One Piece: With Sign-in System

On the deck of the massive Moby Dick, Edward Newgate, the man known as the "Strongest in the World," paused mid-drink upon hearing the news.

"Golden Lion Shiki… killed in the North Blue? Who did it?"

"Looks like it was someone called Ron," replied Vista, his eyes scanning the article in his hand.

"Ron? That's a name I've never heard before." Whitebeard took a deep swig from his giant sake cup. "Another one of those upstart supernovas popping up recently, huh?"

"No, Pops," said Marco, the Phoenix, adjusting his glasses as he read over the same paper. "He's not a pirate."

"Not a pirate?" Whitebeard's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then what is he? A Marine?"

Marco shook his head. "Doesn't seem like he's with the Marines, either."

"Oh?"

…

The New World – Totto Land…

"Ma-ma-ma-ma! That old Golden Lion must've lost his edge if some no-name punk managed to kill him!" Big Mom cackled as she crammed another piece of cake into her mouth.

After swallowing, she mused, "Golden Lion Shiki disappeared from the seas after cutting off his own legs to escape Impel Down over twenty years ago. His strength must've faded over time. Still, for this 'Ron' fellow to defeat and kill him... He's not someone to be underestimated."

Standing nearby, Katakuri, her eldest son, crossed his arms. "You are right," he said solemnly.

Cracker, another Sweet Commander, nodded in agreement. "Who would've thought someone that strong could come from one of the Four Blues?"

"Mom," Cracker added, "if we could recruit someone like him into Totto Land, our forces would gain a significant boost."

Katakuri, however, shook his head. "He's not a pirate, not even close. For someone with his strength to remain in the Four Blues, I doubt he'd agree to join us."

"Ma-ma-ma! Why think so far ahead? Let's wait until he enters the Grand Line before making any plans. Speaking of which—where's my pinecone cake?"

...

The New World – The Red-Haired Pirates…

"So, Shiki's been killed, huh? That's quite the accomplishment."

Shanks grinned as he glanced at the newspaper in his hand. "There seem to be more and more powerful players rising on these seas lately."

"Captain," said Benn Beckman, puffing on his cigar, "do you remember that young recruit the Marines specially enlisted five or six years ago?"

Shanks paused to think, then shook his head. "Hmm… Not really ringing any bells."

Roux, tearing into a drumstick, chimed in, "You mean that eleven-year-old Marine recruit? His name was… what was it again?"

"Ron," Beckman answered, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Oh, right! That was his name," said Roux. Then he froze, his eyes widening.

Shanks and the rest of the crew turned their eyes to Beckman, their interest piqued.

"Wait… You're not saying this 'Traveler Ron' is—"

The silver-haired Benn Beckman nodded. "Most likely the same person."

"I've been following his movements. Three years ago, that Marine recruit left the Marines. Since then, the Warlords of the Sea—Moria and Crocodile—both suffered significant defeats at the hands of a mysterious figure calling himself 'Traveler Ron.'"

Beckman blew out another smoke ring. "I believe it's him."

"By my calculations, he should be about 17 years old now."

"Seventeen…?!. A 17-year-old with the strength to kill Golden Lion Shiki... I'd like to meet him someday," Shanks said, a flicker of excitement lighting up his gaze.

...

The New World – Wano Country, The Beasts Pirates

"Shiki, that old fool, is already this weak?" Kaido roared with laughter, his massive gourd sloshing with sake as he drank deeply. "Disappeared for decades, only to pop up just to die at the hands of some rookie! What a joke!"

Slamming the gourd down, Kaido's laughter echoed across the room. "He should've joined my crew back then. At least he wouldn't have gone out like this."

The name lingered in his mind as he poured another drink. "Ron… Seems like I've heard that name somewhere before."

"That old relic should have been consigned to the ashes of history long ago. What traveler Ron? What mysterious figure who wanders between justice and evil in the Four Seas?" Jack sneered, " Hah! He's probably just a coward too scared to step into the New World. Killing someone like Golden Lion Shiki? Who knows what underhanded tricks he used. If he dares come here, I'll crush him into dust!"

