The Great Voyage: The Props Master on the Straw Hat Ship

Considering Akainu's consistent style and personality, the current situation must be the most agonizing for someone like him.

"Not only the Four Emperors and the Revolutionary Army, but also quite a few members of the Seven Warlords have chosen to withdraw?!"

Hawkeye glanced at another report, "【Cross Guild】? Sounds like the name of some lousy gang in a small town!"

Link: "~~~"

Well, you might actually dislike this name someday. Perhaps if you were still out in the open sea, you would have joined this organization anyway.

"Three Shichibukai, plus a former Shichibukai... and that man, right?!"

When Hawkeye saw the composition of the [Cross Guild], he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The three current Shichibukai are Buggy the Thousand Ryo, Mad Tregear the Treasure Hunter, and Edward Weevil the Whitebeard Jr.

Besides the three people, there is another person's name.

Former Shichibukai, Crocodile.

These four individuals, along with the leader who initiated the organization, formed a formidable force that is now renowned on the high seas.

"Is this the new Yonko?!"

Hawkeye Mihawk glanced at the laughing figure in the newspaper.

"If it were him, even without the addition of these four Shichibukai, his own strength alone would be enough to deserve the title of Emperor of the Sea."

"Ah, that's true~"

Aokiji finally spoke up, "Even Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku had a hard time dealing with him back then."

"This guy's strength is universally acknowledged; he might even be stronger than Kaido and Charlotte Linlin."

"If it were him, he might be fully qualified to challenge Whitebeard for the title of the world's strongest man."

Aokiji's gaze drifted into a moment of reminiscence and contemplation.

"I remember this man. If he were still on the sea before, he should be a monster even more powerful than Kaido. When he was a teenager, he was able to fight against veteran powerhouses without being at a disadvantage."

"Moreover, he is currently at the peak of his life, and his strength has probably reached a new level."

"Perhaps he harbors other ambitions."

Hawkeye watched quietly. "Otherwise, given his personality and belief in his own strength, it would be impossible for him to have gathered such a large number of subordinates."

"That man..."

The newspaper had an entire front page filled with photos of the four new maritime emperors.

"Although I don't know what else is happening on the high seas..."

Inside the general's mansion in the Flower Capital, Ace slowly unfolded the newspaper, presenting the photos of those people to everyone.

"But these people are the new Emperors of the Sea, the Four Emperors!!"

Under the astonished gazes of the Straw Hat Pirates, the headline prominently featured the new Emperor of the Sea, a figure that would surely capture everyone's attention and leave a lasting impression.

The undisputed strongest man in the world, Edward Newgate the Whitebeard, and the incredibly powerful and domineering Shanks the Red-Haired.

The new era's king, Monkey D. Luffy, is depicted in the newspaper in his Gear 5 Nikka White Flame form, laughing heartily while holding his forehead.

And finally... blowing...

The man had crimson skin and an incredibly arrogant smile on his face.

The inheritor of the devil's will, a man who transcends two eras, bearing the distinct marks of his time, yet still capable of unleashing boundless waves on the sea:

A former member of the Roger Pirates, he was already on par with Rayleigh, the vice-captain at his peak, when he was only fifteen years old.

After Roger was executed, he believed he would never have another chance to beat him, lost his purpose in life, and went on a rampage at sea, turning the entire ocean upside down.

At only twenty-two years old, he forced the Navy to launch a Buster Call for him, led by two high-ranking Navy officers, Garp and Sengoku.

Ultimately exhausted by the Buster Call, and further defeated by a sneak attack from the pirates he had defeated, he was imprisoned in the sixth level of Impel Down.

He was able to escape when Blackbeard stirred up trouble and came to the sea, where he has now begun to make a name for himself.

That is a name that countless people recall with fear and dread, a name that still strikes fear into the hearts of many:

The new Yonko, the legendary pirate, the "Demon's Heir," Douglas Bullet!!

691 One crew, two emperors!! A new emperor's name! [The world's strongest pirate crew]!

He was previously imprisoned in the Infinite Hell of Impel Down's sixth level until he escaped due to Blackbeard's rebellion.

After that, there was no further news, and it gradually faded from everyone's sight.

Unexpectedly, once they took action, they stirred up such a huge storm on the sea.

"Oh my, I remember he was known as the 'most notorious escaped convict in history' back then~"

Aokiji lay there, pondering slightly:

"This man wears all his emotions on his sleeve."

"Because he believed that weak people could not survive on this vast ocean."

Hawkeye nodded in agreement.

"I once heard Shanks mention this guy. It seems he was betrayed one after another, which made him unable to trust anyone anymore. So as long as he becomes the strongest, he won't need to rely on anyone."

"He only believed in his own strength, thinking that he could surpass everyone and obtain everything by himself."

"but now……"

The renowned Cross Guild, which he founded, demonstrates that his thinking has changed.

"Is he planning to recruit people and create his own faction, 637, to compete for his territory and hegemony on the seas?"

All three looked over at the same time and saw everything displayed in the newspaper article about the Cross Guild.

Meanwhile, inside the general's mansion in the Flower Capital.

"Luffy has become one of the Four Emperors?!"

Everyone was utterly shocked by the news.

Although they had considered that after defeating the two Sea Emperors, they might actually be given the title of the Four Emperors.

