Rewinding a little in time…
While Luffy was lost in the depths of Wanokuni, on the other side of the world the sun rose over the Holy Land of Mariejois — but its light brought no hope.
The towering walls, once symbols of the Celestial Dragons' arrogance, were now stained with smoke and blood. Half of the sacred city had been reduced to ruins after the previous night's disaster. The flames that devoured luxurious mansions still left behind trails of black smoke rising into the sky, as if even the heavens themselves had been tainted.
Cries of pain echoed through the streets. Medics rushed back and forth, carrying makeshift stretchers and pulling bodies from the rubble. Some still breathed; many did not. Among them, dragged like animals, shackled slaves were forced to clean the ruins, their bodies scarred by merciless whips.
At the city's entrance, the atmosphere was even heavier. Lined across the ground, thirty-nine corpses lay motionless, covered only by white sheets that barely concealed the brutality of the scene.
In front of this grim tableau, the Five Elders gathered. Dark eyes, grim expressions, faces etched with both rage and disbelief. Not one of them had slept a single second through that infernal night.
"Is that all?" asked Jaygarcia Saturn in a grave tone, his voice like muffled thunder.
From the crowd, a middle-aged man stepped forward. He wore dark glasses and a pristine Marine suit, exuding a cold, calculating aura. His codename was Dark Horse, Director of the Maritime Crimes Investigation Department.
He pulled out several papers and, after a short pause, reported:
"The confirmed number of dead Celestial Dragons is thirty-nine. Dozens more are gravely injured, many still under treatment. It cannot be ruled out…"
His voice trailed off, but the implication was obvious: some would die in their hospital beds.
"So the death toll will only rise?" grumbled Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the elder who carried a sword, running a hand across his forehead in frustration. "What humiliation! In two hundred years, not even that giant robot dared to inflict this level of destruction on Mariejois!"
Nearby, Shepherd Ju Peter, the youngest of the five with his blonde hair, kept silent. Yet his eyes reflected something dangerous: not just anger, but… fear.
It was then that Dark Horse cleared his throat and continued:
"During the clearing of the wreckage… we discovered something unusual. I believe you gentlemen will want to see it."
Two soldiers dragged in a deformed body and dropped it before the Five Elders. At the sight, all of them paled.
It wasn't just something. It was someone.
A grotesque corpse, crushed beyond recognition. Twisted flesh and shattered bones had reduced the body to a hideous ball of mangled remains.
"When we found him, he was completely compacted. After several examinations, we were able to confirm…" Dark Horse pushed his glasses up. "…it's Shiki. Shiki the Golden Lion."
"What!?" the Five Elders roared in unison.
Dark Horse pressed on, giving them no time to recover from their shock:
"Our investigation indicates that last night's attacker was none other than Monkey D. Luffy, Straw Hat. He is believed to have defeated the Golden Lion Shiki in East Blue, stolen his Devil Fruit, and used the power he gained to execute last night's assault."
A deadly silence hung in the air.
"He… stole a Devil Fruit ability?" Ju Peter muttered, incredulous.
Dark Horse nodded.
"It's hard to believe, but it's the most plausible conclusion. Considering that the same man has already demonstrated, in Sabaody, powers similar to the Shock Fruit… then it's reasonable to assume he possesses some method of extracting abilities from dead users. If he already has three powers, what's stopping him from gaining a fourth? Perhaps even a fifth?"
The air itself seemed to freeze. Even men accustomed to manipulating the world felt the weight of a threat slipping beyond their control.
At that moment, a soldier ran up to Dark Horse, breathless, and handed him a freshly arrived newspaper.
"Sir… urgent news from Shijinkaisha…"
Dark Horse grabbed the paper, unfolded it, and as his eyes scanned the front page, they widened. His voice faltered for the first time:
"…Impossible."
He raised the paper, showing the headline splashed across the cover:
"Straw Hat Luffy Strikes Mariejois! Thirty-Nine Celestial Dragons Dead!"
"WHAT!?" the Five Elders thundered again.
"How is this already in the papers!?"
"We haven't even confirmed all the details, and it's already worldwide!"
"Dark Horse, explain yourself immediately!"
The investigator's heart sank. He knew the gravity of this failure. If not for his prestigious position, he would likely already be a dead man.
With a heavy sigh, he muttered:
"This can't be a coincidence. There's a spy… or someone with inside knowledge feeding information to the press. Perhaps even someone with a special ability…"
"Morgans…" snarled V. Nusjuro, the elder with the thick mustache. "Why the hell is that damned bird-man still alive!?"
In the same instant, Saint Marcus Mars, the bearded elder, grabbed a black Den Den Mushi and dialed directly. After a few moments, the unmistakable, grating voice echoed:
"Kuhahaha! This is the Shijinkaisha headquarters, Morgans speaking! If it's hot news, I always know before you do!"
"It's me," Mars said coldly.
On the other end, there was a brief silence before Morgans responded with false reverence:
"Well, well, one of the great Five Elders! What a rare honor! How may I serve you, gentlemen?"
"How did you learn of last night's events so quickly?"
Morgans laughed:
"Some enthusiastic informants shared the story with me. I'm just a journalist committed to the truth! Of course, by professional ethics, I can't reveal my sources."
The Elders' rage was palpable.
"Explain yourself, Morgans! Now!" Mars bellowed.
The journalist laughed again, mocking:
"Let's just say… a certain Celestial Dragon was very eager to share the truth with the world. Heheheh!"
The Elders' faces hardened instantly. All of them thought of the same name at once.
Doflamingo.
That bastard still managed to torment them, even in disgrace.
Mars inhaled deeply, struggling to maintain composure.
"Listen carefully, Morgans. Since you've already published that cursed headline, it can't be erased. But you will release a new edition immediately, with a new version of the story. Understood?"
Morgans only laughed again, his cackling like a crow feasting on the world's carrion.
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(End of Chapter)