One Piece: With Sign-in System

Calm Belt, Amazon Lily

"That man is still alive?!"

Elder Nyon stared at the newspaper in her hands, a trace of astonishment flickering in her aged eyes.

Not only had he survived, but he had also fought Mihawk to a draw in a sword duel… After two years, had he become even stronger?

Seated atop her high throne, the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, crossed her long, elegant legs. A breathtaking smile, capable of toppling nations, graced her flawless face.

"I have said it before—he will not die."

Elder Nyon looked at her and asked, "Snake Princess, you seem particularly concerned about this man… Is it because he attacked Mary Geoise?"

"That is… one of the reasons."

Hancock rested her delicate hand against her cheek, her long, raven-black hair cascading freely down her back. Her deep blue eyes were half-lidded, her expression relaxed, yet captivating beyond words.

"There are other reasons?"

"My intuition."

"…"

—

Grand Line, Alabasta.

Crocodile took a long drag from his cigar, a twisted smirk creeping onto his lips as he gazed at the newspaper in his grasp.

"So… you're still alive. That's excellent."

"I still have a score to settle with you. If you had just died so easily, I would've been extremely disappointed…"

His gloved hand traced across his chest. Beneath his coat, a deep, jagged scar stretched from his left shoulder to his right waist—a permanent mark of an unforgettable encounter.

Even now, the old wound throbbed faintly, a ghost of pain that refused to fade.

A wound left by him.

Crocodile's fingers tightened, and in an instant, the newspaper crumbled into sand, scattering into the wind. His eyes glinted with murderous intent, his voice low and venomous as he uttered a name.

"…The Traveler… Ron."

…

Grand Line, Whisky Peak

Disguised as Miss Wednesday, the 16-year-old princess of Alabasta, Nefertari Vivi, stared at the newspaper in her hands, whispering softly to herself.

"So… you really are still alive."

Her delicate face carried a complicated expression as her gaze lingered on the image in the article.

Two years ago, she had already learned the truth—the identity of the mysterious young man she had encountered that fateful night at the Alabasta Royal Palace.

The face repeatedly appearing in newspapers now perfectly overlapped with the unforgettable figure etched into her memory.

She knew his name now.

Ron.

The Traveler, Ron.

The captain of the Calamity of the Skies Crew. A criminal wanted by both the Marines and the World Government.

Even Crocodile, a former Warlord of the Sea, feared him… and had once been gravely wounded by him in his youth.

As Vivi matured, she gradually came to understand what Ron had spoken of back then—the reality of the New World, and the true significance of the stone tablet he had taken with him.

"The East Blue… So, you went to the East Blue?" she murmured. "Then… will you pass through Alabasta again?"

A flicker of hope and longing surfaced in Vivi's bright eyes.

Alabasta had already fallen nearly completely into Crocodile's grasp. Even her father, the king, was at his mercy. The rebel army was growing stronger by the day, and as a princess, she was utterly powerless to change anything.

With no other choice, she had escaped from Alabasta and infiltrated Baroque Works, hoping to uncover evidence that could prove Crocodile's conspiracy—his collusion with the organization, his plot to overthrow the kingdom. If she could obtain that proof, perhaps she could convince the rebel forces to halt the impending civil war.

But after infiltrating Baroque Works, she quickly realized the depths of the darkness surrounding her. To single-handedly uncover Crocodile's schemes and stop a war… The odds were impossibly slim.

Yet—

If he were to return to Alabasta, then perhaps… everything could be different.

A silent wish took root in her heart.

And then—

She suddenly remembered.

That night, he had told her to pass a message to someone named Luffy.

He had said—I will be waiting for him in the New World.

Luffy… Was he Ron's friend?

If she could find this "Luffy"… would she be able to see him again?

A newfound determination shone in Vivi's eyes.

Without hesitation, she began gathering information on a man named Luffy.

…

New World.

The reappearance of the Traveler, Ron, after two years had shaken the entire sea.

"That brat may be a troublemaker, but he's definitely got real skill! Gurararara!"

Whitebeard laughed heartily, his massive frame shaking slightly as he took a sip of Wine.

Marshall D. Teach, still a mere Second Division member, held a wooden tankard in his hand and grinned widely at Ace, who was crouching nearby.

"Captain Ace, looks like you were right after all."

"Of course."

Ace smirked as he flipped through the newspaper in his hands.

"He's the one I'm chasing, after all. There's no way he'd die so easily—not even against Kaido."

As he spoke, he glanced around at the other commanders and crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"By the way, all of you who lost the bet to me—I remember every single one of you. Hurry up and pay up."

"Tch, what's the rush? We got it."

"We'll give it to you later."

"I spent mine on booze, so you'll have to wait a bit."

The crew burst into laughter, some grumbling while others tossed coins in Ace's direction. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the warmth of camaraderie.

Whitebeard, still hooked up to IV tubes, watched his sons bicker and laugh with a pleased expression. He chuckled again, taking another sip.

"Gurarara… Two years ago, that kid was already able to wound Kaido badly. If he's been hiding and growing stronger all this time, then…"

Marco, crouching beside Whitebeard, spoke up with a serious expression.

"If he's taken his strength to another level… he might really become the next Red-Haired."

Whitebeard drank deeply before replying.

"Becoming the next Red-Haired isn't that simple. That guy… even I have to take him seriously. His strength is unfathomable."

He swirled the bottle in his hand, his voice calm but certain.

"That brat has incredible potential, but right now, he's still not at Red-Haired's level. Neither he nor his crew."

Marco narrowed his eyes.

"Even so, dealing with someone who could rival the Four Emperors… Should we do something? Should we befriend him or…?"

Whitebeard shook his head.

"No need to do anything. Let's just wait and see what Kaido does next."

"You think Kaido will declare war on him?"

Whitebeard smirked.

"Who knows? One thing's for sure… this sea is about to get a lot more interesting."

He lifted his bottle once more and took a deep, satisfying drink.

…

Totto Land & Red-Haired Pirates' Territory.

Much like the Whitebeard Pirates, both Big Mom's crew and the Red-Haired Pirates showed little reaction upon hearing the news.

For now, the New World's attention was entirely focused on Kaido's domain—Wano Country.

Everyone was waiting to see how Kaido would respond.

…

East Blue, Loguetown

While the rest of the world was in an uproar, the small town of Loguetown remained as calm as ever.

That was, until—

"WHAT?! The Traveler, Ron—the man who disappeared from the seas for two whole years—just showed up in the East Blue?! And he fought Dracule Mihawk?!"

Tashigi's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the Marine soldier in front of her.

"It's absolutely true. The report has already been sent to Marine Headquarters."

"Does Captain Smoker know yet?"

"Probably… not yet."

"We need to report this to him immediately! You guys handle things here—I'm going after him!"

Without wasting another second, Tashigi turned and sprinted toward the direction where Smoker had last gone.