Hunter-1

Baccarat sat in her chamber, her fingers nervously working at her nails. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more troubling than the last. The room was silent, save for the occasional echo of her teeth against her nails.

The door to her chamber opened with a creak. A golden, unformed soldier entered, his presence filling the room. He was a beacon in the otherwise dimly lit chamber.

"We've intercepted Douglas," he said, his voice as cold and crisp as the winter air. "We have found information on the missing child."

He handed Baccarat a small device, a recorded voice contained within. Baccarat took it, her hands steady. The soldier stood still, waiting.

Baccarat pressed play. The voice filled the room, echoing off the stone walls. As she listened, her face remained impassive, her eyes focused on the device in her hand.

When the recording ended, Baccarat looked up. A grin spread across her face, her eyes gleaming with a newfound hope. She leaned back in her chair, her body relaxing for the first time in what felt like an eternity.

The golden soldier, seeing her expression, gave a curt nod. He turned and left the chamber, leaving Baccarat alone with her thoughts. But this time, they were thoughts of relief, not of despair.

***

Doflamingo stood on the deck of his ship, the world around him filled with the sounds of the sea. His figure, tall and lean, was striking against the backdrop of the open sky. His flamingo-pink feather coat fluttered in the wind, a stark contrast to his crisp white shirt and black trousers. His sunglasses shielded his eyes, but the smirk on his face was clear for all to see.

Today was a good day. A shipment of artificial devil fruit was in the hold, a treasure that would bring him a fortune. He was the captain of this venture, leading the ship through the unpredictable waters of the New World. There was a thrill in the air, a sense of anticipation that was almost palpable.

The marines, usually a thorn in his side, were nowhere to be seen. There was no one to stop them, no one to interfere with his plans.

In the vastness of the open sea, four smoke rockets shot into the sky. Red, blue, green, yellow and black, they came from all directions. Doflamingo's eyes followed their ascent, a grim understanding dawning on his face.

"Well, well," he said, his eyes on the ascending rockets. "It seems we have company."

A fleet of ships began to crowd the open sea, their ominous presence impossible to ignore. Twenty-four in total, each one representing a formidable opponent.

"Joker," came a voice from behind him. He turned to find his first mate, his expression grave. "We're surrounded."

"So it seems," Doflamingo replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "But they forget, we're the Donquixote Pirates. We do not bow to threats."

Once open, the sea was now crowded with ships. A fleet had surrounded him, their presence ominous and threatening. Twenty-four ships.

Doflamingo's hand shook slightly as he reached for the scope. His eyes scanned the main marine ship, catching sight of ex-fleet admiral Sengoku and Kong. His heart thrummed in his chest, a rhythm of unease.

"Looks like they've brought the big guns," he muttered to himself.

Summoning his power, Doflamingo shot up into the sky, his strings lifting him above the chaos. He spared a glance for his ship, his home, now lost. "Such a shame," he whispered.

But the sky offered no refuge. Sengoku was there, his fist meeting Doflamingo's face in a brutal punch. The force sent him spiraling back down onto his ship, the impact ringing in his ears.

Across the water, a voice boomed out, "You are arrested, on piracy and smuggling of artificial devil fruits to the emperors," Kong's cold proclamation echoed, sending a chill down Doflamingo's spine.

Cornered and desperate, Doflamingo prepared to trigger his awakening. But Sengoku and Kong were faster. One in front, the other behind, they moved in a flash. Their fists, imbued with conqueror's haki, connected with Doflamingo simultaneously. A punch to the face, another to the spine, and Doflamingo crumpled.

The clinking sound of handcuffs being locked around his wrists was deafening. His freedom, once so unlimited, was now confined to the length of a chain. Defeated and demoralized, he sat on the deck of his ship, the marines swarming around him like a pack of hungry wolves.

The marines moved around the ship, their actions methodical and precise. One of them pointed at an artificial devil fruit, "Found another one, sir."

Suddenly, a seagull swooped in, landing with a soft flutter on Doflamingo's head. Sengoku's eyes narrowed, "Is that...?" He stepped forward, extracting a letter from the bird.

His expression darkened as he read the letter. Suddenly, he roared in frustration, startling both Doflamingo and Kong. The seagull, meanwhile, pecked at Doflamingo's arm, printing a tattooed symbol of a straw hat.

Doflamingo chuckled, "Well, would you look at that?"

Kong snatched the letter from Sengoku and read it aloud, "As of this moment, the Donquixote Pirates are officially branded under the Straw Hats indefinitely." He tore the letter apart, his frustration evident.

Doflamingo's laughter echoed on the ship. The seagull dropped a vivre card and another letter in his lap. He picked it up, reading aloud, "Do whatever you want with the cargo. Follow the vivre card, it will lead you to Douglas Bullet. He is after a girl, you need to bring that girl. We chose you because you were nearest to his location. Don't disappoint, or else you won't be able to bear the consequences."

He adjusted his glasses, his laughter still ringing in the air. Sengoku and Kong, left with no other choice, released Doflamingo. They turned away from him, their expressions cold. It was as if they were looking at a stranger.

With that, they sailed away, leaving Doflamingo standing alone on his ship, his laughter the only sound echoing across the open sea.

***

Fujitora, Fleet Admiral of the navy, leaned against his desk, his blind eyes staring into the void. He was missing his left arm, and there was a circular scar around his neck. "Smoker," he called out in den den mushi.

Smoker responded, a question in his eyes. "Admiral?" he asked.

"Doflamingo's been branded," Fujitora said, his voice flat.

Smoker's eyes widened slightly as he heard the news. "That's unexpected," he muttered.

"Unexpected, yes. But not surprising," Fujitora said. "You're nearest to Doflamingo's location. I want you to track them. Follow them. See where they end up."

Smoker nodded, his expression serious. "Understood, Admiral."

Fujitora sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I have a bad feeling about this, Smoker," he admitted. "Be careful."

Smoker puffed smoke. "Always am, Admiral."

***

Doflamingo set the vivre card on the table, the paper pulsating with a hidden life. He looked at it for a moment, then turned to his crew. "Change course," he commanded, his voice as sharp as a cutlass.

"Where to, boss?" one of his men asked.

Doflamingo pointed at the card. "We follow this."

The ship groaned as it turned, cutting through the waves like a knife. The wind filled the sails, the salty spray stinging their faces. They were sailing into the New World, the realm of the unknown.

On another ship, Douglas Bullet navigated through the treacherous waters, his eyes fixed on a similar vivre card. Hana's vivre card. His expression was hard, unreadable.

In Marine outpost, smoker ordered for ships to discharge at once. His cigar burned furiously, exhaling large amount of smoke. There was a strange amusement in the ways his lips curled up.

As the three ships sailed through the vast sea, a strange glint appeared in their eyes of both Doflamingo, Bullet and Smoker. It was a glint of anticipation, of excitement. A hunt was about to begin, but the question was- Who is the hunter?