The bombardment of Amazon Lily lasted three full days. There was no way the News Coo could miss something of that scale.
The very next day after the battle ended, the World Economic Journal released a detailed report. Amazon Lily had been ravaged by continuous lightning strikes for three days, all unleashed by a mysterious caravan leader, suspected to possess the power of the Goro Goro no Mi.
The article further revealed that Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, had flown into a rage and personally challenged the attacker. Their battle lasted an entire day and night, ending in her narrow defeat.
The news shook all four seas.
In such a short time, two members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had suffered crushing setbacks. People began to question whether the Warlords were truly as formidable as rumored, or if these rising figures were simply monsters beyond reason.
Within days, countless pirates still lingering in Paradise rushed to challenge Crocodile and Boa Hancock, hoping to gain fame by defeating them.
It was not that they lacked other targets.
The Dawn was currently sailing through the North Blue, while Ash, known as the Heavenly Emperor, was leisurely enjoying himself on Gourmet Island. These facts were widely known, yet pirates avoided them completely, not daring to provoke such forces.
White Lion Sali inspired equal fear. Even Crocodile had retreated before him, and Sali had openly blockaded Twin Capes to hunt pirates. No one believed he would hesitate to crush challengers.
Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, remained deep underwater, far beyond the reach of ordinary pirates.
Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha, operated in the New World, a place most pirates in Paradise had no intention of entering yet.
Another Warlord, the self-proclaimed Lizard King Hanafuda, also roamed the New World, seeking opportunities amid its chaos.
This left only two seemingly accessible targets, Crocodile and Boa Hancock.
Coincidentally, both were eager for battle.
Within just a few days, both Crocodile and Hancock slaughtered enough challengers to silence all doubts across the seas.
Just as the world began speculating about the identity of the mysterious lightning user, another explosive piece of news surfaced.
On July 28, the World Economic Journal published a shocking report.
Dracule Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman, who had dueled Shanks countless times, encountered Hanafuda in the New World.
In what was described as a casual strike, Mihawk drew his blade and cut down Hanafuda in a single exchange.
Afterward, he calmly returned to his coffin-shaped boat and drifted away.
This incident was entirely different from the previous battles.
Although Crocodile and Hancock had lost, they survived. Their strength was never in doubt.
But this time, a Warlord had been killed.
The Seven Warlords of the Sea were once again incomplete.
The entire world watched, waiting for the World Government's response.
On August 2, Wyper contacted Ash again.
Agents of the World Government had approached him in Water 7, inviting him to join the Seven Warlords.
Everything was unfolding exactly as Ash had predicted.
In the original course of events, Portgas D. Ace would have killed Hanafuda, prompting the World Government to offer him the vacant position. After his refusal, they would have pressured Bartholomew Kuma into taking the role.
However, Ash's presence had altered the timeline significantly.
Hanafuda had avoided death at Ace's hands, only to fall instead to Mihawk. Kuma, meanwhile, had escaped both his transformation and his forced appointment.
Ash had not expected such a turn.
Now that Sali had taken Mihawk's original position, this unexpected shift created a strange situation.
Wyper handled the invitation the same way Sali had.
He would accept the Warlord title while concealing any connection to the Dawn.
Three days later, the World Economic Journal released another major announcement.
Two new Warlords had been appointed.
Dracule Mihawk.
And Thunder Demon Wyper.
Once again, the Seven Warlords were said to be complete.
After reading the report, Ash could not help but laugh.
The World Government truly had no shame.
They did not care about justice or reputation, only strength.
Mihawk had killed a Warlord, and instead of punishment, he was simply absorbed into the system.
Too strong? Then join them.
A Marine hunter? Irrelevant.
Too many members? Then pretend there are still seven.
Ash counted them with amusement.
Himself, Sali, Wyper, Mihawk, Doflamingo, Jinbe, Hancock, and Crocodile.
Eight in total.
Yet the newspaper insisted there were still seven.
Of course, anyone with sense knew what would happen next.
One of them would be removed.
Quitting was one thing, being expelled was another.
Ash had no concern for himself or his allies. He had been personally recruited by Sengoku and Tsuru, while Sali and Wyper had proven their strength by defeating established Warlords.
If anyone were to be removed, it would likely be Crocodile or Hancock.
At first, Ash assumed Hancock would be the one to lose her title.
After all, she had been defeated by Wyper, her island devastated, and her pride shattered.
But the next day's report revealed the truth.
Crocodile had been stripped of his position.
Curious, Ash contacted Fleet Admiral Sengoku directly.
He learned three reasons why Hancock retained her title.
First, although she lost, she had fought Wyper for an entire day and night. A narrow defeat did not diminish her reputation.
Second, she was the only female Warlord, serving as a symbolic counterbalance to Charlotte Linlin.
Third, her base, Amazon Lily, was located within the Calm Belt, near Enies Lobby and Impel Down, making military action difficult.
Ash immediately understood.
That third reason was the real one.
The Marines simply could not afford the cost of dealing with her territory.
Sengoku continued speaking.
"Crocodile's retreat was disgraceful. His carefully crafted image as a hero in Alabasta does not match his actions. It suggests hidden motives."
"Considering Alabasta's importance, we have revoked his title and dispatched Kuzan to arrest him."
Ash narrowed his eyes.
This was more information than he had expected.
Sengoku was not usually this talkative.
Then the old man added one final remark.
"A reporter from Morgans' organization spotted someone unusual at Twin Capes during Sali's clash with Crocodile. Until Crocodile is captured, you should warn Sali to be cautious."
Ash chuckled.
"Why not tell Sali yourself?"
Sengoku simply snorted and ended the call.
Ash stared at the silent Den Den Mushi.
"That old man actually hung up on me."
He immediately took out Sali's personal Den Den Mushi.
So, Nico Robin had been exposed.
The journalist, Morgans, clearly did not want to offend a newly appointed Warlord. Publishing that information would cause unnecessary trouble.
Yet keeping such a secret went against his nature.
So instead, he had informed Sengoku.
A clever compromise.
What Morgans did not realize was that Sali was directly connected to Ash.
Ash smirked.
"One day, I will catch that oversized bird and deal with him properly."