OPTC Chapter 213 How Exactly Did Moria Die?
"Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria, former bounty 320 million Berries, was confirmed dead two days ago on October 22nd. Cause of death is believed to be internal strife within his crew over the division of spoils, ending in mutual destruction.
Details as follows: according to eyewitness accounts…"
As for Moria's theft of shadows and grave-robbing to create zombies, Morgans glossed over that. His wings weren't yet as strong as they would be ten years later. For now, his newspaper still depended heavily on the World Government, though if the story was explosive enough, he wouldn't mind taking a gamble.
As a newspaperman, Morgans always believed that his courage matched the brilliance of the headline. The fall of Moria was certainly eye-catching, yet something felt lacking. If the truth had been that an infamous pirate was brought down by an unknown rookie, or that he had gone toe-to-toe with another powerhouse pirate, that would've made for better entertainment. At least then he could enjoy an extra bucket of popcorn.
Unfortunately, this notorious pirate had apparently died over treasure, cut down by his own men. Ridiculous as it sounded, people would believe it. After all, Captain John, another infamous name, had died in just such a way. Adding Moria to that list wasn't so strange.
For the common people, however, the news left them skeptical of the government's long-running propaganda that the Seven Warlords were an essential force against piracy. What use was a warlord who hadn't even fought pirates before being killed by his own crew? Still, such gossip would likely fade quickly, just another story over tea.
Take Goodman for example. After chatting about it with his coworkers at the shipyard, he went home and told his wife and son, "Something huge happened today…" His wife, Molly, and son, Baier, barely listened. Everyone already knew. But Baier stared at the photo in the paper. "Dad, doesn't this shadow look like Tom's head?"
Goodman and Molly froze at the familiar name. Studying the photo, their expressions turned grave. Zhang Da Ye had told them his first destination was Water 7, and by their reckoning, he and his friends would be near this sea now. With their abilities… Goodman thought back to the day he'd seen Mihawk and Jinbei at the tavern. Finally, he shook his head. "No, no, that's just a rock. Don't say such things. You're just missing Tom, right? How about we get a cat of our own?"
Baier pouted but was easily distracted. "Unless we can find one as smart as Tom… even half as smart would be fine."
Goodman and Molly exchanged glances, both thinking the same: they had truly helped someone extraordinary.
Molly tied on her apron with a smile. "This is good news, isn't it? If that man is dead, Da Ye and the others can pass safely. I'll cook something special tonight. You can even drink a little more."
"Great!" Goodman's face lit up. The sake Zhang Da Ye had given him from Ryugu Palace was outstanding, though his wife rarely let him keep it.
The one most pleased by the news was Doflamingo. He had been scheming to secure a spot among the Seven Warlords. With only one vacancy, his chances had been uncertain. Now, with two open seats, things looked far easier. "Fufufufu… what perfect timing for him to die." He didn't care how—it was simply good that he was gone.
Mihawk and Crocodile also had the habit of reading the papers daily. Mihawk only muttered "Boring," before returning to his training, while Crocodile scoffed "Idiot," then went to the port to wipe out a band of unlucky pirates and boost his own reputation.
Of the remaining Warlords, Jinbei had been absent from the surface seas these days and hadn't yet received the news. Kuma had already been sent to the Devil's Triangle to investigate, and Hancock—well, she didn't read the paper at all.
In the New World, Whitebeard sneered at the news. To him, this only proved he was right—treasure meant nothing compared to family. "Thatch, did you bring my wine?"
"All here." Thatch, in his chef's coat and trademark hairstyle, set down a large barrel. "But Pops, why do you always drink the cheapest stuff?"
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard bellowed laughter, cracked open the barrel, and drank deeply. He wiped his mouth but offered no explanation. He had other uses for his money.
On Onigashima in Wano, Kaido woke from another drunken stupor. Hearing the report, he slurred, "Moria? That guy? Still useless… wororororo…"
The ones most troubled were the Five Elders. They had expected to simply recruit one new pirate to fill the empty seat. Instead, Moria was gone in a flash.
They convened as usual.
"Is the report reliable? To die from infighting—what a joke."
"Morgans isn't always trustworthy. I already sent Kuma to confirm. He joined the Warlords not long ago, yet obeys us too well. That itself is suspicious."
"No matter. As long as he accepts the plan, his true motives don't matter. For now, the priority is filling two empty seats."
"We need pirates with both fame and willingness to cooperate. Not so easy to find."
"What about Red-Haired Shanks?"
Silence. It was worth a try, though unlikely.
"For now, tell the navy to prepare. With one less Warlord, the burden on them will grow heavier."
Fleet Admiral Kong had already received the intelligence. Calmly, he ordered stronger patrols and fortifications at naval bases. Moria's death was less important than keeping the seas stable. The strain on the navy would rise, but in two months the announcement of the new Fleet Admiral and two Admirals would rally the marines. With all three Admirals in place, pirates would have no choice but to lie low. "Still," Kong muttered, "the seas feel unusually restless this year."
…
"The sea feels unusually calm today," Zhang Da Ye remarked as he looked over the water. "Anyone up for a swim?"
After reading the "official" news, his unease finally lifted. This world's newspapers weren't like social media that flipped stories upside down every other day. For now, they were just a lucky group of travelers.
"I'll go." Ye Yan began warming up. He could accept having less stamina than Artoria, but being weaker than both Zhang Da Ye and Rui Meng Meng was unacceptable. He was a genius, after all. Except for academics, when had he ever been last? He resolved to train.
"I'll join too!" Rui Meng Meng raised her hand. "I haven't finished my training today."
Tom didn't say a word. He simply switched into swimming gear in a second, showing his intent.
"Yohohoho! It's been years since I swam. I envy you." Brook sipped his tea, then turned toward Perona. "You must understand how I feel, Perona-chan?"
"Who wants to understand you! I'm not swimming!" Perona snapped, glaring. Zhang Da Ye had told her this skeleton was a pervert. If he made any weird requests, she had permission to hit him.
"This is for you," Artoria said kindly, handing Perona a swim ring she fetched from the cabin. "If you feel like going in, use it. I used it back when I couldn't swim."
Perona turned her head, clutching the float. "You're the one insisting I take it, I—"
"Ahem." Zhang Da Ye cleared his throat. "Elementary School Rules, number eight."
"Respect your companions, be polite, and don't curse!" Perona recited quickly, then blushed and mumbled, "Th-thank you."
"You're welcome," Artoria replied with a smile.
…
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