Chapter 108: The News Agency Expands into the New World

To Brook, it seemed likely that only Edward Newgate, one of the original Four Emperors, had a real chance of awakening Conqueror's Haki. As for the other crew members, it was probably just wishful thinking—the odds were slim at best.

But then again, anything was possible. It all depended on the whims of fate.

Enjoying a rich and satisfying lunch prepared by the head chef, Brook was pleased. Streusen's culinary skills far surpassed Antonio's. In just a few days, he had mastered Brook's cooking techniques and even managed to innovate, blending flavors from both worlds into his dishes.

"This is divine intervention! The Peace Dove News Agency has been crippled, and the World Dark News has been completely wiped out by Rocks! I almost feel like giving that guy an award. Now's the perfect time to push Mortomas' Economic News Agency to the top and make it the number one news outlet in the world!"

Brook hadn't expected such a golden opportunity to land in his lap. Not only was the threat of the News Birds spying on him eliminated, but the absence of major competitors meant that the Economic News Agency could now seize control of the New World's media market.

Aside from instructing Mortomas to send more Seagull News Birds into the New World, Brook also planned to find a sky island in the region as soon as possible. Securing a stronghold there would allow the Economic News Agency to establish a branch office.

After all, even the other Supernovas—like the Monk Pirates and the Karns Brothers—had carved out their own territories in the New World.

However, in Brook's eyes, having a territory made these rising stars even more vulnerable. Once Rocks regained his strength, he would inevitably target them, either absorbing them into his ranks or crushing them outright.

This wouldn't just expand his influence and secure more turf—it would also allow him to rebuild his empire and strengthen his crew with powerful subordinates.

Meanwhile, the Vesper Pirates had come out on top in a recent battle. But anyone with a keen eye could see the truth—Vesper was growing old. He had actually sustained injuries fighting Rocks alone.

If Vesper fell, the most dominant pirate crew in the New World—the one with the largest territory and the greatest wealth—would be torn apart by the Rocks Pirates and other rising factions.

Unless someone within the Vesper Pirates could rise quickly to fill the power vacuum, their downfall was inevitable.

The aftermath of the battles and the infamous World Dark News Incident saw the deaths of countless pirates. But just as many new contenders had begun to show their fangs.

With so many prominent figures dead, their bounties were rescinded, while a new wave of bounty posters emerged. Rising stars and established legends alike saw their bounties skyrocket.

"Mortomas is more capable than I thought. He actually managed to establish connections with both the Navy Headquarters and the World Government, securing a partnership. And he even made inroads with the rulers of the New World."

Following Brook's guidance, Mortomas was determined to build the world's most powerful news agency—one that would dominate the underground intelligence network and control the flow of information.

Surprisingly, the Economic News Agency, as an outsider, had not faced any significant opposition from the major forces in the New World. After Rocks dismantled the World Dark News, the Seagull News Birds became the new standard for news delivery in the region.

Although Vesper attempted to establish a new news agency, it was repeatedly crushed by both new and old powerhouses, preventing him from monopolizing the industry again.

In the past, pirates had no choice but to rely on the World Dark News while being constantly monitored. Now, they weren't about to let Vesper regain control over the intelligence sector. Instead, they preferred to let the Economic News Agency, a neutral party, dominate the newspaper industry in the New World.

"Gurararara! My bounty has increased!"

Edward Newgate laughed heartily as he examined his new bounty poster. His distinctive mustache twitched slightly, creating an oddly comical effect. Brook found it somewhat surreal—so this was what Newgate looked like before his mustache fully grew in.

The battle had taken an unexpected turn when the Hell Pirates intervened. The details of the fight had been documented with surprising accuracy. Whether it was leaked by a World Government spy or a rogue journalist from the World Dark News, Brook wasn't sure.

As it turned out, Antonio had also submitted some of his own photos to Mortomas.

Knowing how eager Newgate was to see his bounty rise, Antonio had deliberately selected the best shots and sent them to both the Economic News Agency and the Navy Headquarters, earning himself double the commission.

One particularly dramatic shot captured Newgate sending Jevalle flying with a single punch. This image alone had caught the attention of the Navy Headquarters, leading them to reevaluate Newgate as a rising threat. His bounty skyrocketed from 90 million to 500 million—an astronomical increase.

By contrast, Redfield, despite battling Ochoku for an extended period, only saw his bounty rise by a few tens of millions, reaching 600 million. Meanwhile, Charlotte Linlin, having awakened Conqueror's Haki, also saw her bounty rise by 20 million, putting her on equal footing with Redfield.

Brook, however, saw the biggest leap in his bounty. Thanks to a devastating attack that injured both Orion and Ochoku, his bounty surged by a full 100 million, reaching 700 million Belly. He was now recognized as a true great pirate, shedding the title of Supernova.

Fishman Tom, Shakky, and others had also made an impact by taking down Silver Axe. Their bounties saw significant increases—Tom's bounty reached 120 million, sniper Silva's hit 100 million, ship doctor Crocus climbed to 90 million, and navigator Shakky's bounty settled at 80 million.

Even Fisher Tiger, who had barely participated, was thrilled to receive his first-ever bounty of 10 million.

Antonio, having stayed out of the fight entirely, still had no bounty, while Streusen and the Qilin Lion maintained their previous bounties since they hadn't been involved.

Streusen, who had been with Charlotte Linlin in the past, already had a bounty of 80 million. Looking at his bounty poster, he was genuinely confused. Had he really been that dangerous? Had he somehow forgotten a chapter of his own life?

At that moment, the Memory Seahorse gave him a knowing, almost fatherly smile, leaving Streusen bewildered.

As for Parrot and the Memory Seahorse, the Navy had completely disregarded them, classifying them as mere pets with no bounties.

The biggest news of all was that three "pseudo-emperor" pirate captains had finally broken past the 1.5 billion mark, earning recognition as the New World's six great rulers.

Most seasoned pirates, however, knew the truth—these pseudo-emperors were still a step below the true rulers of the New World. That said, they were a cut above the strongest commanders under the Three Emperors.

Seeing that his bounty now matched Charlotte Linlin's, Redfield silently resolved to take things up a notch. Next time, he would challenge an even stronger opponent. His goal was clear—he would surpass Linlin and cement his position as the ship's strongest combatant.

"Enough talk! We have something to celebrate—Newgate's bounty increase and everyone's victories! Let's have a feast!"

Brook's declaration set off a wave of excitement. The Golden Ark erupted into cheers as the crew prepared for a night of revelry…

Meanwhile, on a distant island in the New World, a man with golden hair and an imposing presence sat reading the latest bounty updates. As he took a drag from his cigar, he suddenly found that it no longer tasted as satisfying as before.

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+122 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg