After the meeting ended, Rowan returned to the G5 Branch.
The instructors arranged by Olvia would gradually begin joining the Marines, and he would still need to coordinate with Borsalino and Kuzan regarding the subsequent arrangements.
As for Tesoro's entertainment city, after adding numerous restrictions, it would need support from various sides while simultaneously accumulating wealth.
The Marines, CP, and Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.
Only with protection from all three sides could its safety be guaranteed. Another reason Rowan had allowed Tesoro to give it a try was that he had plans to use it as bait.
Using entertainment cities established throughout various parts of the sea as bargaining chips, he intended to conduct a major harvest from the Celestial Dragons.
From the very beginning, Rowan had never intended to let Tesoro continue operating something that could potentially cross their bottom line forever.
Yawning, Rowan continued working late into the night in the base commander's office writing.
He still needed to come up with the content for the next issue of New Era News.
The first issue had been rushed out in order to keep up with the Four Emperors incident, but now the intelligence and real-life cases from the various regions had yet to be compiled. For the time being, he could only provide the outlines himself.
Five days later, the second issue of New Era News was delivered by owls to every corner of the world.
Compared to the rushed first issue, the Sky Island headquarters' research institute had produced more than twice as many owls this time, so their coverage was naturally much more comprehensive.
Marineford, Residential District
Early in the morning, Sengoku had only just stepped out of his house after working until late into the night when he was startled by an owl waiting directly outside his door.
It wasn't because the crooked, head-tilting bird was particularly intimidating. Rather, whenever this idiotic-looking bird appeared, it meant that the newspaper Tsuru suspected was published by the Revolutionary Army had a new issue.
Although the previous issue of New Era News had essentially helped the Marines refine the subsequent plans for dealing with the Four Emperors, it wasn't difficult to see from the newspaper's overall content that its publishers had the potential to cause trouble at any moment.
"Ho?"
The white owl tilted its head toward Sengoku before pulling out a newspaper with its beak.
Sengoku reached out to take it, but the stupid bird took a step back and lowered its head toward the pouch hanging from its body.
Large characters were written on the pouch:
One hundred Berries per copy.
Clearly, it wanted the money before handing over the newspaper.
Sengoku reached into his pocket, only to find himself in an awkward situation.
This was Marineford. As the Fleet Admiral, he basically had no need for money here, so he naturally didn't have the habit of carrying coins around.
"Give me one, and come with me to the office to get your money?"
Sengoku tentatively tried to negotiate.
The owl glanced at him, blinking its eyes repeatedly. Somehow, there was an unmistakably contemptuous look in them.
"You bastard. Do you believe I'll catch you and stew you into soup? I'm the biggest authority around here! Understand, you stupid bird?!"
The owl shook its head, still wearing that same disdainful expression.
Sengoku became rather annoyed. He looked around. There weren't many people in the residential district this early in the morning.
Just as he was preparing to make a move against the bird, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Sengoku."
"Tsuru? When did you get back?"
Sengoku immediately reined in his occasional idiot act and looked toward Tsuru as she approached.
"Did something happen? Why are you looking for me this early?"
Tsuru handed him the newspaper in her hand. "The issue of the Seven Warlords has been brought up again, and they've analyzed it thoroughly from every angle."
"Ho-ho... ho!"
"Poof!"
Seeing that the customer who had kept it waiting all morning finally had a newspaper, the owl cursed angrily before taking flight. It decided to find another place to wait.
Before leaving, it disdainfully dropped a little "present" from above.
It landed squarely between the two of them.
This infuriated Sengoku. He pointed at the departing owl and shouted, "Defecating wherever you please! Get back here!"
Tsuru, who was holding her forehead, sighed.
"Birds don't have sphincter muscles, so they can't hold it in. Also, that bird's eyes seem to have some kind of problem, which is probably why it gives people the impression that it's looking down on them. It wasn't targeting you."
"Hm? Is that so? Hahaha!"
