Riding the wind was an application of the Wind Caller skill once it reached a proficient level.
This was the first time Ryuuto had ever used it.
The effect was far better than he had imagined. He sensed the flow of the air, pictured himself as a gust of wind, and naturally merged into it.
[Congratulations, you have learned Wind Riding!]
Over the vast sea, fish occasionally leaped from the water, and massive Sea Kings would suddenly break the surface, swallowing countless tons of seawater in a single gulp. What a vibrant scene of life!
Caw caw…
The tufted News Coo flapped through the air, occasionally dipping down under the weight of the heavy box before frantically flapping its wings to regain altitude. Ryuuto, following behind, was stunned by the sight. It was a living demonstration of a bird dying for a bit of coin.
Finally, after following the determined bird for the better part of a day, Ryuuto spotted a massive airship in the distant sky. The vessel was powered by a hot air balloon, with a steel fortress shaped like a teapot suspended beneath it. Countless News Coos circled the strange craft. Emblazoned across the giant balloon were the words "BIG NEWS."
Caw! Caw caw!
The tufted News Coo let out an excited cry, then glanced back at Ryuuto as if to say, "We're here, keep up."
Ryuuto nodded in acknowledgment.
Caw!!
Eager to get home, the News Coo flapped its wings with renewed vigor, speeding toward the airship known as the *Big News*.
"No wonder no one can ever find Morgans," Ryuuto thought to himself, stroking his chin. "An airship this enormous, bigger than most Marine warships and pirate vessels, flying so high and hidden among the clouds… an ordinary person would never spot it."
With a light step, he leaped onto the deck of the *Big News*.
At the same time, the tufted News Coo was already amidst the flock, cawing incessantly. It seemed to be showing off the Beri it had earned. As the saying goes: what's the point of getting rich if you can't go home and flaunt it? Now was the perfect time for a little showing off.
The moment Ryuuto's feet touched the deck of the *Big News*, two men holding cameras sprang out from the side, shouting at him. "Who are you? How dare you trespass on our airship!"
"Don't be rash," Ryuuto said, his tone mild, not wanting to start any trouble. "I'm here to cooperate with Morgans."
The two men eyed him suspiciously. They didn't believe for a second that someone could just appear out of thin air on the *Big News*. They were, after all, several thousand meters up in the sky.
"So, what business do you have with our president?" one of them, a man in a beret, demanded, not letting his guard down. He suddenly drew a small pistol and aimed it at Ryuuto.
"Morgans!" Ryuuto had no intention of wasting time with these two. He simply cupped his hands and bellowed toward the airship's interior.
"Who? Did you hear that? I think someone's calling my name!" Morgans, in the middle of a meeting with a group of World Economic News reporters, thought he vaguely heard his name.
"Morgans!"
The voice came again, clearer this time. Morgans was now certain someone outside was shouting for him.
Ryuuto continued to call out as he walked across the deck.
"Bastard! Don't move!" the man in the beret yelled. Sweat beaded on his forehead with every step Ryuuto took. He stared intently, his finger tightening on the trigger.
"Nyehehehehehe, isn't this our strongest rookie, Ryuuto?"
Just then, an albatross wearing a well-tailored suit emerged from within the airship. It was none other than Morgans himself.
"President!" the two reporters exclaimed. At a glance from Morgans, they vanished back inside the airship.
"Welcome to the World Economic News!" Morgans said, walking over to Ryuuto and casually placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Morgans, let's cooperate," Ryuuto said, looking the bird-man in the eye. His voice was calm, doing its best to convey his friendly intentions.
…
Inside the *Big News*…
Ryuuto and Morgans sat opposite each other. Ryuuto spoke continuously while Morgans furiously scribbled notes on a piece of paper.
"BIG NEWS!" Hearing a key detail, Morgans' feathers stood on end, his small eyes bulged, and he shouted in excitement. "Ryuuto, I have to say, you're a genius!"
Morgans slammed his pen down and roared with delight. Scrawled on the paper were the words: Justice Guild.
This was Ryuuto's plan. He would use Morgans to publicize the establishment of the Justice Guild, and in return, Morgans would get a massive scoop. A perfect win-win situation.
"So, I'll leave this news in your hands?" Ryuuto asked slowly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs.
"No problem!" Morgans leaped onto his desk and bellowed at his subordinates. "Get all the Visual Den Den Mushi online!"
Click! Click…
With the sound of switches being flipped, countless Visual Den Den Mushi activated, and the walls came alive with projected live feeds from all over the world. There were screens for the Four Blues, for Paradise, and for the New World. There were even feeds from Marine bases.
Wherever there was news, the World Economic News was there.
Ryuuto glanced at the array of screens, then gave Morgans a deep look. He understood this was Morgans' way of demonstrating his power and influence.
"Let's go! To the Sabaody Archipelago!" Morgans was practically vibrating with excitement. He grabbed Ryuuto's right hand and yelled, "I need to do a special feature on you!"
…
As the colossal *Big News* sailed slowly through the sky, surrounded by the calls of countless News Coos, Ryuuto took a tour of the airship's interior.
"It's a whole other world in here."
Before him were several massive printing presses, churning out newspapers at a relentless pace. Ryuuto casually picked one up. The headline was written in bold black letters: Movements of the New World Emperor—The Whitebeard Pirates!
The headline piqued his interest. He opened the paper and saw a huge picture of the Moby Dick. The article reported that the Whitebeard Pirates, who had been docked for some time, had mysteriously disappeared.
"Hm? Are the gears of fate beginning to turn?" Ryuuto mused, looking at the newspaper.
The *Big News* was fast, and it wasn't long before they reached the Sabaody Archipelago. The first thing that came into view were the giant mangrove trees that soared into the sky.
"Here I come, my BIG NEWS!" Morgans shouted excitedly, clutching a giant albatross. As he spoke, the massive bird dove straight down toward the islands below.
"So the rumors are true," Ryuuto said softly. "Morgans can't fly."
A whirlwind instantly formed at his feet, and a powerful force blasted him downwards.