"Big news! Big news!"
As Morgans's cries rang out from the headquarters of the World Economy News Paper, the latest edition spread across the four seas.
The newspaper read-
"The new-generation pirate who rose from the East Blue, 'Silver-Haired Norton'... has become the king of evil, gathering every criminal in the East Blue beneath his banner!"
"Since setting sail, he first committed the grave crime of murdering the king of the Sage Kingdom and hundreds of his guards."
"He then wiped out the Arlong Pirates, who ruled over dozens of villages, and brought several leading East Blue pirate crews under his command, including Black Cat, Buggy, and Don Krieg..."
"Furthermore, in Loguetown, he defeated ten Marine warships in a head-on clash, along with 'Garp the Hero' and 'Momousagi Gion'!"
"According to reliable sources, 'Silver-Haired Norton' now commands a terrifying pirate fleet of more than thirty ships! He also has over three thousand subordinates! The threat he poses is unprecedented in the East Blue!"
"It is foreseeable that 'Silver-Haired Norton,' with such vast forces and the personal strength to confront a Marine fleet on the scale of a super Buster Call and win a resounding victory, will become a new emperor of the Grand Line!"
"The fifth 'Emperor of the Sea' is about to be born before the eyes of the world!"
Dressrosa.
"Fufufufufu...!"
Doflamingo held the newspaper and rocked with laughter, but the gaze behind his sunglasses was sharp as a blade.
"The Fifth Emperor? Morgans really has some nerve printing that!" He shook the newspaper. "Still... defeating Garp and Gion, absorbing every force in the East Blue, thirty ships, three thousand men..."
His smile slowly turned intrigued as he looked toward the East Blue.
"Killing a king, crushing a hero, unifying the East Blue... fufufu, Norton... just what are you trying to do?"
He recalled the scattered reports about the "Sage Kingdom incident" that had recently circulated through the underworld.
"The World Government tried desperately to suppress the news, but Morgans exposed it anyway." Doflamingo licked his lips. "This keeps getting more interesting... Diamante!"
"Young Master." A man appeared without a sound.
"Go gather detailed intelligence on this Silver-Haired Norton. Especially... whether he has any grievances with the Celestial Dragons."
"Yes."
Rainbase Casino, Alabasta.
Crocodile clenched a cigar between his teeth, glanced at the newspaper, and sneered before crumpling it into a ball and tossing it into the trash.
"The Fifth Emperor? What a joke! Still, defeating Garp... even if that old man has aged, that isn't something just anyone can do."
Crocodile walked to the window and gazed at the scorching desert outside the casino.
"It looks like the Grand Line... is about to get another troublemaker."
He stroked the Golden Hook on his left arm.
"But whoever he is, he'd better not get in the way of me obtaining Pluton..."
The Florian Triangle.
Gecko Moria held the newspaper, his massive body nestled into a sofa, and let out a "Kishishishi" laugh.
"Three thousand subordinates? Thirty ships? A decent force... if I could turn them into zombies..."
But when he reached the passage about "defeating Garp," his smile stiffened.
"Tch... what a nuisance." Moria tossed the newspaper aside.
Onigashima, the New World.
Crash!!
A sake jug smashed violently against the rocks, sending liquor splashing everywhere.
"The Fifth Emperor?! What a joke!!" Kaido roared, making his subordinates across Onigashima tremble.
"Some brat who crawled out of the East Blue thinks he's worthy of being called an emperor?!"
He snatched up the newspaper and glared at Norton's photograph.
"Still... beating that old bastard Garp means he's got some skill."
A savage hunger for battle flashed in Kaido's eyes. "But that's all! I'm the strongest!"
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land.
"Mamamama... the Fifth Emperor?" Big Mom stuffed cake into her mouth as she read the newspaper. "So that old man Garp has finally gotten old, too..."
She narrowed her eyes and studied Norton's photograph.
"Silver hair... he's quite handsome."
Big Mom licked her lips. "Thirty ships, three thousand men... his forces are adequate. Perospero!"
"Yes, Mama." The Candy Minister bowed.
"If this silver-haired boy comes to the New World, send someone to approach him."
A calculating gleam flashed in Big Mom's eyes. "Ask him... whether he's interested in a marriage alliance with Totto Land. I still have several unmarried daughters."
"Yes, Mama."
"Gurararara... a brat from the East Blue."
The "World's Strongest Man," Edward Newgate, rested the enormous newspaper on his knees, his hearty laughter echoing across the deck of the Moby Dick.
"I'm here, Pops," Marco, the first division commander, answered languidly.
"Tell the boys below that an incredible monster has appeared in the East Blue. Keep an eye out if he passes through our territory."
Aboard the Red Force.
Red-Haired Shanks sat by the ship's railing with the newspaper in hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
Benn Beckman smoked silently beside him.
"What do you think, Beckman?"
"You and I know Garp's strength better than anyone."
Benn Beckman blew out a smoke ring. "Even in his old age, he's still the Marines' rock. To defeat him head-on... this Norton is no ordinary man."
"Yeah." Shanks's gaze settled on Norton's eyes in the wanted poster. "The East Blue... where Captain Roger set sail, Luffy's homeland. And now someone like this has appeared there."
"His goals are clear, and his actions are extremely efficient. Wiping out crews, absorbing them, unifying the East Blue... this doesn't look like an ordinary pirate's adventure. It's more like a methodical buildup of power."
"The most dangerous part is that we have no idea what he'll do next, or how far his 'ambition' extends."
"Notify every captain and friend we know." Shanks stood and touched his empty left sleeve, his expression turning serious.
"Keep a close watch on 'Silver-Haired Norton.' He's already forced the gears of the new era to turn faster... I'm afraid the balance we've worked so hard to maintain will soon be shattered!"
Marine Hospital, Marine Headquarters.
Garp lay in a hospital bed, wrapped in bandages, his right arm encased in a heavy cast. Yet he still ate rice crackers with undiminished vigor.
"Crunch, crunch..."
The door swung open, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku walked in with a dark expression, clutching a copy of the World Economy News Paper.
"Garp..." Sengoku gritted his teeth. "Look what you've done!"
"Huh?" Garp looked utterly innocent. "What did I do? I'm the one who got hurt!"
"You're still making excuses!" Sengoku hurled the newspaper onto Garp. "'Marine Hero suffers crushing defeat against East Blue rookie'! 'The Fifth Emperor is born'! The whole world is laughing at the Marines now!"
Garp glanced at the newspaper and curled his lip. "That birdbrain Morgans always exaggerates. I just got a little careless..."
"A little careless?!" Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead. "I've read Gion's report! You even used Infinite Fist Bone, and you were still crushed head-on! You call that 'a little careless'?!"
Silence fell over the room.
Garp set down his rice crackers, and the playful smile slowly faded from his face.
He was silent for several seconds before speaking slowly. "Sengoku... that silver-haired brat is terrifying."
Sengoku froze, then sat in the chair beside the bed. "Tell me everything."
"His strength..." Garp stared at the ceiling, a complicated look in his eyes. "I can't really explain it. His power seemed endless. Every time we traded blows, he grew stronger. By the end..."
Garp paused, his voice low.
"By the end, when I used Infinite Fist Bone, I could feel it... that brat still wasn't giving it everything he had."
Sengoku's pupils abruptly contracted.
"You mean..."
"When he beat me, he might even... have still been holding back." Garp gave a bitter smile. "If he hadn't been enjoying the fight, I wouldn't have lasted that long!"