The speed at which the news spread was even greater than Morgans himself had expected.
In the seas of Totto Land, when Big Mom received the newspaper, everyone was left dumbfounded.
"That brat actually went to Laugh Tale by himself?!"
Big Mom was furious.
Could this still even be called an alliance? He went and enjoyed everything alone!
Charlotte Katakuri commented:
"Mother, we received a message from Elegia. They're inviting us to participate in a strategic meeting."
"A war meeting?" Charlotte Smoothie raised an eyebrow.
"What else could it be?" Charlotte Perospero narrowed his eyes. "The history of the Void Century has been revealed to the entire world. It looks like our new Pirate King intends to start a war against the World Government."
All the siblings turned their gazes toward their mother.
Big Mom continued staring at the contents of the newspaper and, after a while, let out a heavy snort.
"Come up with some excuse and delay it for a few days!"
The situation still wasn't clear enough.
She needed to carefully observe how the World Government would react to all of this.
After all, everything had already been exposed.
Meanwhile, in Water 7.
The Galley-La Company was busy constructing warships, fulfilling orders for both the World Government and the New Marines.
As the city's mayor, Iceburg personally worked in the shipyards as well.
While it was already night in the New World, Water 7, located on the opposite side of the planet, was still in the middle of the afternoon.
The new secretary ran up to him holding a newspaper.
"Mr. Iceburg! Huge news! Straw Hat reached the final island after Roger... He's already become the new Pirate King!"
Iceburg was stunned and immediately stopped working.
"Everyone take a break."
He took the newspaper and began reading carefully.
After finishing, his expression became extremely serious.
"So that's what happened eight hundred years ago..."
Iceburg muttered quietly.
Sir Luffy... are you really preparing to declare war against the World Government?
Thinking about it, he immediately asked the secretary:
"About the order for the new warships... which docks are responsible for the World Government's requests?"
"Docks 2, 4, 5, and 6."
"In the middle of the night, set fire to three of them."
Iceburg spoke with absolute calm:
"Afterward, inform the World Government that an accident occurred and that repairs should take about three months."
That was the most he could do.
Meanwhile, in Alabasta, in the capital city of Alubarna.
Igaram ran toward King Nefertari Cobra while holding a newspaper.
As he hurried into the room, he saw Cobra sitting near the window, already reading the headline.
"Your Majesty!"
"Igaram?"
Cobra raised his head and smiled faintly.
"Why the rush?"
"The news! Have you already seen it?! Luffy found the final island!"
"Yes. I already read it."
Looking at the photograph printed on the front page, Cobra couldn't help but recall an old conversation with Luffy.
[Cobra, if you ever get the chance to meet the Five Elders, don't ask anything about the Void Century... or you'll be killed.]
[When I reach Laugh Tale, I'll uncover the entire truth... and then I'll let the world know.]
So... back then, Luffy had already suspected something?
At least regarding Nefertari Lily.
The Nefertari Family was considered traitors by the Celestial Dragons.
"So that was it..."
"No wonder Lily left behind so many clues."
Cobra finally understood.
Looking once again at the newspaper photo, he saw that beside the newly proclaimed Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy, his daughter Nefertari Vivi was also there.
She looked far more mature than when she had left the kingdom.
Cobra smiled and ordered:
"Igaram, prepare a banquet. Vivi should be returning soon!"
Meanwhile, in the Drum Kingdom.
The new king, Dalton, stared at the contents of the newspaper in complete shock.
On the sofa in the room, Dr. Kureha drank wine while letting out an amused laugh.
"What an incredible brat... Finding Laugh Tale so quickly. Feels like just yesterday he first came here looking for medical treatment."
"Doctor Kureha, that's not the problem!"
Dalton looked incredulous.
"The Void Century... so everything was a war between slaves and slave masters? The D. Clan and the Celestial Dragons..."
"What a surprise, boy."
Kureha took another sip of wine.
"There's nothing new about human cruelty."
"You're not worried at all?"
Compared to the old doctor's calmness, Dalton felt deeply uneasy about the future.
The World Government had hidden this history for eight hundred years.
Now that the entire truth had been revealed...
What would happen to the world from this moment onward?
Would those despicable Celestial Dragons try to start another war capable of sweeping across the entire world?
Would they erase another "Lost Century" from history?
With so many affiliated and unaffiliated countries scattered across the world, what would happen in the future?
Would Luffy win?
Dalton didn't know.
And that uncertainty was exactly what terrified him.
Dr. Kureha took another sip of alcohol, slowly stood up, and opened the room's window. A freezing wind immediately blew inside.
"There's no need to worry."
She let out a low laugh.
"The one who should truly be panicking right now is someone else…"
The king of the Celestial Dragons.
Imu.
