Chapter 294: Shocking Headlines: The Rise of the Three Overlords in the New World

A pirate hurried over, holding out a newspaper with both hands. “Don’t worry, Captain, this is the news you’ve been waiting for.”

Seeing how the pirate couldn’t hide his excitement, Skor’s curiosity was piqued too.

“Keh keh keh!”

“Let me see—what’s this good news all about?”

“You actually found it worth interrupting me at a time like this.”

Skor was notoriously ruthless—anyone who disturbed his rest or bothered him when he was in a bad mood usually ended up like the villagers from earlier.

He calmly slid his blade back into its sheath, took the newspaper, and examined it carefully.

Today’s headline screamed: Shocking! Three Overlords Emerge in the New World!

Flying Pirates!

Founded by the veteran sea pirate Golden Lion—Shiki—this crew relies on the power of the Float-Float Fruit, allowing them to traverse the entire sea with ease.

They’re one of the three newly crowned overlords of the seas.

Whitebeard Pirates!

Founded by the legendary pirate Whitebeard—Newgate—whose Tremor-Tremor Fruit lets him summon tsunamis and earthquakes effortlessly.

He’s unmatched upon the seas.

Also one of the three new overlords.

The first two intros were brief, but the third was far more extravagant.

Karl’s Pirate Crew!

Though human, Karl possesses Titan blood. Just reaching adulthood grants him the strength of a vice admiral.

His iron fists, combined with unique power from his bloodline, have made him the strongest man upon the seas.

Unquestioned leader among the three overlords of the New World.

Under his command are formidable lieutenants Charlotte Linlin and Ledfield, along with a vast array of pirate forces as countless as the stars…

He’s plundered the Heavenly Gold from the Celestial Dragons multiple times, so his bounty easily starts in the hundreds of billions…

Nothing else in the paper really mattered—just the final line.

To pirates, the most coveted prizes are always the same: treasure, fine liquor and beautiful women.

And at the very top of that list sits treasure.

“Keh keh keh!”

Skor tightened his grip on the newspaper, eyes glued to Karl’s image on the front page. “Alright boys, for the sake of riches we’re heading for the New World!”

“Awoo!”

Excited beyond reason, he didn’t even bother to look at the second newspaper.

He tossed the first one aside and, rallying his crew, set a course straight for the New World.

As for that second newspaper—the headline read: Shocking! The World Government’s Three Assaults on Karl End in Defeat Once Again!

The World Government sent several admiral-class officers but all of them fell short at Cake Island!

They say: ignorance breeds fearlessness.

For many, ‘Admiral’ means nothing more than a rank, not the sign of real strength.

So not just in East Blue, but in the other three seas and the first half of the Grand Line too—countless pirates and civilians witnessed this turn of events.

Opportunists and thrill-seekers from all over set sail for the New World, all hoping to get a piece of Karl’s fortune.

The initial plan sounds easy—snag just a little and you’ll live in luxury for the rest of your days.

They have no idea—if even one in ten of them managed to reach the New World in one piece, they’d be incredibly lucky.

On the Sabaody Archipelago, Rear Admiral Hodes also received orders from the Navy—so long as pirates didn’t cause too much trouble there,

let them pass into the New World and let pirates fight among themselves.

“Why would the World Government issue a command like this?”

“Does it mean the Navy isn’t strong enough anymore to keep the sea balanced?”

Hodes pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache creeping in.

If the Navy is powerless against pirates in the New World, fine.

But in the Four Seas and the first half of the Grand Line, the Navy still has more than enough strength and confidence to keep pirates from causing any real chaos.

“Rear Admiral Hodes, what should we do? Should we follow the World Government’s orders to the letter?”

His adjutant, Aris, stood patiently by for instructions.

If not for the sliver of justice left in their hearts, most sailors would’ve abandoned the Navy a long time ago.

Especially since most of them were seasoned veterans who’d fought in the God Valley Incident.

They’d grown sick of the World Government’s shady dealings long ago.

Hodes quickly signed his name on the document. He spoke in a flat tone. “Carry out the order as written.”

“But let me be clear. If any pirate dares stir up trouble on the Sabaody Archipelago, I want every one of them arrested. No exceptions.”

Aris snapped a salute. “Yes, Rear Admiral Hodes.”

As Aris left, Hodes rose from the bench, walking over to the window.

He gazed in the direction of Navy Headquarters—Marineford.

“Fleet Admiral Kong, have you really compromised?”

This document only arrived with Fleet Admiral Kong’s signature from Navy Headquarters.

Otherwise, Hodes never would’ve put his name to it—right now the relationship between Navy Headquarters and the World Government is on thin ice.

He had no intention of being the one to deepen the rift between the two powers.

“Oh well. At least for now, the Navy still stands more for justice than evil.”

As word spread, the first to arrive at the Sabaody Archipelago were a dozen pirate ships from the first half of the Grand Line.

Most of them only made a quick stop, got their ships coated and slipped down to Fishman Island, hoping to use that route to the New World.

But a few crews noticed the Navy wasn’t interfering at all.

That just fueled their wicked urges, letting them run wild on the island.

“Ah!”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Little lady, isn’t it obvious what I want?”

A pirate grabbed an innocent woman, dragging her off toward the harbor.

A Navy sailor, unable to bear it, wanted to step in, but his orders were unclear about when to act against pirates. He hurried to report to his superiors.

But in the time it took to report, several more innocent women were snatched and taken away to pirate ships.

“Ah!”

“Help!”

“Navy, why won’t you save me?”

Hearing screams echo from the ships, the sailors below grit their teeth in anger, but not one dared to disobey orders.

Only absolute discipline can forge an unbeatable force.

Just then, Aris arrived at the scene with the latest report.

Sensing the strangeness with Observation Haki, he immediately picked up on what was happening onboard.

“Damn it!”

He spun on the Navy soldiers and shouted, “If anyone harms a civilian on this island, it’s our duty to bring those pirates to justice.”

“Don’t overthink it.”

“No exceptions.”

“Attack!”

The sailors had been waiting for this order.

They slung their rifles off their backs, took aim at the pirate ships lining the shore and opened fire.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

“No! The Navy’s coming!”

“The Navy?”

“How dare they attack us?”

“Get them, boys!”

The captains of these pirate ships weren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed.

Seeing the Navy attack, they didn’t try to run—instead, they got even more fired up.

And so, the two sides clashed at the harbor. But with Aris on their side, there was no way the pirates could win.