Morgans adjusted his sunglasses, revealing a meaningful smile as the corners of his lips curled upward.
"Not only that, my friends! According to reliable sources, three reckless pirate crews caused trouble within the restricted zone yesterday. And the result..."
He deliberately drew out his words, building the tension.
Then, he waved his wing, prompting his assistants to wheel forward three charred, blackened figureheads.
"This is their fate!"
Gasps of astonishment echoed throughout the venue.
A female reporter stared at the still-smoking wreckage, her eyes filled with terror.
She was so shaken she didn't even notice the pen slipping from her hand to the floor.
Just then, Enel's figure suddenly materialized at the press conference.
His golden earlobes swayed gently as he lazily leaned against the podium, crossing his arms over his chest.
Dangerous sparks of lightning danced at his fingertips.
"This God has a decree to add..."
His eyes swept over the crowd, electric blue energy crackling.
"From this day forward, any vessel entering the restricted zone must undergo security inspections by the EternalKingdom. Those carrying contraband..."
"Heh!"
He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone understood the bloody implication behind that soft chuckle.
Several reporters from the underworld instinctively touched the weapons hidden on their persons, beads of cold sweat forming on their foreheads as they took a step back.
They knew that in the face of this powerful Eternal Kingdom, any form of resistance would be futile.
...
Mary Geoise, The Room of Authority.
The Five Elders sat around an intricately carved long table, the air so thick with tension it felt almost tangible.
BANG!
Marcus Mars, the Elder of the Environment, slammed the newspaper heavily onto the table.
His face was contorted with rage, and the polished marble surface reflected his livid expression.
"Audacious!" he said coldly. "How dare a mere pirate arbitrarily designate a sea exclusion zone? This is nothing less than an open challenge to the authority of the World Government!"
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the bald, sword-wielding Elder of Finance, sat quietly.
His bony fingers slowly traced the sheath of the Shodai Kitetsu at his waist.
"Ron... is making a show of force against the World Government."
"He must be punished," Topman Warcury, the Elder of Justice, declared.
His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table.
"If other factions follow suit, the order of the seas will collapse entirely. We cannot allow this chaos to spread. We must make it clear to those who dare challenge authority that the dignity of the World Government is not to be violated!"
However, Shepherd Ju Peter, the blond Elder of Agriculture, remained silent.
His gaze was fixed on the image in the newspaper of the thunderbolt piercing the heavens.
He frowned slightly and spoke slowly.
"Let's not forget, he managed to subdue a monster like Enel... Acting rashly may not be wise without preparation."
At the far end, Jaygarcia Saturn, the Elder of Science and Defense, had been resting with his eyes closed.
He suddenly opened them.
"Action has already been taken. We have prepared the Seraphim and the second and third-generation serums," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "If Ron restrains himself, all well and good. But if he crosses the line, what awaits him will be absolute erasure."
"Hmph!"
Shadows gradually spread across the hall, swallowing their grim expressions.
...
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
BOOM!!!
Akainu's magma fist smashed down, instantly reducing the entire conference table to charred fragments.
The newspaper twisted and carbonized in the intense heat, finally dissipating into a wisp of smoke.
"That bastard!"
Akainu's roar made the reinforced windows vibrate. "Does he think he's invincible just because he's gathered some rabble?! Who gave him the nerve?! How dare he challenge the dignity and authority of the Marines like this!"
Sengoku sat nearby on a sofa, eating rice crackers, though a trace of concern lingered in his eyes.
"Sakazuki, the Eternal Kingdom is indeed testing the Marines' limits step by step. But your injuries..."
Akainu had been severely wounded in the battle at Impel Down, and it was unclear whether he had fully recovered.
"My injuries are nothing... Ron... Hmph!" Akainu sneered. "If we could capture those scum before, we can do it again now!"
As he spoke, magma slowly dripped from between his fingers, sizzling as it hit the floor and burning charred holes into the wood.
"Justice isn't a negotiation. He's challenging the authority of the Marines! Mobilize the fleet immediately."
Akainu's eyes blazed with a fervent light, filled with disdain for his enemies and unwavering dedication to Absolute Justice.
"And besides... I didn't return from Egghead empty-handed."
"Then go," Sengoku nodded solemnly. "And take the Seraphim with you."
"Understood."
...
On the vast, blue silk-like sea, the Red Force cut through the waves with imposing momentum.
The ship sliced through the ocean, white spray flying up like blooming pear blossoms, glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.
The sea breeze, carrying its salty tang, swept across the deck, whipping Shanks' signature red hair into wild disarray.
Shanks lounged casually, holding the latest issue of the World Economic Journal in one hand, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Dahahaha! Interesting!"
He shook the newspaper in his hand, the pages rustling loudly in the strong sea breeze.
"Designating a restricted zone? That kid Ron is even bolder than I thought!"
Ben Beckman leaned lazily against the ship's railing, his legs casually propped on a barrel.
He took a deep drag from his cigarette, holding the smoke in his mouth for a moment before slowly exhaling pale gray rings.
Squinting intently at the newspaper's contents, he asked, "Should we speed up? At this rate, we might miss the start of the trading convention."
Shanks grinned widely. "What's the rush? The show's just beginning!"
Yasopp was meticulously cleaning his beloved sniper rifle, carefully wiping every corner with a cloth to ensure each component was in optimal condition.
Hearing Shanks' words, he slowly looked up, his eyes revealing a trace of concern.
"Captain, we didn't report our route in advance."
As he spoke, he pointed to the conspicuous statement on the back page of the newspaper, the words standing out starkly.
NOTICE: During the Devil Trading Convention, the restricted zone will expand to 150 nautical miles.
All participants must report their routes in advance. Violators will bear the consequences.
Though Yasopp's voice wasn't loud, it instantly tensed the atmosphere on the deck.
The crew fell silent for a moment, everyone pausing their activities as if time had frozen.
Then, explosive laughter erupted from the entire crew.
Shanks' smile deepened as he raised a hand to smooth his wind-tousled hair.
His eyes flashed with a powerful, confident light.
"Beckman, do you think Enel's 'Divine Punishment'..."
He paused, looking up at the sky with a grin.
"...could actually strike my ship?"
Beckman, cigarette dangling from his lips, lazily lifted his eyelids with a nonchalant expression.
"Who knows? But..."
He flicked his cigarette ash into the ocean, watching it scatter in the wind.
"I'd really like to see if that self-proclaimed 'God' would dare to call down lightning upon a Yonko."
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