Jack's overconfidence and brashness were as rampant as ever.

...

Dressrosa.

On the grandiose throne, dressed in a pink feathered coat and wearing bold sunglasses, Donquixote Doflamingo lounged lazily, one leg crossed over the other, staring at the newspaper in his hand.

"So, even Golden Lion Shiki is dead? That brat... he's grown to this level already, huh?"

Images from years ago surfaced in his mind—a young black-haired boy aboard a Marine warship, his sharp, focused eyes forever etched into Doflamingo's memory.

A manic grin stretched across his face as his trademark crazed laughter filled the throne room.

"Haha... That look of yours... was it a promise to come for me someday? Bring it on, kid!"

His laughter echoed wildly, filled with a twisted sense of anticipation.

Deep in the shadows of the throne room, silent figures stood motionless, shrouded in secrecy.

...

Sabaody Archipelago.

Inside Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, the news stirred a quiet conversation.

"So, after seven days of battle, he managed to kill Golden Lion Shiki… I had a feeling he'd make waves soon, but I never expected it to be this way."

Silvers Rayleigh, seated at the counter, glanced at the newspaper, a wistful smile tugging at his lips.

"Three years… It seems that boy has changed a lot. If we were to spar again now, I might have to take him more seriously."

"How serious, Rayleigh?" Shakky asked, puffing on her cigarette, curiosity glinting in her eyes.

"Seven-tenths? Eight-tenths?" Rayleigh mused with a chuckle before taking a sip of his drink.

Shakky exhaled a perfect ring of smoke. "Stepping over the corpses of the old legends to start a new era of his own. Not bad at all. The real question is whether he'll choose to accept the chains or break free of them."

Rayleigh set down his glass, his gaze distant yet sharp.

"Shakky, what do you think he'll do?"

Shakky shook her head. "Hard to say."

"Well, we'll find out soon enough," Rayleigh said with a sly grin. "The seas are about to get interesting."

...

Even before the seagulls had delivered the newspapers worldwide, Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines, convened a high-level meeting in its grand conference hall.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the table. His opening words immediately captured everyone's attention.

"The flying pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, is dead."

"Shiki? He disappeared over twenty years ago, didn't he?" Tsuru asked, her surprise evident.

"What happened?" Garp leaned forward, curiosity lighting his eyes. "Who killed him?"

"Was it one of the Four Emperors? Or perhaps a member of the Seven Warlords?"

Sengoku's grave expression deepened as he began to speak.

Aokiji couldn't help but ask, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Even if Golden Lion Shiki was no longer at his peak, his status as a legendary swordsman, his mastery of all three Haki types, and the overwhelming power of the Float-Float Fruit made him a formidable force in the seas. A tiger without its teeth remains a tiger.

Under the watchful gazes of everyone present, Sengoku, sitting in the central seat, uttered a name with deliberate gravity.

"That person's name is… Ron."

The entire meeting room fell silent.

Garp froze mid-thought.

Aokiji's pupils constricted.

"Ron?"

Tsuru's face showed surprise.

Akainu, with his stern expression concealed under his cap, narrowed his sharp eyes ever so slightly.

"That brat? The intern?"

"That's right! It's the very same former Marine recruit who left Marineford three years ago," Sengoku confirmed with a nod, his tone serious.

When Sengoku first received this report, he was no less stunned. The boy who had grown up right under their noses, training at Marineford, had left three years ago—and in such a short span of time, he had grown strong enough to defeat one of the ocean's most notorious legends!

"Sengoku, are you sure about this? Even if Shiki was no longer in his prime, his strength was undeniable. That brat Ron is strong, yes, but..." Garp's voice trailed off, still unable to reconcile the information.

