"Disco, how dare you lay hands on me! Tomorrow, I'll expose you and have the Marine Hunters and the Marines pursue you!"
Morgans, a Zoan-type user, is the president of the World Economic Journal, one of the world's three major news agencies. He is currently based in the Sabaody Archipelago and raises a large number of seagulls as news birds.
"Morgans, your recent news has been a bit out of line. I'm here under orders to deal with you. I'm taking over your newspaper agency."
Disco laughed heartily. His true identity was the Captain of a slave ship secretly owned by the Celestial Dragons, and also the captain of a pirate crew. Currently, the newspaper industry controlled by the World Government—the World Peace Dove News Agency—was being impacted by the World Economic Journal, with a large portion of its market share being seized.
The World Peace Dove News Agency's president, White Beegin, is a Zoan-type user. He raises a large number of white doves as news birds, specializing in promoting the rule of the Celestial Dragons, the glory of the Marines, and the deeds of the Allied Nations. It belongs to the official press.
However, Morgans' World Economic Journal reported both legal and illegal news. With its scriptwriting, planning, and creative ideas, it had a wider audience and sold more copies—but it lacked behind-the-scenes power and was relatively weak in force.
There was also another newspaper agency called the World Dark News, which was jointly founded by the New World overlords and the underground industry. Its current president is the pirate merchant Kanduo, a Zoan-type Vulture user.
His news vultures ran rampant in the New World, frequently visiting pirates and non-Allied Nations. However, because it came from the pirate faction and was poorly managed, its news reports were heavily biased, and its sales were only average.
Currently, the World Economic Journal's news—both legal and illegal—was more comprehensive and deeply loved by the masses. Pirates could understand the Marines through the newspaper, the Marines could understand pirates, and civilians could understand the movements of both.
Morgans never imagined that on this trip back to his wife and one-year-old son, after leaving his Sabaody base, he would be intercepted and attacked by Disco at sea.
"World Government… Disco, you are ruthless! If I escape, you won't have an easy time of it!"
Morgans cursed Disco furiously, realizing that not bringing all of the newspaper agency's guards this time had been a grave miscalculation.
"There, there, don't cry, Morgans. Watch Daddy beat the bad guys away!"
At that moment, Morgans' son, in his wife's arms, also began to cry loudly. She quickly tried to comfort him, and Morgans—who had transformed into his seagull hybrid form—also looked at his son with worry.
Brook, who had just jumped onto the ship, was stunned when he heard that name. Why did it sound so familiar?
Morgans… the future "Big News" Morgans, president of the World Economic Journal, and one of the Six Great Underground Emperors.
"Hey, who are you?"
Both sides in the fight turned to look at this newcomer who had suddenly jumped onto the ship. Was he a Marine Hunter?
"Humming Brook? Weren't you killed in the Devil's Triangle?"
Morgans said in shock. Some time ago, the Poison Smoke Pirates had spread rumors everywhere that they had destroyed the Rumbar Pirates, which made him a little sad.
Because Morgans was also a fan of Humming Brook's songs. It was Brook who had spread Binks' Sake from the West Blue to the entire world. The Rumbar Pirates, known as a musical pirate crew, had a good reputation—they were adventurers truly devoted to music.
Although Brook's appearance was now a bit different, Morgans still recognized him at a glance.
Brook no longer wore his black top hat, his afro was casually tied up, his small suit was unbuttoned, exposing his chest, and his slightly pale skin gave off a chilling sense of aloofness.
"You know me?"
Brook was also taken aback, not expecting someone to recognize such a minor pirate like him so quickly.
Actually, Humming Brook was something of a celebrity among pirates—even Bartholomew Kuma and Red Count Baroric Redfield were fans of his music.
"Humming Brook, bounty of 33 million Berries, acting Captain of the Rumbar Pirates."
Disco also recognized this pirate musician, but he wasn't afraid at all. He had captured many pirates worth around 30 million. He only avoided Supernovas with bounties over 100 million.
"Mr. Brook, please help us repel the pirates. I, Morgans, will definitely reward you handsomely!"
Morgans knew the Rumbar Pirates had always been a kind and idealistic group of adventurers, so he asked for Brook's help.
"Humming Brook, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, or I'll kill you too and send you to reunite with your crew."
Disco saw that Brook was alone and figured the Poison Smoke Pirates' rumors might be true. But he didn't understand why Brook had survived alone.
"It just so happens I want to try out a new move."
Brook's words were accompanied by white mist and cold air, indicating that he had entered the Yellow Springs Ghost Qi state. He also discovered a surprising new ability: he could sense the life energy fluctuations of nearby creatures.
Seeing the different energy fluctuations of the crew members on both sides of the ship—like a thermal detector seeing different colors—his Yomi Underworld energy and Yellow Springs Ghost Qi were incompatible with these life energies. It was somewhat like a unique type of Observation Haki. Is this my cheat?
Brook named it Observation Haki: Life Detection. Judging from Disco's orange-red life signature and comparing it with his own dark blue fluctuation, Brook felt they weren't even on the same level.
Could he instantly kill this guy?
Had his diligent absorption of Yomi energy and Yellow Springs Ghost Qi in the Underworld already made him a max-level expert—like Ainz Ooal Gown from Overlord?
Brook suppressed his pounding heart, eager to use this opportunity to test his power.
'Yellow Springs Ghost Qi: Direct Pierce'
Brook quickly drew his cane sword and thrust it toward Disco. A layer of white frost formed beneath his feet.
'Shave'
Unexpectedly, Disco knew some Navy Six Styles techniques and narrowly dodged it. A huge ice hole appeared in the cabin behind him, releasing white mist.
"This is amazing! Mr. Brook is so strong!"
Morgans flapped his wings in midair, shocked by Brook's destructive power. He saw a sliver of hope for survival. As the head of a news agency, his own combat power was weak, and he had to protect his wife and child—Disco had taken advantage of that to ambush him repeatedly.
"What's going on?! Humming Brook can't be this strong! He's just a pirate worth 33 million! Impossible!"
Disco shouted. If he hadn't dodged at the last moment, he would have been skewered through the heart.
"Life is part of the cycle of reincarnation. Yours ends here."
'Yellow Springs Ghost Qi: Desolate Slash'
Brook exhaled a misty white breath, his dark blue eyes filled with deathly resolve. He glared at Disco and vanished from his original spot, charging at high speed.
"I don't believe you've become that much stronger!!"
'Iron Body!'
Disco frantically increased his blood flow. His skin turned red and took on a metallic sheen. He planted his feet and braced like a statue, attempting to block Brook's slash head-on.
Everyone watched the duel in tense silence.
End of the Chapter.
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