World Economy News Headquarters.
Loud, wild laughter traveled through the thick wooden door from the President's office.
The editors, who were busy working, silently held their breath, knowing that another massive piece of news was coming.
Speaking of which, this recent period had been a carnival for news reporters like them.
Wave after wave of huge news stories had nearly given them heart attacks from excitement.
First, the pirate named Roa returned and immediately took down Silver Axe and Wang Zhi, directly overturning the New World's balance of power.
Then, he quickly gathered the monsters of the New World and waged war against the World Government. He not only easily recaptured the New World but also sent troops directly towards the West Blue and North Blue.
And now, just when people thought that sending troops to the West and North Blue to seize those two vast seas was the limit of what the pirates could do, Roa told the world: No, that was merely the beginning!
They attacked Mary Geoise and essentially destroyed that Cloud City!
The World Government had even raised the bounty on the esteemed Lord Roa to one hundred billion Berries!
Yes, Lord Roa.
The editors of the World Economic News Agency had all secretly started using this title to refer to the King of Calamity in their minds.
Because—
Slap!
The door to the President's office was instantly thrown open. The birdman rushed out, looking utterly ecstatic. His excitement was so intense that all his feathers stood on end, making him look incredibly startling.
He waved a stack of news drafts. "Hahahaha! Quick! Quick! My lads! New big news is here! Snap out of it and get the Boss's intentions spread throughout the world in the shortest possible time!"
He didn't bother pretending anymore. Ever since the news about Mary Geoise was published, the President, Morgans, had directly referred to Lord Roa as Boss.
It was only then that the editors of the World Economic News Agency realized their president had been a subordinate of Lord Roa for a long time.
"Yes!!"
However, it didn't matter whose lackey the President was.
As long as there was big news! Who cares about anything else!
But when the editors received the news drafts from Morgans and began proofreading and typesetting, they were immediately stunned by the content recorded within.
"Truly worthy of being Lord Roa!"
That was the only exclamation they could muster.
The World Economic News paper once again spread across the globe.
Even though the World Government had previously declared the World Economic News Agency to be complicit with the pirates, and President Morgans an unforgivable criminal, and had begun clearing out the World Economic News Agency's branches worldwide.
The World Economic News Agency was never just a simple newspaper.
Over the past two decades, Morgans had also amassed a formidable power.
All branches instantly shifted from overt to covert, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Then, to the fury of the World Government, the newspaper was effortlessly delivered to the entire world once more.
And so, the world was once again left utterly speechless.
Because this time, the content of the paper was—
"They, they, they are putting a bounty on the World Government!"
"The world has gone mad! It's gone insane!"
"Government officials, Navy officers, everyone has a bounty on their head!"
This newspaper had only one piece of content: the King of Calamity, Roa, announced that his Calamity Company would put bounties on World Government officials.
Ordinary Navy Soldiers correspond to ordinary government clerks, with a bounty of 100,000 Berries.Warrant Officers and below correspond to grassroots government administrators, with a bounty of 1 million Berries.Commander-rank Navy correspond to Section Chief-level high-ranking administrators, with a bounty of 5 million Berries.Captain, Commodore-rank Navy correspond to Bureau Chief-level officials, with a bounty of 100 million Berries.Rear Admiral-rank officers correspond to Minister-level high officials, with a bounty of 300 million Berries.Vice Admiral-rank officers correspond to Vice Minister-level high-ranking bureaucrats, with a bounty of 500 million Berries.Fleet Admiral, along with the highest-ranking officers like "Fist" Garp and "Black Leg" Zephyr, correspond to the Holy Knights of the God's Knight Order, with a bounty of 3 billion Berries.Fleet Admiral, corresponding to the Five Elders and the Commander of the God's Knight Order, with a bounty of 5 billion Berries.
"It's insane! Even the Navy Fleet Admiral and the Five Elders have bounties!"
"Holy Knights, does an organization like that truly exist in the world? Composed entirely of elite Celestial Dragons, and they are also—"
"Immortal? All of them are immortal? Is this really not a joke?"
"If it's true, then no wonder they are ranked alongside the Admirals!"
"Wait! The paper says two of the Five Elders were killed, and now only three remain! Aren't they immortal?"
"Hey! Hold on! This Figarland Garling, he looks exactly like the Pirate Emperor 'Red-Haired' Shanks!!"
"Yeah, what's going on? Are they twins? Is the Pirate Emperor Shanks actually a Celestial Dragon??"
These revelations were already enough to profoundly shock the world, but even more staggering news followed.
"Nerona Imu, King of the Celestial Dragons! One of the twenty kings who created the World Government eight hundred years ago, the King of the World who rules from the shadows! Bounty, 10 billion Berries!"
