"Heavenly Celestial Dragon."
Morgans' smile froze on his face.
...
The next moment.
The sound of suddenly rapid breathing came through the microphone, mixed with the clatter of a chair being knocked over and a door creaking shut.
"Hello?"
After hearing no reply for a long time, Shano raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, um... Hello, hello, hello, Shano sir, can you hear me?"
Static~.
"The signal isn't very good, I can't hear what you're saying... Hello? Hello? Shano sir, are you still there... This is really strange..."
Click.
The call was disconnected.
Shano glanced at the microphone, chuckled softly, and put it back.
His face remained calm, seemingly unsurprised, as he sat with legs crossed at the table, patiently waiting.
...
World Economic News Agency office.
Morgans was covered in cold sweat, pacing quickly back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
What's this guy trying to do? Asking him about the whereabouts of the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, and even saying he wants to... deal with them? How can a mortal dare to have such delusions about the lofty gods!
This lunatic!
A complete lunatic!
However...
"Sea Emperor's Revenge on the Heavenly Celestial Dragons?"
If a headline like that could be printed on the front page of the newspaper... just thinking about it made Morgans tremble all over.
The news record set by Pirate King Roger when he was executed could probably be broken!
But, is it worth the risk...
Morgans' expression fluctuated, then his eyes caught sight of the quill on the top shelf as he passed the bookshelf.
It was a symbol of a journalist, the first pen given to him by a senior when he was a novice entering the industry.
Morgans squinted slightly at the old pen.
After a long time, he licked his lower jaw, and his mouth slowly curled into a grin.
Hey!
You fool, what are you hesitating about!
Even if it meant becoming a conspirator to murder gods, as a true journalist and a pure businessman, how can you fear stirring things up!
So what if that newly appointed Sea Emperor is a madman?
I am a madman too!
Otherwise, last time, I wouldn't have risked my life to enter Mont-d'Or's Book World and remained unconscious inside for six days before being rescued!
And those Heavenly Celestial Dragons, with their high and mighty demeanor, I also...
Morgans chuckled as he opened the cabinet and took out two radio snails from the breeding box that hadn't been used for a long time.
One was a large radio snail;
The other was smaller, as if fished out of a pile of flour, entirely white.
By connecting them with a special conduit, all eavesdropping signals could be blocked. After checking several times, Morgans took a deep breath and dialed the number again...
...
Blu Blu~
The call from the radio snail finally sounded again.
Oh?
Faster than expected?
Shano leisurely put aside the orange soda in his hand, enjoying the view of the bay below while picking up the microphone.
A hoarse, aged voice began:
"This call is routed through the highest level encrypted radio snail, sir. Don't ask who I am, I won't answer any identity-related questions."
"Anyway, I can indeed provide you with the information you want."
"Most of those lords aren't fond of going out, usually just staying in their mountain estates all year round."
"But there are exceptions to everything. According to our observations, a few young lords have indeed shown a growing fondness for going out in recent years."
Shano narrowed his eyes slightly, not interrupting, continuing to listen quietly.
"Two of them only love admiring the snowy landscapes in the north, which is a bit far. It's up to you if you want to consider it."
"As for the rest, they all enjoy strolling through that forest, as it's there they can always find things they fancy."
"Regarding their travel patterns, they are trackable, with the next opportunity likely to be in a little over forty days..."
The hoarse voice continued, while Shano was already looking up, his eyes drifting through the porthole toward the horizon.
Forty days... that's about a month and a half away?
There's still some time then...
But that's exactly what he wanted.
The Seven Purple Vine Islands, especially the two islands abandoned by Whitebeard and the Hundred Beasts, have just come under his control, requiring time for consolidation and reorganization.
Moreover, the newly acquired abilities, Sun Fist, Summoning Skill, and Land Reclamation, require focused practice until fully mastered.
So, it's time to lay low for a while.
Shano's gaze returned from outside the window, a smile curling the corners of his lips.
After all, a great storm often brews in a period of calm before it arrives, doesn't it?
————
————
The Shampodi Islands are not really islands, as everyone knows.
With no effects from Magnetic Force, these islands are like the rest of the islands in the Four Seas, with distinct seasons, transitioning from spring to summer.
March flew by.
In the blink of an eye, it was mid-April, the time when spring turns to summer.
Gurgle... Pop!
With the constant generation, floating, and bursting of resin bubbles, as sunlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, the weather gradually turned hot.
"Hey, you guys, look over there, what's that!"
At the dock, an old plating artisan, drunkenly cooling himself under a tree with his chest exposed, suddenly widened his eyes in shock, pointing at the sea surface.
His coworkers nearby, also resting and drinking, turned their heads in confusion.
They only saw that the sea surface close to the pier suddenly began swirling, expanding ever outward...