Besides Crocodile, there are other people speculated to be involved.
On an island in the New World, a gentle sea breeze stirs the black cloak of a red-haired man perched on a cliff.
With his other intact arm, he held a newspaper, gazing at the sea in silence.
"Hey Shanks, aren't you going to continue with the wedding?"
Ben Beckman approached from behind and said, "I can't find you anywhere."
Shanks smiled slightly: "It's just a banquet, as long as you have fun. You all enjoy yourselves, don't worry about me."
This wedding was for one of his crew members to marry the person they loved; they held their wedding on this island.
Pirates are people too; they get married, and there are women willing to marry them.
"What are you thinking about?" Ben Beckman took the newspaper from Shanks' hand, glanced at it, and said, "A new Shichibukai? White Admiral?"
Everyone knows that Kuro is searching the world for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the new Warlords he found are quite powerful; Joe Rudolph is a prime example.
"Sam William? The man with a bounty of 100 million Berries, he seems to be from the East Blue. He's a Shichibukai, and given Kuro's personality, his strength is beyond doubt."
Ben Beckman said, "But this shouldn't be something that worries you so much."
“What worries do I have?” Shanks smiled faintly. “Think about it carefully. This newspaper, and the newspapers you’ve seen before, are missing something.”
What's missing?
Ben Beckman flipped through the newspaper again; there was basically nothing major in the news.
Besides 'White Admiral' Sam William becoming a Shichibukai, the remaining information includes:
The alliance between the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates continues.
The 'emperor' of Astia claimed legitimacy and issued a document ordering the other two nations to cease hostilities.
The 'Conqueror King' of Dressrosa enters the North Sea...
These are some big events; the ones below are even smaller.
"What's wrong with that?" Ben Beckman asked, puzzled.
“Think again, about that Kuro guy,” Shanks said.
Ben Beckman paused for a moment at these words, then glanced at the newspaper again and said, "That's strange. There's no news about him defeating Mihawk in the recent newspapers. The World Government shouldn't let such big news pass by. Mihawk himself admitted it, there's no way he's hiding anything, the World Government should know that too, so why hasn't it been published?"
"Yes, that's the problem..."
Shanks sighed. "That guy has been making very little news lately, but when he does, it's always something significant. Although the newspapers haven't reported it, the fact that Mihawk was defeated by Kuro has been circulating on a small scale, and those who need to know should know it."
"That kind of competition..."
Ben Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke. To be honest, he was somewhat skeptical of that kind of fight. Although the battle between the two was still very dangerous in his eyes, it ultimately lacked a sense of fairness and honor.
But this was an agreement between Mihawk and Kuro, and there was nothing he could say. The title of the world's greatest swordsman had effectively changed hands.
But the issue isn't the competition itself, but rather the lack of related news coverage.
"Speaking of which..."
Ben Beckman thought of something and said, "The recent newspapers mention Fujitora and Green Bull among the Navy's admirals, but not Kizaru. There's also very little news about Kuro, and a lot of information is being kept under wraps... Could it be?"
Shanks chuckled and looked up at the sky. "Times are always moving forward, and the Navy needs to be refreshed. There's nothing they can't do. The fact that Kuro severely injured Teach hasn't been revealed. He went to Wano Country, but his encounter with Kaido and Charlotte Linlin hasn't been disclosed much either. The current world's greatest swordsman is the same. Perhaps the world is about to change."
Ben Beckman didn't speak this time, but silently smoked his cigarette, looked up at the sky with Shanks, and then sighed heavily.
...
Impelton.
The sixth floor.
Inside a huge, separate prison.
Whoosh!
Crash!
The clanging of chains echoed continuously within the prison, growing louder and louder, accompanied by strange laughter.
"Hmph hmph hmph, fu fu fu fu!"
The sound, along with the rattling of chains, attracted the attention of many Impel Down jailers. As they approached, the jailers appeared at the prison gate, looking at the man inside with a mixture of apprehension and fear.
Inside the prison, large enough to hold a giant, there was only one man. He lay on his back on the ground, his torso tightly bound by chains, and his limbs were also bound by chains that extended all the way to the perimeter of the prison.
As he swayed, the prison chains rattled erratically.
"Doflamingo!"
A prison guard, clutching his gun tightly, couldn't help but shout, "What do you think you're doing?!"
Although he was bound by sea stone chains and they were certain he wouldn't come out, the jailers were still afraid when they saw this man.
This is a former Shichibukai!
And it's very dangerous!
They've seen so many prisoners, but when it comes to a dangerous aura, this man is definitely in the top ten!
"Fufufufufu, can't you see it?! Can't you see it?!"
Doflamingo had a newspaper in his hand, and he was grinning widely at it.
When he was arrested, his only request was to read the newspaper, which was naturally granted.
"Golden Lion, Kuro! That guy's going to become a general! He's been plotting for so long, and he's finally going to take that step. Fufufufufu, the 'Emperor' of Astrea? The newspapers said the Principality of Faia was going to become a member state, right? Kuro was leading the delegation, wasn't he? Their king died, and now this Faretair is claiming legitimacy. A mere commoner dares to claim legitimacy, and it just so happens that Kuro went there!"
"Fufufufufu, [Giant Shield] Cass's base is in Greenbit, right? He has Vinsmoke clone soldiers under his command, and that bastard Panza went to the North Blue. What's he doing there? Vinsmoke is in for a world of trouble! Blame it on them being expelled from the World Government!"
"Now, now! Kuro is going to become a general through all of this! Fufufufufu!!"
In his excitement, Doflamingo frantically struggled against his chains: "Hey, let me out! Let me out! I can help Clow! Aren't we still missing one Shichibukai? That position is mine! Let me continue! How can we do this without me pulling those high and mighty people down from their pedestals!"
Crash!
The chains continued to rattle, putting the jailers on edge. Cold sweat dripped down their faces as they pointed their guns at the people inside.
"What's all the noise about, Doflamingo?!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out from outside, and Hannibal strode in imposingly, pointing at Doflamingo and saying:
"Hey, at least give me, the new director, some face! You criminal, stop making a scene!"
"Fufufufu..."
Doflamingo looked up at Hannibal and smiled meaningfully, "Don't you understand? The world is about to change!"
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