But when that day actually came, it was unexpectedly fast, so unbelievable that it felt somewhat surreal.

"The reports gave you extremely high praise!"

Ace smiled and pointed to the contents of the newspaper, "Especially since Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were both taken down by the two captains and first mates of your pirate crew."

"Outside, you are currently the most prominent, and you even have the nickname of the strongest pirate crew."

At this point, Ace also laughed:

"After all, your captain and first mate both possess the strength of the Four Emperors."

"The only pirate crews capable of having two members with Yonko-level combat power are the Rocks Pirates from back in the day, and..."

He paused slightly, "Besides the Roger Pirates, there is no other pirate crew that can reach this scale."

"Therefore, the outside world has bestowed upon you the strongest reputation."

"Just as the old man is known as the strongest man in the world, Shanks has the title of the strongest Haki in the world, Kaido is the strongest creature in the world, and Charlotte Linlin is the strongest woman in the world and the strongest family in the world."

"The outside world's assessment of you is that you are the strongest pirate crew in the world."

"The title of 'Two Emperors in One Group' is truly well-deserved!"

As Ace spoke, a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

My little brother, who used to follow me around shouting that he wanted to become the Pirate King, has really grown up.

He has grown stronger and more powerful than himself, and is only one step away from becoming the Pirate King.

He truly did it, and is about to realize his dream.

Ace himself had previously joined the Whitebeard Pirates with the idea of ​​pushing his father to the throne of the Pirate King. After learning that his adoptive father Roger had once intended to tell his father about the One Piece, but was directly rejected by his father.

Ace quickly realized that his father had absolutely no interest in those things.

If that's the case, then Luffy will definitely be the Pirate King.

"The strongest? Doesn't matter~"

Luffy scratched his head and chuckled nonchalantly, saying:

"My goal is simply to become the Pirate King. Any other titles, whether it's the Four Emperors or a Supernova, don't matter to me."

That's exactly what he thought; to him, those were all empty titles.

Only the freest person on this vast sea, unburdened by fame or anything else, is the Pirate King.

However~~~

"The Four Emperors?!"

Luffy grinned. "That's a pretty nice name."

Well, that didn't stop him from feeling genuinely happy to hear such high praise and titles.

Just as he might be overjoyed when the bounty number increases, he might also weep bitterly when the bounty number decreases.

"Speaking of which, who exactly is this Barrett?"

Zoro leaned against one side, looking at the poster that had been specially drawn on a special panel.

The poster was unfolded, revealing the evil organization that had shocked the seas—the [Cross Guild]!

The middle section of the poster is divided into four parts by two diagonally crossed pirate swords.

At the very top, the legendary pirate, Buggy, displaying extraordinary forbearance, is known as the "Thousand Ryo Transformation."

On the far left, Crocodile, a former Shichibukai who escaped from prison after the Marineford War and re-entered the New World.

On the far right, Mad Torega, a treasure hunter obsessed with finding treasures all over the world.

At the very bottom is Edward Weevil, who is said to possess the formidable fighting power of Whitebeard in his youth.

At the very top of the poster, and as the background that almost covers the entire poster, stands a tall, strong man with a ghostly gaze and an arrogant laugh, who is supported by the following four powerful high-level combatants from the ocean.

With countless accolades, and also a legendary pirate, Douglas Barrett, the "Devil's Heir".

He has now risen to the rank of one of the Four Emperors, reigning supreme over the seas!

"Even Crocodile and Buggy have joined that organization?!"

Luffy stared at the incredible poster and couldn't help but say, "Those two look just like Barrot's subordinates."

"It's a Barrett!!"

Nami corrected from the side, "But whether it's Buggy or Crocodile, given their personalities, they would never be willing to be subordinate to anyone."

"However, with so many other Shichibukai joining, their combined strength could indeed form a force comparable to that of a Yonko."

692 [Cross Guild]!! The celebration on Delta Island!! They're about to make a big move!

Well, they automatically overlooked the help that Bucky could provide.

"Actually, we don't need these Seven Warlords of the Sea~"

Ace adjusted his hat. "From what I heard from my father, this man named Barrett alone is worthy of the title of Emperor of the Sea."

Under the curious gazes of Luffy and the others, Law slowly recounted Bullet's past deeds and experiences.

Including his past as a member of Roger's pirate crew, only he was weaker than Roger.

He later left the Roger Pirates and made a name for himself on the high seas as a newcomer.

And in the period before Crocodile became one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the two fought to a draw.

Those experiences, one by one, are now being brought up and remembered by the world once again.

Meanwhile, by a small river near the Flower Capital, the three of them were also discussing Barrett.

“Crocodile had fought with Barrett before, so logically, it would be impossible for Crocodile to join his ranks.”

"However, both of them were imprisoned in the sixth level of Infinite Hell. Something may have happened during their escape. After all, Crocodile's past experiences seem to be a mystery, and it's hard to guess what he's thinking."

Aokiji, however, had some knowledge of these people through the Navy's intelligence.

"Buggy, who possesses the 'Thousand Ryo Transformation' skill, was already on Roger's ship as an apprentice pirate when Bullet joined the Roger Pirates. He was only nine years old at the time."

"The two of them probably had some interaction around that time, and since they were both members of Roger's pirate crew, there must have been some kind of kinship between them."