"May I ask your name, sir?"
Morgans' voice crackled from the Den Den Mushi.
"Adrian," he replied casually. "Profession: bandit. Not pirate. When you print your paper, don't get that wrong. Also—looks like I still owe your World Economic Journal a big news story."
He chuckled, throwing aside the tension from earlier.
"But judging from what you said," Adrian added, "you probably haven't seen what my men already sent you."
"—WHAT?!"
Morgans almost squawked himself hoarse. Aside from the Mihawk defeat photo, he'd had no major headlines recently. If there was a "big scoop," and it didn't reach his desk, then some fool in his staff had made a mistake of biblical proportions.
He mentally prepared to turn an unlucky intern into pigeon pâté.
"Sir Adrian," Morgans asked urgently, "may I know what this big news refers to?"
World-shaking news was his lifeblood. The past few weeks had been dull beyond belief—sales were dropping, readership down, and he'd been stressed enough to molt feathers. If Adrian truly had a bombshell—
It was enough to save the paper.
Adrian spoke mildly:
"You know Garp, the Marine Hero?"
"Who doesn't?!" Morgans responded instantly. "Sir Adrian, are you implying your news involves—him?"
"No." Adrian laughed. "It involves his grandson."
Morgans froze.
"My subordinate is holding Monkey D. Luffy—Garp's biological grandson. I've demanded a ransom of ten Devil Fruits. That headline big enough for you, Morgans?"
The other end of the line exploded.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
Morgans' wings trembled; every feather bristled.
This wasn't news—this was a nuclear detonation.
Someone dared to kidnap Garp's own grandson.
Someone dared to extort Devil Fruits from the Marines.
That wasn't a ransom.
That was declaring war… on the entire Navy.
But Morgans didn't hesitate. He didn't care. He was exhilarated.
"Sir Adrian," Morgans said solemnly, "please—allow my World Economic Journal to publish this. I swear—our paper will spread this headline to every corner of the sea."
His tone was humble, cautious, respectful.
Because he understood exactly what Adrian had just done.
Kidnapping Garp's grandson meant offending:
—The Marines.
—The Hero of the Navy.
—And the Revolutionary Army, because Dragon was Luffy's father.
Offending two top-tier world powers at once.
Yet Adrian did it anyway.
Such insanity—Morgans admired it from the bottom of his heart.
"Half a month," Adrian said. His tone brooked no discussion. "I'll give you this exclusive. You have two weeks to spread it across the world."
If someone else said that to Morgans, he'd have hung up.
But Adrian wasn't "someone else."
And this scoop was too massive.
"No problem!" Morgans answered instantly. "In two weeks every living soul on the sea will know this story!"
The call then transferred back to Lucci. Being ex-CP9, Lucci handled the details quickly and efficiently before hanging up.
Morgans began mobilizing instantly.
Machines roared.
Ink splattered.
Paper stacked by the ton.
He worked like a man possessed.
Meanwhile, Adrian turned to Lucci.
"Lucci—interested in training in the Room of Spirit and Time for two years?"
Lucci's eyes sharpened. Adrian explained the situation: the harsh environment, the ten-times gravity, the deadly temperature swings. Lucci listened silently, without fear.
Adrian continued,
"This room isn't like the one Bulma repaired in another world. My version only allows a person to stay inside for up to two years of internal time—and each person can only enter for two days of outside time."
He had originally considered Hashirama and Madara, but both primarily trained chakra; without Chakra Fruit enhancements, the gains wouldn't be optimal.
But Lucci—
Lucci's body was strong.
His Zoan Fruit granted immense physical fortitude.
And he needed strength the most.
Lucci knelt.
"I would give my life for you, Boss."
Adrian nodded in satisfaction.
He explained the conditions, then took out 1,000 senzu beans.
Enough to maintain Lucci's stamina and health for the entire two-year training. The man accepted them calmly.
"Boss, I won't disappoint."
Adrian summoned the door—the shimmering gateway that looked almost like Doraemon's Anywhere Door.
Lucci stepped inside.
The door shut.
Outside, two days would pass.
Inside, Lucci would face two years of grueling loneliness and hardship.
Even stronger than gravity and heat, the true enemy was solitude.
But Adrian believed he'd endure it.
Gyomei (Kokushibo?) watched with burning envy.
"If only I were strong enough to enter…"
His physique still lacked the durability required to handle the tenfold gravity. Adrian advised him patiently:
"Strengthen your body first. When you're ready, I'll send you in."
Gyomei nodded silently, filled with determination.
Adrian sighed inwardly.
His men were too motivated.
Which meant he had to keep getting stronger too.
Good thing he had a system—
and many more "jobs" to do.
Two Days Later
The World Economic Journal erupted into frenzy.
Printing presses screamed.
Paper flew like snow.
The smell of ink filled every corridor.
The front page headline was monstrous:
"SHOCKING! Marine Hero's Grandson Kidnapped!
Ten Devil Fruits Demanded as Ransom!
The First Appearance of the Fifth Emperor — Adrian!!!"
The keywords were huge—impossible to ignore.
The article?
A masterpiece.
Morgans personally wrote it, blending truth with strategic exaggeration.
Even Adrian had to admit the bird's pen was terrifyingly good.
News spread faster than wildfire.
Within days, half the world knew.
The rest would follow soon.
Adrian's fame and influence skyrocketed.
Marine Headquarters
If Morgans was celebrating—
The Marines were not.
In the large meeting room, nearly every senior officer was present.
Garp sat stiff and silent, fists trembling.
Beside him, Sengoku's face was the color of a thundercloud.
"That damned criminal dares lay hands on the family of a Marine?!"
Akainu roared, magma bursting from his shoulders. "Unforgivable!"
Sengoku slammed the table.
"I tried to suppress the news. I tried to contain it."
His teeth clenched.
"But Morgans leaked it anyway!"
This scandal would shake the Navy's foundation.
This wasn't just an insult—
it was a slap across the face of the entire institution.
"We can't let this stand."
Sengoku's voice was cold as steel.
"The Five Elders have approved it. We will pay the 13 Devil Fruits to secure Luffy and Smoker's release—"
A few officers flinched at that.
"—But after that," Sengoku continued, his voice dropping to a growl,
"we must capture Adrian. This bandit has crossed a line that cannot be forgiven."
The room fell silent.
He continued,
"One month from now, the exchange will happen in Loguetown. We will set the trap. Speak freely—how should we prepare?"
The Marine brass exchanged solemn looks.
This was no longer a regular mission.
This was about the pride of the entire Marine force.
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