Behind Marine Headquarters at Marineford, right beside the Red Line.
As ships representing the royal families of various nations docked one after another, the civilians and passing merchants of Red Port all watched the vessels appearing in the harbor like spectators at a show.
"That's King Shuenda Lucas of the Ilisia Kingdom from the West Blue, and his queen!"
"Look, that's King Bill VI of the Kingdom of Eroshu!"
"That's King Han-Bao V of the Kingdom of Balewu..."
"..."
As the president of the World Economic News Agency, one of the few newspapers in the pirate world able to circulate across the Four Seas and the Grand Line, Morgans naturally would not miss such a major event.
But do not misunderstand. He had not snuck in here. He had been specially invited to cover this Reverie.
Although Morgans had been hunted by the Marines and the World Government for a time because of the incident on the Sabaody Archipelago, after interests came calling, such as Morgans agreeing to help the Marines smear the Sky Pirates and Yemu, the bounty on him was temporarily withdrawn.
That might be overstating it a little, but to a certain extent, neither the Marines nor the World Government could truly afford to push Morgans to the opposite side. That was the power of the press.
Still, although the bounty had been temporarily withdrawn and Morgans had been invited to Red Port, his movements were restricted.
Beside Morgans, who was excitedly taking picture after picture with the camera Den Den Mushi in his hands, stood a masked woman in a white suit that clearly showed off her graceful figure.
Just then, another ship docked. The man who stepped down from it looked extremely old, with white hair and a white beard, and wore a crown. Behind him stood a man dressed in a green guard uniform.
Morgans instantly grew excited. As he kept snapping photos of the old man, he shouted nonstop.
"Isn't that the King of the Drum Kingdom? I heard both of his children were killed by the Sky Pirates... To avenge his two sons, his personality has changed completely. He's been squeezing his own people dry just to save enough money to buy the head of Fire Dragon Yemu from the Sky Pirates!"
Morgans's words immediately drew the attention of several nearby reporters, and they began chiming in.
"Fire Dragon Yemu of the Sky Pirates is a monster with a bounty of 2.86 billion Belly. In the New World, only a handful of people have higher bounties than him. Taking his head won't be easy!"
"That's right. I heard even two kings of the Underworld, the Shipping King and the Loan Shark King, were killed by Fire Dragon Yemu. That completely benefited that pirate named Doflamingo... Hehehehe..."
"Don't worry. The Sky Pirates aren't the kind of people who'll let someone profit off them for free..."
"Still, it's strange. Lately, Fire Dragon Yemu seems to have vanished from the seas, and so have the Sky Pirates... Who knows what kind of scheme they're planning now..."
"Even though the Sky Pirates have gone quiet, their vice captain Enel has been making big moves on the sea recently. I heard the Thunder God Pirates he formed himself have been recruiting nonstop over the past few months, and he already has over a thousand men under him."
"Hey, do you think there's been infighting within the Sky Pirates...?"
"Idiot, of course not. Don't you know? Thunder God Enel, the vice captain of the Sky Pirates, is Fire Dragon Yemu's own younger brother..."
"The information I heard is that the Sky Pirates are planning something big. To expand their forces, their vice captain, Thunder God Enel, stepped forward to establish the First Fleet and has been constantly recruiting people... And it's not just Thunder God Enel. I heard the Sky Pirates' three major forces, Thunder God Enel, Fishman Tiger, and Sword Wind Swordsman Erik, have each formed their own pirate crew, becoming the three major fleets under the Sky Pirates..."
"Are they trying to copy Golden Lion and form a grand fleet? Do the Sky Pirates really plan to rule the sea?"
"Speaking of that, have any of you heard anything about Golden Lion recently?"
"No. Do you have news?"
"Hehehehe... Of course. I heard that Golden Lion Shiki has already been killed by Fire Dragon Yemu..."
"Huh... Is that true? You've got to be joking. He's a great pirate on the same level as Roger and Whitebeard. How could that happen...?"
"Hehehe... It's only something I heard through the grapevine. Apparently, members of the Flying Pirates have appeared among the Sky Pirates..."
The crowd was about to keep discussing it when sudden gasps rang out, far more astonished than the reactions to any royal family that had arrived before.
Everyone looked toward the harbor. As a warship docked, under the lead of Vice Admiral Borsalino, King Neptune and Queen Otohime of Fish-Man Island slowly disembarked, protected by a group of Marines and fish-man guards.
In an instant, the entire Red Port was stunned. Countless flashes lit up as everyone rushed to capture this historic moment.
"They're fish-men... They really are fish-men..."
"This has to be the first time. Since the Ryugu Kingdom joined the World Government two hundred years ago, this is their first time attending the Reverie..."
"Are those giants? Are fish-men really that huge? How terrifying..."
"That must be Queen Otohime, the great beauty of Fish-Man Island. She really is as beautiful as the rumors say..."
...
On the other side, the delegation from Fish-Man Island, especially King Neptune and the fish-man guards, felt uncomfortable all over under the burning stares of the humans. Only Queen Otohime gazed brightly at the Red Line before her and the beautiful sun overhead, murmuring softly.
"So this is the land and the sun!"
At the side of King Neptune and Queen Otohime, Jinbe, who had already changed into the uniform of the Neptune Kingdom's army, fulfilled his duty by speaking to Borsalino, who stood at the front of the group.
"Marine, don't forget our agreement..."
Borsalino glanced at the fish-man beside him, who was as powerfully built as a monster, wearing a troubled expression.
"What a hassle. But I know. As part of the agreement, I'll be responsible for everyone's safety in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise from here on. Please follow me."
And so, led by Borsalino, the group headed by King Neptune and Queen Otohime walked deeper into Red Port.
Along the way, Den Den Mushi lights flashed nonstop, and everyone stared at the group of fish-men with curiosity and fear on their faces.
Until they boarded the Bubble Cable Car.
Just then, another commotion came from outside the port.
But unlike when the fish-men of Fish-Man Island's Ryugu Kingdom had appeared, this time there was no curiosity in the eyes of the people at the harbor. All that remained was fear, and the urge to stay far away.
"It's a ship from the Kingdom of Flevance..."