Laura Louise analyzed the unique selling points of William to the editor-in-chief. Even if only half of what Yosolin Heller said was true, William was a newsworthy figure worth investigating—a potential success story for the journalism world.
However, when Louise reached this point, the editor-in-chief interrupted her: "The World Economy News is already successful enough."
Louise pursed her lips but then firmly replied, "But that's the success of the World Economy News, not my success, and not the success of our branch office."
No matter how much Louise emphasized the importance of the news, the editor-in-chief remained indifferent. But he finally took a serious look at Louise, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, "Whether you travel through the Red Line or the Calm Belt, you'll need official approval. The World Government is notoriously slow in processing such requests. It might take some time before you can set off for the East Blue."
Louise's eyes widened in surprise, not yet understanding why the editor-in-chief had suddenly agreed to her proposal.
"Are you planning to go to the East Blue alone? Or do you need the newspaper to send a team with you?" the editor-in-chief asked.
Suppressing her excitement, Louise analyzed calmly, "I'll go alone. This trip is primarily for investigation. According to Yosolin Heller, the target individual has a significant power base. Sending too many people would only attract attention."
"Good that you understand," the editor-in-chief nodded. "You're not just investigating a pirate; you might also be dealing with a kingdom's ruler. Among the hundreds of member nations under the World Government, each has its own laws. Even as a journalist from our newspaper, we can't guarantee your safety once you're within another nation's borders."
Louise solemnly acknowledged this. As a journalist working in the news industry, she was well aware that rulers of various kingdoms could often be more ruthless than pirates. A tyrant's harm to their own people could rival—or even exceed—that of a notorious pirate.
"I hope that when you return from the East Blue, you'll bring back the kind of big news that will make you successful."
The editor-in-chief said this because Louise's earlier words had unexpectedly made him appreciate the young journalist in front of him. The World Economy News was not short of smart people—it was short of people willing to take risks. In this chaotic era, big news often involved dangerous individuals. To obtain firsthand material, journalists often had to risk their lives. Only those who were truly willing to put life and death aside, with an extraordinary hunger for success and news, could be considered talents for the newspaper.
The editor-in-chief's attitude toward the East Blue hadn't changed, but he now saw potential in Laura Louise, a journalist he had previously overlooked.
...
Harden couldn't remember how many years it had been since he last returned home.
The word "hometown," which should have represented warmth, only evoked memories of poverty in Harden's mind.
Harden's father was a poor drunkard in a poor town. His mother had left when he was very young, unable to endure the daily struggles of their impoverished life. She left Harden alone to face a man cornered by life, a man who could only vent his frustrations on a weaker child.
When Harden was ten, his father was found dead in a stinking ditch one day. No one knew who the killer was.
Eventually, a rumor spread in the town, claiming that Harden, always gloomy, had finally snapped under the abuse and killed his father while he was drunk.
In truth, Harden hadn't done it. His father's death might have been the work of debt collectors or the result of a drunken conflict. Whatever the cause, it didn't matter to Harden. He bore no hatred for the killer—in fact, he was grateful.
Harden never denied the rumors about him killing his father.
He discovered that the disdainful gazes once directed at him turned into fear. Even the peers who used to bully him no longer dared to loiter near him.
Harden didn't kill anyone, but the rumor of him being a killer earned him a status he had never had before—a life free from abuse.
So, when Harden grew up, it was only natural for him to become a pirate—a criminal who lived by violence and bloodshed.
From childhood to adulthood, Harden had never been welcomed by his hometown. He was met with cold stares and disgust wherever he went.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, after volunteering to join an expedition to the Grand Line, Harden had always wanted to return home.
When the warship bearing the Morgan Pirates' flag docked at the pier, the shore was crowded with onlookers.
Harden disembarked alone, scanning his surroundings. The pier, once dilapidated and neglected, seemed recently renovated. Two merchant ships were docked there, with workers bustling like ants, loading and unloading goods.
The onlookers had mixed expressions—some were excited, others nervous, and a few confused. There was no warmth, but neither was there disdain or rejection.
After nearly ten years away, Harden wondered how many people in this town still recognized him.
