Chapter 268: News

Chapter 268: Chapter 268: News

With the "fall" of the Rocks Pirates and the dust settling on the God Valley Incident, the seas of the New World seemed to welcome a brief moment of peace.

Of course, in this sea where chaos and the strong rule, so-called "peace" was always just a lull before an even greater storm.

As the old Order collapsed, the map of new powers began to be redrawn through tests of blood and fire.

Several names, like rising stars, began to be frequently mentioned, revered, or feared throughout the New World and even the entire Grand Line:

"Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, leading his newly formed "Whitebeard Pirates," quickly occupied a territory with family-like bonds and the unmatched Tremor Power, his prestige growing by the day.

"Golden Lion Shiki," relying on the massive treasure brought from God Valley and the mobility of his Flutter-Flutter Fruit, recruited soldiers and formed the massive "Flying Pirates," his power expanding rapidly and his ambition clear for all to see.

"Gold" Gol D. Roger, although heavily wounded at God Valley, saw his Pirate Crew suffer no losses while gaining another fortune; sailing freely and unrestrained, his name itself had become a legend.

The fourth was the one who officially declared independence and slaughtered numerous pirates, demonstrating astonishing strength—

The "Queen of Thunder," Charlotte Linlin.

The name of the "Four Legends" began to circulate among pirates and information brokers, marking the preliminary formation of the top-tier power structure of the new era.

Inazuma, the bustling port.

The St. Freya was undergoing final preparations before setting sail.

On the deck, the atmosphere was a bit different from usual. There was less of the tension from frequent battles and more of the reluctance of parting.

"Linlin... can’t you really take me with you this time?" Gloriosa looked up, clutching Charlotte Linlin’s long hair tightly, her large eyes filled with attachment and grievance.

Charlotte Linlin reached out and brushed the back of her finger against her delicate cheek, the touch warm and cool.

The main purpose of this trip to the South Blue was to find that Bacania Tribe boy, not for an expedition or to expand territory, so she didn’t need to bring many people.

Moreover, the current New World was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface; Inazuma needed people to guard it.

"Inazuma is our foundation. It has just stabilized and needs someone I trust to oversee it. I can’t think of anyone more suitable than you."

Charlotte Linlin bent down and set Gloriosa down from her shoulder, her massive shadow looming over her. "Guard our ’home’ for me and wait for my return. Next time, I’ll take you somewhere even more fun, okay?"

Sweet words were exceptionally effective on Gloriosa. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her pouting mouth slowly relaxed. Although still reluctant, she let go and tried to puff out her chest, putting on a reliable front.

"...It’s a promise! You have to take me next time! Also, be careful on the way. If those country bumpkin pirates in the South Blue dare to be blind, remember to beat up a few more for me!"

"Alright." Charlotte Linlin straightened up and patted her head.

For this voyage, Charlotte Linlin only brought a basic crew, totaling about a hundred people. This included a dozen or so Fish-Men.

As for the core executives, she only took the essential Ship Doctor Gerd and the chef Ripley. Lilith needed to assist Gloriosa with Inazuma’s administrative affairs, and the other combatants stayed behind to consolidate defenses.

"Weigh anchor! Set sail!"

At the helmsman’s command, the St. Freya slowly sailed out of Inazuma’s port, leaving behind Gloriosa’s figure standing on the pier and the receding Japanese-style buildings, heading into the vast ocean with the target—South Blue.

A few days later, during the voyage. The weather was clear, and the sea breeze was pleasant.

Charlotte Linlin’s massive body lay on a specially made, giant beach chair with a sunshade.

Her pinkish-purple hair was spread out, a pair of huge sunglasses sat on the bridge of her nose, and on the small table beside her was a pot of freshly brewed black tea and several plates of exquisite snacks.

In this world with little entertainment, Charlotte Linlin had developed the habit of drinking tea and reading the newspaper. She planned that after kidnapping Ginny this time, she would have Ginny and Gerd start a newspaper agency as well.

Charlotte Linlin had previously asked Gerd to start a newspaper, but her ability to gather unique information was several levels below that of Morgans. This made Charlotte Linlin realize that running a newspaper wasn’t that easy.

*Snap.*

Charlotte Linlin picked up the latest edition of the newspaper she had just bought from a News Coo with one hand, while the other picked up the chilled black tea next to her, the straw making a soft "slurp" sound.

Scanning the headlines and main pages, Charlotte Linlin raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in her purple eyes behind the sunglasses.

Roger Returns to East Blue? Suspected of Re-conquering the Grand Line!" The accompanying photo was a distant shot of the oro jackson and the Roger Pirates on it. However, in the crowd, Rayleigh was holding a red-haired child.

"Oh? That guy Roger actually went back to his hometown in the East Blue?"

Charlotte Linlin took a sip of the milk tea, the sweet and creamy taste dissolving on the tip of her tongue.

"He really can’t stay still. But with Rayleigh carrying that ’red-haired brat,’ I wonder if Shakky will get the wrong idea?"

Withdrawing her thoughts, Charlotte Linlin’s gaze fell back onto the newspaper.

"The giant king’s Choice! Harald Officially Joins the World Government’s Guard Agency?!" The report was cautiously worded, but between the lines, it hinted that Harald had expressed his loyalty in a "special way" and had begun to participate in some "tasks" secretly assigned by the World Government.

The next section described a giant monster attacking pirates in the mist. Charlotte Linlin, who had seen Harald, recognized at a glance that the phantom in the mist was Harald.

"Harald..." Charlotte Linlin looked towards the distant horizon, and the lonely yet resolute back of the giant seemed to flash before her eyes again.

"Did you eventually take this Path? To ’atone’ in such a decisive way... Heh, is it atonement, or to exchange for a possible future for your clansmen? King of Giants, I cannot judge your ’benevolence and righteousness.’"

"Shocking! Golden Lion’s Fleet Size Surpasses Fifty Thousand! Shiki Announces the Formation of the ’Flying Grand Fleet’!" The report detailed the various forces Shiki had recently recruited, the arms and ships he had purchased, and a picture of Shiki laughing arrogantly while standing on a floating island.

"Fifty thousand people? Tsk tsk," Charlotte Linlin couldn’t help but click her tongue.

"That guy Shiki... he definitely made a fortune at God Valley! This expansion speed is catching up to Newgate’s from decades later..."

Flipping to the inner pages, a less conspicuous social news item caught Charlotte Linlin’s attention:

"’Scar of the Red Sky’ Appears in West Blue! Atmospheric Phenomenon Persists for Months, Triggering Heated Discussions and a Wave of Pilgrimages!"

The report described a massive dark red "rift" stretching across the sky over a certain sea area in the West Blue. It remained clearly visible regardless of wind, rain, sun, or shadow. Local residents and passing seafarers regarded it as a "miracle" or a "sign of divine punishment," even attracting nobles for sightseeing.

"That slash of mine... actually became a wonder?" Charlotte Linlin murmured to herself, her gaze falling on the nodachi "Nothingness" leaning against her lounge chair.

"The power of the Path of Nihility... the mark it left in this world seems to be more lasting than I imagined."

Her thoughts drifted. Ever since the God Valley Incident ended, the status of the persistent "Task" in her mind—["Walk On"]—had quietly updated to [Completed].

And the "Reward" prompt that emerged was [Become a Pathstrider of "Nihility"].

"Pathstrider..." Charlotte Linlin took a sip of milk tea, feeling the sense of reality brought by that sweetness.

"Is this considered a reward?" Thinking of a certain black ball in her memory, Charlotte Linlin couldn’t help but feel lucky.

"Fortunately, there’s no ’Lord IX’ in this world; otherwise, this ’Nihility’ Path would definitely be a huge pit!"

And a new task prompt emerged along with it:

[New Task: Let those in bitter despair see the beauty of the world again, and regain their conviction to move forward.]

"People in bitter despair... regaining conviction..." Charlotte Linlin pondered, her gaze once again sweeping over the report about Harald, but her thoughts drifted toward the South Blue, toward that gentle young man named Bartholomew Kuma.

"This task’s direction... as expected, is it related to what I want to do?"

Pulling back her somewhat wandering thoughts, Charlotte Linlin refocused her attention on the newspaper and continued browsing.

A short notice about research team recruitment caught Charlotte Linlin’s eye:

"Former Rocks Pirates Executive, Science Freak Buckingham Stussy, Announces Joining the Scientific Research Team MADS

Attached was a small photo showing an intellectual-looking blonde woman shaking hands with a fellow with a very large head.

"Bakin?" I raised an eyebrow. "This woman... separated from Newgate? No wonder the person beside Newgate turned into a Pineapple Head... Wait, Pineapple Head!"

Charlotte Linlin rubbed her chin as an absurd yet seemingly plausible guess surfaced in her mind.

"That kid... could he be Marco’s dad?! After all, that hairstyle... is it inheritance, or no, the power of bloodline?"

Thinking of this, Charlotte Linlin couldn’t help but shake her head, brushing aside this overly gossipy thought.

The newspaper was flipped to the last page, and today’s "news dessert" time was about over. Charlotte Linlin set the newspaper aside and looked toward the infinite blue ahead of the St. Freya.

The sunlight spilled over the sea, like ten thousand points of shattered gold. The sea breeze blew, carrying the humid climate unique to the South Blue.

The Four Legends stood side by side, ambitious men were restless, old scars remained in the form of wonders, and new stories continued to play out across the four seas.

"Even without the all-consuming tide of Rocks D. Xebec..."

Charlotte Linlin picked up the now slightly cool black tea, a curve hooking at the corner of her mouth, seemingly in lament, yet also in anticipation.

"This sea that has nurtured countless dreams and ambitions..."

"Is still... so very lively."

The St. Freya broke through the waves, sailing toward the South Blue.

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