In the smoky ambiance of Shakky's Rip-off Bar, Shakky counted her bounty haul from a recently intimidated rookie pirate crew.
Just then, the wooden door creaked open, and Rayleigh stepped inside, holding a bottle of rum. "Who's the unlucky lad this time?"
"A rookie crew from the North Blue," Shakky replied, not looking up from her stack of Beri.
Rayleigh settled into a seat, reaching for some dried beef on a saucer. But his eyes soon landed on the bar's wanted poster wall, and his gaze hardened slightly. "What have those guys been up to this time?"
Shakky continued counting. "No specifics yet, but the intel suggests that the Organization of Shadows is behind something big."
The bounty board had been updated with new wanted posters for the Organization of Shadows:
Iron Man: Bounty - 3.6 billion…Blue Flame Witch: Bounty - 2.5 billion…Candleman Galdino: Bounty - 800 million…Thunderbolt: Bounty - 2.5 billion…Cat-Clawed Glasses Man: Bounty - 800 million…Green-Haired Masked Man: Bounty - 3 billion…Suspected Stone Fruit User: Bounty - 1.5 billion…
"So, they've gained a new member, huh?" Rayleigh mused.
Shakky lit a cigarette without lifting her head. "Or maybe it's someone who just hadn't been exposed before."
Rayleigh took a swig of rum. "Seems the World Government took a heavy hit this time."
"They're too elusive. Even the entire underworld lacks solid intel on them. That spatial-ability user who can teleport quickly makes them nearly impossible to corner."
A thought crossed Shakky's mind. "By the way, that situation in the Kingdom of Flevance—it might be connected to this organization."
"The White City?" Rayleigh asked.
"Based on underground intel, it seems the citizens of Flevance didn't die from toxic dust from the mines; they just mysteriously vanished."
Rayleigh's expression shifted. "Flevance is a landlocked nation, with its neighbors locking down the borders. The only way to move an entire population out would be through some kind of spatial ability... although…"
"You're about to say that Lead Poisoning is practically untreatable, aren't you?"
Rayleigh nodded.
"Still," Shakky exhaled smoke, "as far as I know, the Iron Barrel Kingdom hasn't reported a surge in Lead Poisoning cases, nor has there been a rush to sell Prussian Blue, the antidote for heavy metal poisoning."
"Seems their medical technology must be quite advanced."
"Oh, and about that favor Shanks asked you for—any news?" Shakky asked.
She shook her head. "Nothing."
As the Organization of Shadows' updated bounties hit the public eye, attention on them skyrocketed across the seas.
Not only were the Navy and CP organizations quietly investigating, but even the Emperors of the New World, various underworld moguls, the Revolutionary Army, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea were all expressing keen interest in the group. But tracking down the elusive Noah Family turned out to be an exercise in futility.
Paradise – Whiskey Island, Start of the Fourth Route
On the second floor of a tavern, Crocodile examined a newspaper and the latest wanted posters with a neutral expression. His mind, however, wandered back to intel he had acquired the previous year.
The ancient weapon could very well be hidden in the Alabasta royal palace…
I need to set my plans in motion soon. If I can acquire the legendary ancient weapon, I can rule the world…
But the current manpower at Baroque Works isn't enough. Aside from Mr. 2 Bon Clay, the others are weaklings. I'll need to recruit some stronger bounty hunters from the Four Seas…
Paradise – Water 7
A coffin-shaped ship slowly drifted into the port.
A tall man with a giant sword on his back glanced around with eagle-like eyes, his gaze flashing with a hint of boredom.
"Isn't that the Marine Hunter?"
"Quiet! You have a death wish…?"
"He's one of the Seven Warlords…"
"Run!"
Mihawk ignored the frightened murmurs from the commoners and headed for a portside bar.
As he stepped inside, the room fell silent, and some patrons began to sweat nervously.
The bartender managed a stiff smile. "What can I get you, sir?"
"A plate of water meat, a bottle of Groni red wine, and today's newspaper."
"Right away."
The bartender quickly retrieved a newspaper and handed it over. Mihawk scanned the pages and soon noticed the updated bounties.
That Iron Man looks like a swordsman… Pity this group is so hard to track down. I wonder where that rascal Shanks is these days…
North Blue – Yat Sea
"Achoo!" Shanks sneezed from his lounge chair on the beach, rubbing his nose. "Who's thinking about me?"
On the ship's prow, Benn Beckman was flipping through a newspaper purchased from a News Coo. His face turned serious, and he leapt to Shanks' side.
"Big news?" Shanks asked, gazing up at the serene blue sky.
"The Organization of Shadows' bounties have been raised significantly. That spatial ability user's bounty has reached three billion Beri."
"Oh? Quite impressive!" Shanks responded nonchalantly.
"They must've done something major for the World Government to raise their bounties so drastically."
Just then, Yasopp, perched on the mast, shouted, "Captain! A World Government ship has been spotted. Looks like they've noticed us too!"
Shanks' eyes narrowed as he stood, looking out at the distant sea.
Sure enough, a heavily armed ship flying the World Government's flag was fast approaching the Red-Haired Pirates' vessel.
Half an hour later, the two ships were only five hundred meters apart.
Suddenly, the World Government ship opened fire.
"Alright, let's fight!" Shanks had planned to ignore them, but the Government ship had forced his hand.
Yasopp immediately opened fire with his pistol.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
He shot down the cannonballs mid-air. The other Red-Haired crew members sprang into action.
On the World Government ship, CP9 agents launched into battle, using Moonwalk to hover or firing back with rifles.
But against the Red-Haired Pirates—an Emperor-level crew—the agents were quickly overwhelmed.
Fozzie, the CP9 team leader, transformed into his saber-toothed tiger hybrid form. "Roar! Die!"
The next second, he collapsed to the deck, eyes rolled back as Shanks' powerful Conqueror's Haki knocked him out.
The skirmish on the Government ship was soon over.
"Captain, look what I found!" Lucky Roo came out of the ship's hold carrying a small chest, while a monkey nearby chattered excitedly, indicating that it was the one who had found the box.
Shanks chuckled, shaking his head. "Got it, got it! We all know who really found it."
But his expression turned serious as he opened the chest to reveal its contents—an unmistakable Devil Fruit.
Beckman noticed Shanks' reaction. "Could it be… that's the fruit you've been searching for all this time?"
Shanks nodded as he took the box. "Yes. It seems we'll have to change course. Set sail for the East Blue immediately."
"East Blue? Understood!" Beckman didn't question why they were heading to East Blue or why Shanks valued this Devil Fruit so highly.
The Red-Haired Pirates adjusted course, making their way swiftly toward Reverse Mountain.
Meanwhile…
In Mary Geoise, the Five Elders were informed of the attack on the Government's armed ship that had been escorting the Devil Fruit.