And all of his obedient dogs.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Grand Line, at Reverse Mountain, on the Twin Capes.
The small house near the lighthouse remained exactly the same.
After Laboon departed, Crocus, the former doctor of the Roger Pirates, began living an extremely peaceful life.
At that moment, he too was observing the newspaper's news.
"That boy... actually did it."
Crocus smiled.
"But he's far too impatient. The treasure left behind by Nefertari Lily on Laugh Tale was only supposed to fully awaken in two years."
"Is he really that eager to destroy the World Government?"
It was almost as if something was pressuring Luffy to act as quickly as possible.
Suddenly, a pirate ship climbed Reverse Mountain and arrived near the coast beside the lighthouse.
"Hey, old man! What place is this?"
The pirates disembarked one after another and saw Crocus lying calmly in his chair.
Crocus stared at them with a serious expression without answering.
The pirates grew nervous.
"W-what is it?"
Crocus finally asked:
"Are you pirates?"
"Can't you see the flag?"
"And why did you decide to go out to sea?"
"To become the Pirate King!"
The captain answered without hesitation:
"Before he died, Whitebeard confirmed during the Marineford War that the One Piece really exists! We set sail to find it!"
Upon hearing that, Crocus simply smiled and tossed the newspaper toward them.
"Go back."
"The One Piece has already been found."
"Huh?!"
When the pirates grabbed the newspaper and read the headline, every single one of them was left utterly speechless.
Loguetown.
Baratie.
Syrup Village.
Cocoyasi Village.
Shells Town.
Foosha Village, in the Goa Kingdom.
Countless people, whether they knew Luffy or not, saw the news of the birth of a new Pirate King generation.
And also the truth about the Void Century revealed by Morgans.
The truth spread across the entire world.
Countless people were shocked.
For ordinary citizens, it might become nothing more than another topic discussed during dinner.
But for the kings and rulers of the world...
It would have been better had they never learned that history.
Shortly after the news spread globally, direct orders from the World Government quickly reached every affiliated nation.
The Government demanded that all nations immediately burn every newspaper related to the historical revelation.
Anyone hiding that specific edition would be considered a wanted criminal by the World Government.
At the same time, CP agents were dispatched to every corner of the world.
A storm was forming.
Meanwhile, in Elegia.
Inside the castle's grand hall.
All members of the Straw Hat Pirates were gathered, with the exception of Johnny and Yosaku.
Alongside them were also present the Three Great Leaders of the New Marines and Gordon, the former king of Elegia.
Luffy sat at the head seat of the banquet table.
He looked toward Franky and asked:
"Did you find it?"
"I found it!"
Franky immediately answered.
"The power plant is insane! It runs using solar energy! It was frozen inside the iceberg and started operating again after the ice melted."
"But to fully recharge Pluton, we'll still need around half a month."
Luffy nodded.
Half a month was enough time.
Once Pluton was fully charged...
The World Government would be destroyed.
"Captain Luffy, why did you gather us here today?"
Someone finally asked.
Luffy smiled faintly.
"The news has already spread throughout the world. The World Government is going to move soon."
"Before that... I have ten things to announce."
After a brief pause, he continued:
"The first companion I met in the East Blue was Nami."
"She's the greatest navigator in the world."
Nami became slightly embarrassed after hearing so much praise in front of so many people.
"H-hey... that's enough."
Luffy laughed.
"She was the one who helped me form the Straw Hat Pirates."
"Thanks to her abilities, we were able to complete our journey and quickly reach Laugh Tale."
"Now, I hear people all over the world calling me 'Pirate King.'"
"But honestly... I have no interest in that title."
"I simply walked the path Roger once walked and found the final island."
"That's all."
Naturally, his true objective was the system.
But that was something he could never tell anyone else.
He could reveal many of the world's secrets without issue.
However, the existence of the system was something he would never share.
"Now that this goal has been accomplished…"
"The existence of a pirate crew is no longer necessary."
Luffy slowly stood up.
"Therefore, I officially declare…"
"The Straw Hat Pirates are disbanded!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire hall fell into shock.
Usopp abruptly stood up.
"Why, Luffy?!"
"Why disband the crew?!"
Tony Tony Chopper also panicked.
"That's right! Even if we found Laugh Tale, there's no reason to end the crew!"
"I like everyone! I don't want to separate from you guys!"
Only those two idiots were completely desperate.
The others remained silent, waiting for Luffy to explain his intentions.
Luffy started laughing.
"I only said the crew would end."
"I never said you all had to leave."
'Pirate' was never a beautiful title."
"Now that the truth of the world has been revealed…"
"We can abandon that name with our heads held high."
He slowly opened his arms.
"I officially declare the foundation of a new country in Elegia."
"And I will be its king!"
(End of Chapter)