"The most evil pirate in history?"
Inside a palace on the back of a snail in the fleet returning to Hachinosu Island, Wang Zhi flipped through a newspaper, laughing uncontrollably. "These reporters sure are bold writers nowadays!" The most evil in history? Had they asked Rocks about that? Just calling him the most evil, just like that?
"This is utter nonsense! What's wrong with these reporters? Do they have no professional ethics? Don't they know that the most important thing in journalism is to respect facts?" Roa also looked indignant. "How many times have I stated it? I stopped being a pirate ages ago!"
"Is that what's 'nonsense' about it?" Wang Zhi twitched his lips. Was Roa fully acknowledging the newspaper's "most evil in history" assessment of him?
"But I don't blame them." Roa sighed dramatically. "The despicable World Government! It must be them slandering me!"
Cyberbullying! This is cyberbullying! Using such tactics against a bright, cheerful young man, World Government, do you know how serious a psychological trauma this will cause me? Oh my god, male safety!
Wang Zhi found it a bit hard to keep a straight face.
Today's front-page news began with facts. Starting from Roa's battle with Whitebeard, it meticulously detailed the entire process of a reporter traveling across thousands of miles to Sfenks to investigate the events' causes and effects. It stated that the reporter discovered that the originally poor but peaceful nation suddenly experienced a rebellion, and the rebels, for some unknown reason, possessed a batch of extremely advanced weapons. Whitebeard investigated precisely because he felt there was something fishy behind this incident. He just hadn't expected the mastermind behind it to be his former comrade. It was for this reason that he clashed with Roa.
After presenting the facts, the journalist then showcased their inferential skills. The newspaper claimed that many nations in the New World, like Sfenks, had suddenly erupted into civil unrest, and in almost all these wars, weapons identical to those in Sfenks had appeared. Moreover, such phenomena weren't limited to the New World!
Thus, the reporter concluded that Roa was behind everything! He incited the populace to rebel, then sold them weapons, allowing ignorant people to wantonly harm their homelands and compatriots! He even willingly provided large loans to non-affiliated nations that couldn't possibly repay them, just to make them buy weapons and ignite wars! The reporter boldly concluded that Roa wasn't simply after money; he merely wanted to see the world descend into chaos! The Flevance riots in the North Blue were definitely instigated by him. The capture of a certain kingdom in the East Blue by pirates was definitely instigated by him. The assassination of a certain affiliated nation's king in the West Blue was definitely instigated by him. The theft from a certain Marine base's treasury in the South Blue was also instigated by him. In short, Roa was an inherently evil seed, the heir to Rocks who sought to destroy the world, and the enemy of all peace-loving people in this world!
Undoubtedly, Roa was truly the most evil pirate in history!
To be honest, the descriptions of Roa in the newspaper were quite exaggerated. However, if the exaggerated subject was Roa, Wang Zhi then felt it wasn't exaggerated at all.
"So, is it really slander?" Wang Zhi asked with interest. "Are these things truly not done by you?"
Roa gave Wang Zhi an indignant look. "You actually doubt me? Uncle Wang Zhi, what have I done to make you distrust me so much?"
"Of course, I did all of them!"
Probably? But when did Morgans' organization gain the ability to steal reserves from a Marine treasury? Forget it, a mountain of debts doesn't weigh you down.
"Hahahahaha!" Wang Zhi immediately doubled over with laughter. Just as expected!
"But Roa," Wang Zhi said, still laughing and slightly out of breath, "won't this cause some trouble?"
"Trouble?" Roa asked, surprised. "What are you talking about, Uncle Wang Zhi? Isn't this great?" He didn't even need to think; from now on, he would become the nightmare of many. When children cried, their parents would scare them by saying, "Roa's coming!"
Isn't that just fantastic? The concentration of 'darkness' will rise worldwide, right? And what's there to care about? Can those non-affiliated nations really do anything to him?
"Great?" Wang Zhi couldn't help but shake his head in self-mockery. Honestly, I'm still treating Roa like a normal person. For Roa, being hated and feared by the entire world seemed to be exactly what he dreamed of.
