World Economic News Agency.
The headquarters of this world's number one news agency was not built in any bustling kingdom.
In fact, because it reported all kinds of news—some true, some false—the agency had made many enemies.
Sometimes, even the World Government considered wiping them out.
Therefore, the headquarters was mobile.
It was a wooden multi-story building that could be lifted away by a hot air balloon.
One day, Morgans received an unexpected phone call.
"Guhahaha, Morgans, the news from a few days ago must have made you a nice profit, you bastard."
The cold laughter on the other end made Morgans pause slightly.
The voice sounded somewhat familiar.
But he couldn't remember where he had heard it before.
While pondering where he had heard the voice, Morgans casually replied, "Hahaha, just a little. Just making some hard-earned money."
"If that's the case, you can make some more hard-earned money now."
The man on the phone still sounded amused.
"Oh?"
Morgans' eyes brightened. "Could it be you have some big news for me?"
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Morgans remembered something. "You purposely advanced the news from a few days ago. Could you be from the Cross Guild?"
"You're Crocodile!"
He finally recalled where he had heard the voice.
"Guhahaha, you finally remembered. Should I feel excited?"
"I'm the one who should be excited!"
Morgans chuckled and instantly became more friendly. "The new emperor, the second-in-command of the Cross Guild, suddenly calls me. I wonder what news you have?"
In fact, what Morgans didn't know was that the strongest fighter in the Cross Guild was indeed Redfield, but this man didn't care about managing anything.
Usually, no one paid attention to him. Although he belonged to the Cross Guild, he was actually a lone wolf.
The true top leader of the organization was still Crocodile; he was the genuine number one.
"Don't you think it's a bit unfair that only the World Government and the Navy put bounties on pirates?"
"Oh??"
Crocodile's first sentence made Morgans' eyes light up.
He felt like he was about to hear something very interesting.
About twenty minutes later, on Hive Island, Ian was woken from his afternoon nap by Morgans' call.
"Lord Ian! Hahahahaha!"
As usual, his sharp voice sounded like nails scratching glass, and his laughter resembled that of a witch from a fairy tale.
"That Crocodile guy just contacted me! You won't believe what he wants to do!"
Ian rubbed his eyes, sat up from his deck chair, found a quiet spot, yawned, and asked, "So, what big news is that guy planning this time?"
"He said the Cross Guild is going to put bounties on the Navy next, Lord Ian!!"
Morgans was overexcited, "Hahaha! Has anything like this happened in the past eight hundred years? Pirates putting bounties on the Navy! This is completely turning the world upside down! I can already imagine how explosive this world will become!"
"Oh?"
Ian showed some interest. "That's actually quite interesting."
So, was it Crocodile's idea in the original story to have the Cross Guild bounty the Navy as well?
Makes sense. Even the brilliant yet weird-minded Buggy couldn't have come up with such a plan.
At that time, Mihawk had already become a man without desires, just waiting for Zoro to come chop him down like an old farmer. He probably wasn't interested in these kinds of things.
So it could only be Crocodile.
"Just interesting?"
Morgans was puzzled. "Lord Ian, is it really just interesting?"
"I'm just curious," Ian said with a smile, "Where do they get the money?"
Not counting the prisoners who just escaped from Impel Down, they're all a bunch of broke losers.
Moriah had been a recluse for years. Even if he made some money hunting pirates and capturing merchant ships, it definitely wasn't a fortune.
The only one who might have money is Crocodile, right?
I heard that after leaving Alabasta, he returned to the New World and started a hitman company. Maybe he's got some savings?
"Even if they don't have money now, with their current strength, making money would be too easy."
Morgans said.
True.
Just rob a few allied countries casually, and the money will come rolling in.
After all, in this world, strength is what counts.
"If that's the case," Ian smiled, "After you publish the news about the Cross Guild, pick a good time and send me a statement too."
"Oh??"
Morgans' voice suddenly trembled. "Lord Ian, do you mean...?"
"This is pretty interesting," Ian laughed, "I'll help shake things up. Tell them to add me as a bounty target too."
"Yes!!!"
Morgan's excited high-pitched shout made Ian's ears ache.
When it came to high-pitched voices, Ian would readily call him the strongest—on par with Uta.
So, they didn't even wait until the next day.
The latest issue of the World Economic News was published.
The pure white newsbird spread its wings, delivering this issue of the paper across the world.
The moment people on the seas picked up the newspaper, they were instantly shocked, sweating from the shocking news printed on it.
"No way!! How could this be possible!!"
"They're crazy!! They must be insane!"
"Pirates putting bounties on the Navy! This has never happened before!"
It was like turning the world upside down.
Since ancient times, no matter how powerful a pirate was, they had never defeated the Navy. The final outcome was always their disappearance without a trace.
But now it was different—a group of pirates actually declared bounties on the Navy.
Fleet Admiral Kong had a bounty of 2.5 billion Beli.
Admiral Sengoku and Hero Garp each had bounties of 2 billion Beli.
Three Admiral candidates carried bounties of 1.8 billion Beli.
Vice Admiral Tsuru had bounties of 1 billion Beli.
Other ordinary Vice Admirals all had bounties of 400 million Beli.
Rear Admirals at headquarters had 200 million Beli, Commodore 100 million Beli.
The newspaper said anyone could take the heads of these people to the Cross Guild to claim the bounties.
The Navy's reaction was naturally the most intense.
At Navy Headquarters, Fleet Admiral Kong slammed his palm on the desk, shattering it.
"Find them! Find them immediately!"
"We absolutely cannot allow these bastards to continue existing in this world! How far do they want to trample on justice?!"
Not just him, but all the Marines were holding their breath.
Neither the Rocks Pirates of the past nor the current Beasts Pirates were this arrogant!
They must take down the Cross Guild!
Among all the pirates in the sea, they were the most deserving of death!
However, while the ordinary people on the sea were fearful because of this news, and the Marines were angry, naturally, many ambitious pirates were cheering.
"Hahaha! Awesome! I've long disliked the Marines!"
"That's right! It's time to show the Marines the power of us pirates!"
"Anyway, even if we kill Marines, we can get protection from the Cross Guild. So what's there to fear!!"
Soon, some people began to stir restlessly.
But just when everyone thought the Cross Guild's announcement was earth-shattering,
The next day,
Another announcement from the newspaper pushed another name into the spotlight.
**********
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