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Chapter 97: Striving to Be Superior
Blake took the negatives and held them up to the sunlight, examining them one by one.
Garp, Kizaru, Dragon, and the trembling News Coo all focused their gaze on his face, not daring to breathe.
At first, Blake's face showed a hint of satisfaction.
The "man-made moon" hanging high in the sky was captured with immense oppressive force. The composition and lighting were just right, perfectly displaying that world-ending terror.
The shot of the Golden Lion's twisted, despairing face as he was sucked in was also captured clearly, full of artistic tragedy.
But as he looked at the next few group photos, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
His expression, visibly, began to darken.
Thwack.
He casually tossed a few negatives onto the News Coo's face. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an icy interrogation.
"What the hell is this supposed to be?"
"Coo?" The News Coo jumped in fright, looking at him blankly.
"I asked you, what is this?" Blake picked up one photo, pointed at the figures in it, and his voice suddenly rose. "Do you even know how to take a picture?!"
In the photo, Garp's explosive muscles nearly tore through his Marine uniform, his wide grin making him look like a 200-jin fool, yet his aura was as imposing as a mountain.
Kizaru, though his posture was sleazy, was over two meters tall, and with his Admiral's coat, he looked quite imposing, carrying the presence of a strong fighter.
Dragon was even more so; the shadows under his hood were as deep as an abyss. Just standing there, he seemed like the antithesis of the world, radiating pressure.
And then...
Squeezed between these three giant monsters, was a black-haired young man of normal build.
The young man held a fishing rod, his profile calm, his eyes tranquil... looking like a neighborhood kid who had come out fishing with his elders and happened to witness something incredible.
Plain! Unimposing!
Is there something wrong with the people in the One Piece world? Every last one of them develops like they're on hormones!
I'm standing in the middle looking like a midget.
The more Blake looked, the angrier he got, feeling his blood pressure rising. (Tom Cat red face!)
Silence!
Garp looked, and the more he looked, the more he felt something was wrong.
This reaction is a bit strange. Were the pictures bad?
Normally, this brat would be showing off by now.
That can't be right. This is Morgans's bread and butter. The News Coo's photography skills are top-notch. I glanced at those photos; the composition and timing were perfect, capturing that world-ending scene to perfection.
Garp's smile slowly froze. He sensed something was wrong.
Blake's face was darkening at a visible rate.
The News Coo, which had just escaped death, felt its feathers "swoosh" and stand on end again. The fear that had just subsided washed over it like a tide, completely drowning its tiny heart.
It's over!
As I thought, he's still going to make a move on this weak, pitiful, and helpless little bird!
I saw it! I saw the 'evidence' of this man creating a moon! This man is going to kill the bird to silence it!
The News Coo's beak opened slightly, already preparing to be grabbed by that evil, giant hand and squeezed into pulp.
However, the expected death did not arrive.
Rip—
A soft sound.
Blake, expressionless, tore those textbook-quality photography negatives into pieces.
His movement wasn't large, it was even casual, like tearing up a draft with a mistake on it.
But this action made everyone present feel their hearts jolt.
"You," Blake looked up, his calm gaze falling on the News Coo. There was no killing intent in his eyes, but it was more frightening than any killing intent. "Take them again."
"Coo?"
The News Coo let out a dazed sound.
Blake took a deep breath, pointed to himself, then pointed to Garp, Kizaru, and Dragon beside him.
"I want you to capture that... imposing and domineering feeling!"
"The feeling of being superior! Understand?!"
"A king's aura! Do you understand what a king's aura is?!"
Blake's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, filled with an order that allowed no argument.
"Look at the crap you shot before. Can this stuff be published in the newspaper!?"
"Coo?" The News Coo flapped its wings, about to explain.
"Hmm?"
Blake let out a questioning sound.
The News Coo immediately, wisely, nodded its head.
Having navigated the world for years, aspiring to be the King of News-sellers, it had long since understood a principle—a wise bird knows when to submit.
But looking at Blake's neighborhood-boy appearance, this request seemed a bit difficult to achieve.
Garp, Kizaru, and Dragon were also collectively stunned.
A... King's aura?
Superior?
Garp blinked. He glanced down at the shredded negatives on the ground, then looked up at Blake's face, which looked "petite" due to the height difference. It felt like a string in his brain "snap."
He finally understood where the problem was.
This kid... is upset that he doesn't look tall or imposing enough in the photos?!
Pfft!
Garp almost burst out laughing, but his survival instinct forced him to hold it back. His old face flushed red, and his shoulders twitched, looking extremely comical.
Nearby, Dragon's mouth was also twitching madly.
His face, perennially covered in shadows, showed an incredibly complex expression for the first time.
Shock, absurdity, and a hint of... indescribable speechlessness.
A terrifying being who just casually squeezed a moon into existence and sealed a legendary great pirate... is now angry because he doesn't look "grand" enough in a photo?
Has the art style of this world been broken from the very beginning?
In this bizarre silence, a lazy, drawn-out voice quietly sounded in Dragon's ear.
"Kowai-ne~"
Kizaru had sidled over at some point, his body half-blocking Garp's view. His signature sleazy smile was on his face, his lips pursed slightly, nudging in Dragon's direction.
"Mr. Dragon, did you hear that?"
"Little Mr. Blake... he wants to be 'superior'~"
"As a revolutionary dedicated to overthrowing the world's nobles, aren't you going to... revolt against him?"
BOOM!!!
Kizaru's voice was soft, but it was like a divine thunderclap exploding in Dragon's mind!
Dragon's deep eyes instantly widened!
He snapped his head around, staring deadly at Kizaru!
You dog!!!
How dare you try to frame me!!!
He wanted to strangle this smiling, sleazy, black-hearted bastard on the spot!
"Borsalino!"
A low shout came from Garp.
He glared at Kizaru, the warning in his eyes almost materializing.
"Stop causing trouble!"
You dare try to screw over my son?!
Kizaru's neck shrank. He immediately raised his hands in surrender, still wearing that punchable expression.
"Oh my~ just a joke, Mr. Garp..."
He spread his hands, glanced lazily at Dragon, and added slowly.
"As expected... my cute little junior just can't compare to your evil son, can he."
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