One Piece: Trainers on the Straw Hat Pirates

"Although Crimson said he wanted to invite you onto the ship because he valued your abilities..."

"But since you're Brooke's friend, you're also my friend. Talking about loyalty and all that is just weird!"

Luffy suddenly stepped forward and helped Redfield up, his smile growing even brighter.

"No matter what, we're partners now!!!"

clap~

Luffy patted Redfield on the shoulder with a big laugh.

Although they were enemies just a moment ago, since Redfield and Brooke are old friends, and Red has said that Redfield is a good candidate for a partner, he is naturally happy to accept Redfield's joining!

What could be more gratifying than gaining more like-minded companions!

And with new companions, how far away can a new feast be?!

Thinking of this, Luffy's lips curled up even higher.

"..."

Redfield's gaze flickered slightly as he looked at the smile on Luffy's face.

That's it... this feeling can't be wrong!

This scene suddenly reminded him of the first time he met Roger.

Redfield's lips curled into a smile, and he sighed inwardly:

"Perhaps, this isn't a bad decision after all."

……

……

"Hey... what does that mean!?"

"The legendary pirate Lone Red has actually joined the Straw Hat Pirates!?"

"That's a legendary figure who could rival Whitebeard!!!"

"Ha, am I the one who's gone mad, or is the world the one who's gone mad?!"

"Now that the Straw Hat crew possesses both the Eternal Log Pose and the Lone Red Pose, they can practically lock in the throne of the Pirate King, right?!"

"What... what's the point of even playing?! No matter how hard we try, we can't possibly be a match for them!"

"How about... we join them if we can't beat them?! I heard the Straw Hat Pirates are recruiting heavily in the underworld, maybe they're short-handed!"

"........."

"........."

The pirates who witnessed the scene of the lone red maiden kneeling before Luffy were overwhelmed with emotion.

Even the other members of the Straw Hat crew didn't expect that participating in a festival would give them another member.

Fortunately, Red has already conveyed information about Redfield, his Devil Fruit ability, his strength, and his relationship with Brook through the psychic network.

Upon learning that such a legendary and powerful figure was about to join them, the Straw Hat crew were overjoyed and had no other thoughts.

Of course, not everyone in the Straw Hat crew was immersed in the joy of having new friends.

……

……

"That guy, he hasn't arrived yet!?"

Zoro deliberately chose a high vantage point, surveying his surroundings and gazing out to sea beyond the island.

Red said that, according to the intelligence he had, Festa had spread information about the Pirate King's treasure in the underworld before the festival began.

The celebration team did indeed receive the application from Hawkeye, and also received the eternal pointer from the celebration team.

Whatever the reason, Hawkeye was clearly interested in the celebration.

Now that news of the final island has surfaced, there's no reason for that guy to give up halfway.

Although he was very confident in the information he had gathered from Red, Zoro was still tormented by the fact that he hadn't seen even a glimpse of Hawkeye in so long.

But at that moment, it seemed as if heaven had heard his urgency.

In an instant, Luffy, who had been observing Redfield, and Zoro, who had been waiting for Hawkeye, both froze, then suddenly turned their heads to look in a certain direction beyond the island.

A large warship slowly appeared on the distant horizon and rapidly approached the island.

"That...that is..."

Above, on the naval warship protected by Fujitora, lookouts immediately spotted the ship's presence.

But when he saw the flag on the ship through his binoculars, his expression suddenly changed.

After a moment of stunned silence, he immediately shouted in alarm:

"No...this is terrible!!!"

"It's all the beasts!!!"

"It's the Beast Pirates, one of the Four Emperors!!!"

"They've come to the Pirate Festival too!!!"

The lookout immediately shouted loudly and used the navy's communication equipment to quickly relay the message to the other naval warships.

But just then...

A sharp slash suddenly flew from the distant sea, heading straight for the naval warship.

Swish! ! !

Without giving the navy any chance to react, the terrifying slash swept horizontally across several naval warships.

