As the dawn in the east lit up the earth, a new day arrived as scheduled, just like any other.
Thousands of News Coos carried the latest issue of the newspapers in their satchels, splitting into countless streams along their respective routes and soaring to every corner of the world.
Delivering the news to every island and every ship across the Four Seas and the Grand Line.
Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sengoku placed the newspaper on his desk and looked up at the high-ranking Marine officers who had returned from executing the Buster Call, momentarily unsure which topic to discuss first.
Amidst the oppressive and heavy atmosphere, the playful voice of Admiral Kizaru rang out.
"Kowai ne~!"
"The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu... no wonder he can control three elemental powers simultaneously."
Kizaru didn't believe what that fellow Morgans published in the newspaper at all—the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu. He had witnessed Beelzebul's elementalization personally more than once.
What a joke. If one followed that logic, wouldn't the fruit he, Borsalino, ate be the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Sun God?
The only difference was that he couldn't master three elemental powers at once; he could only master light.
With someone taking the lead to break the silence, the other high-ranking Marine officers also began to discuss as if a floodgate had been opened.
"No wonder he can master the three elements of lightning, seawater, and flame at the same time; so it was a Mythical Zoan."
"Yeah, I actually thought that guy had eaten three Devil Fruits."
Hearing the conversation of the Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, Garp silently took a bag of snacks from the cabinet behind Sengoku and began to feast, crunching away.
Is it really the Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Zoan?
Although this explanation seemed extremely reasonable on the surface, Garp felt that something was very, very wrong. How could that bird-man Morgans know so much?
Had Beelzebul and Morgans collaborated?
By using the newspaper to publish the Hito Hito no Mi, Mythical Zoan, were they making the world believe that what Beelzebul ate was a Mythical Zoan, thereby covering up something even more critical?
Crunch~ Crunch~
Garp felt as if he had discovered something, but he hadn't quite grasped it yet.
"Garp, keep it down."
Vice Admiral Tsuru reminded him helplessly.
Garp gave a sheepish laugh and stuffed the snacks directly into his pocket. If Sengoku had said that, he could have completely ignored it, but for Little Tsuru, he still had to listen.
With such an interruption, Garp could no longer grasp the flash of inspiration from earlier and could only close his eyes to feign sleep.
"Ahem." Sengoku gave a light cough.
"Brannew has a fever, so we won't hold an expanded meeting for discussion. Everyone, speak up: should we increase the bounty of the Morning Star Pirates?"
As soon as the words fell, Akainu was the first to speak.
"Three billion is no longer enough to match Beelzebul's strength. It must be increased to a reasonable range."
Regarding Admiral Akainu's proposal, for once, none of the high-ranking Marine officers objected, including Sengoku, Kizaru, and the other conservative high-ranking officers.
"A bounty of five billion is the reasonable range," Akainu said expressionlessly.
The group of high-ranking Marine officers nodded one after another. If Beelzebul's bounty was too low, wouldn't it make them, the high-ranking officers who executed the Buster Call, look somewhat incompetent?
Two current Marine Admirals, one marine hero, and over ten Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals were actually held back by a single Beelzebul?
How would the pirates look at them?
The Marines nearly deployed in full force and yet couldn't even take down a pirate with a three billion bounty? In that case, wouldn't Whitebeard, who has an even higher bounty, be invincible?
Kizaru spread his hands: "I have no objection."
Garp nodded silently.
Just as Sengoku was about to finalize the bounty, the den den mushi in his pocket suddenly vibrated. This was a private line for contacting the Gorosei.
Sengoku waved his hand to signal for silence.
The den den mushi mimicked Satan Saint's voice.
"Sengoku, regarding Beelzebul's bounty, keep it unchanged for now. Also, have Borsalino come to the Holy Land Mary Geoise. Immediately."
The den den mushi hung up, and Sengoku was still somewhat dazed.
What exactly was going on?
Why did the Gorosei show such consideration for Beelzebul, who had kidnapped the Celestial Dragon Saint Elaine twice in a row and successfully demanded ransom from the World Government?
Could it be... the moment the thought flashed through his mind, Sengoku's eyes widened immensely.
Is Beelzebul also a Celestial Dragon?
No, if Beelzebul was also a Celestial Dragon, then why did the Gorosei launch a Buster Call and even specifically arrange for the coating craftsmen to tamper with the ship?
Moreover, as fellow Celestial Dragons, the second time Beelzebul kidnapped Saint Elaine was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but what about the first time? Why did he specifically kidnap Saint Elaine?
Internal power struggles among the Celestial Dragons?
Otherwise, how else to explain why Satan Saint specifically called to notify that the bounty remain unchanged for now?
Sengoku rubbed his brow, feeling like his head was about to explode. Being the Fleet Admiral was truly frustrating.
"Beelzebul's bounty remains unchanged. Borsalino, you go to the Holy Land Mary Geoise."
Kizaru nodded: "Okay."
Watching Kizaru leave, Sengoku sighed and waved his hand to the high-ranking Marine officers: "The matter of the bounty is temporarily shelved. Everyone is dismissed."
The rest of the high-ranking Marine officers left one by one, leaving only Garp, who seemed to have fallen asleep, and the immovable Akainu, who was looking at the brow-rubbing Sengoku.
"As the Fleet Admiral, Mr. Sengoku, can't you resist the orders of the Gorosei just once?"
Sengoku slammed the table and stood up.
"Sakazuki, I am the Fleet Admiral now! When you become the Fleet Admiral, I'll watch you resist the Gorosei!"
"Hmph." Akainu got up and left... New World, Wano Country, Onigashima.
Headquarters of the Beasts Pirates.
King of Disaster looked at the newspaper in his hand. The eyes beneath his mask shimmered with a strange light, seemingly the joy of seeing one of his own and... uncertainty.
White hair, the condition matches.
Flames, the condition matches.
Flaming Wings... never seen those before.
Fair skin, does not match the conditions.
Because of this freshly printed newspaper, King stood frozen in place like a wooden statue, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts.
At this time, Kaido, carrying a comatose white-haired young girl, wabbled over to King's side.
"Why are you standing there like a block of wood, kid?"
King silently handed the newspaper to Kaido and, in passing, took the six-year-old Yamato from Kaido's hand. Looking closely, she had been knocked unconscious by Kaido again.
"Mr. Kaido, Yamato is still a child. Could you please not knock her out every single time?"
Kaido grinned with his large teeth, his breath reeking of alcohol.
"Worororo~"
"You kid, you don't think Beelzebul is a Lunarian just because you saw him controlling the power of flames, do you? The newspaper says the guy ate a Mythical Zoan."
"Don't I also control several elements?"
King gently placed Yamato on the bed before turning back to tell Kaido why he was suspicious.
"Do you have Flaming Wings on your back?"
Kaido leaned in closer to look at the photo in the newspaper: "Indeed, Beelzebul's pair of wings really does look different from yours."
"Do you know why?"
King shook his head: "I haven't encountered any Lunarian Tribe members in all these years, and I know nothing at all about our heritage or anything like that."
Aside from his parents, King had not encountered any other Lunarians since he could remember.
Kaido returned the newspaper to King and made a decision after a brief thought.
"How about this: once we take over all of Wano Country, I'll accompany you to meet Beelzebul. Anyway, this guy has already come to the New World."
"Thank you."