Chapter 69: 69. The Third Emperor

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- In the end, Morgans, who obtained first-hand information in Wanokuni, dispatched newsbirds to spread the entire saga—from Punk Hazard to Wanokuni—across the world. Among the details, the actions of Alex in destroying the island were highlighted, as was common with the Five Elders' handling of these incidents. At the same time, the powerful and wealthy of Wanokuni were listed, with the newspaper headline declaring: "New World's Third Emperor of Thieves? A Man Who Controls All of Wanokuni and Wields Terrifying Power!" Naturally, the whole sea was once again stirred up by the news of Alex. "Silent one moment, a bombshell the next." Alex, rarely seen but notorious, had taken the headlines by storm with each appearance. "Is it him again? Destroying an island with a Vice Admiral stationed there—just like that?!" "An island under the World Government, too! What kind of madman would dare provoke them outright?" "Lucky enough to get the power of the Float-Float Fruit, but few feats under his belt. They're calling him the third Emperor of the Sea? Are they joking?" "Gwahaha! If he's the third Emperor, then if we kill him, we'll be emperors too! Boys, set a course for Wanokuni—word is that land is plenty rich!" Around the world, reactions varied—some focused on Alex, others on Wanokuni itself. But in the New World, seasoned pirates who had endured countless trials in the sea's harshest territory held strong objections to this so-called "third Emperor of the Sea." These were pirates who had escaped Big Mom, survived Whitebeard, and thrived in the New World's ruthless environment. Many powerful crews claimed their own territories here, and Alex, who had shown little of the might expected from a true powerhouse, seemed far from worthy of the emperor's title. The New World's bounty, after all, was limited. --- At Naval Headquarters, in the office of the Fleet Admiral, Zephyr struggled to contain his frustration. His face red with anger, he muttered through gritted teeth, "We've lost nearly half of the Marines in the branch! And instead of mobilizing forces to confront him, they're planning to make him a Shichibukai?!" For Zephyr, who held unshakable ideals of justice, the idea was infuriating—especially after Alex had just dealt a severe blow to the Marines. Now, the World Government intended to invite him into the ranks of the Shichibukai? Becoming a Shichibukai meant being a government-sanctioned pirate, with legal rights to plunder and a clean slate for past crimes. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who held both the authority and the weight of his position, also wanted to give the highest-ranking officials a piece of his mind. Yet as a man of duty, he found himself begrudgingly bound to follow the order. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the New World, the sea's only other two Emperors took notice. "Dad! Wanokuni—isn't that Uncle Oden's land? Wasn't he supposed to be the heir? How is it that some outsider, Alex, is now its ruler?" The Whitebeard Pirates discussed the news, especially Izo, once a loyal retainer of Oden and Wanokuni, who could hardly believe it. For reasons unknown, Kozuki Oden's vivre card had not been left on the ship, leaving them with no way of knowing his exact fate. Years had passed with no word, and most on the Whitebeard Pirates' crew assumed Oden had returned to Wanokuni to take his rightful place as Shogun. Instead, it had come to this. Seated in his chair on the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard himself looked grim, the news weighing heavily upon him. It had been a long time since any outsider had set foot in Wanokuni's leadership, and now this stranger had taken control. The news weighed heavily on Whitebeard's mind. He couldn't help but let his thoughts spiral. "Send someone to investigate! If Oden was truly killed by this man, no matter his powers, I'll blast him into the depths of the sea myself!" Whitebeard's voice, thick with suppressed anger, rolled like thunder across the deck. Some of his captains leapt into action immediately, with Izo at the forefront. Whitebeard didn't care about the so-called "third Emperor of the Sea." But when it came to a family member, the stakes were entirely different. --- Meanwhile, in Totto Land's central Cake Island, deep within the New World... "Mamamama! That's the third Emperor of the Sea? That scrawny little upstart? Look at me! Look at Whitebeard! To think we'd share the same title—what an insult!" Charlotte Linlin sneered, her face twisted in fury as she crushed the armrest of her throne. "Mama, that kid even turned down your tea party invitation. This disrespect has been brewing for nearly a year!" chimed in Perospero, the Minister of Candy. As her eldest son, Perospero was especially attuned to his mother's moods and ambitions, and his words stoked Charlotte Linlin's already simmering anger. "That's right," she growled, her eyes flashing. "In this New World, only Whitebeard would dare refuse my tea party!" She paused, her gaze sharpening. "And Wanokuni... reminds me of that brute, Kaido." Turning to her children, she commanded, "Get me Kaido's Den Den Mushi. I want to hear his side of things." Her children knew better than to delay, especially with their mother in this mood. They quickly connected Kaido's Den Den Mushi and held it before her. Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~ Click. After two rings, a grim voice answered on the other end, "Linlin." "Kaido!" Charlotte Linlin's tone grew serious. "You've read today's paper, haven't you? What's this about Wanokuni being out of your control?!" She knew a fair amount about Kaido's recent movements and the power struggles in the New World, so she could guess at the situation with Alex taking up the title of Shogun. After a brief silence, Kaido replied, voice low and cold, "What business is that of yours, old woman?" Charlotte Linlin's eyes narrowed. "Why wouldn't it be? Wanokuni is a place I've always had my eye on. Out of respect for you, I held back!" She didn't miss a beat, adding, "I've always treated you like a younger brother, Kaido! And remember, I gave you that Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon—it's a lifetime of gratitude!" This was a favorite tactic of Charlotte Linlin's, and one that usually worked well on Kaido. But this time, it only made him snarl in irritation. "Stop bringing up that favor, Linlin! You overuse it, and it starts losing its worth. And as for a 'lifetime of gratitude,' I'm no one's puppet!" Kaido paused, then continued, his voice steely. "As for Wanokuni, I left it to that brat for a reason. You're not the only one with plans."