The next moment... the huge naval warship was split in two, revealing a smooth cut, and, no longer affected by the Gravity Fruit, crashed into the sea below.

Meanwhile, above the Beast Warship in the distance.

Seeing the naval warship blocking his way easily defeated, Kaido immediately let out a sinister laugh.

"Wolf Wolf Wolf..."

"As expected of the world's greatest swordsman, his move was exactly as predicted!"

"But speaking of which, you shouldn't be a Shichibukai anymore, right? There's nowhere for you to belong in this world anymore."

"You really don't plan to join my pirate crew!?"

Kaido, his eyes shining like spotlights, looked down at the figure beside him who was sheathing his sword.

The fact that this person can be called the "world's greatest swordsman" and is treated as an equal by Kaido makes his identity obvious!

That's right!

He is the target that Zoro has been waiting for all along—[Hawkeye] Dracule Mihawk!

As for why he appeared on Kaido's ship and even helped the Beasts' fleet clear obstacles...

Hawkeye sheathed the black sword Night, but his gaze was fixed directly on Kaido:

"I have done as promised and successfully paved the way for you. Don't let me hear any bad rumors about you on the high seas."

"Woohoo, woohoo, woohoo~" Upon hearing this, Kaido burst into laughter again, then answered Mihawk's question:

"Don't worry! I'm one of the Four Emperors, after all. I can certainly keep my word!"

"only……"

"Pfft!!!"

Under Hawkeye's murderous gaze, Kaido suddenly couldn't hold back and let out a strange laugh.

Noticing Hawkeye's gaze, he immediately regained his composure and waved his hand, saying:

"Between you and me, everything is settled!"

"That's for the best!" Hawkeye glared at him fiercely. Seeing that the ship was far enough away from the island, he stood on the railing and, as if fleeing a disaster, leaped onto the island.

Kaido was left alone at the bow of the ship, watching his retreating figure and laughing sinisterly.

His gaze involuntarily drifted back to this moment just a day earlier.

At the time, the Beast Pirates also learned through espionage that the Going Merry had left the Pokémon Sea and was heading towards Festival Island.

Just then, Queen announced that his biological weapon for the Straw Hat Pirates had been successfully developed.

Realizing this might be a perfect opportunity to ignore the Straw Hat Grand Fleet and directly attack the Straw Hat Pirates, Kaido didn't hesitate at all and immediately ordered his entire crew to set off for Festival Island to ambush the Straw Hat crew.

He never expected that, just as he was about to reach the Celebration Island, an uninvited guest would appear in front of their warship...

A swordsman who sails the seas atop a blade!

That's right, that person is Hawkeye Mihawk, who just escaped the giant whirlpool at sea.

Upon their first meeting, both were startled by the other's appearance.

Upon receiving the news, Kaido immediately appeared and confronted Mihawk head-on.

Given that Hawkeye had once fought Shanks to a draw, Kaido, who knew Shanks was powerful, dared not relax in the slightest.

At the same time, he didn't dare let Hawkeye leave just like that.

After all, the Beasts Pirates' operation was kept completely secret. In order to prevent the Straw Hat Pirates from finding out and to prevent the plan from failing, he only allowed some of the Beasts' top executives to participate in the operation.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye was in a very awkward position!

He never imagined that when he was shipwrecked and his only vessel was destroyed, leaving him to continue sailing on the black sword Yoru, one of the Supreme Grade Swords, he would be seen by Kaido of the Beasts Pirates!

If it were just an ordinary pirate crew, he would have simply cut them down with a single strike, thus burying this secret in the sea forever.

Just like he did before.

but……

The Beasts Pirates' warships aren't something you can just cut down whenever you want.

Ultimately, with each side harboring its own ulterior motives, they signed a non-aggression pact.

Having guessed what was going on, Kaido agreed to pretend he hadn't seen the ridiculous scene, and Mihawk agreed to ride on Kaido's ship to the festival venue.