Nowadays, almost all news in the world is distributed single-handedly by the Big News mogul, Morgans.
Morgans originally made his name during the God Valley Incident. By suppressing most of the truth about God Valley and cooperating with the World Government's false propaganda, he blew Garp up into the "Marine Hero" who wiped out the Rocks Pirates. Furthermore, because Morgans can fly, it is incredibly convenient for him to collect and spread news.
While most people have no way to deal with the flight-capable Morgans, that list definitely does not include Shiki. So, when Shiki saw that Morgans dared to claim he had fled the battle, he was furious and prepared to settle the score.
However, just then, Beltz returned from outside. Seeing Shiki's fuming expression, he asked curiously, "What's wrong? Why the short fuse?"
"You're just in time!" Shiki roared. "I'm going to kill that fellow Morgans. He actually dared to say I fled during the fight! I'll kill his whole family!"
"Oh, that." Beltz chuckled. "Forget it. Let the World Government have a win for once. They've been eating dirt for years; now that they've finally caught a break, of course they're going to milk it for all it's worth."
"Easy for you to say, they aren't talking about you." Shiki rolled his eyes, but he did stop, sensing that Beltz had something important to say. Plus, he had questions of his own.
"How is Newgate?" Shiki asked grimly.
Though the papers said Whitebeard was dead, he felt it wasn't that simple. At the end of the battle, Beltz had taken Whitebeard and that mysterious woman from the Government away. He didn't know what happened after.
Beltz sighed. "He isn't dead, but it's not much different from being dead. He likely won't recover for a long time."
Whitebeard was currently in the hands of the Gotei 13. Beltz wouldn't leave him in Bleach world forever, as that would be a drain on his own resources. However, since only Keiko was present at the scene, he couldn't just have her spirit him away—she wouldn't be able to explain the disappearance. It was better to leave him in the Seireitei for now, allowing Kurotsuchi Mayuri to study him. Beltz could then "borrow" Mayuri's research later, saving a lot of trouble.
To Shiki's ears, this sounded like Beltz hadn't been able to save Whitebeard either. He asked in shock, "Who exactly is that woman? She's too strong, isn't she? Even you couldn't handle her?"
Beltz, of course, wouldn't reveal she was a friend. He put on a heavy expression and said, "That's why I'm warning you—don't provoke the World Government for a while. You saw her strength; she's practically not human."
The fact that even a tag-team of Whitebeard and Shiki wasn't a match for Liltotto—and that even with Beltz joining in a battle of attrition, Whitebeard still ended up missing—left Shiki feeling immense pressure. It suggested that a gauntlet of the world's strongest couldn't take her down. It was freakish.
Shiki couldn't imagine anyone being that powerful. Back in Elbaf, Beltz had released Joy Boy's sky-splitting Haki, but that was just an externalized burst, not a true fight. Haki is Haki, but it doesn't always equal total combat effectiveness. Liltotto, however, had demonstrated a demonic, direct combat power.
Shiki fell silent. He finally understood why Beltz always insisted on patience. Despite their combined strength and Wano's resources, Beltz insisted on waiting for the Ancient Weapon Pluton to be operational before moving against the Government. He clearly knew their hidden depth was bottomless.
"The situation on the seas is about to change drastically," Beltz added. "This is a good opportunity to recruit a massive number of pirates."
"You didn't come just for that, did you?" Shiki knew Beltz well.
Beltz nodded. "Right. I came specifically to tell you: Kaido is now with the World Government."
"?!" Shiki's pupils dilated. "Kaido? Are you serious? Didn't he become a pirate specifically because he didn't want to join the Navy?"
"That's true," Beltz shrugged. "He's not in the Navy. He reports directly to the World Government—he's a Celestial Dragon now. Technically, he's the Navy's master. Not joining the Navy and becoming their boss don't contradict each other."
"But how could the Government let a pirate become a Celestial Dragon?" Shiki still found it hard to believe.
"Because they're desperate for combat power," Beltz said, reminding him of Elbaf. "Remember Harald? The World Government finds what a person desires most. Harald wanted peace, so they offered him the status of a Celestial Dragon in exchange for Elbaf joining them."
