News Coos scattered across the skies, their wings beating against the wind as they delivered fresh newspapers to every corner of the globe. It wasn't long before the seas themselves seemed to tremble.
The world was reeling from the audacity of the new "East Blue Overlord."
"The man who will become Pirate King, searching for Laugh Tale, exploring the Will of D., and unearthing the Void Century..." One reader clicked his tongue, scanning the bold print. "Tsk. To make such a declaration? The nerve of this guy."
"He truly deserves the title. The East Blue is finally producing a monster," another muttered. "He's practically declaring war on the World Government right in front of the world's eyes."
--**--**
New World, The Moby Dick.
"Oi, Ace! Quit stuffing your face and look at today's news," a crewmate shouted, waving a newspaper. "The East Blue Overlord... he's from your hometown! This guy looks way more impressive than you!"
"A 1.5 billion berry bounty just for stepping into the Grand Line? That's unheard of!"
"It's five hundred million from the Government," another clarified, "plus that one billion placed by the 'Heavenly Yaksha,' Donquixote Doflamingo."
"Yeah, I heard about that. It was 1.3 billion just days ago. Who would have thought it would jump to 1.5 so quickly?" A pirate laughed, slapping his knee. "Rumor has it that when Doflamingo was captured, he told the Marines right to their faces: 'If you don't catch the East Blue Overlord now, you'll regret it for the rest of your lives.'"
"Hahaha! Looks like he was right on the money. Bet the Marines are kicking themselves now!"
"That calls for a celebration!"
"Yeah! Let's drink to the Marines misfortune!"
As the Whitebeard Pirates raised their tankards and cheered, Ace sat amidst the chaos, a bone of meat in hand. He glanced involuntarily at the newspaper tossed onto the deck.
When his eyes landed on the figure in the photo, a man draped in a mane-like golden cape, Ace's expression froze. A vague memory scratched at the back of his mind, blurry and indistinct. He frowned, frustration creeping into his voice.
"I think... I've seen this guy before."
"Well, obviously! He's your hometown buddy! You probably ran into him back in the East Blue," the crew roared with laughter. "There's a rumor going around that he's actually Gold Roger's biological son, and he stayed behind to restore the glory of pirates. Who knows if it's true?"
The moment those words hung in the air, Ace stiffened.
The meat nearly slipped from his grease-slicked fingers. His eyes went wide as saucers as he stared at the paper.
"That guy has a son?" Ace's shock turned into defensive indignation. "I'll never acknowledge him as a younger brother! My only brother is Luffy! And..."
Ace, who had long since accepted Edward Newgate as his true father, looked up at the massive figure on the throne with fierce determination.
"The only one who will become the Pirate King is Pops!"
The crew blinked, confused by the sudden outburst.
"Younger brother? Ace, what are you babbling about?"
"Is Luffy your brother?"
Before the confusion could spread, a deep, rumbling laugh shook the deck.
"Gurararara!"
Edward Newgate, the Strongest Man in the World, lowered his own newspaper and grinned down at his son. "Perhaps Ace simply means he wants this brat to become part of our family, too!"
"Ohh! Is that it?"
"I'm actually looking forward to meeting Mock now!"
"But 1.5 billion... that's even higher than your bounty, Marco!"
Marco the Phoenix gave a lazy shrug as the crew erupted into cheerful laughter again.
"Why don't we try inviting him when our paths cross?"
"We can discuss it then." Whitebeard looked over the scene of brotherly harmony, his expression softening into a gentle smile. "Today's banquet is for Ace."
He raised his massive sake bowl.
"Let us toast to Ace officially joining the family!"
"Cheers!"
"To Ace!"
"Pops, I know we're celebrating, but go easy on the booze, alright?" Marco chided gently.
As the Whitebeard Pirates drank and sang, celebrating their new brother, the topic of the East Blue Overlord faded into the background.
"We'll invite him when we meet him!"
However, amidst the revelry, one figure sat apart. A man with a thick, dark beard and a gap-toothed grin sat in the shadows, nursing a drink. He stared at the newspaper in his hand, his shoulders shaking as a low, strange laugh escaped his lips.
"This is getting interesting... Zehahaha!"
Marshall D. Teach grinned. 'I didn't expect the East Blue to produce another monster. It seems I need to find that fruit quickly.'
He looked down at the arrogant photo one last time, he said in a low rumble. "East Blue Overlord, Hargon D. Mock."
