Chapter 37: Morgans: I Want All His Intel Within Two Days!
Grand Line, an unnamed island.
Flocks of News Coos swarmed above, coming and going in a constant stream.
In the center of the island stood a massive structure shaped like a giant birdcage, topped with a globe-like device.
On the main gate, the sign read:
[World Economic Journal]
This was 'News Coo Island,' the headquarters of the World Economic News Paper (WEP).
In the Editor-in-Chief's office on the top floor...
"Not enough! Not explosive enough!"
A giant albatross wearing a top hat and holding a cane slammed a draft newspaper onto the floor.
This was the President of the WEP, the Emperor of the Underworld who monopolized information and public opinion across the seas—'Big News' Morgans.
"Look at this garbage! The Princess of the Goa Kingdom gets engaged... Who cares!? Readers don't subscribe to us for this trash!"
Spittle flew from his beak. "Warlords! Emperors! Powerhouses who can ignite the world—that's what people want to see!"
"B-But, President..."
The bald reporter standing before him, face covered in spittle, looked miserable. "I submitted a report about a Warlord before, and you rejected it too..."
"Hah?"
Morgans raised an eyebrow and rapped his cane on the reporter's bald head.
"Are you joking!?"
"'Lizard King' Hanafuda's fleet was defeated by a Supernova—sure, that's news. But you wanted it on the front page! Front page!"
He continued to rant, spittle flying. "What was the recent front page? Reread it!"
"It was the 'Celestial Tribute Heist'! It was the 'Tri-Force Demonstration'! That is front-page material!"
He clenched his wings in excitement, recalling the shockwaves that had shaken the sea two months ago.
And the man who caused them.
"Any news on 'Yuji'?"
"The Editorial Department hasn't found anything, President... Yuji seems to have gone into hiding after that incident."
"Useless!"
Morgans rapped the reporter's already bumpy head again, then sighed.
As a true newsman, he craved the Big News.
But even in this Great Pirate Era, truly explosive news was rare.
"'The Zodiac'... Pity the Government won't release any intel on the organization itself. All I have is the name..."
He muttered, his voice full of regret.
As an Underworld Emperor with a tacit understanding with the World Government, Morgans could get intel even on classified subjects.
But clearly, just a name wasn't enough for a report.
"When will that 'Yuji' show up again?"
Mumbling to himself, Morgans returned to his desk and poured a cup of hot coffee—a premium blend from the West Blue he'd been enjoying lately.
Just then...
BANG!
The office door was thrown open, and a young reporter burst in.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
He was clutching a telegram, his voice cracking with excitement. "President! Big News... BIG NEWS!"
Morgans frowned. Young people these days, no composure.
"Calm down. I remember telling you in training—a journalist must always be calm and composed."
He elegantly lifted his coffee cup and took a sip. "Speak. What news?"
"It's a Warlord! 'Desert King' Sir Crocodile... has been killed!"
PFFT!
The 'elegant' Big News sprayed a mouthful of hot coffee directly onto the bald reporter's head.
"P-President!?"
The bald reporter, now bumpy and coffee-stained, looked at Morgans with a mixture of pain and betrayal. What happened to calm and composed?
Morgans ignored him, leaning his massive body forward. "Killed? By who? Give it here... Cough, cough... Let me see!"
Remembering his 'composure' halfway through, he tried to lower his voice, but failed miserably.
"Yes, sir!"
The young reporter handed over the telegram.
Morgans snatched it and scanned it rapidly.
But after just one glance...
"Th... This is..."
His gaze sharpened like a hawk's. The coffee cup in his hand shattered under his grip.
"Ow!"
Shards of ceramic rained down on the bald reporter's head again, eliciting another yelp.
But Morgans didn't hear him.
The albatross was breathing heavily, staring at the photo attached to the top of the telegram. It seemed to have been taken from a great distance.
It was in the desert.
The scars left by the massive wave were clearly visible—the deep crater, the lingering water, the torrential rain falling from the sky. Even in the blurry photo, the devastation was terrifying.
The landscape had been completely altered. It spoke volumes of the battle that had taken place.
But that wasn't the key point. The key point was...
In the center of the photo, Morgans could see two figures.
One had fallen.
Morgans recognized him—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the famous 'Desert King' Crocodile.
But now, the great pirate's body was ravaged. Covered in frostbite and burns, his left hand missing.
It silently screamed a fact: Crocodile was dead.
That alone was earth-shattering news.
But for Morgans, the focus was on the victor.
Because he instantly recognized the majestic Dragon Head Mask.
"A Sea Beast Head Mask..."
Every feather on Morgans' wings stood on end. As one of the smartest men on the sea, he immediately realized the possibility.
"Is it... the second member of 'The Zodiac'!?"
His heart began to race uncontrollably.
"Who is he?"
He looked at the young reporter, his voice almost a roar.
"N-not sure yet. We only know he defeated Crocodile. We're waiting for more details..."
"Then investigate! Now!"
Morgans spun around, his wings flapping wildly, sending piles of documents flying across the office like a hurricane.
"A Warlord has been defeated and killed! The World Government will definitely send people to Alabasta. Before they lock down the information, get everything you can! True or false, get it all!"
"Editorial, Analysis, Independent Investigation... send everyone who's free to Alabasta!"
"Three days... No! Two days! I want all his intel within two days!"
"This headline... it's him. It has to be him!"
A moment later, the entire WEP headquarters was in a frenzy.
Reporters rushed out of the office. Transponder Snails rang incessantly.
Alone in his office, Morgans listened to the chaos below with pure enjoyment.
He waved his wings like a conductor.
"Yes, yes! That's it!"
He laughed loudly. "A peaceful sea is boring! Too boring!"
"'The Zodiac'..."
He whispered the name of the organization that was still largely a mystery to him.
But his instincts told him...
In the chaotic era about to unfold, this organization might be the center of everything.
It would bring...
"Countless... Big News!"
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you