At that moment, Ashveil lay lazily on his small boat, channeling his Conqueror's Haki outward with full force. Though the vessel was tiny, the overwhelming energy propelled it forward with incredible speed, splitting the sea behind him into towering waves.
Unbeknownst to him, while he was chasing after a nearby Marine warship, the events on Robinna Island had already spread beyond imagination.
Not long after Ashveil's departure, a news reporter with large wings stood amidst the ruins of the battlefield. With a transponder snail in hand, he dialed the number of the World Economic Journal.
"President Morgans, I've discovered a monumental story here on Robinna Island!" the winged reporter, Bichi, declared, unable to contain his excitement.
In his office, President Morgans, the towering albatross who ran the world's largest news agency, sipped at a cup of coffee. At first, his tone remained calm and unimpressed.
"How many times have I told you, Bichi? A journalist must stay calm in the face of news. Just spit it out. No theatrics, no suspense."
"Very well then," Bichi said, practically shouting into the receiver. "The Blackbeard Pirates… have been completely annihilated on Robinna Island by a youth!"
"Pfft!" Morgans choked, spitting coffee all over his desk. His sharp eyes widened in disbelief.
The entire office fell silent. Everyone nearby froze, staring at him. The fact that Morgans himself had lost composure meant one thing—another world-shaking headline.
"What did you just say? Blackbeard Teach? The same man who defeated Fire Fist Ace, Whitebeard's second division commander?" Morgans demanded, his voice sharper than steel.
Bichi grinned smugly on the other end. "Hahaha! Just a moment ago you told me to stay calm, President. But you sound even less calm than me right now!"
Morgans ignored the jab, leaning forward with intensity. "Confirm this immediately. Are you certain it was Blackbeard? The one who captured Ace?"
Bichi's tone grew serious. "Yes, sir. It was indeed Marshall D. Teach."
A dangerous glint flashed in Morgans' eyes. "Stay on the scene. Gather more information. I'll dispatch additional reporters at once. This is the scoop of the decade!"
That night, after hours of interviews with terrified locals, a report was drafted. Morgans himself personally finalized the article and set the headline in bold letters across the front page:
Mysterious Youth Annihilates Blackbeard Pirates – Suspected Zero Division Captain of Whitebeard's Crew!
The newspaper was printed and distributed across the world by dawn.
"Ten years ago, I received whispers of this boy," Morgans murmured to his staff. His massive wings twitched with excitement as he held the first printed copy in his talons. "A report claimed that a child, no older than ten, displayed Conqueror's Haki rivaling Whitebeard himself. I dismissed it then… but now, it seems I was wrong."
The room filled with gasps. Ten years old? Comparable to Whitebeard, the strongest man alive? The revelation shook even veteran reporters to their core.
…
Across the seas of the New World, news gulls scattered the papers to their subscribers. In less than a day, the world was buzzing.
At Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat in his office, brow furrowed as he read the latest edition. His expression grew darker with every line.
Vice Admiral Garp walked in, catching sight of his old friend's unusual look. Curious, he leaned over and snatched the newspaper from Sengoku's desk.
The image on the page showed a distant photograph: a young figure standing tall while Blackbeard Teach's bloodied body lay in ruins beside him.
"Hahaha!" Garp's booming laughter filled the room. "That scoundrel Blackbeard finally got what he deserved! A man like him should've been crushed long ago!"
The thought of Blackbeard capturing Ace still burned in Garp's chest. If not for his duty as a Marine, he would have torn Teach apart with his own fists.
Sengoku glared at him. "Enough, Garp. Don't act like a fool. This isn't just some random pirate. The one who annihilated Blackbeard might be the legendary Zero Division Captain of Whitebeard's crew."
Garp's laughter faded. He raised an eyebrow. "That shadow we kept hearing about? I thought he was just a myth."
Sengoku shook his head. "I've heard Whitebeard mention him personally. And now, at such a critical time, this figure emerges… and wipes out Blackbeard and his crew in one night. The report seems too credible to dismiss."
He pressed his palms together on the desk, his tone heavy. "If this youth truly possesses such power, then he might already be at Admiral level."
The words hung in the air. Sengoku's anxiety deepened. They were already preparing for the inevitable clash with Whitebeard. Now, with this mysterious captain appearing, their odds of victory dropped further.
Sengoku rubbed his temples. "Why do the strong always choose piracy? With that kind of potential, he could've risen to the top as a Marine."
Garp's eyes dimmed at those words. He thought of his grandsons—Luffy, chasing his dream of becoming Pirate King, and Ace, captured and awaiting execution. His chest tightened, sorrow weighing on him. Without a word, he turned and walked out of the office.
"Garp!" Sengoku barked. "Remember your position! You are a Marine! The last thing we need now is more recklessness!"
Garp stopped at the door, his fists trembling. His voice was low but filled with restrained fury. "If not for this uniform, Sengoku… I would've torn Impel Down apart with my own hands."
Sengoku's shout echoed down the hall, but Garp didn't look back.
Alone in the office once more, Sengoku exhaled deeply, staring down at the photo of Thorne Ashveil. His brows knitted tighter than ever.
"The Zero Division Captain… if he truly exists, then Whitebeard's forces are even more dangerous than we imagined."