Just as Don was plotting how to "milk" Mihawk for more benefits, the headquarters of the World Economy News Paper was in chaos—Morgans was absolutely furious.
"Well? Where is it?! You idiot—where is the result I asked for?!"
Morgans beat his wings wildly, feathers flying everywhere.
"Um…"
His beautiful secretary, her face covered in feathers, waited for Morgans to calm down slightly before speaking.
"President, it was an event of that level. We couldn't get close at all. Most of the news birds we sent… disappeared in the aftermath of the battle."
Morgans' expression darkened even more.
As a bird whose dream was to publish world-shaking headlines, nothing infuriated him more than a lack of information.
But anger aside, as the owner of the World Economy News Paper, he wasn't ignorant.
He knew exactly what kind of terrifying scene a clash between combatants of that caliber would be.
"President… should we report it?"
Seeing Morgans silent, the secretary asked cautiously.
"Report! Of course we're reporting—"
He almost shouted on reflex, then suddenly froze, flapping his wings.
"…Wait. Why am I bothering? I can just ask him directly!"
Realizing this, Morgans grabbed a Den-Den Mushi and dialed.
On the other end, rhythmic breathing—heavy, forceful.
Morgans' secretary's face instantly turned red.
"What do you want? Didn't I tell you not to bother me unless it's important, Morgans? I'm in the middle of training!"
…A misunderstanding?
The secretary blinked.
And strangely… she looked slightly disappointed.
"The result! I want the result! Your battle with the Dark King Rayleigh—did you win?!"
Morgans didn't care what Don was doing; he demanded the answer.
"Huh? No, I didn't win."
"Then Rayleigh won?"
Morgans stiffened.
As expected of Roger's right hand—the man's power was truly terrifying.
"Nope, he didn't win either."
That answer left Morgans completely dumbfounded.
He stared at the Den-Den Mushi resting on his wing.
"The fight isn't over. We just came back to rest. We'll continue later. Want to send more news birds? I think you lost a lot today."
"Of course I'll send more!"
Morgans answered instantly—then frowned.
But if the battle isn't over… how do I report it?
Just release it step by step…?
Like a serialized report?
His eyes lit up.
This could work.
A clash of this level—dropping pieces of info little by little, then delivering the final outcome—would be just as impactful.
"Anything else?" Don asked.
"About the Hunter Guild… Crocodile doesn't plan on announcing it now. He wants to wait until everything is fully established."
Morgans sensed Don's mood wasn't great, so he rushed his reply.
"I see. Discuss it with him, then."
With that, Don hung up.
"Print everything we have—information, photos, all of it—and release it. Focus on Don's identity… and the identity of the Dark King Rayleigh."
"Yes, President!"
The secretary hurried off to carry out the order.
"Maybe this can pull attention away from the war between Red-Haired Shanks and Kaido…"
Morgans murmured, finally calm.
Sabaody Archipelago
"Continue."
Don tossed the Den-Den Mushi to Robin and spoke to Issho.
The moment he finished, crushing gravity fell upon him.
His feet sank into the ground; cracks spread across the floor.
Even under this pressure, Don's expression remained calm as he swung his blade.
"You really plan to keep fighting Rayleigh like this?"
Issho asked while maintaining his ability.
"Until I reach my goal."
Issho nodded.
"How long will that take?"
"Why? Something urgent?"
Don turned to him.
"I heard from Robin… about Dressrosa."
Issho's blind eyes shifted toward Don.
"Oh, that."
Don nodded. "It won't take too long. I've already grasped some of the principles."
Grasping was one thing—mastering was another.
Even Don didn't know how long it would take.
After all, advanced techniques of Conqueror's Haki could never be mastered simply by talking about them.
"Dressrosa is stable for now. Doflamingo took the country for his own benefit—not for massacres."
"Mm."
Issho nodded.
Robin listened quietly, glancing at Don.
"Your stamina is fine. But Rayleigh is older. Can he really endure this?"
She clearly understood Don's physical level—he was a monster.
Rayleigh, had he been younger, maybe.
But now… the man was visibly aging.
"That's fine. Back home, we call this kind of thing 'outlasting the old man.'"
Don chuckled.
Outlasting… the old man?
Robin froze.
Strangely… the description fit perfectly.
"Don't worry. He'll hold out until I master Conqueror's Haki Infusion."
On the other side…
"I don't think I'll last that long!"
Rayleigh set down his bottle and wiped the liquor from his mouth, speaking seriously.
"He's that strong?"
Shakky's eyes widened.
"Very strong. And that physique… he reminds me of that monster, Charlotte Linlin."
Rayleigh nodded grimly.
"So he intends to keep fighting you until he masters Conqueror's Haki Infusion?"
Shakky felt numb just hearing it.
"That should be the case."
"Should we leave for a while?"
Shakky asked, worried.
"I am the Dark—cough! cough! cough!"
Rayleigh straightened proudly, only to choke on his own saliva.
"Oh, come on. You're a retired pirate—don't play tough. If you can't hold on, don't force yourself."
"Relax. That kid seems aware of my limits. Like today—when I was close to exhaustion, he was the one who ended the match."
Rayleigh stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"That's for the best."
Shakky stared hard at Rayleigh's face, making sure he wasn't just trying to sound impressive.
Of course she couldn't demand anything from Don.
She wasn't naïve.
And the next day, Morgans ordered a world-shaking headline to be released.
A name long silent reappeared:
The Dark King Rayleigh — the right hand of the Pirate King.
And the young Hunter from the East Blue, Don—had engaged him in a tremendous battle.
END OF CHAPTER
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