--**--**
New World, Autumn Island.
The Red Hair Pirates were camped out, passing the newspaper around with equal amounts of amusement and disbelief.
"Dahahaha! I didn't expect such an interesting pirate to pop out of the East Blue again!"
"Captain, if you're going to laugh like an idiot, put the glass down first," Benn Beckman sighed, watching Shanks nearly spill his booze. The First Mate took a drag from his cigarette, his eyes narrowing at the headline. "East Blue Overlord... Hargon D. Mock."
He tapped the ash away, his tone turning grave.
"There's a rumor circulating that this man is Roger's biological son."
"Huh? The Captain's son?" Shanks' laughter cut off abruptly. He leaned in, blinking at the paper in genuine confusion. "Hargon D. Mock? But the Captain's surname wasn't Hargon."
He scratched his head. "And this guy looks nothing like the Captain!"
"It's just a rumor. No one knows the truth," Beckman replied. "They say he stayed in the East Blue to inherit his father's will. Allegedly, he only started conquering the Grand Line because his crew was slaughtered by a Marine Admiral. Out of rage, he declared war on the World Government."
"I heard that one too!" another crewmate chimed in, leaning forward eagerly. "They say the battle was island-shattering. Mountains collapsed, tsunamis raged... supposedly, he split the sky and froze the sea! It was during that fight that most of the Donquixote executives were killed by the Admiral, which led to the Donquixote family's collapse and exposed the secrets of Dressrosa."
"I heard something weirder," a drunken pirate slurred. "There's a rumor about a corrupt Marine in the East Blue who likes to... 'play' with female pirates. Apparently, one of the Donquixote executives became his plaything."
"Seriously?"
"Who knows? It's all hearsay, just like the stuff about the Overlord."
"Forget the gossip," Lucky Roux bit into a chunk of meat. "Is the guy actually strong?"
"Hard to say," Beckman mused. "But if the Government put 500 million on him and Joker put up a billion, he's certainly not weak."
As the crew debated the validity of the tall tales, a man sat quietly on the periphery. He wore a wide-brimmed black hat adorned with white plumes, and a massive black blade, Yoru, rested against his shoulder.
Dracule Mihawk held the newspaper, his sharp eyes scanning the page. His expression was uncharacteristically stiff, as if he wanted to speak but was physically restraining himself.
Shanks, noticing the odd mood of his rival, turned with a grin.
"Mihawk, what's with the long face? Oh, right, you said you went to the East Blue recently. Did you run into Mock?"
The chatter died down. All eyes turned to the world's greatest swordsman.
"...", Mihawk seemed loath to answer. But under the intense, curious gaze of the Red Hair Pirates, he eventually closed his eyes and gave a stiff nod.
"I have seen him."
"You actually saw him?" Beckman frowned, analyzing Mihawk's strange demeanor. "Looking at your face... did you fight him? How strong is he?"
Mihawk hesitated. The memory of the encounter seemed to pain him. Finally, he forced two words through his teeth.
"...Not... bad."
A collective gasp went through the camp. The Red Hair Pirates stared at Mihawk in disbelief.
"Judging by that hesitation... he must be impressive!"
"For Hawkeyes to say 'not bad', is Mock really that strong? No wonder the bounty is so high!"
"Don't tell me the rumors about splitting the island are true?"
The crew, previously joking, now looked solemn. Even Shanks sobered up, scrutinizing the photo again. He frowned, muttering, "I still don't see the resemblance to the Captain..."
But the serious moment couldn't last long with Shanks. He tossed the worry aside, raising his tankard high.
"Ah, forget it! Let's not overthink it. We'll just ask him when we meet him!"
"Hahaha! That's our Captain!"
"Should we invite him to join the crew?"
"Someone who can earn Mihawk's recognition 'and' might be the Pirate King's son? He definitely has to join us!"
Mihawk's eye twitched. 'Who recognized him?'
Before the stoic swordsman could correct the misunderstanding, Shanks slapped him on the back, beaming.
"Let's toast to the Captain's possible son! Come on, Mihawk, drink up!"
"..."
'Forget it.'
He had promised not to expose Hargon D. Mock's identity, whatever Dante's game was.
Mihawk raised his glass, his face blank. "Cheers."
'Son of the Pirate King...' Mihawk thought, taking a drink to wash away the headache. 'Damn it. Just what is that guy trying to do?'
===============
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