One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 491: The Three Emperors (Part 1)

In an instant—

The atmosphere completely shifted.

Members of the Buggy Pirates swiftly raised their cannons.

Shanks's expression changed immediately.

"Buggy! What do you think you're doing?!"

Shanks shouted urgently.

"Gyahahaha! Shanks, taste the iron fist of your grandpa Buggy!"

Buggy rolled up his sleeves and laughed maniacally.

Cannonballs rained down like a storm.

Explosions erupted all around the Red-Haired Pirates.

Shanks immediately drew his sword to deflect the incoming shots.

At that very moment—

Mihawk, who had previously been disinterested, narrowed his eyes.

"Boss… wasn't he your childhood friend? Why is he attacking us?"

The sudden assault left the Red-Haired Pirates stunned and in chaos.

"Eh? Uh… I don't know either!"

Shanks scratched the back of his head, looking helplessly at Beckman.

"You idiot! Run!"

Beckman suddenly regretted ever joining this chaotic pirate crew.

"Retreat! We can't fight back against this!"

Even Shanks recognized the difference in strength and shouted the order to retreat.

"Damn you, Shanks! I'll never forgive you! I swear I'll string you up and beat you like a dog!"

Buggy yelled as he watched Shanks's ship sail away.

"After them, boys! Don't let them escape!"

Buggy gave the order.

"Yes, Captain Buggy!"

The entire Buggy Pirates crew sprang into action.

Over twenty officers led their ships in pursuit of the fleeing Red-Haired Pirates.

A high-speed chase across the North Blue had begun.

The entire region tensed.

—

Naval Headquarters – North Blue Division

Vice Admiral Tsuru stared at the message in her hand, stunned.

"Two former Roger Pirates are fighting each other? What's going on?"

She turned to a young woman beside her—wearing a pink bodysuit under a Justice cloak.

"Big Sis, maybe it's just a clash of pirate interests. It happens a lot. Want me to go break it up?"

The female Marine, hair tied in a ponytail, rested her left hand on her sword hilt and looked to Tsuru for orders.

Tsuru thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"Rear Admiral Gion, when on duty, refer to me by rank—not relationship. As for the Buggy and Red-Haired Pirates, leave them be for now. Our top priority is still the Donquixote Family. Until we eliminate them, the member nations will keep making a mess."

She glanced at the bounty notice in her hand.

Doflamingo's arrogant face stared back at her from the newspaper.

"Stirring up conflict between nations, smuggling weapons—this kind of troublemaker will never let the North Blue know peace."

Gion looked at the intelligence she'd gathered over the years and frowned.

"These underworld scumbags are a real pain to deal with."

She clenched her fists. After three years stationed here, she wanted nothing more than to crush that arms-dealing bastard Doflamingo.

"We'll take our time. He'll slip up eventually."

Tsuru remained calm, sipping tea while reviewing the latest intel from the North Blue.

—

Somewhere on an island in the North Blue…

"Young master, another batch of weapons was intercepted by the Navy."

Diamante reported to Doflamingo.

"Fufufufufu… Another batch lost? How annoying. It's been three years—haven't you given up yet, Navy strategist Tsuru?"

Doflamingo looked at the Navy ship trailing behind Diamante, eyes full of killing intent.

"You need to evolve your mind, little lamb."

Having been spotted, Tsuru stepped out onto the deck, Gion at her side.

Diamante's eyes widened in shock at the sudden appearance of a Navy ship. Realizing his mistake, he lowered his head in shame.

"I'm sorry, young master. I didn't notice we were being followed."

Diamante's guilt was written all over his face.

"Fufufufu… No need to apologize. You're my dearest family—how could I blame you? Doesn't matter if we're discovered. Let's go!"

Doflamingo's eyes gleamed with cold cunning. He had no intention of fighting Tsuru.

Three years ago, he had been arrogant, having fought many vice admirals.

But against Tsuru—he hadn't stood a chance.

If not for a last-minute body double to mislead her, he'd already be dead.

"Yes, sir!"

Diamante followed closely behind Doflamingo as they retreated.

Moments later—

The entire island exploded behind them.

By the time the Navy reached the shore, Doflamingo and his crew were long gone.

"Sigh… Doflamingo really is clever."

Back on the Navy ship, Tsuru watched the smoking island and sighed.

"Should we give chase, Vice Admiral Tsuru?"

Gion asked.

"No. After this failure, Doflamingo will only grow more cautious. Catching him again will be even harder. Let's return to HQ. We've been out here long enough."

Tsuru shook her head, declining the pursuit.

Gion clenched her fist, looking back at the burning island, her frustration unresolved.

—

Marine Headquarters

The Navy was stronger than ever.

Backed by the World Government and reinforced by a steady stream of recruits from the training camps…

The Navy HQ was now overflowing with talent and elite soldiers.

Three years of preparation had completely transformed the force.

Commander-in-Chief Kong watched the medal ceremony in the plaza, beaming with pride.

It gave him courage.

To reclaim the New World.

A plan was quietly forming.

"It's time to launch an offensive against the New World," Kong thought.

It had been five years since Roger's death.

After years of relentless conflict, the seas had finally calmed down.

The pressure on the Navy in the Four Blues had eased considerably.

And now… they had enough strength to challenge the three great pirate crews of the New World.

—

In the New World

The Whitebeard Pirates, the Rockefeller Pirates, and the Big Mom Pirates ruled like emperors.

Other pirates could only gaze up at them in awe.

Thus began the Era of the Three Emperors.

Most pirates who entered the New World either:

Joined one of the Three Emperors' crews,

or

Struggled to survive in the gaps between their territories—facing pressure from the Emperors and constant raids from other crews.

The so-called "peaceful" buffer zones between the three powers were anything but peaceful.

Countless pirate crews fought tooth and nail over the remaining 10% of the New World.

Every day, islands in these zones were drenched in blood.

Only those who survived the carnage had the right to challenge the Emperors.

After five years of brutal survival—

Only five major pirate crews had risen to prominence.

One came from the West Blue—the legendary warrior Gecko Moria.

Captain of the Moria Pirates.

In his early days in the New World, Moria had fought fiercely over territory—only to be beaten senseless by Admiral Sengoku.

Driven deep into the New World, he now waged war against other great pirate crews.

---

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