"So it's you, Moria," Morgans said cheerfully into the Den Den Mushi. "Care to tell me why you're going to such lengths just to reach me?"
As the man who controlled the world's news, Morgans had an exceptional memory. Any figure with influence or potential was firmly etched into his mind.
Moria was no exception.
A rising pirate, just below Warlord level yet clearly possessing the potential to reach Admiral-tier strength. A future overlord in the making.
Morgans wasn't annoyed in the slightest that Moria had used such an aggressive method to contact him. On the contrary, he was intrigued.
If Moria needed him, it meant something big was happening.
And big events meant big news.
"What do you need?" Morgans asked, already smiling wider.
"Help me find two people," Moria said coldly. "I need their whereabouts."
"Oh?" Morgans' eyes gleamed. "Who are you looking for?"
"Plamon and Getov," Moria replied without hesitation. "They've gone into seclusion. I want to know where they're hiding."
"Those two?" Morgans laughed. "Alright. I'll have the information sent to you soon."
"…That's it?" Moria paused. "No price?"
He had been prepared to pay heavily, whether with Belly or favors. The easy agreement caught him off guard.
"Haha. I already got what I wanted."
Moria immediately understood.
The World Economic News Agency would be there to record what followed.
He didn't care.
Who would avenge two traitors? The remnants of the John Pirates had long since scattered. Few could threaten him now.
"Then don't send it to me directly," Moria said. "Send it to Sousa. Include his intelligence as well."
"I see," Morgans nodded. "It'll be sent shortly."
Sousa was another former executive of the John Pirates. Unlike the other two, he was still active, commanding his own pirate crew on the seas.
Plamon and Getov, on the other hand, had grown old. After seizing vast treasure, they retired and disappeared into the New World.
But to Morgans?
There was no such thing as truly disappearing.
With only seven days to spare, Moria had no better option than the World Economic News Agency.
The moment the call ended, Moria moved.
His shadow twisted and expanded, forming a massive shadow bat. Its claws seized his arms as it took to the sky, soaring toward Sousa's location at full speed.
At the World Economic News Agency headquarters, Morgans sat with two thick files in hand.
He already had a good idea why Moria was hunting these three pirates.
Moria had no prior connection to them. Two were retired. One was active, but irrelevant to Moria's past.
Yet Moria was clearly determined to kill all three.
There had to be a hidden link.
Digging deeper, Morgans found it.
One file detailed the betrayal and murder of Captain John by four of his top executives.
One was already dead.
The remaining three were Moria's targets.
This pointed to a single conclusion.
Moria was avenging Captain John.
But that raised another question.
Captain John and Moria had never crossed paths.
Morgans' agency had excavated Moria's entire life. Born in West Blue. Only entered the New World two years ago. No overlap with Captain John's era.
Then came the second file.
"The theft of Captain John's corpse."
Everything clicked.
Moria had stolen John's body and used his Shadow-Shadow Fruit to awaken him.
Not as a mindless zombie.
But as something far more dangerous.
Morgans' feathers stood on end.
Ordinary zombies were useless. Cannon fodder. No real value.
But what if the corpse hadn't been dead long?
What if the consciousness had returned?
Recent intelligence reported violent clashes within Gecko Island. No outsiders were allowed in. Moria claimed he was training.
Training… or fighting?
If Morgans' guess was correct, then the awakened Captain John was strong enough to battle Moria himself.
"Hehehe…" Morgans' eyes widened as he scribbled furiously. "Did I just stumble onto something terrifying?"
He stored the files carefully.
This secret was explosive.
But for now, it wasn't worth publishing.
Revealing it would offend two rising monsters and gain him nothing.
When it finally emerged into the world, it would shake the seas.
There was still one unanswered question.
Why was Moria helping Captain John?
Treasure?
A secret?
Power?
Only time would tell.
Moria had no idea how much a single call had exposed.
Seven days later.
A battered Moria returned to Gecko Island.
His body was riddled with wounds. His aura was exhausted. Yet he was alive.
His crew rushed forward, worry and excitement mixing on their faces.
Because the news had already spread.
In seven days, Moria had slain three great pirates.
After brief reassurances, Moria headed straight for the castle.
Deep within Gecko Island, Captain John waited.
A newspaper lay in his hands, headlines detailing Moria's battles. Nearby, Den Den Mushi screens replayed footage of the first two executions.
John smiled as Moria entered.
"You're back," John said calmly.
"Just in time," Moria replied, panting but grinning.
He dropped a heavy bag to the floor.
Three severed heads rolled out.
In his other hand was John's sword, still stained with blood. After defeating each target, Moria had personally pierced their hearts and taken their heads with it.
Seven days of nonstop combat.
No rest.
After the first kill, Morgans' intelligence arrived. Moria immediately moved to the second target.
Morgans hadn't held back. He released footage the very next day.
The third target was ready.
Seclusion didn't mean ignorance. With his two former comrades dead, he knew Moria was coming.
Using his wealth, he hired two powerful fighters.
Moria faced three enemies alone.
It was brutal.
In the end, he won.
The two hired fighters escaped, wounded but alive. Treasure wasn't worth their lives.
Moria memorized their faces.
He would remember them.
"You returned later than expected," John said, examining the heads. "But you passed."
He took the sword and carefully wiped the blade clean.
Moria felt a surge of excitement.
This was what he had endured everything for.
"Sit," John said, taking a seat. "Let's talk about your weaknesses."
Moria ignored his injuries and listened intently.
"Your Devil Fruit development is excellent," John said, nodding. "Versatile. Flexible. Well-rounded."
"Your Shadow Horn Spear has real killing potential. Refine it properly, and it'll become deadly."
Moria remained silent.
He knew this already.
"Your physical talent is good," John continued. "But it can go further."
"Your Rokushiki is mediocre."
"And your Haki…" John shook his head. "Barely acceptable. Self-taught. Crude."
Without guidance, Haki growth would stall unless Moria risked his life constantly.
"If your Haki doesn't improve, Admiral-level strength is a fantasy," John said bluntly. "Flowing Haki. Internal destruction. These aren't optional."
Moria swallowed.
"So aside from my ability, everything else is lacking?" he asked.
John nodded.
Moria hesitated, then asked, "How do I compare to Teach?"
John stared at him.
"You really don't know?" he said flatly.
"He's a monster. Physique, Rokushiki, Haki, Conqueror's Haki, Devil Fruit development. All top-tier."
"You're two levels below him in every category."
"At his age, he's already walking a path beyond mine."
"You're still trying to reach where I once stood."
The difference was absolute.
Even among overlords, there were gaps.
"Shiki. Whitebeard," John added quietly. "They were stronger than me."
Silence filled the room.
Then John smiled.
"Enough talking. Are you ready for hell?"
"I won't go easy on you."
Moria clenched his fists.
The gap was real.
But his eyes burned with resolve.
"I'm ready," he said firmly. "No matter how hard it gets, I won't stop."
This time, there was no hesitation.
Only determination.