They've started fighting?
But the paper said Red-Hair wouldn't even meet Kaido until tomorrow.
Ronn wasn't the only one baffled. Rayleigh and Tea Dolphin both looked stunned. Based on Shakky's intel and the Marines' vast network, the timetable matched the newspaper exactly. How could it be wrong?
"You sure?" Doflamingo frowned into the snail-phone.
"Absolutely," Diamante replied. "One of our Donquixote businesses is on a nearby island. The report says Kaido turned into an azure dragon, flew straight to Red-Hair's ship, and they started brawling on sight. The Beasts Pirates' grand fleet is also converging. They'll reach the area by nightfall!"
Diamante rattled off details to prove the news was solid.
"Fufufufufu… Good. I got it."
Doflamingo hung up, a cold smile spreading across his face.
He knew an opportunity when he smelled one.
No matter who wins—Kaido or Shanks—one of them will descend on the Sabaody Archipelago. Whitebeard is also on the move. A world-shaking war is about to begin: two Yonko clashing with the Marines in a chaotic free-for-all.
If he could take a Yonko's head… or a Marine Admiral's… the Donquixote Family would rise like a rocket, drawing legions to his banner. Before today he wouldn't have dared to dream it—but with the Gen-2 God-Body now infused, it didn't feel impossible.
"Boss, I'm heading out. I'll come again later."
Tea Dolphin slapped cash on the counter and strode out, steps ironclad with resolve.
If there's any way left to stop this war, he thought, it's to capture Ace alive—now.
"Me too."
Rayleigh tossed down money and left in the opposite direction. He had to find Ace and smuggle him off Sabaody—no matter the cost. If war erupts, even Rayleigh couldn't guarantee Ace's safety.
Both men knew: the storm is coming, and those in the eye of it won't be spared.
"Now this will be a show," Ronn murmured.
At this rate, Marineford comes early—and moves to Sabaody. Seven Warlords, Marines, Yonko—three powers colliding on one stage. The victor? Completely up in the air. Especially now that Doflamingo and Akainu have powered up.
"Have Homelander come tomorrow," Liang Bing said, smiling. "I can't intervene—but you can."
Homelander nodded with the obsequious zeal of a man who feared steel whips.
"Yes, my Queen!"
He hesitated, then glanced at Ronn.
"But… the Boss here—"
He knew the rules. In this tavern, Ronn had the final say. Without that blessing, he didn't dare touch this world's affairs—one misstep and he'd be a smear.
Liang Bing waved him off.
"Don't worry about him. I've got a way to deal with him."
Ronn snorted. What, bat your lashes and whimper? Not happening.
Liang Bing's figure flickered; the next instant she was leaning over the bar, whispering at Ronn's ear:
"You do know 'temple' can be a verb, right?"
"—!!!"
Ronn was about to nod when—
The door swung open. Keisha walked in, sunlight pouring through the windows onto her war-skirt. With that cascade of golden hair and a queen's unshakable presence, she looked gilded by daylight—easily a picture worth framing forever.
"A verb, hm?" Keisha sniffed. "You're vulgar as ever, witch."
She glided onto a stool. Then her gaze snapped to Homelander, brows knitting.
"You intend to drag him into the fight in a few days?"
"Denied."
Her voice was lazy velvet, but the pressure in it made Homelander not even dare lift his head. He might curse at queens—but he'd learned better around this one. One wrong word and it was either a wet steel whip… or a funeral.
Liang Bing slapped her simpering subordinate, then rattled off a string of censored invective at Keisha before growling:
"Read my mind if you want, bitch. My business is none of yours."
Keisha leaned back, legs crossed, smiling sweetly.
"Gladly. Tomorrow I'm bringing both wings of my host to this world to cleanse your 'degeneracy.' When the Flame Swords kiss their necks and the sea runs red, it will be… beautiful."
Bang! Liang Bing smacked the table, standing in fury.
"Try it! My devils will be here too—we'll carve down your little choir brats!"
The air warped. Demon claws and sacred silver wings clawed out of space itself, their auras ripping at the room.
"Enough." Ronn's brows pinched. "You two don't get to meddle in this world's war."
Both women froze, then—whoosh—the wings and claws withdrew. Homelander, trembling, was proof enough of what had just pressed down on the tavern.
"Hmph."
Liang Bing shot Ronn a glare and sat back down, pouting.
"Disgusting," Keisha sniffed. "Look at yourself."
"You—!" Liang Bing ground her teeth and stared Keisha down.
Their eyes locked—and they switched to silent line, unleashing a fresh duel of insults audible only to the two of them. The vocabulary was… unspeakable.
Just then, the system chimed in Ronn's ear:
[Ding: Customer Homelander has finished confiding.]
[Ding: Confidant involved: The Deep. He will visit the tavern soon.]
[Homelander abilities available: Super Strength, Super Speed, Super Durability… Choose one.]
[Doflamingo abilities available: Armament Haki, Observation Haki…]
"Super Strength," Ronn answered.
[Ding: Optimizing gaps. Fusing—]
Power spread cleanly through him—no strain at all. With dragon physique and nine-tailed fox blood already in place, his body took to it like water.
From the others, he selected the Boar Talisman, Doflamingo's Armament Haki, and Tea Dolphin's martial arts.
Still… first a fresh-milk freak, now an octopus enthusiast? This roster was getting… odd.
—
Liang Bing and Keisha's spiteful "tea party" dragged on till afternoon. As they left, both tossed down threats—"Same time tomorrow."
By evening, Homelander, the demon duo, and Gray Wolf had all departed. No new customers came; Ronn closed early.
At dawn, Ronn woke to the same routine as ever: the familiar silhouette, the familiar flutter of cash, the familiar window jump.
Honestly? He was bored.
After washing up, he entered the tavern to find breakfast already set by Tohru and the twins. Just as he raised his chopsticks, a man's flustered voice called from outside:
"Lord Saint Charlos, this tavern is unworthy of your status! And… there are orders from the Holy Land—Sabaody is not safe!"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/ZoroTL442