The next day.
As the news birds carrying the morning papers flew across the world like they always did, no one realized the storm they were bringing, one powerful enough to shake the balance of the entire sea.
The World Economy News Paper's president, "Big News" Morgans, used his signature sensational writing and the most exaggerated front-page headline imaginable to turn yesterday's incident in the G-5 sea into a bomb dropped on the world.
{Shocking! Marine hero "Slothful Admiral" Haiiroyo single-handedly forces back a Yonko fleet! BIG MOM Pirates humiliated, forced to pay 20.8 billion berries in compensation!!!}
Every word of the headline hit like a hammer.
And the content inside was even more outrageous.
In the report, Renzo was portrayed as a mercurial "demon god" who would punch a Yonko over something as trivial as afternoon tea.
The article vividly described how he "effortlessly" wiped out a Yonko fleet while chatting and laughing, Morgans' artistic embellishment, how he issued a "divine command" that froze time, and how he "righteously" handed down a punishment to the pirates in the form of a "fine for justice."
As for why the compensation went from 10.8 billion to 20.8 billion…
Morgans added a tiny footnote in small print:
The extra 10 billion is "a reasonable valuation and artistic enhancement" by Big News Morgans, out of admiration for Admiral Haiiroyo's dedication to world peace and his condemnation of the BIG MOM Pirates' destructive behavior.
In short: He thought 20.8 billion sounded cooler and would sell more papers.
And he was right.
Once the paper circulated through every corner of the world, the entire globe erupted.
New World, A Pirates' Gathering Island
"Gulp."
A drunken Supernova stared at the paper, swallowed hard, and sobered up instantly.
"Over twenty billion? I didn't read that wrong, right? That's berries, not seashells?"
"Damn it, I've been pirating for years and my whole bounty doesn't even reach a fraction of that! That Marine guy opens his mouth and BIG MOM coughs up this much?!"
"This isn't just extortion but divine retribution!"
"What scares me isn't the money… it's that BIG MOM actually paid! That crazy hag! When has she ever taken a loss like this?!"
For the first time, pirates stared at Renzo's lazy, yawning photo with pure fear.
This man was silently promoted in their minds to more dangerous than all the other Emperors combined.
An existence they must never provoke.
.....
Marineford
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Sengoku frowned, torn between pride and worry.
Pride that Renzo had crushed the BIG MOM Pirates; worry about the insane extortion stunt Renzo had pulled.
Everyone who saw the report was stunned.
Especially Akainu.
Sakazuki's magma-hot fury nearly burned a hole through the newspaper.
"BASTARD!!!"
His roar shook the entire office.
"Extorting a Yonko?! Forcing out a 10.8 billion ransom?! Where does he think the Marine's dignity is?!"
He slammed his fist on the desk, melting a glowing crater into the alloy surface.
"The Marine's authority is built on iron fists and cannon fire! Not on thuggish extortion! He's telling the whole world the Marines are just bandits dressed in justice!"
For someone who worshipped absolute justice, Renzo's unpredictable, uncontrollable, illogical behavior was intolerable.
.....
Grand Line, Headquarters of the Revolutionary Army
The wind howled across the cliffside, whipping the green cloak of a man standing at the edge.
Revolutionary Army Commander Monkey D. Dragon silently read the explosive headline.
Behind him, Sabo, Ivankov, and Koala all wore identical expressions of shock and disbelief.
"Dear lord!"
Ivankov wiggled dramatically. "Who knew the Navy had someone this interesting!"
Sabo looked more serious.
"We know Big Mom's strength. To make her take such a loss without a major battle… this Admiral's power is far beyond what we estimated."
Dragon remained quiet, his gaze fixed on Renzo's sleepy photo.
Those eyes, appearing lazy and indifferent, seemed detached from the world itself.
He wasn't obsessive like Akainu, slippery like Kizaru, or lost like Aokiji.
He was an anomaly, someone who didn't fit.
"At Marineford, he made both sides fall into sloth, saving countless lives."
"And now, with absurd methods, he weakens Big Mom's power and influence."
Dragon finally spoke, his deep voice echoing in the wind.
"Every action he takes, intentionally or not, undermines the old powers of both pirates and the Marines, pushing the world toward more chaos… and more possibility."
He turned, looking at his trusted officers.
"We want to overthrow the Celestial Dragons, but we've lacked a decisive force that can break the stalemate."
Dragon's eyes glimmered.
"This man, Renzo… may not be our enemy."
"Perhaps…"
He made a decision that stunned everyone present.
"I must meet him myself."
"I need to see with my own eyes whether this Renzo is the 'storm' that will reshape the world…"
"Or simply a sleepy slacker chasing a quiet life."
"…or perhaps, both."