The most evil in history? Wang Zhi glanced sideways at Roa. It might be a bit too early to say for sure now. But, it probably wouldn't be long before that title became well-deserved. Even Rocks wasn't as deranged as Roa.
It's about Roa surpassing Rocks, isn't it?
"However," Roa's eyes narrowed, "since they've gone this far, why haven't they increased my bounty?"
"The most evil in history, but only three billion Berries, not even comparable to Roger. I'm really losing face!"
"Still want a raise?" Wang Zhi snorted. "Didn't your bounty just increase by a billion? How can it rise so quickly?"
"But," he asked, a bit curious, "Roa, what exactly did you do? How did your bounty increase so much all at once?"
"Nothing much," Roa said casually. "Just refused to become a Celestial Dragon and join the Holy Knights, then beat up a Holy Knight."
"What?" Wang Zhi's face instantly changed. "You said, Holy Knights?"
While Roa was sending Wang Zhi back to Hachinosu Island, the entire world was erupting due to these newspapers. It must be said that the World Government indeed put some effort into it, involving all somewhat influential news agencies worldwide in this frenzy. News birds spread the newspapers across the entire world.
Roa the Calamity, the most evil pirate in history!
Undoubtedly, Roa's name and title instantly became a worldwide sensation. Everyone was discussing him.
"There's actually such a guy? Not for wealth, not for power, just simply to see the world burn?"
"A lunatic! He's even crazier than Rocks! Such a madman still exists in this world!"
"What are the Marines still doing?! Why aren't they dealing with him quickly?!"
"Damn Roa! So, the rebellion in our country was instigated by him? My homeland was destroyed by the weapons he sold!"
Anger, fear, resentment, curses. All sorts of emotions quickly brewed. However, regardless of whether they were affiliated or non-affiliated nations, all the common people now shared the same sentiment.
Die! Roa, just die quickly!
Sfenks, a certain location.
"Take a good look!" Whitebeard pressed the newspaper in his hand onto the face of the man before him, the rebel leader. "See what all of this is really about!"
"..." The rebel leader looked at the newspaper expressionlessly, his face growing darker. Then, he looked up, gave Whitebeard a deep glance, and walked away dejectedly without a word.
Watching his disheveled retreating figure, Whitebeard finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. This way, the domestic situation might stabilize a bit, right?
However. Whitebeard's brows remained tightly furrowed. The crisis in this country was far from over. Throughout his decades of sailing, he had made far too many enemies. That damned brat Roa had revealed his connection to Sfenks and emphasized that he cared deeply about it; those guys would definitely not ignore that.
But Roa had also gotten his comeuppance. It must be the World Government, right? They exposed his affairs too. That damned brat would now truly become the target of all!
I'll have to stay in Sfenks for a while first, Whitebeard thought.
But Whitebeard didn't see the gloomy look in the eyes of the swiftly departing rebel leader.
"Is it over just like that?" Someone followed alongside him, speaking softly.
"Over?" The rebel leader's voice was low. "Haven't we known all along whether we were incited or not?"
"We want to make this country better! Change is good. If we do nothing, this country will still be a mess in ten, a hundred years!"
"Damn Whitebeard, claiming to be for this country, yet standing by that king who should be hanged, he's already hindering this country's progress!"
"But we can't do anything to him yet. We'll endure for a while! During this time, we need to awaken more of our compatriots! Let them know how to lead this country to a bright future!"
"Understood!"
North Blue.
A certain hidden island.
"So, it was Roa the Calamity?" Dragon gasped, drawing a sharp breath. "Was that guy behind everything?"
"Whether he's behind it or not, I don't know," Doctor Trafalgar, beside him, shook his head. "But, it's very likely that he provided the weapons."
"The same elusive nature, the same advanced technology."
"Perhaps," Doctor Trafalgar's face was bitter, "what the Flevance people have been doing in the North Blue this past year is exactly what he wanted to see."
