The Red-Haired Pirates.

They received the news much later—three days after the world learned of Kuke’s supposed death.

“Kuke is dead?” Shanks, the Red-Haired Pirate captain, held his head in disbelief as he stared at the newspaper. “Is this real? Is it true?”

“It’s real,” Ben Beckman replied somberly, cigarette in hand. “Every newspaper is reporting that Kuke was executed by the Navy.”

“It’s impossible. How could Kuke die like this?”

“We just parted less than a year ago.”

“Kuke was so strong, just as strong as the captain, and he had Ace with him. How could he die?” Yasopp couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

They had only met Kuke once.

But Kuke had left a deep impression on them.

“The Navy was ruthless. Four Admirals joined forces—there was no room for a miracle,” Shanks said, his voice filled with dazed disbelief.

Anyone would feel the same.

Even Shanks couldn’t imagine a scenario where the Sun and Moon Pirates could escape an ambush set by four Admirals.

“I told him to stay low, but he didn’t listen.”

“If he hadn’t gone after the Celestial Dragons, maybe the Navy wouldn’t have gone so mad.”

“Looking back, I should’ve been more forceful. Even if I had to fight Kuke, I should’ve taken Makino with me. Now, she’s gone, lost at sea.”

Shanks’ fists pounded against the deck in frustration.

It was too late now.

Kuke was dead.

“Uh… Shanks, only Kuke was killed. The newspaper says that Kuke single-handedly held off all the Admirals to give the rest of the Sun and Moon Pirates time to escape. He fought for hours until he collapsed from exhaustion,” Ben Beckman said, pointing out the fine print on the newspaper.

“Really?”

Shanks paused.

He quickly grabbed the newspaper, eyes glued to the details.

At times, he sighed deeply. Other times, he couldn’t help but break into a small, sad smile.

After putting the newspaper down, Shanks sighed heavily. “I admire him. Kuke faced death head-on to protect his crew. That’s exactly who he was.”

Shanks’ admiration grew even deeper.

He understood.

If the Sun and Moon Pirates had fought together against the four Admirals, they would have most likely been wiped out. But Kuke had chosen to sacrifice himself, ensuring that his crew had a chance to escape.

“Kuke fought to the death, paving a path for his crew to survive. He was a great captain,” Ben Beckman said respectfully.

Though he was older than Kuke, Beckman’s tone carried a deep reverence for the fallen pirate.

“Only someone like our captain or Whitebeard could make such a sacrifice,” Yasopp added, filled with respect.

Shanks remained silent.

He stared at the newspaper for a long time, drinking heavily from his sake.

“Shanks, this isn’t the time to drown in sorrow. Rumors are spreading throughout the sea. People are saying that the Sun and Moon Pirates possess the Ope Ope no Mi, and many monsters are making their moves. Even the other Emperors and the World Government won’t leave them alone. So… now that Kuke is gone, the remaining members of the Sun and Moon Pirates are in danger,” Ben Beckman reminded Shanks.

He knew Shanks wouldn’t sit idly by.

“The Sun and Moon Pirates don’t have many strong fighters left, aside from Gion and the Queen of Happy Street, Stussy. And they’re also trying to protect ordinary people like Makino. They’re under enormous pressure. They won’t be able to hold out for long.”

“Who dares!” Shanks roared as he stood up, his eyes suddenly sharp and filled with fury.

His overwhelming Haki surged outward, calming the turbulent sea around them into a still mirror.

“It’s time for us to act. Spread the word: the remaining members of the Sun and Moon Pirates are under my protection, Red-Haired Shanks. Anyone who tries to harm them will be making an enemy of the Red-Haired Pirates, no matter who they are!”

Shanks’ declaration of war echoed through the air.

“Yes, Captain!”

The members of the Red-Haired Pirates responded with excitement.

The Red-Haired Pirate crew set sail.

Shanks stared ahead, his eyes filled with determination. He knew his warning wouldn’t stop everyone. He just hoped the remaining members of the Sun and Moon Pirates could hold out a little longer.

“Sigh… I warned you, Kuke. You should have recruited more strong crewmates, not just women.”

Shanks couldn’t help but grumble internally.

If Kuke had companions like his own…

Even without their captain, the Red-Haired Pirates were strong enough to dominate the seas.

…

Shanks’ bold declaration quickly spread across the Grand Line.

Many ambitious pirates felt a wave of unease.

They suppressed their greed.

But Shanks’ warning wasn’t enough to scare off Emperor-level threats like Kaido and Big Mom.

“Ridiculous. That kid Shanks is getting too full of himself. He thinks he can claim it all? Let’s see if he has the strength to back it up,” Kaido sneered when he heard the news.

Though Shanks was regarded as the most promising pirate closest to becoming an Emperor, he wasn’t one yet.

Kaido, on the other hand, was a true Emperor of the sea.

He wasn’t about to be intimidated by a younger pirate’s warning.

Big Mom felt the same disdain.

Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mariejois.

The Five Elders were enraged.

“Who was it? Who leaked the information about the Ope Ope no Mi?” the Five Elders shouted in fury.

Kuke was dead.

They had already set their sights on the rest of the Sun and Moon Pirates, planning to leave none alive.

They were determined to reclaim the Ope Ope no Mi.

Without Kuke, they were confident of their success.

But now, the secret had spread across the seas.

And rumors were circulating that Kaido was making his move, Big Mom had sent her agents, and Shanks had issued his warning, spreading across the seas as well.

The only major power yet to make a move was Whitebeard’s crew.

But with so many powerful factions in play, the Five Elders were growing anxious about their chances of securing the Ope Ope no Mi.

“Deploy all CP0 agents immediately! Retrieve the Ope Ope no Mi at all costs. Eliminate the Navy traitor Gion and the CP0 traitor Stussy!” the Elders commanded.

“Yes, sir!”

The World Government’s most elite CP0 forces were dispatched.

“Five Elders, we have a problem!” an agent rushed in, alarmed.

“What?”

“The Revolutionary Army just issued a statement. They’ve reached out to the Sun and Moon Pirates, offering to take them in and protect them.”

The Five Elders were stunned.

Even the Revolutionary Army, which had long stayed hidden, couldn’t resist getting involved.

The situation was growing more chaotic by the minute.

“Mobilize CP0 immediately. Do it now!!!”

“Yes, sir!”

***************

P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 144+ at patreon.com/Emik01.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep