Although he had drunk quite a lot the night before, Vikengam still got up early, thanks to the physical constitution of a Mythical Zoan, and he was full of energy.
After washing up and getting himself ready, he prepared to train his stamina and Haki.
But the moment he stepped out of the inn, he saw Roger leaning alone against the railing across the street. Roger's expression was extremely serious, as though he were pondering some century-defining problem.
The sea breeze swept past him, making his burgundy captain's coat flap loudly.
Vikengam was somewhat puzzled by the sight, but he still walked over and asked, "Captain Roger, you're up this early? What are you thinking about?"
"Oh, Viking." Roger glanced up at Vikengam, his expression still grave. "Come here. I've got something huge to tell you..."
"Oh? What is it?" Vikengam was curious as well. He walked over, leaned against the railing beside Roger, and said, "Go on?"
After Vikengam leaned against the railing, Roger suddenly wore a wicked grin. Tilting his head toward Vikengam, he whispered, "The paint's still wet..."
Vikengam???
You bastard!!!
About ten minutes later, Shiki also walked out of the inn. He immediately spotted Vikengam and Roger leaning against the railing across the street. Both wore heavy expressions, as if something terrible had happened.
Shiki was surprised and asked, "What are you two doing here? Why do you look so serious? Did something happen?"
"Oh, Shiki." Roger looked at him with the same solemn expression. "Come here. I've got something huge to tell you..."
Shiki felt that something was off.
Still, he walked over and leaned against the railing to Roger's left. Then, in a grave tone, he asked, "What happened?"
Seeing Shiki lean against the railing as well, Roger grinned and whispered, "The paint's still wet..."
Shiki froze for a moment. He raised a hand and touched the railing he had been leaning on. Looking at the dark green paint smeared across his hand, his mouth twitched before he cursed, "You bastard, I'm going to kill you!!!"
More than an hour later, when Rayleigh came out of the building, he saw Gaban, Roger, Shiki, Vikengam, and Silver Axe all leaning against the railing across the street with serious expressions. Their looks were uncannily uniform, every one of them solemn as though something earth-shattering had happened.
Rayleigh was startled. What was going on? What kind of major event could have happened on the seas to make this bunch so grim?
Even fighting at God Valley hadn't been this terrifying, right?
A moment later, Rayleigh silently leaned against the railing as well.
Meanwhile, atop a clock tower not far away, a reporter excitedly snapped photos of the big shots leaning against the railing with grave expressions. He could not stop himself from shouting, "I've struck it rich! Combined with the photos I took at the tavern yesterday, the boss is going to be thrilled! I'm getting promoted and getting a raise!!!"
As he spoke, he pulled out the photos he had taken at the tavern the day before. A closer look revealed Vikengam, Roger, Gaban, Silver Axe, Shiki, and Babel sitting around the same table, raising their cups in a lively scene that looked as though they had sworn brotherhood.
"The Roger Pirates and Shiki's crew have joined forces. This news is definitely going to blow up the seas, isn't it?" the reporter muttered excitedly, then hurriedly called his boss on a Den Den Mushi.
Before the battle at God Valley broke out, the World Economic News Agency had only been a minor newspaper agency, nothing particularly impressive.
But Morgans had seized an opportunity. He reported that Shakky was the grand prize of God Valley, instantly transforming the previously obscure little newspaper agency into the hottest rising star in the news world.
However, that wave of attention was steadily fading, so Morgans had been extremely anxious lately.
He hoped to uncover an even more explosive event, one that would shake the entire sea!
And now, he had learned of just such an incident and was currently making the newspaper staff work overtime.
"Move it, move it! We have to catch this reprint run! Tomorrow, I want the news that former Rocks Pirates member Kaido was defeated and captured by Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Black Arm Zephyr in the gateway waters of the New World to sweep across the entire sea!!!" Morgans urged.
That was right. After eating the Azure Dragon Fruit at God Valley and preparing to embrace his new life as a pirate, Kaido had taken off from West Blue, crossed the Red Line, and returned to the New World.
Not long after arriving, he had run straight into Zephyr, who was patrolling the New World.
The current Zephyr was at the peak of his strength. The Marines had even proposed making him an admiral, and at the latest, two years from now, when he turned thirty-eight, he would be promoted to admiral.
As for Kaido, although the Azure Dragon Fruit had greatly boosted his strength, he was still no match for Zephyr at this stage.
Zephyr beat him senseless and captured him alive!
God Valley had not been over for long, yet one former member of the Rocks Pirates had already been caught. This was absolutely huge news.
Morgans attached great importance to the matter. The moment he received the news, he began working around the clock.
But he also knew that the World Economic News Agency was not the only outlet to receive the information. In order to crush the pirates' arrogance, Marine Headquarters had already begun publicizing the matter and had leaked the news to quite a few newspaper agencies.
So it would not be easy to get a piece of the pie.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi Morgans carried began to ring. He quickly picked it up and said, "Photo King? Did you get anything good?"
Photo King, nicknamed Flame Photographer, had once been the head of Marine Headquarters' photography department. During the battle at God Valley, he had been fired by Marine Headquarters for secretly selling Morgans a large number of on-site photos. Morgans had also received a stern warning from Marine Headquarters not to publish any photos that did not conform to World Government standards.
Morgans was not nearly as arrogant at this stage. He still depended heavily on leaks and information from Marine Headquarters and the World Government, so many photos from God Valley were ultimately never published.
Still, he had gained something: he recruited Photo King into his ranks, making him a core member of World News.
"A massive haul! On Stania Island in West Blue, I ran into Shiki, Silver Axe, Babel, and the others. Coincidentally, the Roger Pirates arrived here yesterday as well. The two sides had a minor clash at first, but they quickly made peace afterward. I got photos of them drinking together in a tavern, as well as a photo of all of them leaning against the railing on the street just now. I'm faxing both photos over to you now. Take a look!" Photo King said as he transmitted the pictures through a portable fax machine.
Morgans received the photos very quickly. Looking at the two pictures, he said excitedly, "The Roger Pirates and Shiki's group have joined forces!?"
"I only suspect it. I don't have any concrete proof," Photo King said.
"Who the hell needs proof? These two photos are more than enough for us to spin a story!" Morgans said excitedly.
This was the charm of journalism at its finest.
Still, the two photos were indeed excellent. Not only were they clear, but the angles and subjects had an incredible atmosphere to them. As expected of Photo King's skills.
But Morgans soon noticed something strange. "Who's this handsome silver-haired guy? Why haven't I seen him before? Is he from Rocks' ship, or the Roger Pirates?"
"He's a new member of the Roger Pirates. I think his name is Vikengam. I don't know the details, but he looks somewhat familiar... Still, anyone who can sit at the same table drinking with Shiki and the others clearly isn't some ordinary character," Photo King said.
Morgans did not think much more about it. After chatting briefly about the situation, he quickly hung up the Den Den Mushi and turned to shout, "Hurry, hurry, hurry! Delete all that layout work from earlier! We've got huge news here!!!"
Who gives a damn about Kaido being captured?
How could that compare to Roger and Shiki joining forces!?
This time, the World Economic News Agency was going to bombard the seas!
Before you continue