Morgans: Within two days, I want all his intelligence!

Grand Line, some island.

Dense flocks of seagulls flew in and out above this island.

At the island's center stood a massive building.

The structure resembled a giant birdcage, with a spherical device perched atop its roof.

On the door inside the building, a string of words was boldly inscribed.

[World Economic Journal].

This was 'Newspaper Island', the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency.

At this moment, inside the chief editor's office on the top floor.

"Not enough! Not explosive enough!"

A giant albatross wearing a top hat and holding a cane slammed the sample newspaper in his hand heavily onto the ground.

That was the president of the World Economic News Agency, the underground world king who monopolized the entire sea's public opinion and intelligence—'Big News' Morgans.

"Look at what you wrote? The princess of the Goa Kingdom is engaged. How is this boring content fit to be published? Readers aren't subscribing to us to see this kind of stuff!"

Spittle flew from his beak: "The Shichibukai! The Four Emperors! Powerhouses who can shake the world setting the seas ablaze—that's what people want to see!"

"B-but, President..."

The bald reporter in front of him, whose head was now covered in spittle, wore a pained expression: "I submitted a report about the Shichibukai before, and you rejected that too..."

"Huh?"

Morgans raised an eyebrow and tapped the bald head in front of him forcefully with his cane.

"What kind of joke is that!?"

"'King of Lizards' Hanafuda's fleet was routed by a Supernova—that's worthy of publication, but you wanted to apply for the headline! The headline!"

He continued spraying spittle: "What's been the headline recently? Why don't you take another look."

"It's the 'Celestial Gold Heist Incident', it's the information on the 'Three-Army Martial Arts Tournament'—that's what deserves to be the headline!"

Saying this, he clenched his wings in excitement, as if recalling the sea-shaking events of the past two months.

And the one who had caused that tremor.

"Any news on 'Rooster'?"

"The Editorial Department doesn't have relevant information yet, President. Rooster seems to have gone into hiding after that incident."

"Useless!"

Hitting the bald head, which was already sporting a lump, once more, Morgans couldn't help but sigh.

As a qualified journalist, he craved real big news.

But even in this Great Pirate Era, truly explosive news was still rare.

"The Twelve Zodiacs. Too bad the government won't disclose information about his organization to me. I can only know the name of the group."

He muttered under his breath, his words full of regret.

As one of the underground world kings who had cooperation and an understanding with the World Government.

Although the 'Twelve Zodiacs' was information temporarily sealed by the World Government and the Navy.

Morgans, relying on his connections, could still dig up some related intel through channels.

But clearly—just the name of an organization was completely insufficient to be called a 'report'.

"When will that 'Rooster' show up again?"

Muttering this to himself, Morgans returned to his desk and poured himself a cup of hot coffee—this coffee was a famous product from West Blue, and he'd been quite fond of it lately.

But it was at that moment...

"Bam!"

The door to the chief editor's office was shoved open roughly, and a young reporter burst in.

"Hah... hah..."

He clutched a telegram tightly in his hand, his voice distorted by excitement: "President! Big news! Big news!"

Seeing this, Morgans frowned, thinking to himself that the young really couldn't keep their cool.

"Calm down. I remember telling you during orientation—as journalists, you must be steady and composed."

He raised his coffee cup elegantly and took a sip: "Go on, what news!?"

"It's the Shichibukai—Crocodile of the Shichibukai has been killed!"

"Pfft!"

And so, the 'elegant' Your Excellency Big News sprayed a mouthful of hot coffee onto the bald reporter standing not far away.

"P-President!?"

The bald reporter, covered in lumps and dripping with coffee, looked at Morgans with a bitter expression.

Where was the calm and composure they talked about?

But Morgans ignored him, his massive body lunging forward abruptly: "Killed? By who? Give it to me now. Ahem... let me see!" Mid-sentence, he seemed to remember he was supposed to have that so-called 'journalist's composure,' so he forced his voice lower.

"Y-yes, sir!"

The young reporter hurriedly handed the telegram over.

Morgans took the telegram and immediately began reading it eagerly.

But the moment he scanned the first line...

"Th-this is—"

His gaze sharpened instantly, like an eagle's, and the coffee cup in his hand was crushed on the spot.

"Ah!"

Shards of the broken cup rained down on the bald reporter's head again, making him yelp in pain.

But by now, Morgans clearly couldn't hear him anymore.

Because this 'Big News' was already breathing heavily, staring at the top of the telegram—a picture seemingly snapped from afar.

It was in the desert.

The traces left by a massive wave on the sand were still clearly visible—the enormous crater, the lingering water, and the rain pouring from the sky were horrifying even in the blurry photo.

The completely altered terrain was enough to show what kind of fierce battle had taken place here.

But the key point wasn't that. The key point was—

In the very center of the photo, Morgans could see two people.

One of them had already fallen to the ground.

Morgans recognized him—one of the Shichibukai, renowned across the Four Seas, the 'Sand Crocodile' Crocodile.

But now, this great pirate bore gruesome wounds on his body.

His body was covered in traces of frostbite and burns, and his left arm was missing.

It silently stated one fact—Crocodile was dead.

This alone was news enough to shake the seas.

But now, for Morgans—

The one who had defeated him became the true focus of his gaze.

Because he spotted it at a glance—that imposing Dragon Head Mask.

"Sea Beast Mask."

Morgans's massive wing feathers nearly stood on end—as one of the sharpest minds on the seas, he immediately realized the possibility.

"Is it the Second Person of the [Twelve Zodiacs]!?"

The moment he thought of it, Morgans felt his heartbeat spiral out of control.

"Who is he?"

He turned sharply to the young man again, his voice nearly a roar.

"N-not sure yet. All we know is that he defeated Crocodile. The specifics still need investigation."

"Then investigate it immediately!"

Morgans spun around, the wind from his giant wings sweeping up the mountains of documents piled in the office, scattering them everywhere.

"A Shichibukai has been defeated and killed—the World Government will definitely send people to Alabasta. Before they seal off the intelligence, get every piece of information you can. True or false, I don't care!"

"Editorial Department, Intelligence Analysis Team, Independent Investigation Unit... every free person, get to Alabasta!"

"Three days. No! Two days—I want his complete dossier within two days!"

"This front page will be him. Only him!"

And so, moments later, the entire news headquarters erupted into chaos.

Reporters rushed out of the editor-in-chief's office, and the ringing of Den Den Mushi was endless.

The only one left in the editor-in-chief's office was Morgans, savoring the commotion below.

He flapped his wings, like an elegant conductor.

"That's right, that's right—this is how it should be!"

From within his beak came a booming laugh: "A calm sea is too boring, far too boring!"

"'Twelve Zodiacs.'"

He murmured the name of this organization, still a complete mystery to him.

But his instincts had already told him—

In the coming era about to spiral out of control, this organization might become the center of it all.

It would bring—

"Countless... 'Big News'!"