"Are the World Economic News Agency and Roa serious? Does such a monster truly exist in the world? Even the photo is hand-drawn!"
"How is that possible! How can someone from eight hundred years ago be alive now!"
"But the Five Elders have also existed for many years! Saint Saturn has been one of the Five Elders for over two hundred years!"
"So, the World Government's claim that no one can be a dictator is false? A Shadow King has existed in the Government from the very beginning!"
"But if such a figure truly exists, why is the bounty so low? Only ten billion, just one-tenth of Roa's!"
"Uh, that's probably Roa's personal bias, right?"
Regardless, the entire world instantly burst into an uproar.
Pirates putting a bounty on the Navy, even on the World Government—that news alone was shocking enough.
But even more astonishing was the fact that the World Government was hiding a King of the World!
Nerona Imu. If this King of the World truly existed, then the World Government had, without a doubt, deceived the entire world!
The kings of the affiliated nations, already deeply anxious because Mary Geoise had been destroyed by the pirates, immediately became restless.
Phone calls were instantly made to the Government's central administration.
"What exactly is going on? Is the Founding King truly still alive?"
"We demand an answer!"
The already chaotic World Government was immediately overwhelmed.
Then, the Government's response quickly arrived.
The Government issued a document admitting Imu's existence but stating that this Original King had long since retired and did not interfere with world affairs, stressing that the World Government had never had a dictator!
They emphasized that Imu possessed unmatched power, and with that great being present, the World Government would absolutely never be defeated.
It couldn't be hidden anymore. After all, only Lord Imu could deal with Roa, and exposure was just a matter of time.
But even so, the appearance of a true immortal who had lived for over eight hundred years drove the entire world into near madness!
Then, the World Economic News Agency immediately published an article mocking the Government, claiming that the immortality of the Holy Knights and the Five Elders was merely an extension of Imu's power!
The idea that this King of the World could kill all the high-ranking Celestial Dragons with a single thought, and yet was supposedly "retired" and not directly controlling the World Government, was utterly ridiculous!
Moreover, if he truly possessed such unmatched power, would Mary Geoise have been burned to ashes, and would the pirates have been allowed to retreat at will?
The World Government retaliated without showing weakness, stating that the World Economic News Agency had long been Roa's lackey, and all its statements were merely intended to destabilize world order and were completely slanderous accusations against the World Government! It simply wasn't true!
The two sides engaged in a war of words through the newspapers.
However, the world's turmoil had only just begun.
The pirates' actions undoubtedly plunged the entire world into chaos, especially the West and North Blues.
With the World Government beaten to such a state and helpless against the pirates, what fate would these two seas fall into next??
People dared not think, yet they had no choice but to think.
The affiliated nations in these two seas frantically urged the World Government.
Affiliated nations in other seas were equally terrified, fearing they would be next.
The resulting consequence was—
"Mmm!"
On the open space outside Ryugu Palace, Roa stood in front of the submarine, taking a deep, satisfied breath.
"The world has become even more beautiful."
The black aura had become much denser.
At this rate, the next evolution wouldn't take too many years.
Once the next evolution was complete, it would be time to tear off Imu's head.
"In any case, Fish-Man Island is in your care, Neptune."
Roa smiled as he entrusted the Dragon Palace Kingdom's King, whose eyes were downcast. "Watch over this country well."
"From now on, the Dragon Palace Kingdom will be a superior nation in this world."
Of course, Fish-Men and Merfolk, who were more useful than ordinary humans, should be given a higher status.
Roa was also looking forward to seeing how the Fish-Men, who had been discriminated against and oppressed for centuries, would retaliate once they gained a status above ordinary humans.
Hahaha, it will be so interesting, so very interesting!
"Yes."
Neptune's expression remained unchanged, but every pore exuded a sense of sorrow.
From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Bege standing behind Roa.
His most beloved youngest daughter was currently inside that man's stomach.
Shirahoshi, my Shirahoshi!
He wasn't the only one; beside him, the Mermaid Queen's eyes were red and swollen, and tears were welling up again.
Behind them, Shirahoshi's three older brothers were also clenching their teeth, their facial muscles trembling.
They wanted to rescue their sister more than anyone, but their parents had strictly warned them against it.
Otherwise, let alone whether they could succeed, the very act of attempting it would bring utter annihilation to Fish-Man Island.
"Also,"
Roa looked to Neptune's other side. "Gaban, you must protect Fish-Man Island."
"Yes, Boss!"
Gaban, who looked much more spirited than before, curled his lips into an unrestrained smile. "Just leave it to me!"
The high spirits on his face momentarily made Roa feel a sense of déjà vu, as if he were seeing Gaban of the Roger Pirates from back then!
