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The legend of the deep sea, the forbidden bloodline.
When the revelation that "Davy Jones is Rocks's ancestor" reached everyone's ears through the light screen…
It was like dropping a depth charge into calm waters—not stirring mere waves, but unleashing a vortex capable of "devouring" everything.
Still some distance from God Valley, the young Morgans was trembling with excitement.
His notebook was already filled with several pages of frantic handwriting recording everything he had just heard:
"Five Elders transform into monster—suspected to be Saint Saturn?!"
"Mysterious figure atop the monster—genderless voice directly addressing a Five Elder by name?!"
"Rocks's true identity—descendant of Davy Jones?! One of the mysterious D clan?!"
"Forbidden names appearing one after another… Davy Jones, Joy Boy… and that 'promise'?!"
Each line was an earth-shattering secret capable of overturning the world's understanding!
"Haha… hahahahaha!"
Morgans couldn't help bursting into loud laughter, a mix of wild joy, exhilaration, and boundless anticipation for the "news feast" about to come.
"Rocks is actually the descendant of that cursed pirate! This is interesting! Way too interesting!"
As a seasoned news hound, Morgans was no stranger to the legend of the "Deep Sea Pirate" Davy Jones.
"A monster cursed by demons to live only in the deep sea… and yet he has descendants surviving in the world?"
Morgans stroked his chin, eyes gleaming with sharp light: "And this descendant has become the most terrifying pirate overlord of this era… there has to be a story here! A huge story!"
After thinking it over, Morgans quickly analyzed the situation.
The light screen's appearance had already made secrets no longer secret.
Dozens of islands and kingdoms' citizens had personally witnessed everything happening in God Valley—the Five Elders transforming into monsters, the mention of forbidden names, Rocks's background…
This information was spreading like a plague; it was impossible to fully contain.
"But…"
Morgans furrowed his brows. The light screen's current coverage was still limited.
Many remote islands and inland nations hadn't seen it yet…
With that thought, Morgans suddenly slapped his thigh.
"No! We can't wait for the light screen to spread further! We have to start reporting now!"
Morgans turned and roared at the few young reporters following him: "Quick! Start every printing press! I want this news to reach every island!"
One young reporter, face pale, picked up a freshly printed sample issue with trembling hands: "Boss… but… if we publish the Five Elders turning into a monster and all those forbidden names…
The World Government definitely won't let us off…"
The employee spoke in an almost pleading tone: "Anyone with half a brain can tell these are the World Government's biggest secrets… we're playing with fire!"
Morgans stopped in his tracks and turned around.
The face that usually wore a carefree, irreverent grin now showed an unprecedented seriousness and resolve.
"What are you afraid of?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable strength: "If we don't report the truth just because we're scared… then I don't deserve to call myself a journalist!"
He looked at his subordinates' fearful, uneasy expressions, took a deep breath, and explained: "Think about it—how many people are watching the light screen right now?
Dozens of islands, dozens of kingdoms, millions of people! Can the World Government silence every single one of them?"
He walked to the porthole and pointed toward the distant sky, where the afterglow of the light screen was still faintly visible: "The secret is no longer a secret.
What we need to do now is spread this information while the light screen hasn't covered everywhere yet!"
Morgans's eyes were practically glowing: "As long as we're the first to report it, as long as we become the source of the 'truth'…
Even if the World Government wants to settle accounts later, they'll have to think twice—killing us would be the same as admitting they have something to hide!"
He patted the young reporter's shoulder, his tone softening slightly: "I know you're scared.
I'm scared too. But isn't that what journalists do? Between truth and safety… I choose truth."
Silence fell over the cabin for a long moment.
Finally, another reporter raised his head, flames igniting in his eyes: "Boss is right! Let's do it!"
"Right! Let's do it!"
"Let the world see the truth!"
…
Watching his team regain their spirit, Morgans grinned broadly.
He straightened his crisp new suit jacket and looked toward God Valley, wild ambition burning in his eyes.
"My moment in the spotlight… is coming."
As long as he could get into God Valley, as long as he could obtain first-hand on-site material…
The World Economic Journal—no, the entire news world—would remember his name!
Back in God Valley, the echoes of the exclamations had yet to fade.
On the Roger Pirates' side, Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses complex and unreadable.
Scopper Gaban's mouth hung open; after a long moment he murmured: "Descendant of Davy Jones… plus the 'D'… this guy's background is even bigger than we imagined…"
Shakky gently soothed the crying Shamrock in her arms, while Gloriosa comforted Shanks.
The two little ones had been startled awake by everyone's earlier shouts. Little Teach, however, neither cried nor fussed—he simply lay in Eris's arms, watching his father on the light screen.
The Rocks Pirates members exchanged stunned looks, disbelief written across every face.
"C-Captain… is really Davy Jones's descendant?!"
"No wonder the captain always studies those deep-sea ancient texts alone…"
"And all those weird decorations on the ship… it all makes sense now!"
…
They followed Rocks willingly because of his strength, his ambition, his fearless will to conquer everything.
But now they realized they might be following a living legend—a "child of destiny" carrying some ancient grudge or fate.
On the Marines' and World Government's side, the atmosphere had grown oppressively heavy.
The Five Elders' faces were beyond description.
Veins throbbed on Saint Nusjuro's forehead as the First Generation Kitetsu trembled faintly in his grip—not from fear, but rage.
Saint Topman Warcury's fists cracked as he clenched them. Saint Saturn kept his head lowered, but everyone could see the bulging veins at his temples.
Davy Jones.
Joy Boy.
These two names were the greatest taboos in the World Government's century-long rule—stains that had to be completely erased from history.
Yet now they had not only been mentioned but heard by countless people at once!
Worse still, the light screen continued playing an even more shocking conversation.
The light screen continued…
In the scene, after a long silence, the figure atop the monster—Imu—spoke again.
For the first time, a clear trace of killing intent appeared in that hollow, icy voice: "Davy D. Xebec…"
"King of the Rats, a promise is something one must keep, isn't it!"
Rocks tilted his head back, his mocking smile still in place as he continued speaking in riddles that only he and Imu understood.
His words left everyone around him dumbfounded.
Whitebeard furrowed his brows tightly. Kaido's massive dragon head was covered in question marks.
Even Roger and Garp, watching from afar, looked puzzled.
"Promise? What promise?"
Roger scratched his head, looking toward Rocks in the distance: "What the hell are these two talking about?"
On the light screen, Imu's voice suddenly rose sharply. For the first time, emotion broke through that empty tone…
It was rage, hatred, centuries of accumulated venom: "It is precisely because of this… that you must be completely erased from history!"
"My world… is not yet complete!"
The moment the words fell, dozens of bone spikes on the monster suddenly lit up! Corrosive venom condensed at their tips. The next second…
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!!
Dozens of corrosive venom spikes shot toward Rocks like a rainstorm!
Each one tore through the air with piercing shrieks.
"Watch out!" Whitebeard growled low, already raising Murakumogiri.
"Rocks!" Kaido opened his dragon maw, wanting to help, but he had only just acquired the ability and wasn't used to it yet…
But they had clearly underestimated Rocks—his movements were faster.
Rocks didn't retreat a single step.
He simply flipped his wrist, sweeping his long sword in a perfect semicircle in front of him.
Buzz!!!
A dark-red blade aura formed a solid wall and swept outward!
The venom spikes—capable of piercing steel—shattered like waves crashing against a reef the instant they touched the aura, breaking apart and turning to dust!
"This world… does not belong to you!"
Rocks took a step forward. The ground cracked beneath him, his eyes blazing with battle intent!
...