It was as if he carried an aura. As he walked toward the shore, the crowd instinctively parted to make way for him, watching him leave in silence.
Some children, seeing Harden disembark from the Morgan Pirates' ship, followed him from a distance. They were both curious and frightened, pushing and shoving each other while giggling nervously, as if trying to muster the courage to speak to him.
Harden suddenly turned around and made a grotesque face. With his fierce appearance and terrifying scars, he scared the children into scattering in all directions.
When the children had gone, Harden, who had been wearing a grim expression, couldn't help but smile faintly.
When Harden reached the edge of the town, he was surprised to find that his old house was still standing. However, the door hinge was broken, and none of the windows were intact.
He pushed open the door, which was more symbolic than functional, and stepped into the house. Compared to his childhood memories, the interior seemed even narrower and more cramped. He ran his hand over a faded and crooked skull drawing on the wall, letting out a hoarse laugh.
When Harden emerged from the house, he found several people waiting outside.
An elderly man with graying hair stood in the middle. Seeing Harden tilt his head to size them up, the old man hesitated before softly asking, "Harden? Is that you?"
"Paulino?" Harden sized up the man and said bluntly, "You're still the mayor? You sure know how to keep your position."
Harden knew that after William abolished local self-governance, many local officials had been stripped of their titles. Only those who were highly adaptable and obedient retained their positions.
To Harden's surprise, Mayor Paulino didn't show fear or disgust. Instead, he seemed overjoyed, stepping forward to grab Harden's hand enthusiastically. "Harden, I can't believe it's really you! I'd heard that the Morgan Pirates had a hero named Harden, but I thought it was just someone with the same name! I never imagined..."
Harden impatiently pulled his hand away, but Mayor Paulino showed no sign of embarrassment. Instead, he eagerly offered to act as a guide, suggesting that he take Harden on a tour of the town he hadn't seen in nearly a decade.
Harden didn't refuse. As Paulino chased off the others who had gathered, Harden noticed a few people who seemed to recognize him, glancing back nervously. Harden gave them a cold smile.
Paulino quickly waved them away and then invited Harden to follow him, personally leading the way.
Throughout their journey, Mayor Paulino alternated between describing the town's changes over the years and singing praises of William's policies and achievements, perhaps because he knew of Harden's high position in William's organization.
"...This past year, we've seen many more merchant ships coming through, thanks to the Morgan Pirates clearing out pirates in the surrounding areas," Mayor Paulino said sincerely. "You should really visit your hometown more often. While the town isn't wealthy yet, conditions have improved considerably."
Harden grunted in response, his attitude cold. He was straightforward by nature and disliked slippery characters like the mayor. Besides, since returning to his hometown, he had found the trip to be a mistake—he felt none of the homecoming sentiment that others might experience. The familiar scenes only made him recall the past, filling him with disgust.
The mayor awkwardly rubbed his hands together. Throughout their walk, Harden had maintained this cold demeanor, and the mayor had finally run out of topics.
The two walked to the school playground, which was empty except for a small boy reading a book.
Mayor Paulino suddenly remembered something: "Harden, now that you're the right-hand man of the governor, could you suggest to him not to move our school to the neighboring town?"
Seeing Harden's confused expression, the mayor explained that as compulsory education had been implemented, various issues had emerged, including a shortage of teachers. Many local elementary schools weren't filled to capacity, wasting teaching resources. Following the recommendation of the attendant's office, it was decided to consolidate schools based on island divisions, merging schools in nearby villages and towns.
Harden's hometown, unfortunately, had insufficient student numbers and was slated for consolidation. The school would be relocated to the neighboring town, forcing local students to travel a considerable distance to attend classes.
"How can school locations be determined solely by numbers? Shouldn't achievement be considered? Our town's students have consistently ranked at the top among surrounding areas," the mayor said. Noticing Harden's indifferent expression, he called out to the small boy reading on the playground, "Coby! Coby, come here!"
When the bespectacled boy clumsily ran over with his book, the mayor said, "Coby's theoretical scores are the best among the four surrounding villages and towns. With such an excellent student, moving the school far away could affect his performance."
