Morgans' voice was low and heavy—but beneath that weight, it carried an excitement he could barely suppress.
Big news. Big, earthshaking news!
As one of the power brokers of the underworld, and the president of the World Economic Journal, Morgans lived for stories that could rock the entire world.
Only that kind of headline could stir this thrill in him.
Watching him like this, the beautiful secretary at his side froze in surprise.
Since joining the paper, she had only ever seen him this elated when they'd published the three groundbreaking reports crowning the new Emperors of the New World.
And now again?
"Is this person really that extraordinary…?"
With that thought, she reached out and picked up one of the files Morgans had left on the desk.
At a glance, her eyes widened.
This can't be real…
Unable to believe it, she devoured the first report, then flipped to the second almost reflexively.
A clash with Admiral Aokiji in the West Blue.
Another with Admiral Kizaru in the North Blue.
How in the world had this man managed that?
"Did he… win?" she murmured.
"No idea. But that doesn't matter. The fact alone is enough. Now all we have to do is wait for the Navy's response to the uproar he's caused in the North Blue."
Morgans looked with satisfaction at his secretary's stunned face.
Yes. That expression.
Be shocked. Be awed by the news I've uncovered.
"Will the Navy put a bounty on him?"
The secretary asked blankly, as though her thoughts had short-circuited.
"Maybe they will, maybe they won't. Either way, we'll be the first to know. But… Admiral Kizaru's involvement already hints at the Navy's stance."
Morgans rubbed his beak, pondering aloud.
He had information—and even photographs—from both battles. The fights hadn't ended decisively, but one thing was certain: this youth from the East Blue now had the power to stand against an Admiral.
What kind of monster is this…?
The seas hadn't birthed such a figure in ages.
Perhaps only the Red-Haired Shanks of the New World could compare—but even Shanks had been far older when he rose.
At this boy's age, most pirates who would one day dominate the seas hadn't even begun their voyage.
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed.
"Forget waiting. Get the presses rolling. I want the next paper dedicated entirely to him."
Though Morgans had considered biding his time for the Navy's official reaction, the excitement in his chest refused to be contained.
"Yes, President!"
The secretary snapped to attention and rushed out to issue orders.
"Now then—let's shake the world together!"
Morgans sank deeper into his fervor. Even the busy staff outside could hear the mania in his voice.
"Tch. There he goes again," one muttered.
The president was always like this.
"Come on, let us conquer the world together!"
Robin stood at the prow of a sailing pirate ship, her blade leveled dramatically at the horizon.
"You really are starting to think of yourself as a pirate?"
Don, seated calmly at the side, broke his silence with a dry remark. His gaze never left the waves.
On deck, the captured pirates squatted in neat rows, not daring to breathe too loudly.
A calamity had fallen straight from the sky.
Their captain—a so-called "great pirate" of the East Blue with a bounty of 5.5 million—had grown extra arms in a flash, only to have his neck twisted until it snapped.
Several others who'd rushed forward met the same fate.
And just like that… it was over.
Robin heard Don's jab and turned to him with a smile.
For the first time in ages, she felt truly at ease.
Perhaps it was the time they'd spent away from the West Blue, or how relentless their pace had been in the North. But here, back in the East Blue, a wave of calm washed over her.
On impulse, she had drawn Don's blade and indulged in a little youthful theatrics.
"Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Come on, let's shout it together—the words of those who'll conquer the world!"
Robin crouched down, trying to tug Don up.
"I refuse."
Don didn't budge an inch, his voice firm. Naturally, Robin couldn't move him.
"I'm a grown man. I don't do childish things like that."
Excuse me?
Robin froze, then shot him a look of pure disbelief.
You? Lecturing me about childishness?
Sighing, she sheathed the blade and sat beside him, tucking a windblown strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thank you," she said softly, her eyes on the sea.
"For what?"
"For this. Ever since I left Ohara, I've dreamed of feeling this relaxed—of living without fear hanging over me."
Her voice grew quieter.
"Back then, it was only a fantasy. But now… it's real."
Turning, she leaned toward Don, about to rest her head on his shoulder.
But he suddenly stood, making her flinch.
"Your sword," he said simply, extending his hand.
Startled, Robin placed the blade in his palm.
Shhhk!
A single slash tore across the ocean.
Waves surged as their ship shook violently.
Far ahead, a pirate vessel split cleanly in two under the strike.
Don sheathed the blade again, then sat back down. Under Robin's dazed stare, he pressed her head firmly onto his shoulder.
"Some small fry thought to bother us," he muttered.
Robin's lips twitched, a retort on the edge of spilling out—but she said nothing.
Meanwhile, the pirates still manning the ship stared with bulging eyes.
What kind of monster is this…?
They were still green, untraveled men, utterly incapable of processing what they'd just witnessed.
The voyage continued. After passing a Marine base, Don and Robin switched ships, trading in their pirate vessel for bounty money before boarding a merchant ship.
"Nine million Berries," Don murmured.
"Not much. And it's not like you really care about that, right?" Robin asked, hearing the odd note in his tone.
"Not really. It just reminded me of when I first… first set out to sea."
The pirate Doruga, along with his treasure, had netted him about the same—just over nine million.
"If it's you, you could reach anywhere quickly enough. So why take a merchant ship?"
"To rest a while."
Don glanced at the sea chart Robin held, his eyes flicking briefly across it.
Should've crossed the Red Line from the other side…
Now, their route was far longer.
But it worked out. He needed time to sort through all he'd gained.
Since leaving Shimotsuki Village, he'd been constantly moving, constantly fighting.
His strength had advanced enormously since then—especially in his mastery of Haki and the breakthrough in his physique.
Once past his previous limits, his body had begun to grow stronger at a rapid pace, almost every hour of every day.
Even his ace technique, Indomitable, had improved: its duration stretched to thirty minutes, and its cooldown had shortened to eighteen hours.
A tremendous leap.
END OF CHAPTER
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