Aboard the Moby Dick, Ace and his division commanders—who had just settled into peaceful conversation—were suddenly filled with questions when they recognized the familiar voice and not-so-unfamiliar images emerging from their Video Den Den Mushi.
"What the hell is going on? What are Jerry and the others up to now?" Ace wondered aloud, staring at the screen with obvious confusion.
Just as they were trying to process this unexpected development, a pirate from their intelligence division came running over at full speed, shouting urgently, "Captain Ace! Your personal Den Den Mushi is ringing—it's Deuce calling!"
"Deuce? What's the situation with you guys?" Ace hurriedly accepted the communication device that had been carefully maintained and fed by his intelligence officers.
Meanwhile, on Egghead Island, Dr. Vegapunk stared at the audio and visual feed with his characteristic tongue hanging out, his eyes practically glowing with scientific fascination as he exclaimed, "What brilliant innovation! If we could make this live broadcast technology fully interactive and implement it for regular use, the possibilities would be..."
At the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency, Morgans was frantically busy processing the important breaking news he had just received, so occupied that he didn't even have time to scratch an irritating itch. His face was filled with manic excitement as he imagined how tomorrow's newspaper would shock readers and reshape global discourse.
But at this crucial moment, he received reports that Video Den Den Mushi were activating worldwide once again.
When he recognized the individual appearing on screen and processed the implications of what was being said, his emotions instantly spiraled out of control. He gritted his beak and waved his wings frantically in the air, shouting with genuine panic, "Damn it all! Stop this madness! If everyone starts broadcasting live like this, how can traditional newspapers possibly survive?"
Simultaneously, this unprecedented live broadcast—which had somehow connected virtually every Video Den Den Mushi across the globe—was attracting the attention of countless viewers from every corner of the world.
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce tonight's director and the leading performer for our upcoming presentation," Cavendish announced with theatrical flair, adopting a gentleman's pose with perfectly serious expression while extending his hand in a graceful invitation gesture. "Please welcome the legendary King of Fishing himself, Jerry!"
"That's much better," came a whispered comment from beyond the screen's visible area, followed by Jerry's appearance as he tilted his head into view with characteristic casualness.
Jerry nodded approvingly, stepped back several paces, and made minor adjustments to his carefully selected beach attire—a vibrant Hawaiian shirt that seemed perfectly suited for a tropical vacation.
Then, seemingly from nowhere, he produced an absolutely massive fish that was several times larger than his own body, completely obscuring Cavendish's form behind its impressive bulk. Jerry waved cheerfully at the camera while displaying his impressive catch.
"Hello there, everyone! I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your dinner during prime viewing hours," Jerry began with mock politeness.
"So I'll keep this brief and entertaining. As you can all clearly observe, I just caught this magnificent specimen," he continued, gesturing proudly toward his enormous fish.
"Ha-ha, it's really not as amazing as it might appear. I simply dropped my hook into the water, and this beauty took the bait immediately," Jerry explained with false modesty.
"Ah, perhaps this is simply the natural power that comes with being the undisputed Fishing King of the seas," he mused while shaking his head and gazing skyward with exaggerated emotion.
Recognizing that things were getting off track, Cavendish felt compelled to raise his voice and provide gentle guidance: "Ahem! Jerry, you should probably get to the main point now."
"Huh? I've been staying perfectly on topic this entire time," Jerry replied with apparent confusion, scratching his head while refusing to acknowledge any deviation from his intended message.
Then, with completely natural movements, he produced a distinctive pointer device, holding it gently in his palm while smiling warmly at the camera. "This happens to be the permanent pointer I caught during my fishing expedition. Everyone, can you guess where this particular navigation tool leads?"
"I'll provide you with a helpful hint," Jerry continued with obvious relish. "It's a pointer directly related to the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger himself."
"Excellent! Now it's time for our special prize-giving guessing contest combined with a delightful fish-roasting demonstration," Jerry announced enthusiastically. "Let's give our worldwide audience sufficient time to think carefully and formulate their best guesses. I'll reveal the correct answer shortly."
After delivering this promise, Jerry reached out and dragged over a small table, gently placing the mysterious pointer on its surface. Then he proceeded to light a cooking fire directly in front of the table as if this were the most natural thing in the world, setting up a portable grill with practiced efficiency.
In front of live broadcast screens across the globe, many viewers had initially lost interest when Jerry began what appeared to be meaningless rambling. However, when they heard these specific words and observed the object in his hands, their eyes widened with sudden, intense focus.
"What is that thing?! Something connected to Roger? Could it possibly be One Piece's..." gasps could be heard from countless locations.
"No way! Does that legendary treasure actually exist?" voices whispered with growing excitement.
"If it's genuine, why would he announce it publicly? Has he lost his mind completely?" others wondered aloud with obvious bewilderment.
Countless people around the world who were watching this unprecedented live broadcast found themselves shocked by their own speculative thoughts. When they focused their attention intensely on the pointer that Jerry had casually placed on the table, they could only make out vague markings engraved on its surface.
This partial visibility only increased their anxiety and desperation as they strained their eyes, trying to determine whether the situation was truly as extraordinary as they suspected.
In the Fleet Admiral's office at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku pointedly ignored the knowing sideways glance from Vice Admiral Tsuru, leaning forward toward the screen that had been hastily set up by junior officers. He spoke slowly with obvious resignation, "Tsuru, is this the 'relatively harmless pirate' you mentioned in your previous assessment?"
"You're well aware of the situation, aren't you?" Vice Admiral Tsuru responded with perfect calm, her gaze fixed on the figure who was leisurely grilling fish in the image before them. "This is the same news that spread like wildfire through the criminal underworld recently. So this young man has clearly chosen his own method of addressing the situation. The question now is what exactly he intends to accomplish."
Sengoku was naturally familiar with the intelligence reports she referenced.
Considering the implications of recent events, he could only shake his head and sigh with profound helplessness. "Regardless of his motivations, we cannot simply sit here as passive observers any longer. Honestly, can't they let me retire peacefully? What kind of chaos is this?"
Back on Treasure Island, Jerry picked up several skewers of perfectly grilled fish, distributing portions to both Kotatsu and Cavendish before sampling his own culinary creation without hesitation.
"Mmm, absolutely delicious! Now then, our enjoyable intermission has provided ample time for consideration. The moment has arrived to reveal the correct answer," Jerry announced with obvious satisfaction.
"I believe the vast majority of you have reached more or less accurate conclusions. Yes indeed, this is the permanent pointer that leads directly to the location of One Piece itself—the legendary final island of Laugh Tale."
At this crucial moment, Jerry delicately moved the fish in his hand aside, raised his head, and squinted directly at the camera with an unmistakably arrogant expression. His eyes gleamed with pure provocation as he continued with growing intensity.
"So tell me, do you want Roger's treasure? If you do, then come and try to take it from me! Lulululu!"
The challenge had been issued to the entire world, and Jerry's confident laughter echoed across every screen, daring anyone brave enough—or foolish enough—to accept his invitation.
The implications of this declaration would soon reshape the political landscape of the seas, as every major power would be forced to decide how to respond to such an unprecedented provocation. Jerry had just painted the largest possible target on his back, and now the entire world would be watching to see who would be the first to make their move.