Morgans: Who Gives a Damn If Kaido Was Captured!?

Although he had drunk quite a lot the night before, Vikengam's Mythical Zoan physique had let him rise early, full of energy.

After washing up and getting himself ready, he planned to train his stamina and Haki.

But the moment he stepped out of the inn, he saw Roger standing alone against a railing across the street, wearing an extremely serious expression as though he were pondering some world-changing 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 so early? What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, Vikengam." Roger looked up at him, his expression still grave. "Come here. I need to tell you something huge..."

"Oh? What is it?" Vikengam was curious as well. He walked over and leaned against the railing beside Roger. "Go on?"

Roger waited until Vikengam had leaned against the railing, then suddenly curled his lips into a wicked grin. Tilting his head toward Vikengam, he whispered, "The paint's still wet..."

Vikengam: ???

You motherfucker!!!

About ten minutes later, Shiki also emerged from the inn. He immediately spotted Vikengam and Roger leaning against the railing across the street, both wearing heavy expressions as if something earth-shattering had happened.

Shiki was surprised and asked, "What are you two doing here? Why are you both so serious? Did something happen?"

"Oh, Shiki." Roger looked at him with the same solemn expression. "Come here. I need to tell you something huge..."

Shiki had a feeling that something was off.

Still, he walked over and leaned against the railing on Roger's left. His tone deepened as he asked, "What happened?"

Once Roger saw that Shiki was leaning against the railing too, he grinned and quietly said, "The paint's still wet..."

Shiki froze for a moment. He raised his hand and touched the railing he had been leaning on, then looked at the dark green paint staining his hand. His mouth twitched before he cursed, "You motherfucker, I'm going to kill you!!!"

Over an hour later, when Rayleigh came out of the building, he saw Jaba, Roger, Shiki, Vikengam, and Silver Axe all leaning against the railing across the street with solemn faces. Their expressions were remarkably uniform, all of them looking deadly serious, as if something catastrophic had occurred.

Rayleigh was startled. What was going on? What kind of major event could have happened at sea to make this bunch so grim?

Even fighting at God Valley hadn't been this terrifying, had it?

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 help shouting, "I've struck it rich! Combined with the photos I took at the tavern yesterday, the president 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, Jaba, Silver Axe, Shiki, and Babel sitting around the same table, raising their cups in a lively scene that looked almost like sworn brotherhood.

"The Roger Pirates and Shiki's crew have joined forces. This news is definitely going to shake the seas, isn't it?" the reporter muttered excitedly before hurriedly calling his president on a Den Den Mushi.

The World Economic News Agency had been nothing more than a minor newspaper before the battle at God Valley. It had not been particularly impressive.

But Morgans had seized an opportunity and reported that Shakky was the grand prize of God Valley. In one stroke, he turned the previously unknown little paper into one of the hottest rising stars in the news world.

However, that wave of popularity was steadily fading, leaving Morgans extremely anxious lately.

He wanted to uncover an even more explosive event that would set the seas ablaze!

And now, he had just learned of one such event and was currently arranging for the agency's staff to work overtime.

"Hurry, hurry! We have to catch this extra printing run! Tomorrow, I want the news that former Rocks Pirate Kaido was defeated and captured by Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Black Arm Zephyr at 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 been greatly strengthened.

But not long after flying over the Red Line from West Blue and returning to the New World, he had run straight into Zephyr, who was patrolling there.

Zephyr was currently at the peak of his strength. The Marines had even proposed making him an admiral, and at the latest, he would be promoted when he turned thirty-eight in two years.

Kaido, on the other hand, might have obtained the Azure Dragon Fruit and received a massive boost, but at this stage, he was still no match for Zephyr.

Zephyr beat him down and captured him alive!

God Valley had not happened long ago, yet a former member of the Rocks Pirates had already been caught. This was absolutely huge news.

Morgans took the matter very seriously and had immediately begun working overtime as soon as he received word.

But he also knew that the World Economic News Agency was not the only outlet to receive the news. In order to crush the pirates' arrogance, Marine Headquarters had already begun publicizing the matter and had leaked the news to quite a few newspapers.

So it would not be easy to get a share of the pie.

Just then, the Den Den Mushi Morgans carried began to ring. He quickly answered it. "Photo King? Did you get anything good?"

Photo King, nicknamed the Flame Photographer, had once been the director of Marine Headquarters' photography department. During the battle at God Valley, he had secretly sold Morgans a large number of on-site photographs and had been fired by Marine Headquarters. Morgans had also received a stern warning from Marine Headquarters not to publish photos that did not conform to World Government standards.

Morgans was not yet that arrogant at this stage. He still relied heavily on information leaked by Marine Headquarters and the World Government, so in the end, many of the God Valley photos were never published.

Still, he had gained something: he had recruited Photo King, who had become a core force of World News.

"A huge haul! On Stania Island in West Blue, I ran into Shiki, Silver Axe, Babel, and the others. By coincidence, the Roger Pirates arrived here yesterday too. The two sides had a brief conflict at first, but they quickly made peace afterward. I took photos of them drinking together at the tavern, as well as a photo of the whole group leaning against the railing in the street just now. I'm faxing both photos to you now. Take a look!" Photo King said as he transmitted the photos with the portable fax machine he carried.

Morgans quickly received the photos. Looking at them, he said excitedly, "The Roger Pirates and Shiki's crew have joined forces!?"

"It's only my suspicion. 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.

It was truly a moment that showcased the charm of journalism.

Still, both photos had been taken extremely well. Not only were they clear, but the angles and figures had an incredible sense of atmosphere. Photo King truly lived up to his skill.

But Morgans soon noticed something strange. "Who's this handsome silver-haired guy? Why haven't I seen him before? Is he from Rocks' crew, or the Roger Pirates?"

"He's a new member of the Roger Pirates. I think his name is Vikengam. I don't know the specifics, but he looks a little familiar... Still, anyone who can sit at the same table drinking with Shiki and the others clearly isn't a simple character," Photo King said.

Morgans did not think much more about it. After chatting for a few more moments, he quickly hung up the Den Den Mushi and turned to shout, "Hurry, hurry! Delete all that layout from earlier! We've got bigger news here!!!"

Who gave a damn if Kaido had been captured?

How could that compare to Roger and Shiki joining forces!?

This time, the World Economic News Agency was going to bombard the seas!