"Za ha ha ha ha ha..."
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach laughed darkly at the newspaper in his hand, where the headline announced the appointment of the new Seven Warlords of the Sea member, Deidara.
The change in the Seven Warlords of the Sea is also tied to the impending world war, and any news related to the world war is undoubtedly very popular.
Apart from the news headline about the change in the Seven Warlords of the Sea, there's another page about the war between the Hundred Beast Pirates and the BIG·MOM Pirates.
It's said that the joint forces of the Hundred Beast Pirates and the Akatsuki organization suddenly appeared, aggressively advancing into a small island under the BIG·MOM's territory. As for the news of the Four Emperors' war, it hasn't been reported yet, but the news agency president Morgans is still gathering information at Tottland Island...
Marshall D. Teach isn't concerned about the Four Emperors' war; he's only interested in the title of the Seven Warlords of the Sea that can be very useful to him.
Blackbeard's eyes darkened slightly, expressing his dissatisfaction with Deidara's succession as the Seven Warlords of the Sea: "Hmph, what a waste of the Seven Warlords' position! To let a young punk take it first..."
"He he he he he he..."
Black Zetsu emerged from Blackbeard's body, chuckling sinisterly and spoke: "Teach, do you want to kill this Deidara guy? Doing so might provoke hostility from the Navy and the World Government, especially since Yakushi Kabuto might send people to capture us!"
"I won't do such childish things!"
Blackbeard shook his head, grinning and said: "Before the war comes, we absolutely can't provoke the Navy's hostility, especially Yakushi Kabuto, that guy even made Red-haired Shanks suffer in his hands!"
Blackbeard stroked his chin, glancing at a group of companions not far away, all recruited pirates from his Blackbeard Gang...
If he wants to rely on these guys to participate in the world war, their strength might be somewhat inadequate as these guys have no real use against true monsters...
Black Zetsu grinned sinisterly and whispered: "If we really want to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, we could recruit some monster pirates from Impel Down. There is some useful information that White Zetsu brought us..."
"What information?"
"Moonlight Moriah was defeated by Straw Hat Luffy!"
Black Zetsu revealed this intelligence, a matter that hadn't occurred too long ago when the Straw Hat Pirates accidentally entered the Thriller Bark area while heading to Shampodi Archipelago...
Aside from some ordinary corpses, the Straw Hat Pirates basically charged straight into Moonlight Moriah's lair without encountering any formidable enemies...
Since the corpses of Demon Oars and the Dragon Slayer Swordsman Ryuma were stolen by Sasori of the Red Sand, Moriah even lacked suitable pieces at hand...
Black Zetsu looked at the surprised face of Marshall D. Teach with a smile, his voice raspy as he continued: "However, the Navy and the World Government suppressed the news about Moriah, perhaps because they don't want such news to come out before the war, to avoid doubts about the powers of the Seven Warlords of the Sea..."
"Za ha ha ha ha ha..."
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach's face regained its smile: "If we leak this information, will the World Government remove Moonlight Moriah?"
"That's hard to say..."
Black Zetsu chuckled sinisterly and continued: "As long as we can convince Yakushi Kabuto, that's enough. Isn't he an official who can cover the skies over the sea? Surely Yakushi Kabuto would want us to become an obedient Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Za ha ha ha ha ha, indeed, indeed..."
Marshall D. Teach nodded, chuckling: "We're just obedient pawns... I'm really eager to see what kind of true face Yakushi Kabuto reveals when he discovers what his perceived pawns actually are!"
"He he he he he... That's surely interesting!"
Black Zetsu chuckled sinisterly in agreement with Blackbeard, its body slowly transforming into liquid before merging back with Blackbeard's body.
Why is it interesting...
Who's going to find it interesting, that's not something Blackbeard could know.
Marshall D. Teach didn't waste time either, sending Laffitte to continue liaising with Yakushi Kabuto, hoping this World Government official would give him a chance; meanwhile, Black Zetsu sent a White Zetsu to sneak into the news agency, delivering this secret information.
The news agency was very interested in such news that could stir the world's nerves, even tracked down survivors from the Straw Hat Luffy's rampage on Thriller Bark, and immediately featured this on the news headlines.
Without a doubt...
The news agency exposing this information angered the World Government.
The World Government and Navy went through a great deal to suppress the intelligence about Straw Hat Luffy's rampage on Thriller Bark, yet a private organization like the news agency directly exposed it...
The strength of the Seven Warlords of the Sea was immediately questioned.
The world began to question the necessity of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, pirates who can't protect them and even enjoy plunder rights, clearly are a bunch of tumors!
