In such a dire situation, the scheming Zangy offered the desperate villagers of Cocoyasi Village another option: to seek help from William, the protector of the East Blue, and pledge their loyalty to him.
The people of Cocoyasi Village were fully aware of the potential consequences their actions might bring to their neighboring country and their homeland. If they failed—or even if the news leaked—they would face the wrath of the Arlong Pirates. Yet, in their despair, they still chose to act. United by shared hatred after being deceived, this decision garnered the unanimous support of the entire village. Everyone, from the elderly to the children, signed their name on the petition.
Not stopping there, they managed to contact the neighboring Hoshia Town, persuading them with their own experiences. Following Cocoyasi Village's example, the people of Hoshia Town also signed a joint petition requesting protection. Zangy then reported the situation to William, who arranged for a ship to "coincidentally" pass by Cocoyasi Village to deliver the petition directly to him.
"...All the newspapers must get involved. Regarding the matter of Cocoyasi Village and Hoshia Town, we need to provoke public debate," William said, lightly tapping his index finger on the table. "Whether it's through debate or heated arguments, the goal is to instill in the masses the fear of the Arlong Pirates, to make them understand that we live in a chaotic era where safety is never guaranteed, and to make them reflect on what they truly need."
The editor-in-chief of the East Blue News, Gesetta, twitched slightly at William's words but ultimately said nothing. Along with the other editors-in-chief present, he nodded in agreement.
After the meeting adjourned, Gesetta appeared deep in thought.
As he left the gates of the manor, he paused. The editors-in-chief exchanged glances but didn't utter a word. Although their newspapers often clashed publicly, competing fiercely, they usually maintained some level of communication and discussion under William's leadership.
But now, none of them were foolish. Breaking from their usual behavior, they refrained from any exchange. After leaving the gates, they simply glanced at one another before turning and departing in separate directions.
Gesetta couldn't stop pondering William's seemingly profound statement before the meeting ended: "In this chaotic era where safety is uncertain, what do people need most?" Naturally, it was the protection of a strong leader!
Suddenly enlightened, Gesetta rushed back to the newspaper office and immediately convened a meeting with his core team.
Once everyone had gathered, Gesetta clapped his hands to draw their attention and announced loudly, "You've all heard about the situation with Cocoyasi Village and Hoshia Town, haven't you? If anyone here hasn't, raise your hand, tell me, and then get out of this room."
The room fell silent. No one spoke. The news about Cocoyasi Village and Hoshia Town had already spread like wildfire throughout the city. For anyone in the journalism industry to be unaware of it would be, at best, a sign of poor news instincts and, at worst, outright stupidity.
"Some may oppose confronting the Arlong Pirates, but I believe that in the Navia Kingdom, we are safe enough because we have someone protecting us," Gesetta said, scanning his thoughtful subordinates. "But the readers might not know this, so we need to tell them. We need to remind them that it's the governor who has been safeguarding this country all these years, ensuring peace for the nation and its people."
The meeting quickly outlined their strategy. The task of those opposing the governor in the public debate would be to emphasize how terrifying the Arlong Pirates were, constantly reminding the public of the dangers of the world. Meanwhile, Gesetta's team, representing the governor's supporters, would focus on a single message: William is the man who can protect them. He is the hero who can maintain peace in a chaotic era.
After finishing his speech, Gesetta paused to give everyone time to process his words. Shortly after, a young woman with short hair raised her hand slightly, as if she had something to say.
"Louise, do you have a suggestion?" Gesetta asked.
Laura Louise was a typical beneficiary of William's talent recruitment policy.
William's military reform plan had opened the door to talent recruitment, disregarding nationality or background; anyone with ability was welcomed into the ranks.
Similarly, in civil affairs, there was a comparable reform plan. After William's early crackdown on Glass Pearl Island, many textile and garment industry workers were left unemployed. To address the population issues in Kalmar City, William had long implemented policies to support industrial development, using labor-intensive industries like textiles to absorb the surplus impoverished population. To accelerate this development, he had also launched a talent recruitment program, heavily poaching skilled workers from Glass Pearl Island.
Laura Louise had originally been a journalist for the World Economy News, the undisputed top newspaper in the world, home to the industry's elite. Although Louise had not stood out much at the World Economy News—mainly due to the intense competition there—her talents were undeniable.
Anyone capable of recognizing the newsworthiness of William's actions and brave enough to venture alone into unfamiliar seas to report on him was far from ordinary.
At William's talent-hungry East Blue News, Louise quickly found a position.
It wasn't that Louise had any grand scheme to "infiltrate the enemy," but rather that she was unsatisfied with the rumors circulating outside. After some preparation, she decided to personally visit the Navia Kingdom to report on the news. However, she soon discovered that this country had strict regulations on journalism—so strict that they seemed excessive to her.
These regulations included the review of news articles and the certification of journalists. In the Navia Kingdom, anyone working in journalism had to pass an examination to obtain legal credentials before engaging in reporting activities.
Of course, once credentialed, journalists enjoyed many benefits, such as legal protection for their reporting activities and the ability to request assistance from local authorities when necessary.
For an outsider like Louise, however, these regulations posed a serious obstacle. Without credentials, even as a journalist for the World Economy News, her reporting activities in this country would be illegal. And she didn't dare use her real identity to apply for certification, fearing that her purpose—collecting negative news about the country's leadership—would be discovered during the examination and lead to interrogation.
With no other options, Louise concealed her identity, joined a local newspaper, and applied for certification under the guise of being a staff member there.
She passed the examination smoothly and quickly made a name for herself. Capable of handling all aspects of journalism—interviewing, investigating, collecting, and organizing—she was efficient and competent, earning Gesetta's admiration. In her, Gesetta saw a reflection of his younger self.
After being called on by Gesetta, Louise, her face slightly flushed, took a deep breath and said, "I think we should conduct a character interview, focusing on the governor as the subject. We could review his policies and the changes within the kingdom since he took office, highlighting his achievements for our readers."
"Good idea," Gesetta replied, his eyes lighting up. "You'll be in charge of the interview."
He emphasized, "Remember, I want it to be positive. At this time, we need something that can inspire confidence and make our readers trust our governor. Got it?"
"Got it!" Louise nodded firmly.
...
After the meeting, Louise, her face still flushed with excitement, quickly made her way to a restroom stall. Locking the door behind her, she finally let her emotions show, silently pumping her fists in the air, her face beaming with excitement and joy.
On one hand, she was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to meet her journalistic target, William, in person. On the other hand, her sharp instincts had picked up on something from Gesetta's words.
Louise's sixth sense told her that the big news she had been longing for was just around the corner.
🔥 Want to read the next 20 chapters RIGHT NOW?
💎 Patreon members get instant access!
⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...
👉 [Join on - patreon.com/GoldenLong]