mihawk devoured the rice balls at an astonishing speed, one in three bites, while his gaze swept over the headlines in the newspaper, lost in thought.

He wasn't troubled because both sides in the conflict had acquaintances, but rather he was wondering if it was necessary to personally join in the fun.

The battles between emperors greatly intrigued her.

But after thinking it over carefully, he gave up on the idea.

It's obvious to anyone with a brain that the Navy and the World Government will be secretly watching this war between emperors, and may even get involved themselves.