"Heh, albatrosses flying around in the middle of the night? Those must be reporters from the World Economic Journal again."
Ash chuckled softly as he looked up at the dark sky. The silhouette of large birds could be seen gliding through the moonlit clouds, their movements steady and purposeful.
"Don't bother with those errand boys," he said dismissively. "Sooner or later I will catch Morgans himself and give him a good beating for always sending paparazzi to take sneaky photos."
His tone carried clear irritation, but there was also a hint of amusement. The president of the World Economic Journal had a reputation for sticking his nose into every major event on the seas. If there was big news somewhere, Morgans would always find it.
And right now, news was definitely brewing.
---
Meanwhile, far away from Ash's location...
Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines, remained brightly illuminated despite the late hour. The massive fortress overlooking the sea never truly slept. Officers and soldiers moved through its halls at all hours, maintaining the balance of power across the world.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the atmosphere was serious.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat behind his desk with a document in hand. Standing nearby was Chief-of-Staff Tsuru, while several Marine Vice Admirals remained gathered in the room.
Sengoku frowned as he examined the report before him.
"Thriller Bark has sailed out of the Florian Triangle?"
His voice carried clear disbelief.
"When did this happen? And do we know its destination?"
Vice Admiral Yamakaji, a burly officer with a thick beard and a cigar clenched between his teeth, stepped forward.
"According to our scouts, it departed not long ago," he replied. "Based on its direction, the destination is likely either Fish-Man Island or the Sabaody Archipelago."
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Vice Admiral Tsuru placed a hand beneath her chin as she thought carefully. Her sharp eyes briefly glanced toward Sengoku.
Sengoku noticed the look immediately.
"You all may leave," he said calmly to the other Vice Admirals. "Get some rest."
After the officers saluted and exited the room, only Sengoku and Tsuru remained.
Sengoku leaned back slightly in his chair and looked at her.
"What are you thinking?"
Tsuru slowly lifted her teacup and took a small sip before speaking.
"The appointment exchange scheduled for the end of the year. The request for a bounty increase. And the surprise he promised us."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Do you think Thriller Bark currently carries Gecko Moria..."
She paused for a brief moment.
"Or Ash?"
Sengoku's eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
His brows pulled together tightly.
"You think that kid defeated Moria?"
Tsuru remained calm.
"It is only a possibility," she said evenly.
"Now that the Marines have discovered Thriller Bark leaving the Florian Triangle, the World Economic Journal has probably noticed it as well."
She placed her teacup down gently.
"Considering Morgans' personality, he never ignores potential news. He will absolutely investigate the matter."
Sengoku slowly nodded.
"That makes sense."
Without hesitation, he reached for a Den Den Mushi sitting on his desk.
"Bring me the Den Den Mushi used to contact Big News Morgans."
A short time later, the communication line was connected.
The Den Den Mushi's face shifted until it resembled Morgans' distinctive bird-like appearance.
Sengoku spoke first.
"This is Sengoku."
The response came immediately, loud and exaggerated.
"Shocking! Fleet Admiral Sengoku calling me personally in the middle of the night! What an honor!"
Morgans laughed loudly through the snail.
"Let me guess. You are calling about Thriller Bark leaving the Florian Triangle."
Although it sounded like a question, Morgans spoke with complete certainty.
Sengoku and Tsuru exchanged an annoyed glance.
That troublesome albatross really did know everything.
"Tell me what you have discovered," Sengoku said.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is extremely valuable news!"
Sengoku's forehead twitched slightly with irritation.
Before he could respond, Tsuru gently took the Den Den Mushi.
"Morgans," she said calmly, "tell us what you know. If the information proves useful, I will give you a piece of news in return."
The Den Den Mushi's eyes widened dramatically.
"Shocking! Vice Admiral Tsuru herself is speaking!"
Morgans sounded delighted.
"Since you are asking personally, I will tell you the truth!"
Sengoku silently gritted his teeth nearby.
When he asked, Morgans dodged the question. The moment Tsuru spoke, the man suddenly became cooperative.
