In the New World, situated on News Island, a neutral zone similar to the world's greatest entertainment city, Gran Tesoro, lies the headquarters of the World Economy Newspaper.
At this moment, the place that was supposed to be a neutral sanctuary was in complete chaos. The World Economy Newspaper's offices had been turned upside down.
Wearing a tall black top hat adorned with a black-and-white feather, a white shirt under a black suit jacket, and colorful clown pants, stood a creature that was not human at all, but an avian-humanoid resembling a falcon.
Right now, he was staring blankly at the wreckage of his newspaper office, fuming with rage. "W-w-what is the meaning of this?! I merely went out to discuss some business with Germa 66, and I return to this disaster!"
"'Big News' Morgans."
Suddenly, stepping through the crowd, Ivalis walked up to the three-meter-tall birdman, his face cold and imposing. "They say all the News Coos in the world are raised by your agency... quite the exaggeration. However, President of the World Economy Newspaper, I'm afraid I must trouble you to come with us."
"Y-y-you're Golden Hair Ivalis..."
Morgans' feathers trembled in fear. He thought to himself: A man with a bounty exceeding one billion... known as Alucard's right-hand man. Why is he attacking my newspaper?
"W-what do you want? Don't forget, this is a neutral zone!" Morgans managed to stammer, trying to regain his composure.
"Hmph. The Government is about to fall. Neutral zones don't mean a damn thing anymore."
Ivalis said coldly, "Do you want to come with us quietly, or should I pluck every last feather off your body and tie you to a roasting spit before we go?"
Morgans had no choice but to surrender. "Fine, fine! I'll go with you! Just... just don't kill me!"
"Bring your news team and your equipment. This is going to be the biggest news in the world."
Ivalis turned and led his men back toward their ship. Morgans and the rest of the newspaper staff were utterly bewildered.
According to the intelligence, the Immortal Pirates were indeed going to war with the Government, ostensibly to avenge their captain, Alucard. Why would they waste time fetching a newspaper crew on the eve of battle instead of deploying their forces? Are these people insane?
Morgans prayed silently that the war wouldn't end with him as collateral damage.
Still, he held the status of the Government's "pen." As long as he could claim he was coerced, surely the Government wouldn't blame him. The real trouble was the Immortal Pirates.
…
Meanwhile, inside the secret chamber of the National Treasure switch...
"Nedseo, what are you doing?! If you can't find him, at least dodge the attacks!" the crescent-mustached Gorosei shouted at Nedseo.
Nedseo, however, was trapped within a mental realm, locked in conversation with Alucard.
Upon hearing Alucard say, "I am within your consciousness," Nedseo was first shocked and then incredulous. He roared, "Don't be ridiculous! How could such a thing be possible?"
"Hmph. Then experience it for yourself."
As soon as Alucard finished speaking, he vanished from Nedseo's sight. Nedseo's consciousness snapped back to reality just as a hound formed from the blood pool lunged to bite him.
Nedseo dodged repeatedly, avoiding the strikes before retreating to the side of the crescent-mustached Gorosei.
"What exactly happened? Where is Alucard?" the crescent-mustached Gorosei asked, frowning.
Nedseo didn't know how to respond for a moment.
Tell them Alucard is currently in his consciousness? In his head?
Ridiculous. Never mind whether the others would believe it, Nedseo himself barely believed it, even though Alucard had just appeared in his "mind's eye."
"Enough! I can't take this anymore!"
Oseinofica, the most short-tempered of the group, could no longer endure the stalemate.
The attack power of the shadow-hands wasn't particularly threatening to people of their caliber, but the problem was that no matter how many times they were destroyed, they regenerated instantly. This kind of combat loop was designed to grind away one's patience.
An impulsive man like Oseinofica, after being held at bay for so long, completely forgot the lessons of the previous two attempts. He charged toward the wheel, intending to slam his hand down on it.
However, when his hand was mere centimeters away from the wheel, Oseinofica stopped dead. What baffled the other seven was that this time, Alucard had not appeared to physically stop him. So why had Oseinofica frozen at the critical moment?
"It's alright. Go ahead, press it."
Alucard appeared within Oseinofica's mind, presenting a vision only Oseinofica could see, yet at the same time, Alucard remained present within Nedseo's consciousness as well.
This was the power of Three-Dimensional Space.
"Alucard! What have you done!"
Oseinofica screamed internally. Instinctively, he tried to draw his blade, only to find that Alucard wasn't actually in front of him, there were only shadow-hands. He was forced to retreat, moving even further away from the activation wheel.
"Don't bother dreaming. I am in your consciousness. I can appear in your dreams, or even in your very thoughts."
Alucard chuckled. "It's thanks to you lot pushing me to the brink a year ago that I obtained this ability."
Oseinofica said solemnly, "You mean... you lost on purpose during that battle at Spring Queen Island?"
"Perhaps."
When Alucard said "per," he was still only in Oseinofica's mind, but the moment he finished the word "haps," a hard, icy chill pressed against the back of Oseinofica's neck.
Alucard was now standing physically behind him. "Checkmate. Farewell."
Oseinofica jumped in fright. How could he be so fast? This was a speed completely different from the spatial teleportation of the crescent-mustached Gorosei.
BANG!
A Seastone explosive round tore a hole straight through Oseinofica's throat.
"Oseinofica!"
Nedseo screamed at the sight, immediately commanding the Mantra souls to surge into Oseinofica's body.
The National Treasure was not only for combat; it possessed healing capabilities on the level of resurrection.
Unfortunately, Nedseo was the only one who knew how to use it.
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