Half an hour later.
After a bout of agonized groans and painful commotion, the Marine warship finally fell quiet once more.
Kizaru looked over the report Vice Admiral Momonga had just submitted. The wrinkles on his already deeply lined face seemed to carve themselves even deeper.
"So I really underestimated the Summit of West Heaven…"
"Even with equipment provided by the Science Division, there were still this many casualties."
Kizaru muttered with a headache, while Momonga immediately replied from the side:
"The equipment was hastily manufactured, and it wasn't approved by Dr. Vegapunk. Being able to complete this journey without a single fatality is already a major success."
The route from the Summit of West Heaven to the Sky Island…
To true powerhouses, it might only be a narrow path filled with thorns.
But to those lacking strength, it was a death march where one could lose their life at any moment.
Although Kizaru and the other top Marine combatants had already dealt with the cloud beasts along the route, the constantly fluctuating air pressure and violent climatic shifts during the journey showed the Marines and CP agents exactly what the might of nature truly meant.
At that moment, a man clad in a white cloak and wearing a bizarre mask suddenly stepped before Kizaru.
"Admiral Kizaru, the reorganization is basically complete. Shouldn't we depart immediately?"
"The Celestial Dragons are still suffering. We don't have time to waste."
The speaker was none other than a high-ranking CP0 agent, known as the "Strongest Shield of the Celestial Dragons."
As the World Government's—and the Celestial Dragons'—most loyal hounds, nothing in their eyes was more important than the Celestial Dragons themselves.
But his words instantly caused Vice Admiral Momonga's expression to change.
"Now?!"
"We just arrived at Sky Island. Not only did we suffer heavy losses, but the remaining Marines haven't even adapted to the climate yet!"
"You want them to force the battleship into operation with severely reduced manpower?!"
"At the very least, we should wait until daylight!"
"That's your problem, Vice Admiral Momonga."
The CP0 agent showed no intention of yielding, his voice icy cold.
"We still don't know the exact location of the Celestial Dragon!"
"Neither the Marines nor the World Government has sufficient intelligence on Sky Island."
"Are you planning to wait until the Celestial Dragon is killed by that arrogant madman before taking action?!"
"Don't forget!"
"Anyone who obstructs our mission—even Marine officers or royal nobles—we have the authority to execute at will!"
A terrifying aura surged from the agent, and combined with his words, the threat was unmistakable.
As one of the strongest agents within Cipher Pol, his strength might not rival a Marine Admiral's, but it was not far behind.
Before him, Vice Admiral Momonga was instantly suppressed by sheer presence alone.
Cold sweat beaded on Momonga's forehead.
At this moment, he truly felt the murderous intent of those who stood above him.
He… would really kill me.
Momonga realized this with chilling clarity.
That said, since they still had to work together, the CP0 agent merely issued a warning. With a cold snort, he turned and left.
Even though the man before him was Admiral Kizaru, as direct subordinates of the Five Elders, CP0 would show no restraint even if they were facing the Fleet Admiral himself.
"What a pain~"
Watching the CP0 agent's retreating figure, Kizaru shook his head and let out a light sigh.
"Admiral Kizaru…"
Still seething, Momonga was about to say something when Kizaru suddenly raised a hand to stop him.
"Do as he says."
"Let those who can still move get going first. After all, he's not wrong…"
"There are only three days left until the broadcast time Fire Fist Ace set."
"If we can't find them within three days, we'll be the ones in trouble in the end."
Kizaru spoke with a mix of consolation and warning.
As a trusted figure around the Five Elders, there was a reason Kizaru had risen to where he stood today.
Thus, like a prematurely aged giant, the massive Marine battleship slowly began moving across the silent White Sea.
…
…
Over the next three days, it was as if all forces across the pirate world had suddenly gone into hiding. The seas were eerily calm.
Everyone developed the habit of sleeping early and rising early—just to catch the day's first issue of the World Economy News Paper.