Sengoku laughed awkwardly. He then unfolded the newspaper and began reading as he and Tsuru walked toward Marineford's central district.
Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office
[On the Drawbacks of the Seven Warlords of the Sea System]
That was the headline on the front page of the newspaper on the desk.
It provided a detailed overview of what the Seven Warlords of the Sea system meant, as well as the World Government's plan behind it to maintain a balance between the pirates and the Marines.
A license to plunder meant that pirates who became Seven Warlords could plunder towns and merchant ships without restraint, and even the Marines would be unable to act against them.
Under these circumstances, after the newspaper's detailed explanation, it was ordinary people who reacted the most strongly.
Under a legalized right to plunder, their property and lives would be threatened. Even if they called for Marine assistance, the Marines could only stand by and watch once they arrived.
Next were the kings of countries like Alabasta and Punk Hazard, who were naturally resistant to the system as well.
They paid so much Heavenly Tribute every year, only for the World Government to create a system granting pirates the legal right to plunder. Then what exactly were they paying all that money for?
However, these kings understood just how powerful the World Government was. They couldn't resist it, so all they could do was plan to raise the issue at the next Reverie.
As for the ordinary people at the bottom, they had no way to protest at all.
But the seed of dissatisfaction had already taken deeper root.
After the analysis of the Four Emperors incident, those who had been plundered now understood that they were among the people who had been sacrificed.
It wasn't until New Era News appeared that they finally had a chance to breathe.
The seed had already been planted back then.
And today, it had grown even further.
The second page covered the aftermath of the Four Emperors incident.
It explained which pirates were currently the most likely candidates to become Emperors amid the ongoing chaos in the New World. Among them was the newcomer, Red-Haired Shanks.
The third page contained a particularly bold report.
[Grand Line: The Disappearance of Baltigo]
Several days ago, a terrifying battle had taken place on Baltigo in the Grand Line. Not long afterward, the entire island had sunk beneath the sea, and the White Soil Island had disappeared.
The article explained the mystery surrounding Baltigo.
Although few people had ever visited the barren island, even those who had occasionally passed by over the past few years had been unable to set foot on it, being driven back by the waves.
That mystery naturally attracted attention.
And then the article directly revealed the answer:
The Revolutionary Army.
After a brief introduction to the Revolutionary Army, the newspaper began detailing the number of Marines deployed that day, as well as the five figures that had descended upon the island like beings from hell.
It also reported the liberation of the slaves in Mary Geoise and the attack on the Celestial Dragons.
By this point, Sengoku no longer cared about the story of the Black Arm General on the following pages.
This newspaper had actually written about the Celestial Dragon being killed in clear and unmistakable terms.
There was even a photograph of the Celestial Dragon's gruesome death.
It was a photograph transmitted back by a shadow clone. It wasn't very large, but it had taken a considerable amount of time to produce.
"This... I'm afraid things have gotten rather serious."
Sengoku let out a long breath.
Before this, the Celestial Dragons being high above everyone else had seemed perfectly natural to ordinary people.
Wherever they went, everyone who encountered them was required to kneel on the ground.
That was their privilege, and one of the reasons they had become untouchable gods in the eyes of the world.
But now, this newspaper was clearly telling everyone.
Celestial Dragons could be killed.
The newspaper's speculation regarding the Celestial Dragon killings pointed directly toward the Revolutionary Army because.
Six Celestial Dragons had already died at the hands of the cloaked man on the wanted posters.
That, too, was written plainly in the newspaper.
Tsuru nodded.
"Once this newspaper is seen by everyone, the authority of Mary Geoise will be seriously challenged. It will weaken the protective shield surrounding the descendants of the gods the World Nobles."
Sengoku nodded slightly.
"They really are audacious. It's only the second issue of the newspaper, yet their target is already pointed directly at the Celestial Dragons. What exactly are they trying to accomplish? At this rate, those five in Mary Geoise will probably go insane trying to find them."
