“Gurararara!
Not bad, little Shaq.
You actually managed to fight Garp’s son.
I wonder how furious that old hero will be when he hears about this.” Newgate threw his head back and laughed loudly as he stepped onto the small boat again, clearly more delighted than if he had won a battle himself.
“Old Man, you have no idea how dangerous that situation was.
Your precious ‘son’ almost got taken out by that guy Monkey D.
Dragon.
Luckily, I’m not just anyone.
In that near-death moment, I forced myself to awaken Observation Haki.
The moment my senses expanded, I seized the opening and turned the tide completely,” Shaq said, still riding the high of the battle.
Compared to his usual calm, he now looked unusually animated, his eyes shining with excitement.
“Gurararara!
Only those who walk the line between life and death can grow into true monsters of the sea!” Though Newgate felt a trace of concern, he didn’t show it.
He understood better than anyone that young eagles needed storms to spread their wings.
“Enough talk.
Let’s continue our journey!
Next stop Dressrosa!”
As the small boat drifted farther away, Zephyr stood alone at the bow of the warship, his expression heavy.
He knew Dragon’s strength better than most, and yet that kid Shaq was clearly younger, but still managed to overwhelm him.
First Kaido… and now this Shaq.
The seas were producing terrifying monsters one after another.
But what about the Marines?
If their future relied only on Dragon, that would never be enough.
When the unconscious recruits finally woke, Zephyr gave his order without hesitation.
“We’re returning to the G-1 Branch.
The Dressrosa mission is canceled for now.”
…
After another full day of sailing, an island finally appeared on the horizon through the telescope.
Shaq leapt down from the crow’s nest, unable to hide his excitement.
“Old Man!
I can see it it’s Dressrosa!”
“Hm?
Already?” Newgate set aside his sake bottle, a faint grin forming on his face.
He had always liked this place fine wine, lively streets, and no shortage of beautiful women.
Their journey after encountering the Marines had gone unusually smoothly.
A favorable current had cut down their travel time significantly.
After docking, the two stepped onto the land known as the “Kingdom of Love and Passion.”
The moment they disembarked, Newgate casually tossed a pouch of Berries to Shaq.
“We meet back here tomorrow at this time.
Go enjoy yourself.
I’ve got my own… entertainment to find.”
“What kind of entertainment?” Shaq raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll come too.”
“Gurararara… not yet.
You’re still too young to understand.” Newgate patted his head and walked off without another word.
Shaq clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“What do you mean I wouldn’t understand?
Drinking, gambling, women that’s all it is, right?
What’s so special about that?
It’s not even as worthwhile as training.”
Newgate stumbled mid-step.
He hadn’t expected the kid to say that so bluntly.
Turning back slightly, a mischievous grin spread across his face.
“You think you understand… but you don’t.
Gurararara!
Come back after you’ve grown a little more, brat.”
With that, he disappeared into the bustling streets.
“Tch.
Old pervert,” Shaq muttered, pocketing his Berries.
He decided to explore the food scene instead.
As for Newgate’s “entertainment,” it really was still too early for him.
Meanwhile, far away at the Marine G-1 Branch…
The atmosphere inside the base commander’s office was unusually tense.
Sengoku, who had set sail earlier to support Zephyr, had been forced to turn back after receiving urgent orders.
Now, standing face-to-face, Zephyr recounted everything that had happened.
“You’re telling me… Whitebeard has already grown strong enough to suppress you?” Sengoku asked, his brows tightly drawn beneath his seagull cap.
“Yes,” Zephyr replied, exhaling a long stream of smoke from his cigar.
“And I don’t believe that’s his limit.”
Sengoku leaned back heavily in his chair.
“What kind of monster…?”
“There’s more,” Zephyr continued.
“The kid beside him Shaq.
His talent is no less frightening.
If he can already defeat Dragon at this age, then the future of the seas will definitely have a place for him.”
He crushed the cigar in his hand and immediately lit another.
“If we want to face what’s coming… Tsuru’s proposal for an Officer Training Camp must be pushed forward.”
Sengoku sighed.
“I understand that.
But funding, construction, manpower… none of it is simple.
The Marines’ budget is already stretched thin, and the World Government isn’t eager to give us more authority.”
“Hmph!
Those people are just afraid we’ll become too strong!” Zephyr snapped, throwing his cigar to the ground.
“Zephyr!
Watch your words!”
Sengoku rarely smoked, but even he took out a cigarette now.
“…We’ll discuss the training camp later.
For now, let’s finalize the new bounties.”
Zephyr fell silent, the smoke around him thick and suffocating.
…
Back in Dressrosa.
As night fell, Shaq sat by the window of a restaurant, enjoying a plate of pasta.
By chance, he glanced across the street and froze.
A familiar figure walked out of a brightly lit building, surrounded by a faint pink glow.
“Sir, please come again!
The girls all loved you!”
A woman in revealing clothes waved her handkerchief enthusiastically at Newgate.
Newgate shuddered slightly, his legs clearly unsteady, yet he still forced a laugh.
“Gurararara!
Of course!
Next time… I’ll take on ten again!”
“Oh my, how impressive!”
Shaq’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
He knew the Old Man was strong but this?
That was a different kind of terrifying.
“What kind of monster even does that…?” he muttered under his breath.
Then, without hesitation:
“Old pervert.”
After a brief pause, Newgate turned and entered the restaurant.
The moment he stepped inside, he spotted Shaq by the window.
“…Brat?
What are you doing here?”
“If I hadn’t come, how would I have witnessed your legendary ‘one versus ten’?” Shaq said with a grin, raising an eyebrow.
Newgate’s face darkened slightly.
Without a word, he grabbed the steak from Shaq’s plate and stuffed it into his mouth.
After dinner, the two returned toward the ship.
Newgate, visibly worn out, had no intention of continuing his “entertainment.”
“Hey, Old Man,” Shaq said, unable to resist, “what’s the secret behind your one-versus-ten?
And be honest did you mess with the Log Pose just to come here?”
“Get lost, brat.”
*Bang!*
A fresh bump appeared on Shaq’s head.
He instantly fell silent and followed obediently behind.
At that moment, a news coo flew overhead.
Shaq waved it down and bought a newspaper.
Unfolding it, his eyes immediately locked onto two wanted posters.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate
Bounty: 2,580,000,000 Berries
Dead or Alive
“Sword Demon” Shaq
Bounty: 10,000,000 Berries
Dead or Alive