Thanks to prior arrangements, the entire battle had been filmed from beginning to end. The moment the fighting ceased, the footage was transmitted straight to the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency.
Morgans and his staff had been waiting since early morning. The instant the material arrived, cheers erupted through the newsroom. Excitement quickly gave way to frantic efficiency as the team threw themselves into post production. Angles were selected, pacing refined, and certain segments subtly adjusted to ensure the final cut delivered the most shocking and captivating impact possible for audiences around the world.
At Marine Headquarters, the atmosphere could not have been more different.
Silence weighed heavily over the meeting room. No one knew Vice Admiral Brom's exact fate, but his Vivre Card had begun to burn not long ago, and now it had completely turned to ash. Marine Headquarters had not even been given time to respond.
"It seems Brom has fallen," Sengoku said at last, letting out a weary sigh.
"Wasn't that inevitable?" Borsalino muttered, lips curling slightly. "An arrogant, conceited, ignorant old man."
The moment the words left his mouth, a sharp, icy glare locked onto him.
"Oh, oh. My mistake." Borsalino raised both hands casually. "That slipped out."
There was no trace of remorse on his face.
"No communications have come through from Vice Admiral Brom," another Vice Admiral reported grimly. "All calls went unanswered. We have no information on what happened on site, but given the circumstances, the outcome is… unfavorable."
"In the West Blue, only two pirate forces pose a significant threat," another Vice Admiral added. "Don Chinjao's Happo Navy, and Marshall D. Teach of the Nightfall Pirates. Chinjao has remained in the Flower Country without making any moves. Vice Admiral Brom was dispatched specifically against the Nightfall Pirates. A few days ago, intelligence on Teach was delivered to him."
"So Brom died at Teach's hands," someone said quietly. "But with Brom's strength, even if he could not win, he should have been able to retreat. Has Teach grown that much stronger?"
The question lingered heavily in the air.
Tsuru frowned, fingers lightly tapping the table.
There was no dispute within Marine Headquarters regarding the power gap. Brom was not Teach's equal in overall combat ability. Even with the Crush Crush Fruit, the difference remained undeniable.
"The Dark Dark Fruit is extremely dangerous," Tsuru said slowly, "but it has clear drawbacks. Vice Admiral Brom may not have known its full effects beforehand, but he would have realized something was wrong during the fight. Even then, how did he fail to escape?"
Marine Headquarters had already obtained detailed intelligence on the Dark Dark Fruit from the World Government. Brom, however, had departed before that information reached him.
"The weaknesses of a Devil Fruit can be compensated for through mastery and development," Borsalino said, finally speaking up again.
Everyone turned toward him.
"What if Teach specifically targeted the Dark Dark Fruit because he understood it completely?" Borsalino continued with a faint chuckle. "If it were me, I would already have planned out every development path and application before eating my fruit. That way, mastery comes quickly."
The implication was clear.
Teach had pursued the Dark Dark Fruit deliberately. He knew its strengths and flaws, and from the moment he consumed it, he displayed techniques far beyond what a newly awakened Logia user should be capable of.
Unease spread across the room.
If that was true, Teach's threat level had risen sharply. Still, for now, it did not alter Marine deployments in the Four Seas or the first half of the Grand Line.
"Once the Nightfall Pirates enter the Grand Line," Sengoku said, "Marine Headquarters will handle them directly. Brom acted too recklessly. He could not be stopped."
"Then we wait," Sengoku added after a pause. "Morgans' report will be out tomorrow."
"Admiral," an officer asked hesitantly, "couldn't we obtain the footage directly from Morgans?"
"Hmph." Sengoku snorted. "We tried. The line never connected. There is no way that bird was unaware of this battle. More likely, he is cooperating with Teach."
"That damn bird," someone cursed under their breath. "One day we'll castrate him."
No one dared say it loudly.
Morgans wielded terrifying influence. As head of the World Economic News Agency, he controlled global public opinion and an intelligence network unmatched anywhere in the world. Even the World Government could not command him outright. Cooperation was the only option.