"Not necessarily."
Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke up.
"Even without this incident, that cloaked man has already killed six Celestial Dragons. Add the one mentioned in the newspaper, and the World Government was never going to let them off the hook in the first place."
"But the appearance of this newspaper has indeed dealt a genuine blow to the Celestial Dragons' protective shield. They've always been far too safe."
Sengoku frowned, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
Stability?
The Five Elders wanted to stabilize the sea, while the Revolutionary Army was using this opportunity to take things a step further.
It seemed they wanted to tear away the notion that Celestial Dragons were untouchable.
They had already begun taking further action. The Revolutionary Army's movements seemed a little too fast.
Still, it was easy to imagine that after this, aside from the newspaper, they would become even more covert.
"What extraordinary nerve."
Sengoku sighed before looking toward Tsuru.
"In that case, I'm afraid we'll have to choose the Marines' Admiral candidates as soon as possible."
Tsuru replied, "Not only that. The Admiral candidates must also possess enough intimidating presence against both pirates and ordinary people. We need to use fear to reduce the probability of Celestial Dragons being attacked."
"At present... the person with the greatest reputation in the Marines is Rowan. Among the pirates, Sakazuki has always been on the front lines, while the G5 Branch has likewise been dubbed a land of death by the pirates."
"What an audacious man!"
New World, Moby Dick
Whitebeard looked at the newspaper Marco had just bought.
The moment he saw the headline, Newgate snatched the newspaper away, which also meant that the owl that had landed on the Moby Dick was having an exceptionally profitable day.
Seeing how interested their old man was, and remembering that this group of them had previously been lectured by Rowan, everyone immediately took out their money and bought new copies of the newspaper.
"Heh heh, Crocodile actually became a lackey of the World Government? The Seven Warlords of the Sea? That title is practically a disgrace to pirates."
"Didn't you read the analysis in the newspaper? What the World Government cares about is that these seven people can intimidate the sea. And considering his record of having lost to Pops, he can indeed accomplish that."
"Look further! Keep reading!"
"Hm? Hm?!"
Diamond Jozu's beady eyes widened as he looked at Marco. "Are you sure this isn't just boasting? Those fat-pig Celestial Dragons are no different from trash, but..."
Marco finished Jozu's sentence for him.
"Just attacking a Celestial Dragon is enough to bring out a Marine Admiral. An Admiral is just an Admiral to us, sure, but the power of the Marines and the World Government isn't limited to the Admirals..."
"Besides, Mr. Spark didn't merely attack Celestial Dragons. He killed six of them. With an act like that, you could practically say he took a dump right on top of the World Government."
Vista frowned.
"Marco, perhaps we could put that a little more elegantly."
Marco refused to back down.
"We're pirates. There's no difference between being elegant and being crude."
Vista sighed and pointed toward Sachi, who was recording everything beside them.
"Next time we run into Mr. Spark, do you think he'll tell him what you just said? If that happens, I reckon while we're having a drinking party, you'll be the one hanging up there getting lectured."
Marco: (◣д◢) "Sachi, hand over your notebook, you bastard!"
For a moment, the deck descended into complete chaos.
Newgate, meanwhile, gazed out across the sea, memories of the past resurfacing in his mind.
Back then, the baby who had survived God Valley had now grown into someone with the power to take revenge on those people.
But the significance of this news was absolutely not limited to announcing his revenge.
For eight hundred years, the Celestial Dragons living in Mary Geoise had always stood high above everyone else. No one could resist them, and even pirates would keep their distance.
Descendants of the Gods, World Nobles... These titles had been like a protective shield before this. They ensured that no one on the seas would dare lay a hand on them.
And those so-called great pirates, whether it was himself, BIG MOM, Shiki the Golden Lion, or even Kaido, who had still been a little brat back then.
After experiencing the God Valley Incident, they likewise had no intention of getting on the wrong side of those trash.
