"Eight years old… an eight-year-old bounty hunter?"
"Are you kidding me? This kid is only eight?!"
"In just one hour he wiped out three pirate crews, with a combined captain-and-officer bounty of over 300 million Belly?"
"So this is the Grand Line debut of the so-called strongest bounty hunter from East Blue… I didn't expect that, right at the end of the year, a newcomer this dazzling would show up."
"He's not even a pirate, but a talent like this… I bet all the big players are already drooling over him."
"An eight-year-old bounty hunter, from the weakest sea, who can already fire Flying Slashes… I'm really looking forward to this kid's future."
"If the Red-Haired Pirates hadn't made a big move again, this issue's headline would definitely be about him."
"Red-Haired Pirates captain, Shanks, and his right hand Benn Beckman… are those two monsters really about to challenge the authority of the three Emperors and become the fourth Emperor of the Sea?"
"If Shanks becomes the fourth Emperor, he'll set the record for youngest Emperor ever, right?!"
"The cake on the Grand Line keeps getting smaller. I hope the newcomers from Paradise don't get beaten so badly by those four monsters that they start doubting their life choices…"
The second page of the World Economy News Paper is where the second-biggest stories go—second only to the headline itself in exposure.
So when El's name and photo appeared on page two, the impact rippled across the world.
Swordsmen with high-level skills—those who understand Cutting Steel and can unleash Flying Slashes—aren't exactly rare on the Grand Line, whether in the first half or the New World.
Just like how, in this sea, if you don't master Haki, you won't survive for long…A swordsman who can't at least Cut Steel, or even send out a Flying Slash, is no different from a small fry.
Even if you can Cut Steel and throw Flying Slashes, that only upgrades you from trash mob to elite soldier—or at best, squad leader.
Look at the rookies in the Red-Haired Pirates: most of them are near a 100 million Belly bounty.A random swordsman who "just" knows Cutting Steel and Flying Slash isn't even qualified to make them turn their heads, much less earn a spot on page two of the world's biggest news platform.
The only reason El broke that pattern…
Was his age.
Eight-year-old swordsmen aren't rare. You can find them in training halls all over the world.
But an eight-year-old master swordsman, who can already use Flying Slashes—
That's a different story.
Who was the last child to shake the world before the age of ten?
You'd have to go back decades, all the way to one of the current three Emperors at the top of the Grand Line, the Pirate Queen known as Big Mom.
And that era was so old, it was back before Rocks D. Xebec ruled the seas.
In the eyes of most of the monsters on the Grand Line, El's current strength isn't worth mentioning.
But his potential?
That's something the major powers can't ignore.
In the world of swordsmanship, a new monster is about to be born.
That was the shared evaluation of the people reading his incomplete dossier.
In truth, if the Red-Haired Pirates hadn't made waves at the same time, El's feats would've taken the headline spot that day.
"Nii-san, you're really famous this time!"
"The second page of the World Economy News Paper—that's the world's biggest newspaper!"
"That means everyone who bought today's paper knows your name now, Nii-san!"
"There are loads of young pirates, but only you got the title of Young Swordsman!"
"Nii-san, you're so cool…"
Carina and Nami crowded in on either side of El, clutching the newspaper, chattering excitedly.
If you didn't know any better, you'd think El had already climbed to the very top of the world's power pyramid.
"Idiots. What's there to be happy about?"
El pinched their cheeks and pulled gently, then said seriously:
"This article is flattering us, but at this stage, it's not actually a good thing."
"Up until now, my talent was only known in East Blue and to a few organizations with good intelligence networks. But now…"
His eyes grew sharper.
"Now the whole world knows what I am."
"For ambitious people, my talent makes them excited—and makes them feel threatened."
"In order to get me, some of those people will definitely send agents—or even come in person—to recruit us."
"If they succeed, they gain a future top-class swordsman on their side. If they fail…"
His tone turned cold.
"If they fail, they'll try to eliminate a future threat before it fully matures."
Only then did Carina's expression turn serious. Nami, on the other hand, swallowed nervously and stammered:
"Th–then… doesn't that mean we're in a really dangerous position?"
"You could say that."
El nodded, then looked at Nami and continued:
"From now on, Nami, you are our trump card. Try not to reveal your Devil Fruit powers unless we absolutely have to."
"That way, if we run into a powerful enemy later… you might be the key to turning the tables."
"Uh-huh…"
Nami nodded quickly, face tense.
"Haha…"
Looking at their scared-but-serious faces, El couldn't help pinching both cheeks again, then smiled and reassured them:
"Relax. It's not as bad as it sounds. Did you forget about my ability?"
"As long as a powerful enemy appears within the range of my Observation Haki, I'll know in advance. If it's someone we can't afford to fight… I'll just grab you three and retreat first."
He leaned back, eyes reflecting the endless sea.
"By the time my plan is complete…"
"None of those people will even be worth mentioning."
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