"This intelligence is absolutely accurate." Sengoku fixed his gaze on Garp. "Many witnesses saw the battle between the two on the floating island. They fought for seven days, and the island eventually collapsed. Shiki's body has been found, and the news has already spread across the North Blue. By today's end, it will have reached every corner of the world."

"So you're telling me... that kid really killed Golden Lion Shiki?" Vice Admiral Tsuru murmured, stunned. "But he's only 17 this year…"

Aokiji's eyes flickered, contemplating deeply. He, more than anyone, understood Ron's potential. It had been nearly two years since their last encounter, and if Ron's abilities had progressed to an even higher level, paired with his unpredictable combat style, it wasn't entirely impossible for him to defeat an aging Shiki through a grueling battle.

"That brat, always lingering at the threshold of justice, huh?" Akainu's cold, harsh voice cut through the air. "I'm not interested in his story. I only want to know—why are we here? Is this a briefing, or is there something else we need to act on?"

The room turned to Sengoku, awaiting his response.

"This meeting isn't just to inform you of this shocking news." Sengoku's sharp gaze swept over the room. "There's indeed a matter that requires discussion—one that also involves Ron."

He adjusted his glasses, their lens glinting ominously under the light, as he continued in a serious tone.

"World Government intelligence confirms that the 'Demon of Ohara,' Nico Robin, is currently in the North Blue, aboard Ron's ship."

The room's atmosphere turned ice-cold.

Both Garp and Aokiji visibly stiffened.

"The World Government has decreed that Ron, for the crime of harboring a wanted criminal, is now a fugitive. His bounty has been set at 430 million Berries!"

"The order is explicit: Ron and Nico Robin must be captured and executed."

The severity of the announcement echoed in the room.

Garp gritted his teeth, his fist trembling.

Aokiji remained silent, his face unreadable.

Tsuru furrowed her brows, her mind clearly at work analyzing the implications.

As for Akainu, his cold gaze betrayed not even a hint of hesitation. "A man who stands on the edge of justice but lacks the resolve for absolute justice—no surprise he's ended up walking the path of sin. That brat was always a waste of Marine resources."

"Pointing fingers at this stage is meaningless," Sengoku's voice grew heavier. His piercing gaze shifted to Garp. "Garp, you're directly responsible for this situation. You and Sakazuki (Akainu) will take command of six warships and head to the North Blue. Your orders are to apprehend Ron and Nico Robin without fail!"

"This is a direct order from the World Government. Failure is not an option."

Garp's clenched fists shook violently, the veins on his forehead bulging as he swallowed his retort.

...

The next day, as the world reeled from the shocking news of Golden Lion Shiki's death, another wave of bombshells dropped from the skies, delivered by a swarm of News Coo.

This time, the spotlight was firmly on Ron, with an exceptionally clear photograph splashed across the front pages.

The image captured a tall, lean young man dressed in black, wielding a black blade, his piercing eyes gazing forward with an unyielding intensity. The backdrop appeared to be mid-combat on the now-destroyed floating island.

Alongside the photo was an article that delved deep into Ron's life, narrating his journey from an 11-year-old special recruit at Marineford, to leaving the Marines at age 14. The piece chronicled his mysterious travels across the seas—first in the East Blue, where whispers of a "Miracle Ship" began, followed by his ventures into the South, West, and North Blues.

Every tale of his exploits was detailed and, unsurprisingly, exaggerated for dramatic effect.

Yet, what truly sent shockwaves through the world were the bold, blood-red words at the article's conclusion and the two bounties that accompanied it.

"The Traveler, Ron, for harboring the 'Demon of Ohara,' Nico Robin, is now declared a criminal. His bounty: 430 million Berries!"

"Nico Robin, the Demon of Ohara, has her bounty raised from 79 million Berries to 99 million Berries!"

The seas erupted with fervent discussion and wild speculation.

The final declaration, written in bold, struck a deep chord across the world:

"Standing at the edges of the Four Seas, treading the gray chaos of freedom, the captain of the Ship of the Unknown, The Traveler, Ron!"

"Bounty: 430 million Berries!"