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In the entire Thunder God Pirates—a crew of several thousand—only those of captain-level had the privilege of speaking with Arthur directly. And unless something important happened, no one would casually disturb him.
"Hello?" Arthur drained the strong liquor in his glass and answered the constantly chattering Den Den Mushi.
"Captain, it's Shiryu." The Den Den Mushi instantly took on the appearance of a man wearing a pilot's cap.
"What is it? Has the territory expansion run into an obstacle?" Arthur asked calmly.
Fighting for territory would inevitably lead to intense resistance from other emperors or even the local islanders. Neither Big Mom nor Kaido would sit idly by; they would definitely send subordinates to interfere.
"No obstacles, Captain. As long as Big Mom and Kaido don't show up personally, taking the territory is a piece of cake. All resistance has been cleared out," Shiryu said, exhaling smoke on the other end of the line.
"The reason I'm calling is that just a moment ago, 'Big News' Morgans sent a message to our Thunder God Pirates. The three highest powers of Marine Headquarters—Kong, Sengoku, and Garp—have all been mobilized. Their target is the Sabaody Archipelago. You're on Sabaody right now, aren't you?"
"Oh??"
Arthur's eyes lit up, a look of interest on his face. "What are they after? Did Morgans say? Are they planning to arrest me again on this island?"
He would never forget the shame of being ambushed and disastrously defeated. The three of them together might be able to defeat him, but capturing him was a pipe dream.
"Their target is not you, Captain. A month ago, 'Red the Aloof' Patrick Redfield went on some kind of rampage. I heard it was because the Army got their hands on a Devil Fruit he was after. He started from the other end of the Red Line and single-handedly crushed the entire Army stationed there, from top to bottom, leaving a river of blood. The World Government has ordered the Navy to step in and resolve this matter, to wash away the shame."
"And the Red Count himself either doesn't know this news, or he doesn't care even if he does. He's heading for the Sabaody Archipelago, below the Red Line, and is expected to arrive in about a month."
The Red Count single-handedly crushed the Army?
A Devil Fruit?
Could it be that Mythical Zoan has appeared ahead of schedule?
An excited smile appeared on Arthur's face. He could already see the world's greatest war about to break out.
He can reach Sabaody in just over a month?
His second challenge to Whitebeard had been issued. Whitebeard was in the latter half of the New World. To reach Fish-Man Island, even with coating and traveling through the deep sea, would take about two months. After all, the sea was so vast, and no ship's speed could match the [Thor].
At that time, wouldn't that mean that several of the people standing at the absolute pinnacle of the sea would all be gathered in one place?
"Hahahaha... this is... just too perfect." The excitement in Arthur's eyes was undisguised. The purple lightning around his body was uncontrollably released.
"Shiryu, have Morgans contact me. Tell him I have something to discuss with him..."
He hung up the call with Shiryu and quietly waited for the Den Den Mushi to ring again.
"An era that's too mild needs to be a little more violent to have any passion," Arthur muttered to himself.
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Somewhere in the New World.
White sheets of paper were printed into newspapers. News Coos with small bags on their backs took off in all directions, carrying the freshly printed news to every corner of the world.
News Coo Island, the main base of "Big News" Morgans.
"WHAT?? Thunder Emperor Arthur wants me to contact him??" A tall, plump bird in a small suit was so startled that he shed a pile of feathers.
Communicating with someone like Arthur was a terrifying affair.
Because of their unequal status, the one in the lower position had to be extremely careful, watch their words and actions, and restrain their every move. Who knew if a single, sudden sentence would anger the other party?
As well-informed as he was, he naturally knew that the title of "World's Most Dangerous Man" was an exaggeration. However, if you angered him, it could easily become a reality.
The Thunder Emperor himself had issued the summons...
Morgans, who had always played all sides, had an incredibly high emotional intelligence. But after receiving this call, he felt more exhausted than if he had fought a major battle with an enemy.
Trembling with fear, he dialed the contact number the Thunder God Pirates had just sent over. Morgans adjusted his emotions and waited for Arthur to answer.
"Purupurupuru..."
"This is Arthur." A magnetic yet extremely indifferent voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"Thunder Emperor, this is Morgans. Shiryu just said you had something to discuss with me?" Morgans said, a fake smile on his bird-like face.
"I've seen Thunder Emperor many times, but this is the first time we've formally spoken. Please feel free to give any orders you may have."
"You didn't keep me waiting—"
Arthur said calmly. "—Morgans, you're a smart man. To be able to navigate between the pirates and the World Government shows you're very capable. But now, I'm asking you to choose a side. What will you choose?"
He had asked a question that was incredibly difficult for a fence-sitter. Arthur already stood at the pinnacle of the world. He didn't need to consider the feelings of anyone other than his own crew.
To be in the news business, and the worldwide news business at that—if you leaned too much to one side, you would inevitably be targeted by the opposing hostile force. Forcing Morgans to choose was to completely push him to one side.
"Thunder Emperor, this choice is very difficult for me. If you have something you need done, you can just give the order—"
"The task I'm about to give you will put you at odds with either me or the World Government," Arthur said ruthlessly, cutting off Morgans's attempt to dodge the issue.
"..."
A moment of silence. Morgans's heavy breathing came through the Den Den Mushi. He had fallen into a difficult deliberation.
Cross Arthur, and this man would fly straight from Sabaody Archipelago to the New World and obliterate him with a lightning strike. Instant death, with no escape. But crossing the World Government would also make his life a living hell.
"Thunder Emperor, may I first ask what you are planning to have me do?"
"The Great Age of Pirates that Roger single-handedly pushed forward is still a bit too mild. It lacks excitement. I want to make the era more violent," Arthur said with a cold smile.
"The Army was crushed by the Red Count alone, a great loss of face for the World Government. If, at this time, the Navy's three highest powers are defeated again, what do you think the consequences would be? I'd very much like to know what would happen if this event were spread throughout the world."
"This... you're insane!" Morgans trembled with fear upon hearing this proposal.
"Choose. In two months, will you broadcast it to the world from the Sabaody Archipelago, or will you refuse my proposal, and then... die?"
The other end of the Den Den Mushi fell silent again. After a long while...
"I need to know—if I choose to anger the World Government, will the Thunder Emperor protect me?" Morgans weighed his options, wanting to understand the full consequences.
"At that point, you will be a member of my Thunder God Pirates."
"...It seems it's time for me, the man who plays all sides, to go a little crazy too, Captain Arthur," Morgans said with a smile that was uglier than a crying face.
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