World Economic News Agency.
"Hiss—"
In the slightly dishevelled office area, a neat intake of breath echoed through the room.
The seasoned staff of the news agency, all with broad knowledge, wore expressions of shock.
The culprit behind their reaction was the neatly arranged faxed message lying on the desks, along with over ten accompanying photographs.
"Is something like this really possible? Am I dreaming?" murmured one journalist, looking at a photo of Bullet holding an exquisite chest.
Beside him stood another colleague, also examining the intelligence.
"Smack!"
Without a word, the colleague raised his hand and gave the journalist a slap on the back of his head.
The journalist who received the slap gasped in shock once again.
"Hey hey! Focus on this! It's this! The bloodline of Roger! This is enough to shake the world!"
Seeing the journalist's reaction, the colleague who had smacked him picked up a photo and shouted loudly.
"Nonsense! Who knows if this news is true or not? After all, Roger has been missing for so long. If his bloodline were discovered, wouldn't he show up? Compared to that, the news of the conflict between the Charlotte Family and Nicolas is solid.
Whole islands in Wano Country have been destroyed, and both sides are currently fighting on Cake Island. And most importantly, there's evidence!"
The faxed documents and photos spread across the desks were all worthy of being front-page headlines.
"This kind of headline event... we need to publish it quickly!!! I can already imagine the world's reaction!!!"
"Where's President Morgans?"
"I don't know, I was too busy looking at the photos just now."
Just as everyone began discussing, the office door of Morgans was forcefully pushed open.
Morgans walked out and, under the gaze of everyone, briskly approached the desks with the latest reports of major news events.
"This is big news."
Morgans picked up a photo of Bullet holding an exquisite chest in one hand and a photo of Nicolas confronting the Charlotte Family in the other, his expression filled with excitement. He then looked around at his subordinates.
"Same routine as always, use the double front-page layout, but this time it's a bit different. I want both sides of tomorrow's newspaper to feature nothing but headlines! So, everyone... from this moment on, let's look forward to seeing the world's reaction to the news, hahaha!"
"Long live President Morgans!!!"
Excited voices echoed through the office, reaching far and wide, even waking up a large group of delivery seagulls who were catching up on sleep.
That night.
As the leading industry leader, the World Economic News Agency worked through the night.
Following President Morgans' instructions, tomorrow's newspaper would feature a double front-page layout, and both sides would be filled with nothing but headlines.
This extremely special request was a first in the history of the news agency, so there was no room for any mistakes.
The next day.
Newspapers were sent out from the World Economic News Agency's branches around the world by delivery seagulls.
In the East Blue, at the Marine headquarters in Loguetown.
"General Sengoku, here's today's latest newspaper."
With the report from a duty soldier, a new newspaper was delivered to Sengoku.
Looking at the content of the newspaper, Sengoku's brow furrowed.
He hadn't expected Bullet to pull something like this off. If the intelligence was true, then adjustments would have to be made regarding Douglas Bullet's Demonic Slayer Order.
After all, they had to consider the remnants of the Roger Pirates and the scum of the sea who were moving for the Eternal Pose to Raftel.
"Roger's bloodline in Bullet's hands?"
Garp, who came early in the morning for breakfast, picked up the newspaper and was taken aback.
Wasn't Roger's wife and son in Windmill Village? Did Roger, that bushy-browed guy, have another illegitimate child somewhere?
Also thinking of the rumours about Whitebeard's illegitimate children circulating on the seas, Garp couldn't help but say, "Life as a pirate is really chaotic."
"Well, this is just a report from the World Economic News Agency. It's still uncertain. I've already contacted our headquarters' intelligence department and the World Government to verify it as soon as possible."
Sengoku nodded, clearly not completely believing the report.
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
Rayleigh sat on the steps outside Shakky's bar, watching as a figure appeared in the distance. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze.
As the figure approached, he tossed the bottle of wine he was holding directly to the newcomer.
"Gaban, long time no see."
"Yeah, long time no see. You old man, are you really here to retire?" Gaban caught the bottle and took a small sip with ease.
He then handed the bottle back to Rayleigh.
After sitting down beside Rayleigh, Gaban pulled out a newspaper and said, "What I'm more concerned about is whether Captain's bloodline has really been found by Bullet."
"Ah, you guys. Didn't the Captain say to live peacefully?
Rayleigh sighed lightly, somewhat helpless.
He continued, "No, Roger said he was going to have a child. Who knows if he actually had one. And with the Captain's personality, if Bullet really dared to lay a hand on his wife and child, he would've been chopped to pieces long ago.
Don't forget, Roger was just sick, it doesn't mean he is unable to wield a sword."
"That makes sense."
Gaban thought about what Rayleigh said and found it reasonable, given his understanding of Roger's character.
"By the way, how's everyone doing?"
"Hehe, don't worry, everyone's doing better than ever, except for Shanks and Buggy, those two idiots who are always thinking about going out to sea to find the Captain. Everyone's living happily there."
"Then let's have a good drink later. Hopefully, your drinking capacity has improved a bit."
"Don't worry, both my drinking capacity and my cooking skills have improved greatly."
The two exchanged a glance, and after a moment, their hearty laughter echoed through the nearby tree islands.
But a few seconds later, an extremely tyrannical Conqueror's Haki swept through the entire 13th Tree Island, interrupting their laughter.
Thump... Thump...
Accompanied by the sweep of Conqueror's Haki, all the ordinary people on the 13th Tree Island and the nearby tree islands were knocked unconscious by the sudden surge of Conqueror's Haki, even some nearby pirates who were resting were unable to resist and fell to the ground one after another.
In just one or two seconds, among the people who could stand on the 13th Tree Island, only a few remained.
"Hmm?"
Rayleigh and Gaban, without saying a word, looked in the same direction.
A burly, muscular man with golden long hair, wearing earmuffs, military uniform, and a crazed smile on his face, was striding towards the 13th Tree Island.
Seeing this sudden appearance, Rayleigh and Gaban's faces showed solemn expressions.
The man approached them, not restraining his Conqueror's Haki at all, instead boldly using it to constantly attack the two former comrades who had once sailed on the same ship.
"Long time no see, Rayleigh, Gaban."
The man raised his chin slightly, looking at the two.
"Long time no see, Bullet!"
With the words falling, a Conqueror's Haki no less powerful than Bullet's burst out, and the powerful Conqueror's Haki collided, black and red lightning flashing on the 13th Tree Island.