One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start Chapter 205: 205. Response To Setting Sail, Hancock's Offens

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In this era, pirates with bounties of 30 million berries are as common as fish swimming in a river. Such figures no longer seem extraordinary.

Even for those labeled as the strongest in East Blue, their notoriety often fades quickly upon entering the Grand Line. There, they are re small fry, barely scratching the ranks of the Supernovas.

For many, the so-called "strongest rookie" of East Blue was just another face on a wanted poster—worth a fleeting glance, but not much more.

But not everyone saw it that way.

Unbeknownst to the world, this bounty poster was drawing the attention of so of the most influential figures alive.

Red-Haired Shanks

Aboard the Red Force, the infamous Red-Haired Shanks held the wanted poster in his hand, a broad grin spreading across his face.

"Luffy, so you've set sail at last?" he murmured, the excitent evident in his voice.

To Shanks, this poster wasn't just proof of Luffy's growth into a true adventurer. It was a reminder that the winds of change Captain Roger had once yearned for were finally beginning to stir in the New World.

"Captain, Rockstar's nearing Whitebeard's territory," one of the crew announced.

Shanks put down the poster, his expression shifting to one of solemnity. "Good. Set a course for Whitebeard's waters. It's ti we had a talk about Ace."

anwhile, near the waters around Water 7, a small boat was tearing across the sea, its speed fueled by powerful flas erupting from its stern.

The unusual propulsion defied the natural wind and tide, sending the craft hurtling forward like a fiery rocket.

"Damn you, Teach. I've finally managed to figure out your general heading. Let's see how long you can keep running!"

Standing at the helm, Portgas D. Ace, his upper body bare and the skull emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates tattooed across his back, stared resolutely at the horizon.

Tracking a single man across the vast ocean was a near-impossible task, but Ace had been lucky enough to piece together clues about Blackbeard's route.

With a clear heading, it was only a matter of ti. Thanks to his rank as the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates and the emblem on his back, Ace had no trouble gathering information in any pirate-dense tavern along the way.

Ace glanced at the compass strapped to his wrist and then at the map spread out before him.

"This direction…" he muttered, adjusting the course of his boat.

Suddenly, he froze.

A large bird appeared overhead, circling once before swooping lower toward Ace's boat.

"A News Coo?" Ace said, looking up. "Perfect timing. I'll take a copy!"

Reaching into his pocket, he fished out a handful of coins. While he hadn't exactly paid for most of his als recently, Ace always made a point to pay for the news.

The paper landed in his hands, and Ace gave the bird its due. Though he didn't usually bother with newspapers, this was a special case—he was tracking Teach, after all. Any clue, no matter how small, could prove valuable.

But Ace also had another reason. By his reckoning, it was around the ti his little brother, Luffy, would be setting out to sea.

Unfolding the paper, Ace spotted sothing tucked inside—a wanted poster. As it slipped free, fluttering to the deck, Ace quickly bent to retrieve it.

The image on the poster stopped him cold.

There, smiling brightly beneath a straw hat, was his little brother, Monkey D. Luffy.

Ace's pupils contracted, but soon, a wide grin spread across his face.

"Luffy… so you've finally set out to sea," he said softly, his voice filled with pride.

Ace bent down quickly, picking up the wanted poster from the deck. His eyes scanned the information below, and a boisterous laugh escaped him.

"Haha! A 30 million berry bounty! Not bad at all! That's my little brother," he said with a proud grin. "But I wonder how much stronger he's gotten since I last saw him."

Glancing at his map and compass, Ace muttered to himself, "I'm near Alabasta now. Perfect timing."

With one hand adjusting the hat on his head and a smirk curling his lips, he added, "It's been a while, Luffy. Let's et up."

With that, Ace's small boat roared to life. Flas erupted from the stern, propelling it forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, streaking across the sea at incredible speed.

Sky Coast - The Sky Kingdom

High above the world on the Sky Coast of the Sky Kingdom, Alex held a copy of the sa wanted poster in his hands. A sly smile played on his lips as he gazed at the image.

But his grin wasn't born of admiration or happiness for the rising star of Monkey D. Luffy. No, Alex's satisfaction stemd from the knowledge that the culmination of his plans was drawing near.

Nearby, Boa Hancock sat reclined, her eyes drawn to the newspaper. Her gaze lingered on the boy in the straw hat, though her interest wasn't entirely about him. Part of it ca from Alex's earlier comnt, labeling Luffy as a "pawn capable of shaking the world."

Her expression softened briefly, but the mont passed. She returned her attention to Alex, leaning against him with an adoring smile, her usual regal pride giving way to her affection for him.

In her eyes, the n of the world were nothing more than fleeting shadows, unworthy of notice—except for Alex, the only man capable of igniting her passions. Her feelings for him were unmatched, even as the rivalry between her and the other won surrounding him simred beneath the surface.

Hancock's sharp gaze flicked toward Maria, whose confident deanor irritated her further. Maria, clad in a swimsuit that showcased her curves, knew exactly how to play to her strengths. Hancock grit her teeth, her irritation bubbling up, especially as Maria's nonchalant attitude ignored Hancock's unspoken challenges.

Nearby, Shirahoshi sat quietly, her innocent and demure presence a stark contrast to the others. Hancock's gaze softened at the sight of the gentle rmaid princess, though her eyes darted back to Maria, silently urging her to take notes on Shirahoshi's deanor.

But Maria remained unbothered, fully aware that her confident style often drew Alex's attention more.

Frustrated but unwilling to cause a scene, Hancock resolved to make the most of the situation, her competitive streak flaring. With Yamato absent on one of Alex's expeditions, now was the perfect ti to solidify her position. Yet, despite her efforts, Hancock's attempts to outshine the others had yet to yield a clear response.

Alex, unbothered by the brewing tension among the won, leaned back with a relaxed deanor. His eyes drifted toward the poolside, where a blonde figure reclined on a sunbed, leisurely applying sunscreen.

"Stussy," he called out.

The woman paused, lifting her sunglasses to et his gaze. "Yes, my dear general?" she replied with a sultry smile.

"You haven't delivered your report yet," Alex said.

Stussy's lips curled into a playful smirk as she adjusted her posture, her movents deliberate and enticing. "Oh, that? I thought I'd save it for tonight—when we're alone," she teased, her voice dripping with charm.

Alex raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his expression unreadable.

Realizing he wasn't biting, Stussy let out a small chuckle and shifted her tone. "Alright, alright, I'll behave. Here's what you need to know."

She straightened, her voice taking on a more serious edge.

"The Five Elders have given their orders. Blackbeard's bid to beco a Warlord of the Sea hinges on one condition: he must capture Fire Fist Ace alive."

Alex's expression darkened slightly as she continued.

"And the Marines… they're preparing for an all-out war with Whitebeard."