Wow, I'm truly amazing; I've managed to return Gaban to his peak!
"And finally,"
Roa turned to the last person. "Tiger, you mustn't be lazy. The war in the West and North Blues is about to truly begin. I need a larger scale of Fish-Man troops."
"Yes."
Tiger's lips were pulled down, and he too bowed slightly to Roa in obedience.
"Very good! Then Fish-Man Island is in your hands!"
Roa nodded with satisfaction.
Then, it was time to leave.
Roa, accompanied by King, Enel, and Bege, returned to the submarine.
Then, a gigantic, pitch-black hand of Haki emerged, grabbing the submarine and ascending into the air, passing directly through the bubble covering Ryugu Palace and re-entering the deep sea.
The massive submarine then started up, heading back the way it came.
At the same time, behind the submarine, massive Sea Kings followed.
Trailing these impossibly huge Sea Kings were schools of sea beasts. These sea beasts were connected by chains to large ships, and inside the ships were fully armed Fish-Man warriors.
Everyone's expression was grim. They already knew their current predicament and what they were about to do next.
"Hold fast!"
Jinbe stood there, gritting his teeth and shouting loudly, "For our country! For our kin!"
We have no choice!
And so, what arrived was only a submarine, but what departed was an immensely large deep-sea army!
Simultaneously with Roa's departure, Sea Kings arrived from all directions, gradually surrounding the entire Fish-Man Island.
Ryugu Palace.
Gazing up at the behemoths swimming in the deep sea outside.
Neptune sighed weakly.
Now, Fish-Man Island was completely blockaded.
"Hahahaha! Alright! Why the long faces?"
Gaban laughed and turned around, addressing Neptune and the Queen Otohime, as well as Tiger. "As long as we complete the tasks the Boss assigned, he won't do anything to Fish-Man Island!"
"The Boss, he values this country very much!"
"Mr. Gaban..."
Tiger clenched his fists, his cheeks and voice trembling simultaneously. "Is that you?"
"Of course it's me!"
Gaban smiled. "What's wrong with you guys? Even though I'm the Boss's subordinate now, I'm still me. Relax, relax. Everything will be as usual in the future. Except for blockading Fish-Man Island and forbidding anyone from passing through or leaving, nothing will be different from the past!"
"..."
Tears rolled uncontrollably from Tiger's eyes.
This man with a will of steel couldn't help but weep at this moment.
Indeed, nothing seemed different from the past. Except for the change in eye color and the use of the title "Boss" for Roa, in all other aspects—mannerisms, speech, actions—he was exactly like the former Mr. Gaban.
It was as if he were still the Mr. Gaban of old.
But—but—
Roa... Roa! How much further do you intend to humiliate people?
"Alright, alright, everything is over,"
Gaban stretched. "I need to go home and check in. Seriously, I've been gone so long, I hope Anna isn't angry? If she is, you guys need to vouch for me. I had a legitimate reason this time!"
The Fish-Men and Merfolk were silent as they watched him walk away.
"...I only hope,"
Tiger choked out, "that Colon doesn't rush back."
"I'll go see Anna."
Queen Otohime wiped her eyes and said.
Soon after, in a certain sea area of the New World, the massive floating city descended from the sky.
Jinbe stood on the head of a sea beast, looking up at the colossal structure in the sky, his expression subtly changing.
It's too big!
Is this the headquarters of the Calamity Company?
The clouds encasing the floating city began to contort, forming an upward staircase.
Dylan stood at the base of the stairs. "Boss, you've returned."
"Mmm."
Roa, who was leading the others up the stairs, nodded easily. "Everything went smoothly."
"These are—"
Dylan looked at the Sea Kings on the sea surface with curiosity.
"Oh, them? We acquired the Sea King's power, so they've become our house pets. They will join the upcoming war."
Roa said casually.
"Sea King?"
Dylan's pupils suddenly contracted.
My Boss, is this something you can talk about with such a casual tone?
Roa was indeed completely at ease, asking, "How are the preparations coming along?"
Dylan immediately composed himself, recovering his calm, and promptly replied, "The pirates under several major pirate crews have gathered, and our clone army is ready to march."
"We are ready to advance towards the West and North Blues at any moment."
"Mmm, good."
Roa nodded with satisfaction.
"Also, Boss,"
Dylan said, "that slave is awake. He says he wants to see you."
"Slave?"
Roa paused, then suddenly realized. "Oh, Tesoro?"
"Yes,"
Dylan nodded. "Doffy thought you might have some connection with him, so he brought him back too."
Roa smiled with interest. "He's actually still alive? Well, it seems fate favors him."
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