Tremors Across the Sea

World Economy News, the News King Morgans sat in his office.

"Shocking! A Shichibukai attempted to seize a nation and was defeated by a newcomer!"

"Boss, do you think this wording works?"

Editor-in-chief Lawrence held a sheet of manuscript paper as he asked Morgans.

"Good, write it exactly like that!"

"Print ten million copies of this paper. No, print one hundred million!"

"Once printing is finished, distribute them immediately!"

In his bird-man form, Morgans smacked his beak and decided to raise the print run to the maximum.

A Shichibukai had actually dreamed of seizing control of an entire nation. What an earth-shattering story.

Yet even more bizarre and explosive was the fact that a dignified Shichibukai had been defeated by a newcomer!

Morgans had not seen news this explosive in years. This time, the entire world would be shaken.

"One hundred million copies... They should sell out, right?"

Morgans could already picture the newspapers flying off the shelves. He was about to make a fortune again.

"Yes, Boss!"

Editor-in-chief Lawrence replied happily before leaving the office.

Ignoring Lawrence's departure, Morgans began pondering the protagonist of this incident.

"Luo Wen... That name does seem familiar?"

Morgans rubbed his chin and remembered.

Half a month ago, he had published news of Luo Wen shattering the Krieg Pirates' flagship with a single sword strike, and it had sold extremely well throughout the East Blue.

At the time, he had thought Luo Wen was someone remarkable, but because he was in the East Blue, he had overlooked him.

He had not expected Luo Wen to create such huge news just half a month later.

"If I'd known, I would've kept following him and gotten firsthand information."

Morgans slapped his bird head with a wing as he spoke regretfully.

This time, he had been a step too slow and had not captured the most exciting scenes, greatly diminishing the story.

If he could have obtained footage of Crocodile being defeated by Luo Wen, the paper would have been even more spectacular.

"It seems I'll have to keep an eye on this rising star from now on. I can't miss any more news about him."

As he spoke, Morgans marked Luo Wen's name in red.

Luo Wen was powerful and also a Bounty Hunter. He was destined to stir up waves across these seas.

As long as he followed Luo Wen's movements,

his newspaper agency would probably never lack explosive stories again.

That day, countless News Birds flew out from World Economy News Paper headquarters, carrying newspapers to every corner of the world.

In the first half of the Grand Line, countless pirates stared at the newspapers in their hands, lost in thought.

"A newcomer who just entered the Grand Line defeated Crocodile?"

A young pirate cried out in shock, unable to accept the news.

That was a Shichibukai, a terrifying powerhouse who intimidated countless pirates and possessed the strength and status that countless pirates dreamed of.

Yet he had now been defeated by an unknown nobody. The dreams of countless pirates were shattered, and they no longer feared the Shichibukai as much as before.

"Could Crocodile just be all talk, with strength too pathetic to withstand a blow?"

The young pirate had never witnessed Crocodile's strength, so he could only guess.

Perhaps Crocodile was the weakest of the Shichibukai. Even his left hand was missing.

"If Crocodile was just a fraud, then Luo Wen, who defeated him, probably wasn't much either."

The young pirate muttered, ambition gradually igniting in his eyes.

If he could defeat Luo Wen, could he become famous across the seas and become a great figure like a Shichibukai?

He had to consider whether this was the only opportunity he would ever have in his life.

Fuck it, I'm doing it!

Gritting his teeth, the young pirate decided he could not let this opportunity slip away. He would make a name for himself.

Countless veteran pirates merely sneered to themselves, ready to watch the young pirates make fools of themselves.

"Crocodile is no pushover."

"Luo Wen, who can defeat Crocodile, is definitely a monstrous powerhouse!"

The veteran pirates recalled Crocodile's past achievements, and reverence appeared in their eyes.

They were even more wary of Luo Wen, the Bounty Hunter who had defeated Crocodile as soon as he emerged.

They had already realized that another great figure was displaying his power upon these seas. Every challenger would become his stepping stone.

The veteran pirates looked at the restless young pirates and quietly gloated.

As for warning them, that was impossible.

The hardships they had endured back then could not be allowed to pass the younger generation by.

Let these youths who did not know the immensity of heaven and earth witness the cruelty of the sea!

And so, many young pirates set off to challenge Luo Wen, filled with boundless ambition.

On an unnamed island in the Grand Line,

the Red-Haired Pirates sat together with Dracule Mihawk, drinking heartily.

Red-Haired Shanks held a newspaper in his hand and read it intently.

"Mihawk, another rising star has appeared on the seas."

Shanks sighed as he looked at the news in the paper.

He had defeated Crocodile just after entering the Grand Line. He truly was showing off his edge!

"Perhaps you'll be interested in him."

Shanks spoke to Mihawk as he looked at the greatsword Luo Wen carried.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Mihawk took the newspaper and gave it a careless glance.

What sort of newcomer could emerge on these seas?

At present, only two people had caught his eye: Luo Wen, who had reached the realm of a Swordmaster, and Zoro, whose will was unyielding.

But they had only just gone to sea. They were still too weak.

Until he saw Luo Wen's portrait in the newspaper, Mihawk became serious.

"He can already deal with Crocodile? He's grown remarkably quickly!"

Mihawk narrowed his eyes as he looked at Luo Wen's portrait.

Luo Wen's current strength had truly sparked some interest in him.

"What, have you met him?"

Red-Haired was full of curiosity. He had not seen such a serious expression on Mihawk's face in a long time.

"You could say that. Half a month ago, I sensed the lingering aura of his sword in the East Blue. He possessed the realm of a Swordmaster."

"Since he can defeat Crocodile, he indeed has the qualifications to fight me."

Mihawk stroked his black blade as he spoke seriously.

Luo Wen's appearance had already stirred a trace of fighting spirit in him. He truly was a rare opponent.

Suddenly, Mihawk looked at Shanks and curled his lips into a faint smile.

"When this Luo Wen destroyed the Krieg Pirates, the Straw Hat Luffy you've been watching was washing dishes!"

"Perhaps Luo Wen is the protagonist of this era?"

Mihawk spoke in a provocative tone.

Red-Haired had gambled his left arm on the East Blue, convinced that Luffy was the protagonist of this era.

Mihawk could also make a wager: Luo Wen was the protagonist of this era.

"Hahahaha! Then let's wait and see!"

Shanks laughed heartily, seemingly unconcerned by his friend's teasing.

Yet doubts also rose in his heart.

Luffy had been at sea for so long. Why had there not been a single word about him?

This Luo Wen had appeared out of nowhere and was unstoppable. He truly possessed some of the bearing of a protagonist of the era.

Could it be that this was not their Great Pirate Era, but Luo Wen's era of Bounty Hunters?!