The dawn is breaking, the horizon just beginning to show a fish belly white.
Editors of the World Economic News Agency have worked through the night, finally completing their draft.
The News Birds flutter their wings, carrying the reports printed overnight, cheerfully flying to various destinations.
They glide over towns, ports, and ship decks, scattering newspapers like snowflakes everywhere.
The headline on the front page is so strikingly eye-catching that—
Four Seas, the first half of the Grand Line, New World...
In almost every place, the newspapers are snatched up instantly upon arrival.
This series of news, quickly fermenting through public opinion, sweeps the entire ocean like a hurricane, causing great waves!
————
New World, on the Moby Dick.
"Gura-ra-ra-ra—"
The hearty laughter causes the deck to shiver slightly, Whitebeard takes a big gulp of wine, tossing the newspaper to Marco, "Look, Marco, those Navy guys, they really lost a lot of face this time!"
"Endgame Pirates, Shano…"
Marco takes the newspaper, glances at it, raising his eyebrows slightly, "Akainu... got injured?"
"Eh?"
"Is that true?"
"Let me see too, Old Man!"
The other captains were startled, quickly gathering around.
"Whoa?!!" Diamond Jozu is the first to widen his eyes, "540 million Belly... Just entering the Grand Line with such a bounty, even faster than that Red Hair guy's growth!"
This level of bounty is actually enough to rank among the captains here!
"And he's a Sword Master too!"
Izou turns his head with interest, "A Sword Master that Akainu couldn't capture personally... Hey, Vista, this guy's swordsmanship might be better than yours, huh?"
"What are you kidding, you bastard Izou~!"
Flower Sword Vista is furious, "How could that be, don't compare me with such a rookie who just set foot in Paradise!"
Saying this, yet Vista's gaze kept sweeping back and forth between that handsome face and the long tachi behind the person.
A pure Sword Master who hadn't eaten a fruit?
Reaching such heights relying solely on swordsmanship.
Indeed... it's been a long time since there's been such a guy!
Vista squints his eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt.
Enter the New World soon, kid! When we meet, let's spar swordsmanship to our heart's content, let me see what you've got!
"Old Man."
Marco closes the newspaper, contemplating, "Should we reach out? Such a super powerful newcomer can't let the others recruit first."
"No rush, wait until he enters the New World!"
Whitebeard grins, waving his huge hand.
"These things depend on fate, dumb sons, Gura-ra-ra-ra... Anyway, let the Navy worry first! This sea is finally going to be lively again!"
————
Ghost Island, Skull Castle.
"Wa-haha-ha, Litter Pei! Why are you running, I'm not going to eat you!"
"..."
Two figures are running back and forth among the columns.
And at the very top of the hall, candlelight casts a long shadow.
"Un-la-la-la! Quinn, what are you looking at?"
Kaido, drunkenly lying in the main seat, holding a jug of wine, glances at Quinn, who is holding the newspaper with an astonished face.
"Boss, it's big news from over in Paradise."
Quinn chuckles with a cigar, smiling as he hands over the newspaper.
"See, an eighteen-year-old kid almost threw Navy Headquarters into chaos, causing them quite a headache."
"Oh?"
Kaido lazily takes the newspaper, squints as he reads the report, then stops at the bounty order.
"Eighteen, even younger than Yamato, huh, interesting…"
Kaido's gaze lingers on Shano's face for a moment, suddenly asking, "Managed to hold out against Akainu for so long… is he a Zoan-type Ability User?"
"Uh?"
Quinn scratches his head, "According to the intel, doesn't seem like it... this kid is a pure Sword Master, hasn't even eaten a Devil Fruit."
"...?"
Kaido suddenly becomes interested, flipping over and sitting up, "Really hasn't eaten?"
"No, didn't you see in the newspaper, escaped by jumping into the sea…"
"Un-la-la-la! Who would carefully read those details!"
Kaido, still tipsy, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "At this age, relying solely on physical strength, being this powerful, it's a rare talent!"
"Hey, Quinn!"
He grins, "Hold onto those fruits you mentioned earlier, keep a close eye on this kid. Once he enters the New World, immediately report to me! I want to personally seek him out with a fruit!"
"This…"
Quinn wipes his sweat, Kaido boss is great in every way, but... isn't he a bit too fond of recruiting talent?
Such treatment for a newcomer who just entered the Grand Line... offering him a choice of Devil Fruits?
Though he has to admit, Shano indeed deserves it.
Not yet in the New World and already has a bounty of 540 million Belly, that's quite impressive.
King has already surpassed 1 billion, Quinn's current bounty is only 700 million Belly, just over 100 million more than the newcomer!
If he really has the heart to join the Hundred Beasts, his rank would immediately be second only to their two Big Billboard…
Tsk, what new title should he be given? Drought Shano?
Just then—
The two figures finally rush into the banquet hall.
"Damn it, Litter Pei! Why are you hiding from me!"
Ulti stormily chases her brother around the hall.
"Sis, calm down!" Page One runs while covering his head, "Kaido-sama is talking about serious business!"