Chapter 416: Reactions from All Parties
"Sure," Ryuunosuke said calmly.
"Got it, I'll arrange everything right away! Don't worry—once I've got the scoop, the whole world will know in the blink of an eye. My mouth is sharper than all my uncles and aunts combined!" Morgans cackled before slamming the line shut.
True to his word, Morgans immediately began preparations. Thousands of Newsbirds were dispatched to Ryuunosuke's location. From there, a global live broadcast would begin. Anyone with even the slightest interest in Pluto would have the footage pushed to them.
And once that happened, the Dragon Hunter Pirates' name would thunder louder across the seas—louder even than the Four Emperors.
"This guy…" Ryuunosuke muttered with a wry shake of his head as he stowed away the Den Den Mushi. Morgans had his quirks, but his control over information and influence in the news world was unmatched. The fact he hadn't been captured by the World Government was nothing short of a miracle.
News of Pluto's revelation raced across the world.
"Gurararara!" A booming laugh echoed aboard the Moby Dick. "Pluto, is it? Most of the fools who sought that ship are already bones in the sea. They hoarded scraps of information and kept it buried. But that brat Ryuunosuke? He actually dares to live-stream his hunt for Pluto. Gurarara… what a madman."
Whitebeard leaned back, beard shaking with laughter. Only Ryuunosuke could make such a bold move.
Others had been more cautious. Crocodile, for instance, had spent years scheming in Alabasta, obsessed with Pluto, hoping to one day crown himself Pirate King. Yet Ryuunosuke simply threw open the curtains and invited the whole world to watch.
"I wonder," Whitebeard mused, "how Crocodile would react if he saw this broadcast."
"Pops! Shouldn't we lend them a hand?" Ace asked, eyes fixed on the live feed. The Dragon Hunters' ship was in waters Ace knew well—not far from their current position. "With something like Pluto at stake, half the sea will come chasing after them. Even with Ryuunosuke at the helm, they'll be overwhelmed!"
Whitebeard's grin widened. "Then let's go have a look. If Ryuunosuke needs our help, the Whitebeard Pirates are more than capable of delivering it!"
Ace grinned fiercely, flames flickering at his fingertips as he reached for his Den Den Mushi to call his brother.
Meanwhile, aboard the Red Force…
"Shanks, the Dragon Hunters have declared they're going after Pluto," Ben Beckman said gravely. "Do we move? Pluto is said to hold the key to that place. If they seize it, it won't be easy to wrest it from them later."
Shanks furrowed his brow. They had clashed with the Dragon Hunters before and knew their strength well. To fight them head-on for Pluto could be a disaster.
"Pluto…" Shanks muttered. "So that's what he's been scheming this whole time? And the whole business with the Goa Kingdom was just misdirection?"
He remembered rushing to the East Blue after Ryuunosuke declared the annexation of Goa Kingdom, intending to see what the Dragon Hunters were planning. And now this bombshell dropped.
"I don't think it's misdirection," Beckman countered. "If anything, I think the Pluto broadcast is the cover. And what they're really hiding is happening in the East Blue."
Jesus Burgess—better known as Yasopp to his crew—leaned forward. "Beckman's right. We've tracked a core member of the Dragon Hunters moving into the East Blue. It's Princess Shirahoshi of Fishman Island."
The crew exchanged shocked looks.
"What the hell are the Dragon Hunters planning…?"
Major moves in the East Blue. A live broadcast of Pluto in the New World. Layer after layer of smoke and mirrors.
Shanks finally stood. "We're already in the East Blue. We'll investigate here first, then cross the Calm Belt to Ryuunosuke if needed. Let's see what they're hiding."
His eyes softened slightly. "And Shirahoshi… she's too naive for this game. We'd better check on her before someone takes advantage."
On the shores of Foosha Village, a stir spread like wildfire. Villagers gawked at the towering, radiant figure who had arrived.
"Princess Shirahoshi!"
A well-dressed man approached, bowing deeply. "I am King Sterley of Goa. This is my wife, Princess Sivir. Lord Ryuunosuke informed us of your visit. Please, is there anything we can do for you?"
His tone carried respect—and a hint of fear. The Dragon Hunters had claimed Goa Kingdom as their territory. For Sterley, arrogance was no longer an option.
"Hello, Princess Shirahoshi," Sivir added gently, curtsying.
Shirahoshi tilted her head shyly. "I'm only here to take a look… nothing serious."
"Princess Shirahoshi, may we speak privately?"
A voice cut in. Ben Beckman stepped forward, his presence heavy, his words polite but firm.
Shirahoshi blinked innocently. "No. Captain said I mustn't talk with other pirate crews while I'm outside."
Her simple refusal, paired with her beauty, left Beckman momentarily stunned. Even a seasoned man like him found himself caught off guard by her disarming naiveté.
"We're from the Red-Haired Pirates," he said after a steadying breath. "We've worked with your captain before. I just wanted to know what mission you've been given. Perhaps we could help."
"Oh! Is that so?" Shirahoshi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "The captain asked me to see if Goa Kingdom had any thoughts of rebellion. I'll stay for a few days, then return."
The words slipped from her lips without hesitation.
Sterley's face turned pale, his wife's smile froze, and even Beckman couldn't hide his discomfort.
As expected, Princess Shirahoshi was far too honest.
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