New World, World Economic News Agency, President's Office.
"Arton killed a World Noble?"
"And he publicly vowed retaliation against the woman World Noble, Saint Shalria?"
"Arton and his Flame-Blade Pirates openly challenging the Navy and the World Government?"
"Ellie, you didn't misspeak, right? My ears didn't deceive me, correct?"
With eyes bulging, Morgans stared hard at the Den-Den Mushi on his desk.
"You heard every word correctly, President Morgans," Ellie replied.
"Arton said and did all of this in front of nearly half of Loguetown. Besides me, plenty of other press and newspaper reporters witnessed everything."
"President, should we run this story in the World Economic Times? After all, it concerns the dignity of the World Nobles."
Ellie's expression was complicated.
The scoop was huge, but so sensitive that publishing it would draw the Navy's and the Government's wrath onto the agency. Ellie loved honest reporting, yet she was still an ordinary person—unlike Arton, she couldn't simply ignore those powers. So she had turned to President Morgans for guidance.
Morgans stroked his beak, not a trace of fear—only excitement.
"Heh-heh, excellent work this time, Ellie. Send the material back at once. A story this big would be a crime to waste."
After a pause, he added, "Ellie, let me teach you something. Sometimes you don't have to use our paper to publish a story. Now and then, hiding our hand and letting it out anonymously is the smarter play."
Ellie's eyes lit up. "You mean… an anonymous release?"
Morgans nodded, pleased. "Exactly! We won't make much beri that way, but even at a loss, I'm running this."
His infectious enthusiasm spurred Ellie into transmitting the data immediately.
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere—Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
"Smoker, this isn't a joke?!"
Sengoku's eyes were wide with alarm as he barked into the Den-Den Mushi. Beside him, Tsuru lifted her head, brows knit tight.
"Fleet Admiral, I'd never lie about this," Smoker answered.
"The moment I woke from unconsciousness, I began investigating Arton and the World Noble incident. Arton did publicly claim responsibility for the death of Saint Charlos and declared revenge on Saint Shalria in front of Loguetown's residents and dozens of reporters. Also—Tashigi has left with Arton. She's now a pirate of the Flame-Blade crew."
Just saying it gave Smoker a pounding headache. Doll, Kujaku, Hibari, and the others had already come to, and with Hina present he'd pieced together some of Tashigi's reasons for quitting the Navy—at least part of them. All because he'd let her off on her own once, she'd ended up face-to-face with a World Noble. The thought made him regretful.
Plenty of Marines through history had turned criminal over World Nobles; Tashigi had merely become one more. Smoker hated seeing it, but wasn't wholly surprised.
"That bastard Arton actually did this openly?!"
"Smoker—lock the news down at once. We can't let it spread," Sengoku ordered.
"I already sealed it off locally, but reporters learned everything while I was knocked out. Rather than my own blockade, Fleet Admiral, you should use your authority to clamp every newspaper at sea. I'll forward you the list of outlets involved—World Economic News included."
"Including Morgans' outfit?" Sengoku grimaced, head throbbing. Tsuru was already on another line ordering the blackout.
He turned back to Smoker. "You said Arton used Conqueror's Haki, strong enough to crack the ground and walls? You're sure?"
"You were unconscious before that—could the townsfolk be exaggerating?"
Sengoku's doubt was natural; Haki that physically damages the surroundings meant a level comparable to Red-Haired Shanks or the Pirate King Roger—and Mihawk already acknowledged Arton as the greatest swordsman. If Arton's Conqueror's Haki was truly top tier, the Navy faced a terrifying foe.
"No mistake," Smoker affirmed. "Vice Admiral Doll confirmed it. She said even she couldn't move freely under Arton's aura."
"How can this be…!" Sengoku clenched a fist. "Damn it—if that old geezer Garp had arrested him from the start…"
He knew Garp never could: at that time Arton wasn't a pirate, and even now he hadn't committed the usual monstrous crimes. What really irked Sengoku was that Garp's lost bet meant Arton never came to meet him—Sengoku had fancied recruiting him into the Navy.
After all, Arton's grudge came from Captain Nezumi and two World Nobles. Sengoku could punish Nezumi and offer recompense over the World Nobles; perhaps that might have pacified Arton—so he believed. He never guessed Arton would have sneered even at the Fleet Admiral's chair; killing Charlos and impregnating Shalria mattered far more to him.
"I understand, Smoker. I'll contact the Five Elders. Handle everything in Loguetown—and do not let word of a World Noble's death leak out."
Sengoku had already decided on a bounty and manhunt, but the Dragon's death was too volatile. The public only needed to know Arton was dangerous.
He hung up and immediately rang the Five Elders.
…
"Hmm? Arton publicly claimed the World Noble's death—and threatened Saint Shalria as well?"
"Sengoku, are you serious?" asked blond Elder Shepherd Ju Peter, brows furrowed.
Sengoku, having fielded identical doubts from Smoker, sighed inwardly yet detailed the incident and his measures. After a silence, Peter spoke.
"Very well, proceed as you planned. The Government will make its own arrangements—co-operate fully. And see that nothing happens to Shalria again. Arton must receive the harshest penalty—understood?"
"Understood!" Sengoku answered.
"Good. As for your dereliction, we'll deal with it later." Peter hung up, then looked to his colleagues between the thrones; all wore equally grave faces.
"It's been ages since anyone dared such madness," muttered Elder Marcus Mars. "This Arton reminds me of Rocks."
"A lunatic like Rocks? Then gather our forces and kill him," said Elder Jaygarcia Saturn.
"He's growing too fast," added Elder Topman Warcury. "We must crush him before he matures completely."
...
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