He then told Coby, "This is the vice-captain of the Morgan Pirates, a hero from our small town..."
"Mr. Harden!" Before the mayor could finish, Coby excitedly called out Harden's name. "I know you! You're a veteran of the Morgan Pirates. The minstrel at the tavern has told your stories."
Harden finally showed a surprised expression. Coby pulled out a pen from his pocket and held it out along with the book he had been reading, looking expectantly at Harden—just like a fan meeting a movie star in William's previous life. "Could you please give me your autograph?"
Harden glanced at Mayor Paulino, who seemed equally surprised, confirming that this wasn't a staged encounter.
Harden looked down at the book and pen extended toward him, and after a moment, said flatly, "I can't read or write."
Coby stood there, holding the book and pen, his face filled with unexpected disappointment.
Fearing Harden might feel embarrassed, the mayor solemnly told Coby, "Mr. Harden didn't have the good fortune you have now—free education and literacy. That's why he and the other heroes of the Morgan Pirates work so hard to drive away other pirates and protect our hometown from pirate ravages. They do this so that children like you can have a better living environment. You should cherish everything you have today, understand?"
Harden watched Mayor Paulino's pretentious speech with amusement. He knew very well that there were plenty of people in the Morgan Pirates who didn't fully agree with William's requirements. Even he didn't completely understand William's intentions. Everything they did was ultimately because it was William's "order."
Mandatory education and pro-commerce policies were civil affairs that had nothing to do with the Morgan Pirates, or with Harden himself.
Despite his amusement, for some reason, seeing Coby's mixed emotions of both being moved and disappointed after the mayor's speech, Harden felt touched. He smiled and asked Coby, "Do you really want my autograph?"
Coby nodded vigorously, almost knocking his glasses off.
Seeing him frantically trying to secure his glasses, Harden laughed even harder: "I can't read or write, but it's just a name. You could teach me how to write it."
Coby excitedly agreed.
On the playground, a strange scene unfolded: a fierce-looking man, under the guidance of a small boy with pink hair, awkwardly holding a pen, slowly writing something on paper.
Harden felt the pen was heavier than any weapon he had wielded. After much effort, he finally left a crooked line of writing in Coby's notebook.
Even though Harden couldn't read, he could tell his signature was incredibly ugly. But Coby still reverently closed the book and hugged it to his chest.
Looking at Coby, who had never met him before yet admired his deeds so much, the irritation that had built up in Harden since setting foot in his hometown seemed to vanish.
After Coby left, Harden finally turned to the mayor, who had been standing silently nearby: "Tell me again about the school issue you mentioned earlier."
...
At the docks two days later, a strange vessel with paddle wheels on both sides prepared to depart.
Standing on the aft deck of the paddlewheel steamer, Harden gazed at the receding town, lost in thought.
Kuro appeared at his side. "I didn't think you'd be the sentimental type."
"Have you ever gone back home?" Harden asked in return.
"I've visited," Kuro replied.
"And how did it feel?"
"At first glance, not much had changed. But upon closer inspection, many things felt unfamiliar. I'm not sure if it's good or bad."
Harden shook his head. "I think it's a good thing. The home I remember wasn't worth missing. But now, some places and people... they're at least less unpleasant."
"You know what? A kid in town actually asked for my autograph!" Harden shared the story of Coby as an amusing anecdote. "For some reason, I didn't understand William's actions before and just followed orders. I always thought protecting local areas wasn't as satisfying as plundering them. But seeing that boy clutching my autograph like a treasure map, I suddenly felt that maybe this way isn't so bad after all."
Kuro paused, then smiled. "Perhaps that's what William meant by the 'need for self-fulfillment.'"
"And what does that mean?" Harden asked.
"That beyond basic needs, people should have other pursuits," Kuro explained, deliberately phrasing it crudely to match Harden's understanding.
As expected, Harden was momentarily stunned before bursting into hearty laughter.
Volume Three: The Kingdom Thief, Finished.
Next Volume: A Name That Shakes the World.
Who truly rules this domain today?
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