It seems it's either the hat or one of the newspapers inside the package...
Bam!
The next second.
A blob of sticky, warm substance landed precisely in his palm.
Shano looked down—
Bird poop.
Fresh too.
Although the next moment, the bird poop vanished, returning to its original spot, the moist sensation and foul smell lingered...
"..."
Shano remained silent for two seconds, the veins on his forehead bulging.
Is this what it means to be a straightforward animal? It just had to poop from high above when I reached out, how inconsiderate!
A trial version, huh! A free trial, huh!
Indeed, things that are free can never be trusted!
Seething with anger, he looked up at the News Bird.
And the News Bird seemed to notice the ship speeding along the river, happily changing direction to fly closer.
A moment later.
The news bird, with bruises on its face, flew away sulkily.
Hmm, that was satisfying.
Shano clapped his hands contentedly; a bird with no sense of public decency indeed needed a beating to be taught a lesson.
However, as a form of compensation, he rolled up all the newspapers in the package neatly so the working bird could finish its job and clock out sooner.
Picking up the Swordsmanship Manual and the newspaper, Shano walked towards the bow of the ship.
He intended to give them to Kuina and Nami, who was eagerly waiting for the newspaper.
On the way.
He casually opened the newspaper and glanced through it.
As expected, the news of the downfall of the Hanafuda Pirates hadn't reached the World Economic News Agency Headquarters yet.
But it should be soon, at the latest, by tomorrow.
But that doesn't mean this issue of the newspaper is unrelated to them.
Quite the contrary.
This time's headline, one could say, was single-handedly created by Shano!
—"Judicial Island Falls! Green Orge Red Orge, Two Legendary Giants from a Century Ago Reappear at Sea!"
Beneath the specially bolded and enlarged title was a gigantic photograph taking up nearly half a page.
In the photo, Judicial Island lay in ruins, debris and fallen guards everywhere.
Even the towering Tower of Justice, along with the flag of the World Government that was supposed to wave in the wind, had collapsed to the ground with a boom!
Among the dilapidated walls, four gigantic figures embraced each other under the sunset, their bodies drenched in blood, evidently just having experienced a fierce battle.
The written report below also fully utilized Morgans' usual style, embellishing the story, making it shocking.
"Shocking! One of the three major institutions of the World Government—Judicial Island, recently suffered a devastating blow!"
"According to eyewitnesses, the two legendary warriors of the Giant Race—'Green Orge Dorry and Red Orge Brogy, led two other equally massive giants, and swept through the island's defenses!"
"The Navy Fleet, rushing to the rescue from the whirlpool behind the Gate of Justice, was also destroyed! Two Headquarter Vice Admirals were seriously injured!"
"Tower of Justice collapsed! Gate of Justice destroyed!"
"The flag symbolizing the authority of the World Government was torn apart by the legendary warriors from Elbaf and trampled underfoot!"
"Where did they come from, and who released these notorious fierce beasts from centuries ago!!!"
"Things are getting interesting now."
Shano chuckled softly and closed the newspaper.
It seems, inadvertently, I've added a big problem for the Navy Headquarters.
You could say, true to the Giant Race's straightforward and fiery nature.
From the timing, it seemed the two uncles, after seeing the note I left, could no longer sit idly by, ended their century-long duel, and set sail again.
Their first stop, heading straight for Judicial Island.
They stirred up a storm on the sea.
For him, naturally, this is good news.
On these seas, there are now two extremely powerful allies, and if he ever goes to Elbaf, there's now someone to bridge connections in between.
Moreover.
The bigger the Judicial Island incident gets, the more the World Government and Navy Headquarters' attention will be diverted, and in the short term, they should have no time to trouble me.
————
The Endgame sailed along the Santora River.
As night fell, the group smoothly arrived at the Alabasta Royal Capital Alubarna.
Inside the palace, lights were ablaze.
The banquet had long been prepared.
As a nation situated in the desert, the Alabasta Kingdom, mostly barren, is not very wealthy.
Even so, to express gratitude for the Endgame Adventurer Group's assistance, the specifications of this banquet were set extremely high.
Inside the main hall, silver candelabras flickered with warm light, illuminating the long table filled with a dazzling array of delicacies.
Golden-roasted large rib racks, aromatic date-stewed lamb, and heaps of precious fruits of various kinds...
The royal family's wine collection, aged for years, was generously laid out for Shano and company to enjoy.
Even the bedridden King Cobra mustered enough strength to attend and preside over the banquet personally.
Face and spectacle were given in full measure, making it an interaction of joviality between host and guests.
In such a setting.
Even if they were actually fearsome pirates, they would likely feel embarrassed having any ill intentions.
By the banquet's end, the night was deep.
The thoroughly drunken crew was helped by maids to their rooms to rest, while Nami, who was too young to drink, was taken by Vivi to her room to play.
As for Shano and Robin, both tacitly drank little.
After leaving the table, they went to the palace's side hall, where they met Cobra to discuss Crocodile and the historical texts.
...
Meanwhile.
Far away on the Red Earth Continent, in the Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Another meeting was also underway.
Though, in terms of level, it was slightly higher...
————
Pangu City.
The Five Elders gathered in the top-floor meeting room, the atmosphere so tense it could be wrung for water.
On the long table in front of the sofa, various newspapers and intelligence reports lay scattered, with the day's World Economic News Agency headline on top.
"Judicial Island destroyed, Gate of Justice collapsed..."
The blond-haired Five Elders in a deep red suit slammed the newspaper on the table, his tone icy:
"In just under a month, first the Seven Warlords of the Sea Crocodile was killed, then the failure of the Thor Island encirclement, and now this sudden major incident, the dignity of the World Government has been trampled into worthlessness."
His name is Shepherd Ju Peter, currently holding the position of Agricultural Martial God.
"Green Orge Dorry, and Red Orge Brogy..."
The Five Elders in a kimono clutching a Demon Sword squinted his eyes, "Weren't those two giants dueling in Little Garden for over a century? How did they suddenly leave and accurately attack Judicial Island?"
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, Financial Martial God.
"Someone intervened."
The curly-haired Five Elders with a flat hat flipped through the intelligence reports from the CP Department, speaking in a calm voice:
"According to descriptions from seriously injured guards, while the giants were hugging each other and crying in celebration, they mentioned a name—Shano. It seems thanks to him, Green Orge Red Orge learned of the Giants' comrade being tricked by us to guard the gate at Judicial Island."
Jaygarcia Saturn, Scientific Defense Martial God.
"Shano?!" The blond-haired Five Elders jerked his head, "Again with this Shano?!"
The two major incidents I mentioned earlier were also orchestrated by this guy!
"From Log Town to Thor Island, in just under two months into the Grand Line, how many major events has he already stirred up? Now even the disturbance at Judicial Island is linked to him, this brat is like a plague, wherever he goes, chaos ensues..."
"Turning the world upside down."
The long-bearded white-haired Five Elders, who had been silent, interrupted, speaking indifferently:
"By the way, before coming to the meeting, I just received the latest urgent intelligence from CP0, another Seven Warlords of the Sea, Hanafuda, was killed in the Alabasta Kingdom yesterday, with the mastermind being this same Shano."
"What?!!!"