"Extra! Extra!"
"Shocking news from Mariejois! A monumental event has shaken the world!"
"Mariejois, the sacred headquarters of the world government, has been destroyed!"
"The fate of the Celestial Dragons is unknown, the Five Elders are missing, and no one knows what catastrophe has struck the Holy Land!"
"Marine Headquarters has dispatched investigators, but the full extent of the situation remains unclear!"
Newspapers carrying the shocking headline flooded the world, drifting into towns, ports, and marketplaces like snow. People's initial reaction was disbelief—surely this was a joke?
But as they looked closer and saw the unmistakable seal of the World Economy News Paper, shock rippled through every reader.
The World Economy News Paper...
Everyone knew that this was Big News Morgans' agency.
Morgans was famous for his unflinching pursuit of truth. While many might be prone to gossip or sensationalism, Morgans' reports were revered as fact by the entire world. If Morgans declared that Mariejois had been destroyed, then it was a certainty in the minds of nearly everyone.
Across the New World~~~
Whitebeard Pirates
"Dad, there's no way this is true!!!" one crewmember cried out, gripping the paper tightly.
"This has to be false! Mariejois… the very heart of the world government, taken down just like that? Impossible!"
"Yeah, the world government has stood for 800 years! Not even if the Four Emperors joined forces could they conquer the Holy Land!"
"Besides, where were the Marines? If anyone dared to attack Mariejois, the entire Marine force would be mobilized against them."
"It's fake. Has to be!"
But Whitebeard, listening to his crewmates' frantic disbelief, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the newspaper.
Mariejois… destroyed…
He had dealt with Morgans before. Whitebeard knew the man's standards. Morgans wouldn't risk his reputation with such a claim unless it was true. Mariejois still standing while Morgans made this report was unthinkable—no, he wouldn't gamble with his credibility.
Finally, Whitebeard exhaled slowly, a shadow crossing his eyes. "It seems… Mariejois really has fallen. A storm is brewing across the seas… and it'll reach us all soon enough."
Tottoland Sea~~~
The Whole Cake Chateau
"Have I drunk too much?" Charlotte Linlin muttered, squinting at the newspaper in her hand. She rubbed her eyes and then reread the headline, her brow creasing as she tried to absorb the unbelievable news.
Then, anger surged through her, and she threw down the paper. "What kind of trick is this, Morgans?! Has he gone mad? Publishing something as ridiculous as this!"
Kaido, who was seated nearby, picked up the paper she'd discarded and skimmed the headline.
Kaido's territory had once been Wano, but after the Straw Hat Pirates had overthrown him, he and his defeated crew had drifted across the sea. Eventually, he crossed paths with Charlotte Linlin.
To his surprise, Linlin had shared a similar fate, suffering a brutal defeat at the hands of the Straw Hats. Perhaps out of some lingering nostalgia, or simply understanding the strength of their common enemy, Linlin had begrudgingly allowed Kaido and his crew to take refuge on one of her islands.
As Kaido read the news, he nearly spat out his drink.
"Mariejois… destroyed? And the Five Elders are missing? Bah, this is nothing but Morgans' nonsense! You were right, Linlin," Kaido grumbled, taking another long drink, his face contorting with disbelief.
But then, Linlin's Den Den Mushi began to ring. She picked it up, her expression shifting as Morgans' voice crackled through the receiver.
"What? You're telling me you saw it happen with your own eyes?" she repeated, stunned.
"Linlin, you've known me long enough. You know I don't lie about the news. If I were to exaggerate about something like this, it would ruin me, and I gain nothing from falsehoods!" Morgans insisted, his voice unwavering.
Linlin fell silent, the reality settling in her mind. Morgans doesn't joke about things like this…
Taking a deep breath, she hung up the Den Den Mushi, her expression transforming. Her eyes gleamed with excitement as a sudden, brilliant thought crossed her mind.
"Mamamama… Kaido! This is our chance!"
Kaido raised an eyebrow as she grabbed his arm, her fingers digging in with excitement. "Now, listen. Mariejois… gone. The Marines… without a true leader. This is the era of pirates!"
"Are you actually buying this?" Kaido scoffed. "You really think Mariejois was destroyed?"
"This isn't a matter of belief—it's fact!" Linlin shot back, her voice brimming with conviction. She stepped toward the window, staring out at the endless horizon, her body trembling with anticipation. "With Mariejois gone, the Marines have lost their foundation. This is our time to rule!"
Linlin's voice was filled with fervor as she gripped Kaido's hand, her eyes blazing with a vision of conquest. "What Four Emperors? What Pirate King? I want to become the master of this world, just like Captain Rocks was before!"
Kaido's skeptical expression softened as he set his drink down, eyeing her with newfound clarity.
"In that case… the Marines will have no more funding. Once their resources dry up, an organization that big will crumble fast," he muttered, a glint of excitement breaking through his usual stoic demeanor.
"Exactly! Kaido, with our alliance, there's no force on the sea that could stand against us. It's time to take what we deserve!" Linlin declared, her laughter ringing out with dark glee. "Mamamamama!"
Linlin's ambitions had evolved. Her gaze was no longer confined to the seas—she now yearned to seize the power that the Holy Land once held.
But she failed to notice Kaido's eyes narrowing slightly, a flicker of sarcasm crossing his face.
With a grin, Kaido laughed along. "You're right, old woman! With me at your side, the world will fall into your hands!! Worororo!"
"Mamamama! To our victory!"
"Cheers!"
The two titans of the sea clinked glasses, but the spark of rivalry danced between them, each one silently eyeing the throne that Mariejois had left vacant.