I Only Let You Out for Some Air, and You've Already Gotten Full of Yourself?
World Economy News Paper Headquarters
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the mountains of paper and the constantly humming printing press.
Big News Morgans sat upright in his huge, luxurious leather chair, his wings flapping excitedly, his beak opening and closing, and his wild laughter deafening.
"Giggle--!"
"It possesses such terrifying Devil Fruit abilities! This is power capable of destroying the world!"
"If this news gets out, the whole world will tremble! -- Hahaha, this is truly Big News Morgans!!"
He flapped his wings excitedly, his eyes reflecting a vision that would astound the world.
However--
"Beep--beep--"
The Den Den Mushi on the desk suddenly interrupted the maniacal laughter.
Big News Morgans frowned, flapped his wings, and impatiently pressed the call button.
"Hey! Who is it?! Spit it out! I'm about to release some earth-shattering Big News Morgans!!"
The next moment, Den Den Mushi slowly lifted its eyelids, and a half-smile appeared on its lips.
Then a deep, cold voice escaped from the insect's mouth:
"... Big News Morgans."
With just four words, the air in the entire office instantly froze.
The voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry the pressure of the deep sea, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped Big News Morgans' throat, making him afraid to even flap his wings.
Big News Morgans' pupils contracted sharply, and all the feathers on his body stood up with a "whoosh." Cold sweat dripped from his beak onto the table.
"You--!"
The voice gave him no chance to explain, "About that Concert... you know what to do."
Big News Morgans felt his blood run cold and his legs go weak.
He jumped up from his chair, bent down, and his tone instantly became extremely respectful. "Yes, yes!! I understand! I will handle this matter!"
"I would never do anything reckless, haha, how could someone as law-abiding as me possibly do anything reckless?!"
"Um."
The Den Den Mushi's eyelids slowly closed, its mouth shut, leaving only a short "click" sound as it hung up completely.
The office fell into a deathly silence.
Big News Morgans stood frozen in place, his chest heaving violently, and with a difficult gurgling sound in his throat, he slumped back into his chair as if he had just escaped death.
"Huff... huff... I almost lost my life..."
However, the next second--
Another Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
It's a dedicated Den Den Mushi from the World Government's CP (Content Provider).
Big News Morgans' eyelids twitched, and he immediately answered the Den Den Mushi: "Big News Morgans! The live broadcast was interrupted at a crucial moment, what happened?!"
Big News Morgans remained unfazed, flapped his wings, and feigned a perfunctory tone:
"Gagaga, what bad luck! The Live Broadcast Den Den Mushi was suddenly interfered with by some unknown ability and passed out! There's nothing I can do about the interrupted broadcast!"
"We're Emergency Treatment right now."
"..."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi, before a cold "You'd better not hide anything" was uttered and the call ended.
Big News Morgans patted his chest, let out a long sigh of relief, and then chuckled coldly in a low voice:
"Stupid World Government... I can tell who's more terrifying, okay?"
He took a deep breath, grabbed his quill pen, and began revising the headline draft almost frantically.
"Giggle giggle... Let's change the news: 'Singer Uta survives assassination attempt by crazed fan; Navy reacts swiftly and subdues the killer.'"
"Smack!"
He slammed the manuscript down, his gaze dark, but a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"Ha... Damn Big News Morgans, let the world dream about it."
Sabaody Archipelago - Concert Rest Room
Due to an unforeseen incident, the Concert stage was briefly thrown into chaos, forcing the performance to be suspended.
However, under pressure from audience demands and global live streaming, the organizers of the "Singer" event decided to restore order as soon as possible and continue the subsequent performances to complete the grand event.
The noise and applause on stage seemed to be thousands of miles away.
The atmosphere backstage was so heavy it was suffocating.
Luo Zheng knelt on one knee beside Uta, a faint blue halo shimmering in his palm.
The power of the Op-Op Fruit coursed through her body, gradually eliminating the remaining toxins from the "Sleepless Mushroom."
After a short while, he slowly withdrew his hand, let out a long breath, and stood up.
"The toxins have been cleared; her life is no longer in danger."
His tone shifted abruptly, his gaze slowly turning to Shanks, his eyes sharp as knives. "But... what she just did almost plunged the entire world into catastrophe."
"Our navy will not let you take her away so easily."
"Whoosh--"
As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy and Sanji moved almost simultaneously, quietly taking positions and completely blocking Shanks's path.
The air in the Rest Room suddenly froze.
Shanks narrowed his eyes, his Red-Hair falling loose, and his hand slowly gripped the hilt of Griffon's sword.
A deep, resonant sword rang out, slowing everyone's heartbeats by a beat.
The air felt as if it could ignite at any moment.
"Wait... wait a minute--!"
Gordon suddenly stepped forward, arms outstretched, blocking the way between them.
His voice was hoarse and trembling with urgency. "Uta is intelligent, but she is extremely lacking in common sense!"
He looked at Law, Luffy, and the others, and hurriedly explained, "She has never been to school, has no friends to talk to, and her understanding of the social structure is just a one-sided fantasy!"
She doesn't understand what price real change requires, nor does she grasp the complexities of reality!
"All she did was take innocence and kindness to extremes!"
Gordon's voice was almost a roar, his eyes fixed on the Navy and Shanks:
"Uta... she's such a kind child!!"
After a moment of silence, Rosinante slowly emerged from the shadows.
The red dot of the cigarette flickered in the dim light, and wisps of white smoke drifted out.
He held a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, his steps unhurried. "The Navy is indeed tolerant of children."
"We would even make protecting children our top priority."
A cloud of white mist billowed out, and his gaze suddenly sharpened like a blade, piercing Shanks: "But that was her, before she committed a mistake that could destroy the world."
His voice suddenly turned cold, and he demanded, "Can you guarantee that?"
"Can you guarantee that she won't be so extreme again after you take her away?"
As the smoke dissipated, everyone held their breath.
Shanks remained silent.
He knew perfectly well that Rosinante was right.
He also understood that he had nothing left and no ability to provide Uta with any security.
However, if Uta is taken away by the navy, she will lose all her freedom and be imprisoned in an invisible cage.
This is his only daughter.
How could he stand by and watch her life be bound by invisible chains?
Fingertips slowly reached for Griffon's sword hilt.
"Zheng--"
Sword intent erupted, Red-Hair danced wildly, and Haki surged forth like a tidal wave!
"Whoosh!!"
Luffy, Sanji, and Law instantly leaned forward, fully assuming their fighting stances, their killing intent soaring into the air, making the Rest Room seem like it was about to explode at any moment!
At this very moment--
"Hey, hey--"
A lazy voice, tinged with disdain and mockery, suddenly came from behind Shanks.
"Just letting you out for some fresh air and you're already getting cocky?"
The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears!
Shanks' body jolted violently, his pupils contracted sharply, and his face turned deathly pale!
His fingers froze on Griffon's sword hilt, even though it was only half an inch away, he dared not move again.
The Rest Room was silent, save for the crackling of burning cigarettes, which sounded particularly jarring in the deathly still air.