Sabaody Archipelago, inside Kael Grylls' office.
Kael was sprawled in a comfortable desk chair. With a shove of his feet, he sent himself and the chair into a high-speed spin.
"Boring. This is beyond boring…"
He stared up at the ceiling, letting himself blur into an afterimage, as if he could physically fling the sludge out of his brain and stir it smooth again.
Ever since the battle at Mary Geoise, the World Government had chosen to downplay everything. The sea had fallen into a strange, unnatural calm, and for someone like him who lived for entertainment, it was pure torture.
Creeak.
The office door opened gently.
Karon walked in, carrying a cup of black tea, and immediately saw Kael in full spinning-top mode.
He paused. His metal jaw shifted slightly. His eyes turned feverishly bright.
So that's how it is!
Lord Kael isn't spinning for no reason. He's simulating the movement of the stars. He's sensing the pulse of the cosmos!
Through this method, he's aligning his own "waves" with the world's veins, reaching the supreme state of unity between man and heaven!
We mortals only see the surface. Lord Kael has already grasped the essence of all things!
Sasuga, Lord Kael!
Kael caught the visitor in the corner of his eye. The spinning chair screeched as it abruptly stopped, and he nearly got flung out by inertia.
"Ahem…" Kael steadied himself on the desk, then calmly straightened his collar, not a shred of embarrassment on his face. "Karon. What is it?"
"Your black tea, my lord." Karon set the cup down respectfully, then held out a Den Den Mushi that was going blu blu blu.
The snail's face was mimicking a bird, complete with a top hat, its expression so fawning it was almost offensive.
Kael raised an eyebrow when he saw the caller.
Morgans.
He hadn't even gone looking for that mangy bird yet, and the bastard delivered himself right to the door.
Kael took the Den Den Mushi and answered.
"Lord Kael!" Morgans' voice exploded from the receiver, as exaggerated as ever. "Your loyal partner, President of the World Economy News Paper, Big News Morgans, sends you his most sincere greetings! Your radiance is a lighthouse in the dark, guiding we lost lambs toward the path of truth!"
Kael dug a finger into his ear and held the receiver farther away.
His bad mood lately was largely this bird's fault.
Not long ago, because the seas were calm and there was nothing big to write about, the World Economy News Paper's sales had plummeted.
So the crafty Morgans, desperate to pad his numbers, had decided to use Kael as content.
First, he'd written a long, flowery article comparing Kael to Whitebeard, Shiki the Golden Lion, and other great pirates. Between every line, he'd been aggressively implying that Aaron Kael was the undisputed "World's Strongest Man" since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era.
Up to that point, Kael had actually enjoyed it.
The problem was the ending.
Morgans suddenly swerved and brought up the "World's Strongest Woman," Charlotte Linlin.
When the strongest man meets the strongest woman, what earthshaking sparks will fly?
According to our exclusive sources, the Wave King Aaron Kael and BIG MOM Charlotte Linlin have long been kindred spirits. A hero cherishes a hero, a queen adores a champion.
A legendary love song that could reshape the world may already be quietly composing itself…
Compose your damn grandma's knees.
When Kael saw that newspaper, he almost pulled out Nidhogg and crawled down the phone line to crack Morgans' skull open.
What sparks could he possibly have with an old hag who'd popped out dozens of kids? Prometheus, maybe?
And besides, that tunnel was already a traffic jam.
Back at God Valley, Linlin could still be called a dazzling heroine among women.
Now? Her "bottomless stomach demon" form was a crime against eyesight.
The moment that article hit the streets, sales exploded. The whole world started arguing about the completely fabricated "strongest marriage alliance."
"Morgans," Kael said evenly, "you feathered animal. You've got guts."
On the other end, Morgans visibly shivered. Even the Den Den Mushi's face turned pale with terror.
"A misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding, Lord Kael!" he hurried to explain. "Everything I did was to make your glory echo louder! To make the entire world recognize you as the only true protagonist of this era! As for that old crone Charlotte Linlin, how could she ever be worthy of you? I only used her to highlight your greatness!"
"Oh?" Kael took a slow sip of tea. "So what you're saying is, I should thank you?"
"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!" Morgans' voice cracked like he was about to cry. "I know I was wrong! I deserve a thousand deaths! To show my apology, I'm willing to offer real, valuable intelligence, as long as you'll forgive me this once!"
"Intelligence?" Kael blew gently over the tea. "Let's hear it. If it doesn't satisfy me, I'll roast you and send you to Charlotte Linlin's tea party."
"It'll satisfy you! It will!" Morgans sounded like his neck had gone cold. His words came out so fast it was practically rapping.
"Lord Kael, you know my news birds are everywhere. I hear things others can't. I've got a few pieces you might be interested in."
Morgans cleared his throat. The Den Den Mushi straightened up like it was about to deliver a keynote speech.
"First. The Seven Warlords of the Sea. The World Government took a huge hit at Mary Geoise and lost face. They urgently need to rebuild authority. According to my informant planted in Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku is pushing hard to establish the Seven Warlords system to balance the growing number of pirates. Several candidates are already on their list."
"Among them is Boa Hancock, who recently became Empress of Amazon Lily. Also the Donquixote Family's boss, the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo. And there's another one, a man who's made a name for himself in the Kingdom of Alabasta, the 'Desert Crocodile,' Crocodile."
Kael sipped his tea again.
No kidding. They're all his people. Like he wouldn't know.
Crocodile, though. Now that was interesting.
"Second. The Revolutionary Army." Morgans lowered his voice. "Ever since Mary Geoise, the Revolutionaries' momentum has surged. Countless oppressed kingdoms have risen up. Monkey D. Dragon's prestige is catching up to the late Pirate King Gol D. Roger. But recently, they seem to have run into a troublesome enemy."
"The World Government has created a new intelligence agency, codename CP0, specialized for tasks that can't be brought into the light. One young genius stands out, Rob Lucci. Cold-blooded, ruthless, and frighteningly strong. He's already caused the Revolutionaries plenty of headaches."
"Lucci…" Kael remembered the man who would pressure the Straw Hat crew hard in the future. He hadn't expected the "Most Fun Guy" to show up this early. Too bad he'd eventually turn into high-grade cannon fodder with a mouth harder than Tekkai.
"Third, and the one I believe matters most!" Morgans' voice grew excited. "It's about a Devil Fruit!"
"Oh?" Kael finally looked interested.
"A Devil Fruit capable of overturning the world's balance. The Goro Goro no Mi, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!" Morgans' voice dripped with temptation. "This legendary fruit has appeared on Skypiea! They say whoever gets it will possess the power of a god!"
Kael set his tea down and tapped the desk lightly with his fingers.
Rumble-Rumble.
Enel.
"Last one. A little bonus rumor I'm throwing in for free." Morgans chuckled. "Over in the East Blue, there's a new upstart you might find… amusing. A red-nosed clown who claims he once served on the Pirate King's ship. Through a series of absurd accidents, he's beaten a bunch of famous old pirates, and the nearby villages adore him. His bounty has already climbed to fifty-five million berries."
"His name is Buggy."
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