Meanwhile, out on the seas of the wider world.
The World Economy News Paper's all-pervasive intelligence network once again demonstrated its astonishing efficiency.
In just three days, news of the drastic upheaval on Egghead Island
had spread through News Coos and encrypted radio transmissions to every corner of the Four Blues and the Grand Line.
The front-page headline was, naturally, the bombshell Big News Morgans had carefully cooked up.
"Straw Hat Boy siege incident! World's greatest scientist Vegapunk kidnapped?!"
In highly inflammatory language, the report described how the Straw Hat Pirates had "brazenly" stormed Egghead, the heavily guarded sanctuary of scientific research,
and "allegedly" kidnapped the world's greatest scientist, Dr. Vegapunk.
The article portrayed Luffy and his crew as crazed pirates who disregarded order and coveted cutting-edge technology, labeling the conflict a grave provocation against the World Government's authority.
Unfortunately, this incident, which should have been enough to shake the world,
was swiftly overshadowed over the following days by a series of even more explosive events with far greater implications for the balance of power at sea.
New waves of upheaval!
The New World's map was being redrawn!
First came the Big Mom Pirates, a former Emperor's crew that had lost its spiritual pillar and strongest fighter, "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin.
After their crushing defeat on Onigashima and the devastating confirmation of their "mother's" death, they had teetered on the brink of chaos and internal division.
But the Charlotte Family's eldest son, "Candy Minister" Charlotte Perospero, and its second son,
the family's greatest masterpiece and leader of the Sweet Commanders, Charlotte Katakuri,
had displayed astonishing resilience and political skill.
They first stabilized the heartland of Totto Land, then unexpectedly
held a secret meeting with one of the rising Cross Guild's "Emperor Fathers,"
"Crocodile" Crocodile.
The details of their discussion remained