In just three short days, the newspaper's circulation—already dominant in the media world—multiplied dozens of times over.
And this, of course, made the president of the World Economy News Paper absurdly rich.
In the New World, on a hidden island—
Countless albatrosses beat their wings with all their might, slowly transporting a building as large as a tower to the center of the island.
Morgans burst out of the structure laughing loudly, his long beak raised in smug satisfaction.
"Fufufufufu! What a windfall!"
Although making money wasn't the true purpose of this event for the so-called "King of News," receiving such an enormous amount of Beli out of thin air was still the first tangible return of this risky venture.
Morgans strode out of headquarters and arrived at a vast field packed with circuits and cables.
The area was as large as a massive plaza, with towering spires rising everywhere.
Atop each spire sat a strangely shaped Den Den Mushi, mouths wide open as they transmitted electrical signals to every corner of the world.
"President Morgans!"
At that moment, a fish-man dressed in a reporter's uniform hurried over. Despite his tall build, he bowed respectfully before Morgans.
"Fire Fist Ace has sent a data test request. Should we connect?!"
"Hm? That early?"
Morgans glanced up at the sun, then asked another staff member nearby:
"Are all the broadcast-zone devices set up?"
"Yes, President!"
The fish-man reporter replied immediately. "Every location with the conditions has been equipped with large screens capable of displaying the live broadcast."
"Areas without such conditions have prepared various audio broadcasting devices."
"However, over the past two days, the World Government has repeatedly sent people to suppress our staff. Many branch offices on various islands have already been taken over."
"Heh heh~ The World Government?"
Morgans let out a cold laugh, clearly unsurprised.
"If the World Government truly had absolute control over the seas, people like us would never have existed in the first place!"
"Don't worry about it!"
"Even if only ten islands can receive our broadcast, it'll be enough to engrave the name of the World Economy News Paper—and me, Morgans—into history!"
"A new era…"
"Has already arrived!!!"
"Fufufufufu~!"
Morgans burst into an arrogant laugh, as if cheering for what he was about to do next.
Even though, in truth, he was merely a relatively minor participant in this grand event.
…
…
Flash—
At Morgans' command, the massive screen on the mysterious island lit up instantly.
A familiar figure appeared on the screen.
"There, there!"
Against a backdrop of white clouds, Ace seemed to notice something and smiled slightly before calling out to those around him.
In an instant, a large group of unfamiliar faces crowded into view beside Ace.
"What, what?! This is the live broadcast screen?! So this is how our images get sent to the whole world?!"
To Morgans' shock, a straw-hatted youth suddenly shoved his face right up to the camera, occupying nearly eighty percent of the screen.
"Luffy, you're way too close~!"
A long-nosed boy reached out, yanked the straw-hatted youth back, and the full group came back into view.
Zoro rubbed his chin, staring at the camera with anticipation.
"So after today, will our names echo across the entire world too?!"
"Let's not," Nami said, grabbing a stack of swirl-patterned masks and black cloaks decorated with red clouds. She handed one to Zoro. "Even if it's a bit self-deceptive, don't forget who we are…"
"Of course not."
Zoro chuckled as he took a set that fit him perfectly.
"The Akatsuki, right?! We'll use fake names for the broadcast?!"
"The dawn that shatters darkness and brings light?!"
"Seriously, for Red to come up with such a poetic name on the spot~"
Zoro praised as he pulled the mask over his face.
One by one, the Straw Hats accepted their uniforms from Nami and Robin.
With the rustling of fabric, the Straw Hat crew transformed instantly into a group of mysterious figures standing behind Ace.
Though each of them still carried distinctive traits—
Luffy's straw hat, Zoro's three swords, Usopp's massive slingshot…
Anyone unfamiliar with them would never be able to identify who they were from these features alone.
Just then—
A pitch-black spatial wormhole suddenly opened before them.
