Six o'clock in the morning.
Across the Grand Line and the Four Seas, thousands of News Coo birds burst from the headquarters of the World Economic News Agency, their wings carrying newspapers that were less ink and paper and more explosive charges capable of detonating across the world.
The front page headline dominated the sheet in massive black type:
[SHOCKING! SHICHIBUKAI CROCODILE CAPTURED!]
[NAVY RISING STAR "KING" ENDS ALABASTA CRISIS WITH THUNDEROUS FORCE!]
The subheading was even more incendiary:
["In the Name of KING" — NAVAL FIGURE SUSPECTED TO POSSESS POWER SURPASSING ADMIRALS!]
The primary photograph showed Smoker standing atop a tracked artillery platform beneath the blazing desert sun. Behind him, the kanji for Justice fluttered like a battle standard. At his feet lay Crocodile, shackled in Seastone restraints, his expression defiant but exhausted.
At the bottom, smaller print teased readers:
[EXCLUSIVE! Our correspondent risked their life to capture the silhouette of Marine HQ Logistics Chief KING!]
The image was blurred — a distant backlit figure framed by Marineford's skyline.
Mystery only amplified the impact.
Dressrosa — Royal Palace
The sun shone brilliantly over the kingdom of Dressrosa.
Inside the throne room, however, the air felt glacial.
Donquixote Doflamingo leaned back on the throne, long fingers holding the newspaper.
He stared at the word KING.
Three seconds passed.
He did not move.
"Young Master?" Trebol leaned closer.
"Fufufufufu—!!!"
Doflamingo suddenly burst into manic laughter, crushing the paper in his hand before smoothing it open again.
"Interesting… absolutely fascinating!"
"That idiot Crocodile actually lost to someone he'd never even heard of?"
"Young Master, this KING—"
"Silence."
His grin sharpened.
"Anyone who can make a lone wolf like Smoker act with such fanatic resolve is no ordinary figure."
He moved to the window, looking down at the lively streets.
"The Navy has released a toy even more interesting than the One Piece itself…"
"I need to study this carefully."
Kuraigana Island
On the desolate island ruins of Kuraigana Island, Dracule Mihawk sat in silence, a goblet of deep red wine in hand.
A News Coo landed nearby.
He opened the paper.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
"KING…"
The name stirred memory — the strange, domineering pressure he had sensed from Marineford's direction not long ago.
A will that seemed to split the sky itself.
"To inspire such zeal in Smoker…"
He took a slow sip.
"This 'will'… I felt it before."
He lowered the glass.
"The Navy… is about to change."
Mary Geoise — The Holy Land
Within a solemn chamber of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders convened.
A newspaper struck the table with force.
"The Seven Warlords system has been publicly challenged," one elder said coldly. "This King must be contained."
"Sengoku's report states he possesses Conqueror's Haki capable of splitting the heavens," another added.
"We cannot act rashly."
The blond elder scoffed.
"The problem is not that he acted."
"The problem," said the elder tapping the table, "is that he succeeded."
Silence fell.
"Crocodile may be the weakest among the Seven Warlords," another continued, "but he is not easily captured by a mere Marine colonel."
"He deployed a prototype Seastone capture system," one noted.
"That weapon was meant for admiral-level testing."
The room grew colder.
"He is undermining our authority," one elder said.
"No," replied another, rising slowly.
"He is testing our limits."
A pause.
"Sengoku claims the allocation occurred due to a 'mistake.'"
A thin smile appeared.
"Do you believe that?"
"No."
"But Sengoku believes it."
"Garp believes it."
"And Marine Headquarters believes it."
The elder's eyes darkened.
"That is what makes him dangerous."
"Someone who can make men like Sengoku and Garp accept the unbelievable…"
"…cannot be dismissed as a mere accident."
The room fell silent.
New World — Moby Dick
The great ship Moby Dick drifted across the New World seas.
Marco handed a newspaper to Edward Newgate.
Whitebeard glanced at the headline.
Then laughed thunderously.
"Gurarararara! The Navy's raised an interesting brat!"
Marco hesitated. "Father… this King…"
Whitebeard's expression sharpened.
"He reminds me of Sengoku… yet more dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because Sengoku stood in the open."
Whitebeard tapped the words In the Name of KING.
"This one moves from the shadows."
"A man who controls the board from the shadows…"
"…is the most dangerous of all."
Marco felt a chill.
Marineford — Naval Headquarters
Afternoon sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Logistics Chief's office.
The room glowed in warm gold.
On the sofa, KING lay sprawled asleep.
A handheld game console rested on the floor, still playing a looping GAME OVER melody.
Drool soaked into the cushion beneath his cheek.
"Huff… huff…"
The desk remained buried under untouched documents.
Outside the window, seagulls drifted past.
Newspapers fluttered through the air.
The bold word KING flashed repeatedly in the sunlight.
Inside the room, the man himself slept peacefully, utterly unaware of the storm shaking the world.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
No response.
Knock. Knock. Knock!
KING rolled over.
"Don't make noise… five more minutes…"
The door opened.
Sengoku stood in the doorway, holding a gold-embossed invitation.
His expression was grave.
He looked at the sleeping man and exhaled slowly.
"He needs to know."
"…things have gotten out of hand."