The News World Cannot Do Without Morgans

"Isn't this the little Marine brat you let go, big brother? How did it turn into him single-handedly taking back the warship?"

The newspapers delivered by News Coos were not rationed. For a small pirate crew of only a dozen or so people, buying one paper to pass around was enough.

For someone like Nereus, who had quite a few subordinates, they usually bought several copies for interested crew members to read.

Although the newspaper looked more like a picture book in Babel's hands due to its size, it did not affect his ability to read its actual contents.

"Other than bringing the warship back to the naval port, which part of this is true?! And who is this reporter Morgans? How did this guy come up with all this nonsense?"

The paper vividly described the story of a brave soldier who, after all the other Marines had died, outwitted and battled a group of vicious pirates before finally reclaiming the warship.

But as one of the people involved, Babel knew exactly how much of it had been fabricated.

"Still, that Marine kid apparently didn't tell the truth either. The pirates who took this warship have become someone else too."

After Dragon returned, he did not tell the truth either. He merely made up a few excuses to brush them off. The Marines did not care much about it and did not conduct any thorough investigation, simply using it to promote their own image.

"That's what news is like. Information travels poorly across these seas. No one knows what happens on the other side of the ocean; it all depends on what the newspapers say.

"If the World Government wants to, twisting black into white is not difficult.

"Compared to this 'Lone Wolf' Marine, the stuff about Hero Garp is even more ridiculous."

The report on Dragon was on the second page, while the front page had already been occupied by the destruction of the Rocks Pirates. Even then, the article skirted around the important details and did not mention where Rocks's remaining followers had gone.

The entire article described how Hero Garp had defeated Rocks. As for Roger joining forces with Garp, or Nereus's actions, no one mentioned them at all. It was as if they had never arrived at God Valley.

"So, Dad, is everything the newspaper says fake?"

"The outcome is real, but you don't need to believe the process. From now on, the name Rocks will gradually disappear from the seas as well."

Most of the paper was devoted to praising Garp's achievements. Rocks's name was barely mentioned, and God Valley was not mentioned even once. The World Government had already begun covering up the very existence of this incident.

If Rocks had not been so famous, his name likely would not have appeared in the paper at all.

"By the way... Nanamo, how many times have you counted that treasure already? Why are you still counting?"

"It's my first time seeing this much treasure. There are over ten thousand gold coins alone, and the total value has to be measured in tens of billions of Beli."

Nanamo was rereading the inventory they had compiled earlier. Then she took a gold coin from her pocket and admired the design on it beneath the sunlight.

Those coins were not merely currency minted from gold. Many bore exquisite engravings, and some had even been left behind by kingdoms that no longer existed. Their market value far exceeded their practical worth.

The coin in Nanamo's hand was part of the share allotted to her. It was an old rule: most of the treasure would be sealed away in storage for future development, but the subordinates would also receive a portion of their own.

Many of Nereus's subordinates had heard of his name, gotten carried away, and left Fish-Man Island to follow him.

Nereus's side was not some perfectly safe haven. Battles happened often, and he would not be stingy with Beli toward those willing to risk their lives to follow him.

If he became as greedy as John, wanting to keep everything for himself, he would eventually suffer the backlash.

"Come to think of it, I heard it costs a lot of money to make newspapers print what you want. This Morgans... he must have made a fortune this time, right? A share of the newspaper profits plus the World Government's hush money... Running a newspaper seems pretty profitable."

Nanamo counted on her fingers as she estimated Morgans's earnings. In truth, it was not far from what she imagined.

As a newsman, Morgans had always been obsessed with major stories.

Sometimes, in order to report on a major event, he would stop at nothing. Neither bribery nor threats of death could stop Morgans from publishing the news.

But Morgans also did not mind exaggerating the truth for attention, or even fabricating parts of a story.

It was not that Morgans refused money; he simply accepted it selectively. If it was something Morgans did not want to report, then he would never take money for it.

This time, Morgans's name had also indirectly become known across the seas. Nereus's group did not care much about Morgans's words, but many people who had personally experienced the incident were constantly cursing him.

For example, in the Sorbet Kingdom of the South Blue, Ivankov and the others who had left God Valley had gathered in Kuma's former home, a somewhat shabby church.

"Who is Morgans? And what kind of Hero is Garp? This guy is way too good at making things up!"

"Forget him. Is there any news about Mr. Nereus? Did he leave that place safely or not?"

Kuma flipped through the newspaper, hoping to find the news he wanted. After all, without Nereus, he would not have been able to save so many people.

"Stop looking. There isn't any. Not a single word..."

"Hey, don't worry. If something had really happened to someone with Mr. Nereus's Bounty, the World Government and Marines would definitely have publicized it for a while to glorify their own achievements.

"Since they haven't mentioned it, Mr. Nereus must have left safely."

Ginny's deduction won everyone's approval. They all hoped that Nereus was safe.

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters in Marineford, things had an entirely different atmosphere.

As a Headquarters Vice Admiral, Garp had his own residence in Marineford. There were only three people in the house now: Garp, Dragon, and Sengoku.

Because of Nereus's involvement, Garp had not been injured too badly and had already returned to his residence.

At that moment, the floor was covered in shredded newspapers, the work of Garp and Dragon. Both father and son had strong objections to the paper.

"Don't stop me! I'm going to have a good talk with this Morgans!"

"Forget it, Garp. The World Government must have paid him quite a lot to write that article."

Sengoku successfully stopped Garp. Otherwise, judging by Garp's expression, he truly might have gone to discuss matters with Morgans using his fists. However, that also successfully drew Garp's anger onto himself.

"Sengoku, I have a question. You wouldn't happen to know nothing at all about what happened at God Valley, would you?"

Those words successfully caught the attention of Dragon, who had been sitting on the sofa in a daze.

[Do you think your higher-ups know about this?]

Nereus's words echoed in his mind again. Dragon also wanted to know how Sengoku would answer.