From within it emerged a masked figure whose disguise was even more complete than the others'.
"Huh?! Has it already started?!"
Red, who had been delayed while preparing, looked at the camera in confusion.
"No," Ace shook his head lightly. "Just a signal test."
"Oh."
Red nodded in understanding, then turned his gaze toward Morgans on the screen.
"Mr. Morgans, there shouldn't be any issues with the signal, right?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am~?"
Morgans cackled. "Since you're willing to entrust such a grand performance to me…"
"I'll make sure you're more than satisfied."
"Then I'll leave it in your capable hands," Red said politely, before handing the scene back to Ace.
After all, in name at least, Ace was the star of this stage play.
After a round of testing, Ace and Morgans' side quickly completed all signal adjustments.
Everything was ready.
All that remained was to wait for the appointed time—10:00 a.m. sharp!
The connection was temporarily cut.
Staring at the darkened screen, Morgans murmured to himself thoughtfully:
"So that's the Straw Hat Pirates Doflamingo warned me to pay special attention to…"
"Changing costumes right in front of me—are they trying to show their sincerity?"
"Fufufu…"
"Young people these days really are fearless."
…
…
A heavy tension began to spread across the world.
Though this event wasn't a clash of peak forces like the Marineford War, publicly executing a Celestial Dragon was, to the people of the seas, a world-shaking event on par with the execution of Pirate King Roger.
Thus, at this moment, regardless of their ability, everyone sought out information about the incident by any means necessary.
Even though—
The World Government had repeatedly issued strict orders forbidding anyone from watching the broadcast.
…
…
In the New World, inside the palace of a World Government–affiliated kingdom.
"Your Majesty, why did you install a screen in your room? You never watch things like this."
A concubine entered the bedroom, puzzled.
The next instant, a twisted, manic face snapped toward her.
"Shhh!!!"
"Keep your voice down!!!"
The once-arrogant king now looked like a guilty thief. He hurried to shut the bedroom doors, then pulled the concubine to the bed to wait together.
"What do you know?!" he whispered excitedly.
"This is the moment when those lofty world nobles will be toyed with like pigs!!!"
"If I miss this, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!!!"
Holding the young, beautiful concubine close, the old king sat quietly on the soft bed, waiting.
Though the World Government had sent severe secret orders to all affiliated nations, the one thing impossible to suppress in this world was human curiosity.
Especially since only public broadcasts aimed at common citizens could truly be controlled.
Because Morgans had fully opened the broadcast signal, anyone with a television or similar receiver could find the channel.
As time slowly passed, hearts across the world were pulled taut.
Ten o'clock in the morning wasn't particularly late—
Yet to countless people, it felt longer than the final moments before getting off work.
Finally…
At precisely 9:59:50, every tuned device suddenly displayed a ten-second countdown.
"It's coming!"
Countless hands clenched in excitement.
Whitebeard in the first half of the Grand Line, the Revolutionary Army on White Soil Island, Marine warships beneath Sky Island—even the Five Elders in the Holy Land · Mary Geoise…
All eyes were fixed on their screens.
And as the tense countdown reached three, two, one—
The black screen flashed, bursting into brilliant white light!
Then, a clear male voice rang out from the speakers:
"Ahem…"
Aware that his face was now being watched by the entire world, Ace felt a flicker of nerves. But remembering Red's advice—and not wanting to affect the Whitebeard Pirates' image—he quickly put on a relaxed smile.
"Good morning, viewers all around the world~!"
"Welcome to the program produced by yours truly—Celestial Dragon Kill Kill Kill~!"
"Allow me to introduce myself…"
"I am the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Division—Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace!"
"I'm sure you've all become quite familiar with my name recently."
"But that's not important…"
"Now, let us welcome today's true star—"
"A Celestial Dragon from the Holy Land · Mary Geoise atop the Red Line—"
"Saint Figarland Serentinia!!!"
(End of Chapter)