"Former Fleet Admiral Kong has returned as Fleet Admiral?"
"What? It's not Akainu, Aokiji, or Kizaru? What is the Navy thinking, bringing back remnants of the old era?"
"I heard Akainu was about to be promoted, but Kuke somehow ruined it."
"What nonsense is that? No matter how strong Kuke is, he's still just a pirate. How could he have a say in who becomes Fleet Admiral?"
"It's true. My cousin is in the Navy."
"Really? Is Kuke's influence that terrifying? How did he even pull it off?"
"Not sure about the details."
Rumors started spreading. At first, people were skeptical. But as more and more people talked about it, doubts turned into belief, and the rumors became increasingly exaggerated.
Some even claimed that Kuke threatened the World Government, saying that if Akainu became Fleet Admiral, he would march into Marineford and kill him on the spot. The Five Elders, afraid of Kuke, supposedly backed off.
The stories varied, but all were equally unbelievable.
Even the pirates were stunned.
...
On the Radiant Eclipse.
Shakky, always the quickest to pick up information about the seas, rushed to Kuke, giving him a curious look from every angle.
"Captain, are you really even human?"
The whole situation was Shakky's doing. When she had set things in motion, she just wanted to make Akainu suffer a little, get him a bit rattled.
But now, the outcome had exceeded her wildest expectations.
"What's going on?"
Gion, Stussy, and the others crowded around, intrigued. They wanted to know what could possibly make the usually composed and rational Shakky react like this.
Shakky explained the whole story.
Hearing it, the women's eyes lit up, their heated gazes fixated entirely on Kuke.
"Captain, is there anything you can't do?" Stussy looked at Kuke with admiration. The Five Elders, cooperating with him? Unbelievable.
"This is something never before seen in history," Nico Robin said, quickly taking notes.
Kuke looked at the women crowding around him and said helplessly, "It's just a prank. Don't take those rumors too seriously."
Kuke's initial intention was just to annoy Akainu. He didn't really care how effective it was. It was all just something he did casually.
"Captain, if Akainu hears about this, he might be depressed for the rest of his life," Shakky said, her voice tinged with sympathy.
"Alright, for now, the Navy is no concern of ours," Kuke said, trying to redirect their attention. "We're almost at Wano, everyone, get ready."
All eyes turned to Viola.
"We're about 200 kilometers away," Viola said, her ability scanning the internal situation of Wano. "I can't find Kaido, and most of his top men aren't there either."
"The Beasts Pirates still haven't returned? Could it be that they're afraid?"
"Did they run away?"
The women began to chatter, speculating.
"Kaido is probably trying to be clever, not believing that I'd come to Wano so soon," Kuke guessed.
That fool.
Kuke turned to Viola. "Can you locate Kaido?"
Viola used her ability, her eyes constantly shifting.
After ten minutes, her face started to grow pale. Scanning such a vast distance was extremely exhausting for her.
Her stamina wouldn't hold out much longer.
"If you can't find him, it's fine. Don't push yourself," Kuke said, stopping Viola before she could overexert herself.
Viola's Glare-Glare Fruit ability allowed her to extend her vision within a 4000-kilometer radius. But it didn't mean that she could see every detail within that range.
It was like an ordinary person looking at a mountain. They could see the general shape but couldn't determine how many trees or animals were on it.
Viola's ability worked the same way. To gather detailed information, she first needed a specific location to focus on. Otherwise, it was like looking at an entire mountain without any specific target—it was difficult to find anything concrete.
"Whether Kaido's there or not, we'll go to Wano first," Kuke said. "Let's get what we came for."
The Radiant Eclipse stayed on course and kept its speed.
A few hours later.
An island with natural barriers appeared on the horizon.
Wano was in sight.
In the distance, a news ship had been anchored for three days already.
"Boss, we've spotted the Sun and Moon Pirates."
The boss, in the form of an albatross, was none other than the News King—Morgans, one of the emperors of the Underworld in the New World.
"They've finally arrived! The Sun and Moon Pirates are invading Kaido's territory. This is the real headline!" Morgans was thrilled. "The big debate across the seas—Kuke versus Kaido, the Sun and Moon Pirates versus the Beasts Pirates—who's stronger? Who's going to win? Will Kaido be able to capture Kuke's crew?"
The answer was soon to come.
Ever since Kuke announced his visit to Wano through various newspapers, the focus of the seas had never shifted away.
People were eagerly discussing.
"Do you think Kaido will really capture Kuke's crew? He's never failed to do what he's promised."
"Probably not. Even if they lose, the Sun and Moon Pirates should be able to get away."
Everyone was holding their breath.
Meanwhile, the Beasts Pirates were still on their way to Fish-Man Island.
"Sun and Moon Pirates, here I come."
...
Outside Wano.
"Yamato, I'm here."
Kuke looked at the island of Wano, Yamato's image flashing in his mind. If not for the distance and the fact that the crew had only just formed, Kuke would've come to Wano earlier to bring Yamato along. After all, she was a powerful woman with both Conqueror's Haki and a Mythical Zoan ability.
Inside Wano.
With the main force of the Beasts Pirates away, Orochi, the Shogun of Wano, had become even more reckless. Without Kaido to keep him in check, he acted as the true ruler of the country.
His outrageous behavior made life for the people of Wano unbearable.
A wandering girl looked with hatred at Orochi, who sat on a palanquin surrounded by countless guards.
On Onigashima.
A young woman with an oni mask, shackled and exhausted, roamed the island with little energy.
"I'm so hungry."
She was dragging her kanabo behind her.
Deeper within Onigashima, a pair of sneaky siblings were quietly making their way toward the treasure room.
"With Kaido and the officers away, Ulti, this is our chance! The treasure must have Devil Fruits. Only by becoming Devil Fruit users can we survive in the crew. No one will dare bully us again," the bold elder sister Ulti said to her timid younger brother, Page One.
The highest authority on Onigashima now was Jack, who was not yet an adult but was already one of the Tobiroppo of the Beasts Pirates.
"Seriously, why didn't they take me along? It's just the Sun and Moon Pirates. Do they think I'm weaker than Kuke?" Jack grumbled.
Since Kaido took over Wano, no enemies had dared come.
But today, a guest had arrived.
The Radiant Eclipse charged up the reverse waterfall and soared toward Wano.
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DONT FORGET POWER STONE FOR EXTRA CHAPTERS
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 154+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
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