"That guy!" Dragon's face was filled with astonishment. There was actually such a madman in the world!
"He's too dangerous!" Dragon said gravely. However, their biggest enemy right now was the World Government; there was no position or power to interfere with Roa.
Almost at the same moment, also somewhere in the North Blue.
On a Marine warship.
"Zephyr! You personally intervened, yet you still let that brat Dragon escape?" A furious roar came through the Den Den Mushi.
"I didn't expect that kid to flee directly upon seeing me, not even caring about the Flevance people under his command," Zephyr said calmly, unhesitatingly slandering Dragon. "He can turn into wind; how could I stop him?"
"Forget it," Fleet Admiral Kong sighed on the other end of the line. "I know that even you would hesitate when facing that kid." After all, he was the son of an old friend.
Zephyr remained expressionless. Thank you, Brother Kong.
"You said you want to resume your role as Chief Instructor?" Kong continued. "What are you thinking, kid? Aren't you tired of switching around?"
"Dragon's betrayal pains me deeply; he was a man who could have become a pillar of the Marines," Zephyr said with a hint of lament. "Do the young Marines today all have problems with their resolve? Such a tragedy must never happen again."
"Hmm, you're right." The Fleet Admiral on the other end agreed. "The current Marine recruits do indeed need a reliable senior to guide them."
"But Zephyr, you must have seen the newspaper, right? Roa has become the target of all. Perhaps the time to act against him will come soon."
At the mention of Roa, Zephyr's expression instantly changed. His taut face contorted, and veins bulged on his forehead.
"Returning to train new recruits won't hinder my subjugation of Roa!"
The Fleet Admiral was instantly speechless. He inwardly cursed himself for saying the wrong thing. Wasn't Zephyr heavily wounded by that bastard Roa precisely when he was training new recruits?
"I agree," the Fleet Admiral said. "Then how do you plan to handle the Marine G-5?"
"I plan to let Sakazuki lead it," Zephyr said. "You know Sakazuki's strength; he absolutely has the qualifications."
"But, isn't that kid still too junior?" The Fleet Admiral expressed some concern. "A Colonel commanding a large fleet, that might invite criticism."
"Since when did the Marines prioritize seniority?" Zephyr snorted coldly. "In that case, I'll continue to concurrently serve as the Fleet Commander of the Marine G-5, and Sakazuki will be my adjutant. When I'm not present, I'll let him command."
"In that case, it's not impossible!"
"Okay, thank you, Brother Kong."
"If you must thank me, then properly train the new recruits. A monster like Roa has appeared among pirates; we Marines can't fall behind."
"Understood!"
Satisfied, Zephyr ended the call with his old friend. He looked up and met Sakazuki's eyes, which held a hint of excitement.
"This fleet is yours now," Zephyr said.
"Don't worry, Teacher Zephyr!" Sakazuki was incredibly excited. "I will absolutely not let any pirate who appears in my line of sight escape!"
"Another crucial point, Sakazuki," Zephyr cautioned, "is to teach them true justice and completely take control of this fleet."
"I understand," Sakazuki nodded forcefully.
"But, Teacher Zephyr," Sakazuki added, "is it true that Roa is behind the Flevance people?"
"He, like the World Government, is something that should not exist in this world!" Zephyr clenched his fists. "Sooner or later, he will pay for his blood debts!!"
"Of course!!" Sakazuki responded in a deep voice. While the World Government should certainly be overthrown, Roa, this great criminal who would almost certainly stand at the apex of the pirate world, must also die!
A certain island in the New World.
A small, chubby black man wearing a hat huddled in a corner of this port city, holding a newspaper he'd pulled from a trash heap.
"Roa... Rocks' heir?"
Just as the World Government envisioned, after they revealed all this truth, a wave was gradually forming worldwide, especially in the New World.
Roa, that madman, must be punished!
With this objective, the World Government's affiliated nations began frantically urging the government to quickly take action against Roa. The non-World Government affiliated nations, lacking support and relatively weak in power, secretly began to convene some of their slightly stronger members.