Thinking back to Elbaf, Shiki had an epiphany. "You mean... Kaido, like Harald, was controlled by the Government because he was too stupid?!"
He had seen firsthand how Harald was "tamed." That fool actually believed them and became part of the Holy Knights. Was Kaido the same?
"That's the most terrifying thing about the Government," Beltz sighed. "They hold supreme power, so they can satisfy almost any desire. As long as a person has a desire, they can be exploited. Harald was no exception, and neither is Kaido."
Kaido's obsession with Devil Fruits was his undoing. The Government tricked him with a top-tier Mythical Zoan and a Shallows Contract. What he didn't know was that once the contract with Imu is signed, there is no turning back. Liltotto had sniffed out Imu's secrets. Even a Shallows Contract allows Imu to control your body within a certain range. A Depths Contract, however, is the end; Imu can control the body from anywhere and brainwash the mind until the person is a completely different, loyal "god."
Harald had only escaped because of his own subconscious healing and the destruction of his physical form. Kaido wouldn't be so lucky.
"Charlotte Linlin was captured by Kaido," Beltz added. "So if he comes to Wano, don't think he's here for a reunion. Just start fighting."
"Linlin..." Shiki had seen the news but hadn't cared much, thinking she was just incompetent. Knowing it was Kaido who did it made him angry. The pirate world has its own sense of honor, and Linlin had been good to Kaido in the Rocks crew. This betrayal was galling. "Hmph! If he comes here, I'll teach him the price of breaking our code!"
But to their surprise, the next visitor to Wano wasn't Kaido. It was Roger. Three days after the incident, the Roger Pirates landed in Wano. Beltz and Shiki sensed them immediately. Beltz stayed on Onigashima.
"Not going to look?" Liltotto asked from the bed, chewing a lollipop with her hands behind her head.
Beltz was at the table reading a medical book. Since he shared a consciousness with Keiko, he was using his spare time to speed up their learning. "Forget it. He's probably not here for me. Shiki can handle it."
Beltz could guess why Roger was here. He had already briefed Shiki, so his presence wasn't strictly necessary.
"Wait..." Beltz paused.
"What?" Liltotto looked over. "Did you think of something?"
"No... not really." Beltz shook his head. He had thought of the terminal illness Roger would eventually develop. If he timed it right, he could use the Op-Op Fruit to cure him. Roger was the man who would become Pirate King; his strength was undeniable, especially since he achieved it while wracked with pain in his final years. He could potentially trade a cure for a massive favor. But it was still early; the illness hadn't set in yet.
"Truly an unoriginal greeting..." Beltz remarked.
A massive clash of Conqueror's Haki erupted in Kuri. Shiki and Roger had met.
In Kuri, Shiki hadn't wasted a second. Upon seeing Roger at the front of his crew, Shiki swung a Haki-clad blade without a word! That was how kings of the sea said hello. Roger laughed and swung back. Their Haki collided, splitting the sky.
"Hey! Roger! Daring to come to my territory! You must have a death wish!" Shiki shouted, his swords grinding against Roger's Supreme Grade blade.
"Hahaha! Shiki, don't be like that! I came because I missed you!" Roger laughed. "Where's Beltz? Why isn't he with you? Do you think you can kill me alone?"
"You think I can't?!" Shiki laughed back.
"I came precisely because I know you can't!"
Boom! As they both exerted more force, the shockwave blew them back several meters.
Roger pointed his sword at Shiki in the sky. "Shiki, I'm not just here for a fight! I want to know where Newgate is. What happened in that battle three days ago?!"
"Jihahaha!!!" Shiki laughed from above. "You want to know? I'm not telling!"
"I knew you'd say that, so..."
Roger released a surge of Haki, and Shiki matched him. Their resolve was clear: only a fight would settle this.
"Hey, Roger..." Gaban said from behind. "Don't go too far."
"Relax, Shiki and I go way back. We'll talk after we fight!"
Roger leapt into the air, slashing at Shiki. The Conqueror's Haki flooded Kuri, causing many onlookers to faint with foam at their mouths.
"Hey! You two!" Oden arrived, his eyes widening at the power. They were terrifyingly strong—but if they kept fighting in Kuri, the whole place would be leveled!