Compared to Morgans' reach, even Big Mom's intelligence network was limited to the New World.
"Then we'll enjoy the show tomorrow," Borsalino said lazily, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. He glanced toward Fleet Admiral Kong at the head of the table. "Fleet Admiral, how about a raise?"
Kong's expression tightened.
He was already preparing to step down, with most authority gradually transferred to Sengoku. The Marines were bleeding money. Warship construction, expansion, suppression across the seas. Their budget was stretched thin.
Where would funds for raises come from?
Marines had families. They needed salaries. Passion alone could not sustain an army. If one rank received a raise, all ranks would demand the same. The cost would be astronomical.
"If intelligence is accurate," Tsuru said calmly, fixing Borsalino with a level stare, "you should not be lacking funds. You earned quite a bit from your last piece of footage. And recently, a video titled 'Blinding Your Dog Eyes' has been quite popular. If I am not mistaken, that looks suspiciously like the Glint Glint Fruit."
The room went silent.
Several officers stared at Borsalino in disbelief. Many of them had seen the video. A comedic clip. They had assumed it was lighting effects.
Borsalino stiffened.
"Cough. Cough." He cleared his throat, calmly took a sip of tea, then waved his hand. "Impossible. How could I do something like that? Must have been a theater production. Or someone else with light abilities. I have been diligently hunting pirates."
The looks he received said no one believed a word of it.
Sengoku shot him a dark glance.
With another sigh, Sengoku shifted the discussion.
"Let's move on. Kuzan, Sakazuki, and several Vice Admirals are already en route to Ohara. The Buster Call has begun. What we must discuss is how to cooperate with the World Government to suppress information afterward."
The room grew colder.
"Admiral," one officer protested quietly, "is it truly necessary to destroy Ohara?"
Ohara was the world's greatest center of historical research. Its scholars. Its library. The Tree of Knowledge. Priceless treasures.
Several officers looked away, discomfort evident.
But the order came from the World Government. It was not something the Marines could defy.
Those scholars had no power. Yet they dared violate the World Government's greatest taboo. From the Government's perspective, that alone sealed their fate.
Meanwhile, aboard the Nightfall Pirates' ship, Teach held a pale blue Devil Fruit in his hand. Only Redyat stood beside him.
"You're not eating it?" Redyat asked.
"No." Teach smiled faintly, turning the fruit in his palm. "Not yet. If I eat a second Devil Fruit now, the truth would come out. I would become the enemy of the entire world."
He continued calmly, "I have not even fully developed the Dark Dark Fruit. Splitting my focus would be foolish. When I reach the peak with darkness alone, then I will eat a second fruit. At that point, I will be unrivaled."
His laughter was deep and confident.
"The Tremor Tremor Fruit still suits me better," Teach added. "If I cannot obtain it, or if something unexpected happens, then the Crush Crush Fruit will serve as my second."
He placed the fruit into a specially prepared container, locked it, and released a surge of black mist that swallowed the box into his dark space.
"As domineering as ever," Redyat said with a smile. "But that is not all, is it?"
Teach nodded and shared the intelligence he had just received from Shakky.
Ohara.
He had no interest in Nico Robin herself. Redyat could extract her knowledge easily enough. What interested Teach were the books. The countless volumes within the Tree of Knowledge.
"The Navy dares to do this?" Redyat frowned. "No. It must be the World Government."
"Ohara's reputation is immense," Teach said. "Which is why its destruction will shake the world."
He placed a hand on Redyat's shoulder. "I want you to bring back the books. As many as possible. Do not be discovered. Your safety comes first. Nelson will go with you."
Redyat nodded without hesitation. As a West Blue native and a former prince, he understood the weight of this task.
The scholars themselves did not concern him. Powerless people who challenged a global behemoth had chosen their fate.
History, after all, was written by the victors.
Redyat and Nelson departed quietly. Wrapped within shadow, Redyat transformed into darkness and raced across the night toward Ohara at full speed.
Time was short. The Navy was already on the move.