Inside a giant castle on Whole Cake Island, as Renji's words fell, the atmosphere suddenly solidified, and the air was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
"Brat! Are you challenging me?" Linlin's voice rang out coldly from the Den Den Mushi.
Even those unfamiliar with Big Mom could tell that she was extremely angry at this moment.
Inside the giant castle, Linlin's children surrounded her, looking at the expression on their revered Mama's face. Her eyes were bloodshot, and the powerful aura emanating from her was like a demon from hell, making them fear to the point of suffocating.
Her eldest son, Perospero, with his long tongue curled, stood frozen in place. Usually quick-witted, he didn't even dare to breathe at this moment.
And Katakuri, one of the Sweet Commanders, renowned as invincible, who had always stood with his arms crossed, now had veins bulging on his forehead and cold sweat streaming down. Having trained his Observation Haki to the point of foreseeing the future, he had already seen a very bad future.
That Admiral had truly enraged Mama!
Damn it... The first to suffer would be them, Mama's closest children, because of that irresponsible Marine bastard.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, facing the wrath of one of the Four Emperors Charlotte Linlin, Renji merely smiled faintly and said, "You've got one thing wrong."
"You are the challenger."
On Whole Cake Island.
Boom!
"Stinky brat! Don't get carried away just because you could kill Rayleigh! He was just an old relic from the old era!"
Linlin's raging voice boomed out, causing the giant castle to tremble violently. With rolling thunder, it began to shake fiercely, causing countless citizens of Totto Land to panic.
"Oh no! Mama is angry again."
"Which blind idiot angered Mama again, damn it!"
The banquet in Ryugu Kingdom had lasted a day and a night. The news that Admiral Seiryu, the strongest Marine of the new era, had slain Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King and right-hand man of Pirate King Roger, a peak pirate of the old era, had already spread throughout the world via various news agencies.
Only Fish-Man Island, which had lost contact with the surface, was still unaware of this news.
...
The communication abruptly ceased. Renji didn't need to guess, that giant baby of an Emperor, who was always temperamental and unable to control her emotions, was probably already rampaging because of his words.
That's how it was in the One Piece World. The more temperamental or gifted a person was, the more various bad habits they had.
"Admiral Seiryu, who were you talking to?"
From beneath Renji, a timid whimper came. Shirahoshi spoke with a blush on her face, her aggrieved expression making it hard not to feel pity.
"Just a crazy old woman." Renji soothed.
"Really?" Shirahoshi looked at Renji with hopeful eyes.
He nodded and casually put a piece of crystal-clear fruit into his mouth. Renji's Den Den Mushi then rang.
Purururu... Purururu...
"Admiral... The current situation is that besides that monster Bullet somehow getting wind of it, Kaido is also determined to get his hands on this Phoenix Fruit."
Doflamingo's voice came from the Den Den Mushi.
"What should we do?"
Hearing Doflamingo's change from his usual teasing and relaxed tone, Renji knew that this pleasant trip to Ryugu was coming to a temporary end.
A smirk appeared on his lips, and a better idea flashed through Renji's mind. He then slowly said, "Since it can't be kept a secret, why not let the whole world participate?"
"!"
Doflamingo was stunned upon hearing this, as if he had guessed Renji's idea, but this was what shocked him the most.
To face pirates from all over the world!
Crazy, this guy is absolutely crazy!
Bidding farewell to the reluctant Shirahoshi, Neptune came to see Renji off.
"Admiral Seiryu, did this banquet satisfy you?"
Renji smiled and waved his hand. "I am very satisfied."
Jinbe's expression was somewhat grim as he said, "Big Mom has already gotten wind of it. She no longer protects Fish-Man Island."
Renji said, "It doesn't matter. Just say that Fish-Man Island is a place I, Renji, frequent. I don't like fighting and killing either."
Upon hearing this, Jinbe's eyes sharpened, as if he had found a treasure, incredibly excited.
"Thank you! Admiral Seiryu!"
With the protection of Renji, this pirate slayer, not to mention ordinary pirates daring not to be presumptuous, even the Four Emperors Pirate Crews would have to think twice.
...
Not long after, at New Marineford, inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Akainu put down the Den Den Mushi with a headache.
Just now, the Gorosei had lectured him again. The reason, of course, was Renji's actions on Fish-Man Island.
"Hmph! A bunch of pedantic old farts."
"Bullet, Kaido, Linlin, three of the Four Emperors have made their move..."
Akainu's eyes were sharp, like a sword's gleam, sweeping across the sea through the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Bring it on, the rampaging era."
On this day, the pirate tide, which should have continued to decline due to the strong slaying of Rayleigh by Admiral Seiryu and the stifling of the Straw Hat Pirates' highly publicized re-departure two years ago, was instead ignited by a sudden major event that shocked the world.
The current King of Dressrosa, warlord, Donquixote Doflamingo, announced the hosting of an unprecedented martial arts tournament. The grand prize for participants, in addition to priceless gold and silver treasures, also included an extremely valuable Logia Devil Fruit.
It instantly attracted widespread attention across the world.
Inside a tavern.
"Hey! Have you heard?"
"You're talking about the tournament hosted by the King of Dressrosa, that warlord, right? The rewards are enticing."
"Those three Devil Fruits! Whichever one someone gets, they'll definitely soar to greatness."
"To think that those three Devil Fruits, once eaten by the Whitebeard Pirates' commanders, would all fall into Doflamingo's hands. It's surprising, now they're all together."
"No, actually, that's not even the most shocking part. Let me tell you quietly, according to unofficial sources..."
As this person's voice lowered, it immediately caught the attention of a man whose fingers were covered in pure gold rings.
"Originally, Doflamingo only planned to offer the Logia Flame-Flame fruit as the prize for the tournament champion, but then the news leaked, leading to it being targeted by the current Four Emperors Douglas Bullet and Four Emperors Kaido. Out of necessity, Doflamingo then raised the prize."
"More than that. I heard Marine side is also participating in this tournament."
"What? Marine, as a government department, can also participate?"
"Yes. This tournament, spearheaded by Doflamingo, is unprecedented and has no restrictions on the identity of participants."
"Whether you are a pirate or a Marine, a World Noble or a commoner, everyone is treated equally."
"It is said that Marine has also set a goal for this tournament, which has caused a huge craze worldwide. They must obtain at least one of the Devil Fruits."
Marineford, inside the Operations Meeting Room,
"I now announce the code name for this operation: Operation Frenzy!"
***
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