Chapter 348: Chapter 348: Sengoku: Ryuen, I Actually Believed Your Crap!
"It’s done!"
On the top floor of the hotel, Ryuen slowly put down his fancy wine glass. His face relaxed, and his eyes lit up with excitement he couldn’t hide.
"Ryuen, I think Smoker’s really gonna lose it this time. Did you see his face just now? He looked angrier than ever. That gloomy expression was so intense it was almost dripping with water, hahaha..." Nami pulled her eyes away from the harbor and laughed out loud.
Her laughter echoed across the quiet rooftop, as if letting out all the joy inside.
"Now, we just sit tight and wait for tomorrow’s newspaper."
"Just thinking about what kind of jaw-dropping headline it’ll have makes me excited. It’s going to be like a well-directed play about to start. Let’s look forward to it." Nojiko smiled slyly, a glimmer of mischief and anticipation in her eyes.
It was as if she could already see the shock and surprise that the next day’s news would bring.
"Ryuen, it’s time for me to go. But the World Government is still tracking me, so I’ll need you all to take me back." As soon as Nojiko finished speaking, Morgans returned to the hotel.
"Alright."
"There are 7 CP0 agents around the hotel. They’re clearly here to keep an eye on you."
"I see."
"Let Nami use the Door-Door Fruit to get you out to sea. Then Little Black can take you back to Sky Island. Monet, you’ll go with Morgans this time. I’m putting you in charge of Sky Island for now," Ryuen said as he turned and nodded.
"Gahahaha~"
"That works best for me. Let’s go now—I need to get back and prepare the story so it’s ready for tomorrow morning’s paper," Morgans said excitedly.
"Understood," Monet replied seriously.
"Bye, sis~" Sugar waved as she said goodbye to Monet.
"No problem. Let’s head out now." Nami nodded and opened a space door.
Right after that—
Ryuen, Nami, Kuina, Monet, Morgans, and a few of his assistants all stepped into the space door and vanished from the hotel rooftop.
.....
Around the hotel—
The 7 CP0 agents noticed the movement from above and reacted quickly.
"Morgans and the others are gone. They’re probably leaving the Magiatsuka Kingdom. Notify all the ships stationed outside. If you spot any ships or flying animals leaving, follow them immediately!"
"Their destination has to be the World Economic News headquarters!" one of the CP0s said while speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
"Got it."
"What about the incident at the harbor? Should we report that too?" came the voice on the other end of the call.
"Follow Morgans for now. I’ll handle what happened at the harbor."
"Understood!"
...
Soon after, in the waters around the Magiatsuka Kingdom, dozens of disguised merchant ships started to move. They kept close watch on all the ships in the area.
But at that very moment—
High above the Magiatsuka Kingdom, a fiery cloud was rising higher and higher, until it reached a point no one could see from the ground. A space door opened up in the middle of that fiery cloud. Outside the door, a giant black eagle was circling.
Then Monet, Morgans, and his assistants walked out from the door.
The black eagle flew over to them.
Ryuen looked serious as he turned to Monet and said,
"Monet, I’m trusting you with managing Sky Island for now. I believe you have what it takes to handle whatever comes up. I’ll also assign some people to help you when needed."
"And Morgans—what happened at the harbor today is huge. You need to spread the news across the sea as fast as possible. The whole world has to know just how big this is."
"Don’t worry, Ryuen. When it comes to spreading news, no one on this sea can beat me!" Morgans replied, full of confidence.
"Got it. I’ll take good care of Sky Island!" Monet promised.
Ryuen nodded. "Then go. Little Black, take them to Sky Island—and from now on, listen to their orders while you’re there."
The black eagle seemed to understand and gently nudged Ryuen.
.....
Then he stood again on the flame cloud.
Morgans and the others jumped onto the back of the Black Hawk, which immediately took off, flying them out of the skies above the Magiatsuka Kingdom.
"Let’s go. Time to head back," Ryuen said as he stepped into the portal.
.....
New World — the newly rebuilt Marine Headquarters.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, usually calm and composed, looked like she had just been struck by lightning. Shock and disbelief filled her face.
She set down the Den Den Mushi and sat down, still frozen by Smoker’s report.
The heavy mood in the room was suddenly interrupted by a voice.
"Tsuru, what are you up to?"
She turned and saw Sengoku walking in with his usual floral shorts, his casual steps carrying a hidden authority.
Right behind him was Garp, carrying a giant bag of senbei.
The two strolled into Vice Admiral Tsuru’s once-quiet office like a couple of old wanderers.
Seeing her old friends again, Tsuru’s blank stare slowly focused, like waking from a deep dream.
She took a deep breath. A mix of emotions flashed through her eyes, and she slowly said, "Sengoku, Garp... something big is going to happen in these seas tomorrow..."
Her tone was heavy and full of worry, as if a storm big enough to shake the world was coming.
Sengoku and Garp both froze for a moment.
"What happened?"
Sengoku’s laid-back expression disappeared, replaced by a serious one.
Even Garp stopped eating his senbei.
Vice Admiral Tsuru continued, "Smoker just called me. Something major happened in the Magiatsuka Kingdom today. It’s something that will definitely shake the whole sea..."
She told Sengoku and Garp everything that had happened.
Garp burst out laughing:
"Wahahaha~~~"
"This has to be that Ryuen kid’s idea. Aside from him, I can’t think of anyone else who’d come up with something so sneaky."
Sengoku seemed to realize something.
He looked up at Vice Admiral Tsuru and asked, "Does Kuzan know? And if he does, how did he react?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned a little and replied, "Kuzan knows, but he didn’t say much. He just told Smoker to report everything to me. Sengoku, don’t you think Kuzan and Ryuen might be working together on something?"
"Hmm..."
"They’re definitely working together, but I’m not exactly sure what they’re planning. One thing’s for sure though—these seas are going to be chaotic..." Sengoku said, worry showing in his eyes.
"You two are overthinking it. These seas belong to the younger generation now. Let them stir things up." Garp looked relaxed and went back to eating his senbei.
Vice Admiral Tsuru gave Garp a glance, then stood up. "I’m going to see Sakazuki."
She left the room and headed for the Fleet Admiral’s office.
After she left, Sengoku suddenly turned to Garp:
"Hey!"
"Are you sure their plan is okay?"
"I trust Kuzan," Garp said plainly. Then he got up, still carrying the bag of senbei, and left Tsuru’s office.
"Ryuen, you little brat... I actually fell for your crap," Sengoku muttered angrily under his breath.
Then he followed after Garp.
.....
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