One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 177: The Turmoil in the New World

Shiki snatched the Den Den Mushi from his subordinate's hand and called back.

Bru Bru!

The snail phone rang three times.

Snap!

"Moshi Moshi! Newgate! What do you mean by killing my people?" Shiki barked angrily, his golden hair billowing behind him like a lion's mane. His expression was terrifyingly cruel.

"Shiki, you've overstepped!" Whitebeard's deep voice boomed over the line. "The second half of the New World is my territory. Your men dared to cross the line and hurt my family. They deserved to die!"

Click!

Whitebeard hung up abruptly, crushing the Den Den Mushi in his massive hand.

The busy tone echoed in Shiki's ears. His face remained eerily calm, which only heightened the tension in the room.

Those who knew Shiki well understood that this calmness was the harbinger of a storm.

"Hahahahahaha! Assemble the Flying Pirates! Target: The Whitebeard Pirates!"

Shiki's Conqueror's Haki burst forth, filling the air with an oppressive force. His golden mane flared as he crossed his swords, Sakura and Tenkumu, and roared his command.

The pirates in the hall sprang into action, their fear replaced by determination. Their usually laid-back captain was enraged, and they knew the seas would tremble in the wake of his wrath.

Shiki's declaration marked the mobilization of the entire Flying Pirates fleet. Ships lifted off into the skies, their sails catching the wind as four massive floating islands anchored the fleet.

The scene was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

---

Meanwhile, Morgans, the News King, was the first to receive word of the brewing conflict.

"Hahahaha! Big news! Big news!" Morgans cackled, holding the report in his hand. "The two biggest forces in the New World clashing? This is the story of the century! Spread the word! Let the whole world anticipate this epic war!"

Under Morgans' command, newspaper gulls flew out in droves, carrying the explosive news to every corner of the seas.

---

The newspapers quickly reached Whitebeard, who read the headline with a furrowed brow.

"The Flying Pirates Aim at the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Even though he had expected this, seeing it in print was still jarring.

"Kulalalala! Kids! That annoying guy Shiki is coming! Are you scared?" Whitebeard teased, his booming laughter filling the air.

The crew looked uneasy, but their father's confidence gave them strength.

"I'm sorry, Dad!" Vista stepped forward, bowing his head in guilt.

"Kulalalalala! You're my son! There's no need to apologize!" Whitebeard said, pulling Vista into a fatherly embrace.

Vista's shame only deepened, but Whitebeard placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Shiki wants a fight? Let him come!" Whitebeard declared, raising his Bisento, his voice brimming with confidence.

The crew cheered in response.

"Yes! Dad is Whitebeard! We'll definitely win!"

Whitebeard's laughter echoed across the ship.

"Kulalalalala!"

---

The Flying Pirates' fleet surged through the skies, with over 20,000 pirates aboard more than thirty ships, flanked by four floating islands.

The grand procession was a spectacle, leaving awe and dread in its wake.

By the time Charlotte received the news, Shiki's fleet was already deep in the New World, heading straight for Whitebeard's territory.

Charlotte scrambled onto a speedboat, accompanied by a dozen crew members.

"Dammit!" Charlotte cursed, holding the newspaper tightly in his hand. "Why do these idiots have to cause trouble now?! I can't even enjoy the end of the year!"

Fuming, Charlotte ordered the crew to head for the site of the impending clash, determined to intervene before the Navy exploited the situation.

---

Elsewhere, aboard the Oro Jackson, the Roger Pirates were enjoying a brief respite.

"Roger! There's a huge commotion brewing in the New World!" Rayleigh said, approaching with a newspaper in hand.

Roger sat at the bar, chatting animatedly with a beautiful woman.

Hearing Rayleigh's words, Roger turned to him, accepting the paper.

"What's going on?"

Rayleigh handed it over, then took a seat at the bar. "A glass of rum, please," he said to the woman behind the counter.

The woman smiled, turning to pour his drink.

Roger's expression darkened as he read the report.

"Shiki and Newgate are going to war? Why?"

Rayleigh took a sip of his rum. "Apparently, Whitebeard killed one of Shiki's men. Shiki took it as a personal insult and decided to retaliate. Oh, and Charlotte left Kami Island as soon as he heard the news. No one knows why."

Roger frowned. "We're too far away in the South Blue to intervene. By the time we get back to the New World, it'll be over."

Rayleigh nodded. "Exactly. We'll just have to let it play out."

Two small figures suddenly appeared, waddling toward Roger and Rayleigh.

Roger grinned, scooping up the children—Shanks and Buggy—with a laugh.

"Miss Rouge, could you bring two glasses of milk for the kids?" Roger asked the woman behind the bar.

"Of course, Mr. Roger," Rouge replied warmly.

Shanks and Buggy eagerly took the milk, drinking noisily as Roger held them.

Rayleigh noticed Roger stealing glances at Rouge and smirked.

Looks like our captain has a soft spot for someone.

Deciding to give Roger some space, Rayleigh rejoined the rest of the crew, leaving Roger to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the bar.

The storm brewing in the New World seemed a distant concern—for now.

To be continued...

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