Chapter 8 – [8] : Making the Stagnant Seas Boil Again!

World Economic News Agency Headquarters.

“News! News! Isn’t there any major news worth reporting?!”

Morgans, the president of the World Economic News Agency—who usually appeared in his Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Albatross hybrid form—was extremely agitated right now.

“Damn this ‘Balance’! Damn the World Government! Damn the Seven Warlords!” Morgans roared, slamming his fist (wing?) on the desk.

Ever since this cursed Warlord system was fully established, creating the so-called ‘Three Great Powers’ balance between Marine Headquarters, the Seven Warlords, and the Four Emperors, the number of significant news stories hadn’t just declined—it had practically vanished!

Most of the Warlords were busy managing their own pirate kingdoms. Granted legitimate plunder rights by the World Government, the Marines wouldn’t pursue them.

And the Four Emperors stayed within their territories in the New World; the Marines wouldn’t dare rashly start a war with forces like them either.

So, day-to-day, the Marines mostly just chased small-fry pirates who weren’t worth mentioning.

The big-name pirates with high bounties either became Warlords, sought protection under an Emperor, or simply vanished from the world stage, living anonymously. This damn tranquil sea was disgustingly dull!

That Great Treasure, the One Piece—how many pirates were still truly chasing it, still holding onto that dream?

Morgans was sick and tired of these days without any major news.

“More news coming in? East Blue? Is there actually news from the weakest sea that’s worth my personal attention?” Seeing the incoming data and images, Morgans’ interest was instantly piqued when he noted the location.

As the world’s largest news organization, the World Economic News Agency had an incredibly vast structure.

To ensure no major news was missed, Morgans had operatives stationed everywhere, responsible for capturing scoops.

While most were deployed along the Grand Line, there were operatives in the Four Blues as well.

When an operative in the Four Blues captured something newsworthy, it would go through layers of review, moving up the chain of command.

For this news to reach his desk meant that after multiple levels of scrutiny, this report from the East Blue was deemed worthy of the personal attention of the World Economic News Agency president himself.

“This… This is…” Morgans leaped to his feet as he saw the power unleashed by the young man calling himself ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen in the submitted materials.

The sequence of numerous photographs combined with the written report created an effect similar to watching a video.

“Conqueror’s Haki! No doubt about it! That’s Conqueror’s Haki!” Morgans felt every cell in his body buzz with excitement.

After stagnating for so long, these dull seas had finally produced a newcomer possessing the disposition of a King!

“The man who will stand above all, calling himself ‘Sky Sovereign’… What arrogance! Hahaha! Arrogance is good! That’s what makes it newsworthy!” Morgans burst out laughing.

If some ignorant fool who didn’t know their place made such a claim and called themselves ‘Sky Sovereign’, Morgans would just scoff. Idiots like that popped up every year on these seas, oblivious to their own mortality.

But when someone possessing Conqueror’s Haki said it—especially a man so young who could already control it with precision—that was the ambition and disposition of a true King!

That was worth reporting.

No—this deserved the front page! A massive scoop!

The last newcomer who had excited him this much was ‘Fire Fist’ Portgas D. Ace—the Flare-Flare Fruit user who had since joined the Whitebeard Pirates and become their Second Division Commander.

Back then, Morgans had harvested quite a few juicy stories from Fire Fist Ace.

But damn it, Ace ended up getting recruited by Whitebeard, and the news stream dried up.

After that, the seas became disgustingly quiet again.

But now…

Morgans stared at Rowen’s photo, his eyes practically glowing.

Conqueror’s Haki! And from such a young newcomer who could already control it precisely! Plus, such blatant arrogance! This was even more sensational, more worthy of extensive coverage, than Fire Fist Ace had been initially!

And there was more worth reporting!

Morgans looked at the name provided in the self-introduction of the kid wearing the straw hat in the report.

“Monkey D. Luffy—Captain of the crew ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen joined. Monkey? D? Hahahaha!” A strange, almost predatory grin spread across Morgans’ beak.

As the head of the World Economic News Agency, Morgans was all too familiar with that surname.

Wasn’t that the family name of the Marine Hero, Monkey D. Garp, and the Revolutionary Leader, Monkey D. Dragon?

Judging by age, this Straw Hat kid had to be Dragon’s son, Garp’s grandson.

That old geezer Garp—his son becomes the leader of the Revolutionaries, and now his grandson sets out to sea as a pirate?

And this grandson has a crewmate who awakened Conqueror’s Haki and calls himself ‘Sky Sovereign’—isn’t that deliberately mirroring the epithet of the Pirate King’s Right Hand, the ‘Dark King’ Silvers Rayleigh?!

Is this kid aiming to become the next Pirate King?

The grandson of Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp wants to become the Pirate King? This family—all three generations—was certainly interesting!

There was so much material here! Absolutely worth extensive coverage!

Hmm, let’s hold off on reporting about the Straw Hat kid for now. The first priority is Rowen.

You eat one bite at a time; big news should be released piece by piece.

Morgans had been starved for excitement for far too long. Now that he’d finally snagged a major story—and one that looked like it could provide continuous, developing reports—he needed to grip it tightly and milk it for all its worth.

Compared to the sheer impact of Conqueror’s Haki, the Straw Hat kid’s currently demonstrated power wasn’t eye-catching enough yet.

What was the most important thing in news? Grabbing attention instantly!

And what could possibly grab more attention than a newcomer claiming he’ll stand above all, calling himself ‘Sky Sovereign’, and possessing Conqueror’s Haki?

Once he had the world’s eyes fixed on this, he could follow up with ongoing reports about the crew.

Besides, with the ‘Monkey D.’ name involved, Morgans didn’t have to worry too much that excessive hype might attract disaster and get the crew wiped out prematurely, leaving him with no future stories. Garp wouldn’t let that happen easily.

This kind of news—one he could trumpet loudly and without reservation—he hadn’t encountered anything like it in far too long!

Morgans’ eyes gleamed with avarice.

“Get this photo distributed worldwide! Spread the name ‘Sky Sovereign’ Rowen across the globe!

Tell all those rotten trash on these seas—those who’ve lost their dreams and are practically decaying—that a new King is about to be born! These stagnant waters are finally going to boil again! Hahahaha!” Morgans roared with laughter.

On his desk lay a close-up photo of Rowen.

In it, Rowen’s eyes blazed with overwhelming power—captured at the very instant he unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki.

Soon, the front-page story featuring Rowen was printed.

Beneath the close-up photo of Rowen, the headline screamed in bold type: [I WILL STAND ABOVE ALL!]

Of course, the news of Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy’s debut was included as well, with Morgans making sure to heavily bold the Monkey D. initials.

Carried by countless News Coos, this report would soon spread throughout the entire world.

The long-stagnant seas were about to erupt!

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