After Morgans left, the Whitebeard Pirates began their feast. As for Renji, the Marine rookie Morgans mentioned, he was completely disregarded.
Back at the newspaper office, Morgans had already planned how to arrange tomorrow's front-page news.
"Boss, won't writing it like this offend both Marine and Whitebeard?"
"Don't worry, that's exactly the effect we want. Tomorrow's headline will be a bestseller." A smug smile was present on Morgans' lips.
The next day, a striking headline in the World Economic News caused a stir among people worldwide, sparking widespread and intense discussion.
"The Strongest Man of the Modern Era vs. The Strongest Marine of the New Era! Who is the challenger?"
Interviewee Whitebeard personally stated: "Marine is the challenger!"
"Are you sure you can win this monumental war, destined to shake the world?"
Whitebeard: "I will win."
"Why?"
Whitebeard: "Because I am the strongest."
"A peerless genius has emerged in Marine, whom even Fleet Admiral Sengoku calls the future of Marine. What are your thoughts on this?"
No text here (accompanied by a photo of Edward Newgate with beautiful women in his arms, drinking).
Note: Absolutely no signs of Photoshop.
As people around the world buzzed with excitement over this headline news, in New World, aboard the Moby Dick.
"Pops, that idiotic bird is making up stories again, just as you said." Marco looked at the morning paper, his expression relaxed.
"Damn it, I should have cut off his wings and roasted him. How dare he tarnish pops' image?" Vista was so angry his teeth itched. He pulled out both his swords, causing a shower of sparks.
Whitebeard said indifferently, "Gurararara, let him be. After all, we are notorious pirates."
Meanwhile, on the other side, in Marineford, at the Fleet Admiral's office.
Sengoku's face turned dark as he looked at the newspaper.
"That scoundrel! Who taught him to write like that? What about Marine's dignity?"
"Hahahaha, Sengoku, don't be so angry. You know what Morgans is like. I actually find this headline quite interesting."
Inside the office, Garp laughed heartily as his subordinate read the newspaper.
"Where's Yamakaji? Didn't he say everything was communicated clearly? Marine is the challenger? What a joke!"
A vein throbbed on Sengoku's forehead.
On Amazon Lily, Luffy had already begun to tame Boa Hancock, and learned about the great war about to happen in Marineford.
Upon seeing Renji's face, he immediately recalled the scene of being knocked out with a single blow that day, and a fierce look appeared on his face.
"That bastard, he actually beat Nami and the others like that."
"Renji... I will definitely defeat you."
"But first, I need to go save Ace."
A tall, exceptionally beautiful figure walked out from behind Luffy. At this moment, Boa Hancock was already captivated by Luffy.
She said fawningly with a smile, "Luffy-kun, your enemy is my enemy."
"Thank you, Hancock."
...
"Renji! Can you please not go?"
Reiko threw herself into Renji's arms, crying with tears streaming down her face, a sight that would move anyone to pity.
Renji said helplessly, "It's just a small skirmish, don't worry. Besides, with the Admirals and many Vice Admirals at the front, I'm just going to be a bystander."
Miruko sighed softly. The opponent was the Whitebeard Pirates, and Whitebeard's renown was comparable to that of Pirate King Roger. Even a three-year-old child would stop crying upon hearing that name.
In a battle of this caliber, Renji could very likely become cannon fodder. Reiko knew this all too well, she wasn't a foolish girl.
She merely sobbed in Renji's arms, "Liar..."
After some Renji-style comforting, he finally managed to successfully distract the mother and daughter.
He returned to his apartment in Marineford, bent down, and began his daily, persistent training.
Push-up +1... Push-up +1... Push-up +1!
After completing his training, he briefly admired his muscular physique.
"System, check bounty points!"
[Bounty Points: 20,600]
"Phew, after all this hard work, it's finally time for it to bear fruit again." Renji smiled.
"System, add points for me."
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for injecting 3,000 Bounty Points! Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine upgraded to Lv. 2!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for injecting 10,000 Bounty Points! Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine upgraded to Lv. 3!]
"The bounty points required for skills above Lv. 3 is practically doubling."
Scanning the remaining skills, Renji decided to continue maximizing Innate Fighter's effects.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for injecting 3000 Bounty Points! Cleave upgraded to Lv. 2!]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for injecting 3000 Bounty Points! Martial Arts upgraded to Lv. 3!]
"Bring up the system panel."
Character: Renji (Human)
Abilities: Conqueror's Haki (Lv. 4), Heavenly Six Eyes (Lv. 3), Hollow Technique: Purple (Lv. 1), Cursed Technique Lapse: Blue (Lv. 3), Cursed Technique Reversal: Red (Lv. 3), Domain Expansion: Unlimited Void (Lv. 3), King of Curses (Lv. 1), Dismantle (Lv. 3), Cleave (Lv. 2), Divine Flame (Lv. 1), Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine (Lv. 3), Martial Arts (Lv. 3), Swordsmanship (Lv. 5), Innate Fighter (Lv. 3), Armament Haki (Lv. 3), Reverse Cursed Technique (Lv. 2), Limitless (Lv. 2)
Identity: Marine Captain
Items: Kurai
Prestige Level: 3 (Your justice is praised!)
"My goodness, what a skill tree!"
If it weren't for Innate Fighter, which was practically a system substitute, he might not even be able to utilize all these skills. Sometimes, knowing too much isn't necessarily a good thing.
Renji looked out the window, a smile on his face. "Whitebeard Pirates... If I remember correctly, Whitebeard's bounty is over 5 billion."
"Bring it on!"
...
Several days later.
8 hours until Ace's public execution.
***
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