Big News

"Big news! Big news! Big news..."

"What's wrong with the boss?"

"Shh!"

At the World Economy News Paper, several people pulled a newcomer aside and explained.

Whenever their boss, the president, received big news, he entered this state: his body trembled, his limbs stiffened, his eyes rolled back, and his tongue lolled out...

Big News Morgans was fascinated by big news, always thinking about how to reveal it all to the world.

For that, he was even willing to risk his life.

Just like this time!

"Pirate Island has decided to publicly execute Marine Admiral Kong for the whole world to see in three days..."

Morgans's hand trembled as he held the intelligence. It wasn't fear, but excitement. He felt so good his soul was practically about to ascend.

Those guys on Hachinosu!

They really knew what he liked! Big news like this would make the entire sea boil!

A major event! A major event that would go down in history!

"Everyone! Print the papers with everything you've got! I want everyone on these seas to know about this! Spread it across the four seas as fast as possible!"

At Morgans's command, the World Economy News Paper sprang into full operation.

Countless seabirds carried newspapers in every direction, bringing the report to every corner of the sea and delivering it to everyone.

Just like that, the whole sea was shaken!

[Shocking! After capturing a Marine Admiral alive, the pirates actually planned to do this to him!]

[An unprecedented super war! Note: The president himself called it the strongest in history!]

[Great War vs. Paramount War! The strongest in history vs. the strongest of the modern age!]

[Hachinosu vs. Marine Headquarters!]

[Rocks sets his sights on the World Government!]

[Interview with a passerby: When I saw the news, the kid next door cried because he wanted some... Sorry, I meant he was so scared he stopped crying!]

There were all sorts of dazzling headlines, exaggerated fonts and huge close-ups, as well as interviews with famous figures.

When it came to building hype, nobody could hope to compete with journalists. They were simply too professional.

[East Blue] A certain village

"The pirates are going to fight a huge war with the Marines! How scary!"

"Can the Marines win?"

"Idiot! Of course they'll win!"

"Will we be able to watch it?"

Everyone in the village, from ninety-year-olds to two-and-a-half-year-olds, was discussing the event that had flooded the news across the sea.

Meanwhile, a certain man on vacation held a newspaper, staring slack-jawed at the news.

"Damn it! What the hell is Kong doing?!"

He had no time to think further. No matter how carefree someone was, even they could recognize how serious things were now.

He threw on his Marine coat and hurriedly called the other Marines to set sail, preparing to return to headquarters.

[South Blue] Kanjiki Kingdom, Tochuku

"Your Majesty, you absolutely must not!"

"Why not? I just want to see the Marines show off their might. Can't I even do that?"

Despite his subjects' desperate attempts to dissuade him, the elderly but unpredictable king refused to listen and stubbornly insisted on contacting Marine Headquarters.

As a World Government Member State, they could ask the Marines to broadcast the whole war live, right?

It was a great chance to prove how strong the Marines were!

Well, actually, the king just wanted to watch the show, but his subordinates thought it would be a disgrace to the Marines no matter what, and that they could never agree.

The two sides argued, and the furious king got up and grabbed a stool to hit someone, only to throw out his back.

That put an end to the argument, and he was taken to see a doctor.

[West Blue] God Valley

As an island with distinctive architecture, it attracted visitors from other countries year-round.

Its economy was also strong and the island rich in resources, so its citizens enjoyed a fairly good standard of living.

On this scorching hot noon, people who had eaten gathered in twos and threes, eagerly discussing what the newspaper had reported.

The sea was vast, and many people rarely went out to sea in their lives, growing old wherever they were born.

So they relied heavily on newspapers, their only way to learn about the outside world. Today's papers had all been handed out for free, which was another reason they were so popular.

"The pirates are challenging the Marines? The Marines will definitely accept, right?"

"How terrifying. Thank goodness we live in a peaceful country."

"Yeah... Speaking of which, Miss Magnolia from the flower shop next door is pregnant. Damn it! I wonder which bastard did it!"

"I'm so jealous! She's such a beauty!"

Many people talked along the sides of the street, while others walked along the road. Among them, the one who drew the most attention was a woman with long red hair.

The woman was young and beautiful, plainly dressed and simply adorned. She wore a smile like warm morning sunshine.

She walked at an unhurried pace, pushing a baby carriage. Two remarkably similar-looking children lay curled up inside, gazing at the world with wide eyes.

"Oh my~ Miss Magnolia? Are these your children? So cute~ Are they girls?"

"They're boys, twins~"

"Who did it? Damn it! Find that man! I'm going to challenge him to a duel!"

"Hahahaha~~"

After exchanging an awkward farewell with the strange person who had greeted her, Magnolia continued down the street.

Her two children were already six months old.

The man she loved had appeared on this island a year ago and left after a short stay. It had been over a year now, and she had never seen him again.

If that man came back, she would surely beg him to stay here with her.

At the thought, a bright smile returned to her face.

She bent down and reached out a finger to play with the two boys. "Shamrock, Shanks, you want to see your daddy too, don't you?"

[North Blue] A certain chaotic town

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Metal clashed again and again, striking up a rhythm like a seasoned old blacksmith at his forge.

But it wasn't blacksmithing. It was a duel.

A large open space in front of a bar was packed with people, cheering excitedly as they placed bets.

At the center of the crowd, two swordsmen were dueling. Their fierce attacks collided in showers of sparks, and every perilous strike drew cheers from the spectators.

"Kill him, Buro!"

"You're the butcher known for slaying a hundred men!"

"Fight! I want to see rivers of blood!"

"Come on, take that opening!"

Just then, newspapers began raining from the sky, drifting down onto people's heads.

When the first person caught one and casually leafed through it, the atmosphere changed instantly. Some stared in shock, while beads of cold sweat appeared on others' foreheads.

"Is this real? You've got to be kidding..."

"Those bastards at the newspaper aren't making up fake news to fool us again, are they?!"

"No, this time it has to be true!"

"The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

"This is bad. I don't know whether this battle will be good or bad, but it'll definitely be a war that decides the world's course!"

"..."

Some grabbed newspapers and ran off, some muttered to themselves, and others gathered to discuss the news.

In an instant, the lively scene had turned deserted, bringing to mind the sight of tea going cold once the guests had left.

The two swordsmen looked at each other, utterly dumbfounded, and fell silent for a moment.

"Still want to fight?"

"Mm, forget it..."

"Yeah, nobody's watching anyway..."

"Let's get a drink. My treat."

"Okay..."