But that revolutionary army's Mr. Spark had just ripped away the Celestial Dragons' protective shield.
"Dad!"
"Hm?"
Jozu waved the newspaper in his hand.
"Let's go find a Celestial Dragon and kill him too! Mr. Spark has already killed six. Our Whitebeard Pirates should at least kill seven!"
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate: →_→
Kill a Celestial Dragon? Seven of them?
Did they really think those snot-nosed Celestial Dragons could just be killed whenever they wanted?
Did they really think the World Government was made of mud?
Did they really think the members of the Holy Knights were also a bunch of useless snot-noses?
"Ahem."
Newgate coughed and patted Jozu on the shoulder.
"Where do you think the difference lies between us and the Revolutionary Army? No, between us and that cloaked man?"
His words immediately drew the attention of Marco, Thatch, and the others.
Even Blackbeard, Teach, who was sitting in the corner, smiled. He understood the difference between the two sides very well. He even understood the difference between pirates and the Revolutionary Army.
"Dad."
Thatch raised his hand.
"Mr. Spark can hide himself in the shadows, and the Revolutionary Army does the same. That's why the World Government can't do anything to them, right?"
Jozu frowned, while Marco sighed and began explaining it to him.
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard Newgate burst into laughter.
"Stupid son, your reaction is perfectly normal. With the struggle for the Four Emperors happening at just the right time, this is probably part of that brat's plan as well."
"What truly incredible courage..."
In Mary Geoise, merely five days later, the atmosphere in the Room of Authority had once again become heavy.
The table in the center of the sofa had already been smashed to pieces. Clearly, the five men who held the highest authority in the world were genuinely furious this time.
"Meaningless!"
The hot-tempered Nasjuro Saint slammed his sword sheath onto the newspaper.
"This thing obviously came from those rats crawling in the gutters. That bastard actually dared to make his crimes public? Does he even know what that means?"
Mars Saint slowly spoke from the side.
"To completely oppose the World Government? Isn't that what they've been doing all along?"
Warcury Saint said, "A will that fears no death. These people have long since abandoned all concern for their own lives. We already knew that. Right now, what we need to discuss is how to respond, not throw an impotent tantrum."
An impotent tantrum?
Nasjuro Saint glanced over, but ultimately withdrew his sword sheath and sat back down on the sofa.
Ever since this newspaper had been brought in, the Room of Authority had been in an uproar for half a day.
The deaths of Celestial Dragons had always been kept secret. Even if some of the Navy's mid- and high-ranking officers knew something, they likewise understood what could be said and what could not.
But now, that secret was known to the entire world, especially to those pirates who understood nothing yet dared to act recklessly and without restraint.
Saint Saturn closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"We need to select the Navy's Admirals as soon as possible."
Saint Peter nodded slightly.
"Whenever a Celestial Dragon is in danger, the Navy must immediately dispatch an Admiral. But the three positions of the Navy's highest combat power have been vacant for far too long."
Saturn opened his eyes.
"Of the Navy's three strongest combatants in the past, Zephyr lost his will after his family was killed. Garp is not worth mentioning, while Sengoku has already been promoted to Fleet Admiral."
"With the Navy's highest combat positions vacant, Kizaru had previously been responsible for the Celestial Dragons' safety for a period of time in his capacity as a Vice Admiral, specifically because of the threat posed by the cloaked man."
"With the speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit, he remains the first candidate. Besides him, we also need someone who can truly intimidate the pirates. Otherwise, these increasingly unrestrained pirates may descend into a madness that no one can stop."
The Room of Authority fell silent for a while.
The other four Five Elders understood exactly what Saint Saturn meant.
The timing of the second issue of the New Era Newspaper had been far too perfect. Perfect enough that its appearance could give the pirates an entirely new choice.
It seemed that the entire Four Emperors incident had merely been started by them.
After that, everything had completely spiraled out of control, racing toward an unpredictable direction.
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