However, the World Government didn't respond...
The entire World Government merely announced a new bounty order on the sea, raising Straw Hat Luffy's bounty to 400 million Belly, making Straw Hat Luffy the most dazzling Super Rookie of this era, even outshining Kid who's always been in the spotlight...
This momentum!
Couldn't help but recall three years ago with the Black Spade Pirates and Fire Fist Ace, as that year was the brightest time for Fire Fist Ace...
Things have really changed...
Now...
Fire Fist Ace has been imprisoned, soon to be executed by the Navy.
Currently, within the World Government and Navy, a group is still fiercely arguing over whether there's a need to abolish Moonlight Moriah's position.
It's just that none of them can make the decision.
The real decision-makers are still in Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Mary Geoise.
Yakushi Kabuto hurriedly came to report to the Five Elders.
When these five elders asked Yakushi Kabuto's opinion, Kabuto naturally suggested abolishing Moonlight Moriah, and his reason was rather peculiar.
"There's no need to keep this guy who often breaks promises..."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and calmly continued: "Since I joined the Navy, I have been representing the will of the Five Elders and the World Government in multiple summons to the Seven Warlords of the Sea, yet Moonlight Moriah often gives verbal assent..."
This is indeed the fact.
Every time Moriah reluctantly accepted the World Government's summons, he repeatedly stopped attending due to clashes with the Art Pirates...
Though each time Moriah's breach was due to uncontrollable factors, all present only cared about the outcome...
In this aspect...
Moriah indeed didn't handle it very well.
Because each of Kabuto's plans was precisely calculated, Moriah's repeated breaches nearly ruined Kabuto's plans multiple times...
Until later...
Kabuto simply didn't bother to summon Moriah when calling upon the Seven Warlords of the Sea, unless it was mandatory due to the war with the Whitebeard Pirates needing every bit of strength...
When Kabuto talked about Moriah, he didn't hide his disdain in his words and proposed: "A Warlord who just wants to enjoy the benefits without serving the World Government, with inadequate strength, doesn't need to be kept. Many pirates are eager to take that spot..."
Ever since Moriah was defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates, Kabuto had been advocating to abolish Moriah's position as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, but due to the looming war, this matter was temporarily set aside.
Now, suddenly, this matter exploded...
Kabuto naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.
"Kabuto."
An elder sitting on a sofa stroked his beard and softly said, "Leave this matter to you to handle, and ensure there's no leakage of such news... Don't let us down, understood?"
"Yes."
After Kabuto nodded, he adjusted his glasses and continued: "The CP Department has not been entirely unproductive. I've been tracking down Morgans' whereabouts lately...
According to the CP Agents' information, I've pinpointed a sea area based on the location where the intelligence was verified and the timing of the news release...
Now CP0 has infiltrated News Bird Morgans' news company, they've got their movements under control, ready to monitor them all anytime..."
"..."
Another elder seemed a little more curious: "So you're saying News Bird Morgans is already under World Government control?"
"Just the news company is under control..."
Kabuto shook his head and sighed: "According to reports from our agents in the news company, Morgans is focusing on the war between the BIG·MOM Pirates and the Hundred Beast Pirates, he's constantly collecting materials in Totto Land..."
"That's already pretty good."
The five elders nodded reservedly.
For so many years, the World Government couldn't locate the headquarters of the news company.
One of the elders, seemingly kind, showed a slight smile at the corner of his mouth and softly praised: "Well done, Kabuto, no matter how dire the situation gets, you always find a way to turn it around, giving us some unexpected joy..."
That's also why Kabuto has been trusted by them all along.
Other subordinates only continually present bad news.
Only Kabuto is an exception; even if occasional errors occur, he always finds a way to compensate.
As long as the news company's platform is under control...
Then from henceforth, news worldwide will be controlled by the World Government, never again disclosing scandals...
Though in the past, Morgans to avoid provoking conflicts with the World Government, always edged close to the line of their wrath, occasionally reporting their achievements, occasionally their scandals, causing the World Government to have a love-hate stance toward the ambiguous nature of the news company...
"Kabuto."
An elder, somewhat imposing, looked at Yakushi Kabuto and calm voice said: "Once the Navy and the Whitebeard, Revolutionary Army's war ends, we will talk to Sengoku..."
Another elder also watched Kabuto, carrying on the conversation: "Kabuto, if the war proceeds as you've anticipated, then prepare yourself..."
"What?"
Surprise flickered across Kabuto's expression.
The Five Elders exchanged glances and nodded at each other, then all looked toward Kabuto: "If the outcome of this war meets our expectations, then you'll be taking over Sengoku's position!"