Morgans, however, had already become excited.
"Thriller Bark has changed owners!" he announced enthusiastically.
"The once dark and gloomy island is completely different now. How should I describe it? It is full of life. Lush greenery everywhere!"
Tsuru remained silent, allowing him to continue.
"And the former Seven Warlords of the Sea member, Gecko Moria, has been executed!"
Morgans' voice grew even more dramatic.
"The one who defeated him is the same thief who once defeated the captain of the Giant Warrior Pirates!"
"That is enough," Tsuru interrupted calmly.
"We already know who it is."
There was a brief pause.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru," Morgans complained, "interrupting a journalist during a major announcement is very uncomfortable."
Tsuru ignored his theatrics.
"Ash will soon take the position of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea," she said. "That is the news I promised earlier. Consider it compensation."
For a moment, Morgans fell completely silent.
Then his voice exploded with excitement.
"Shocking! This is enormous news!"
"A new Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"I must think carefully about what nickname to give this man!"
Tsuru added calmly,
"Morgans, a small reminder."
"Ash possesses extremely high combat power, and he is also quite vengeful."
Her tone remained gentle.
"Most importantly, he can fly. And he flies very fast."
Morgans burst into loud laughter.
"Even though my combat ability is average and I cannot fly, Vice Admiral Tsuru, do you know why I always appear as an albatross and never reveal my real face?"
He laughed again.
"Being a journalist is very dangerous!"
"But thank you for the reminder. Becoming a Seven Warlords of the Sea means he is now an important figure in these seas. I will not offend him for no reason."
Morgans paused for a moment.
"As for the nickname, perhaps I should simply ask for his opinion."
Tsuru nodded slightly.
"That would indeed be interesting."
She then added another request.
"Also, regarding the news of the new Seven Warlords of the Sea, it would be best if you released it after Ash arrives at the Sabaody Archipelago."
Morgans hesitated.
For someone like him, holding onto huge news without publishing it was pure torture.
Spreading news across the seas was practically his second nature.
Seeing the hesitation, Tsuru continued calmly.
"The first exclusive report will still belong to you."
"But you cannot publish the news before the Marines and the World Government act."
Her meaning was very clear.
Publishing news too early would attract unwanted attention.
Morgans quickly understood the message.
"Very well," he said after a moment. "I will temporarily hold back the news about the new Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"I will also keep gathering information so we can exchange intelligence."
Tsuru responded without hesitation.
"Very good. Then we will end the call here."
"I look forward to our next conversation!" Morgans said cheerfully before disconnecting the Den Den Mushi.
The office fell quiet once again.
Sengoku looked at Tsuru thoughtfully.
"You intend to maintain long-term contact with Morgans to obtain faster intelligence."
Tsuru nodded.
"Exactly."
"If we are talking about the fastest information network in the world, it undoubtedly belongs to Morgans and the World Economic Journal."
She continued calmly.
"His birds move faster and more widely than Marine warships. Whether we cooperate with him or not, he will still uncover information."
"So rather than letting him dig freely and cause unpredictable problems, it is better to establish a working relationship."
She lifted her teacup again.
"We provide small pieces of information and receive valuable intelligence in return. It gives us time to react."
Sengoku slowly nodded.
Then he leaned back in his chair and sighed.
"I still cannot believe that kid did it."
"He quietly eliminated a pirate like Gecko Moria."
Tsuru smiled faintly.
"Do not worry."
"We only asked Morgans to delay the news about Ash becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
She took another sip of tea.
"But we never told him he could not release the news of Moria's defeat."
Sengoku's eyes lit up slightly.
Tsuru's smile deepened.
"With Morgans' personality, he will definitely start building momentum first."
Sengoku chuckled.
"In that case, Ash will not be blamed for killing another Warlord, and we will have a perfect excuse to increase his bounty."
Tsuru gently placed her teacup on the table.
"Killing two birds with one stone."
She then looked at Sengoku.
"Now the real question is..."
"How high should Ash's bounty be?"
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