Bardock handed a crisp 100-Belly coin to the News Coo and grabbed the latest edition of the World Economy News Paper.
Right there, plastered across the absolute center of the front page in massive, bold font, was a group photograph of his entire crew. Behind them, gleaming brilliantly under the sun, were the impossible, sprawling ruins of the Golden City of Shandora.
"BIG NEWS: Unearthed After 400 Years! The City of Gold is Real!" "A City Cast from Solid Gold! Can You Believe Your Eyes?!" "Noland the Liar Told the Truth! The King of Lvneel Was Just a Talentless Fool!" "Lucky Adventurers Discover Shandora! Overnight Billionaires!" "..."
Below the sensationalized, eye-catching headlines was a massive, incredibly dramatic article detailing how Bardock and his crew of brave adventurers had weathered endless storms, battled terrifying sea monsters, and overcome impossible odds to finally uncover the legendary Golden City.
How should one put it? 'One picture, entirely fabricated plot.'
It wasn't that the article had absolutely nothing to do with Bardock's crew, but Morgans had clearly taken immense creative liberties. Bardock had provided the photos and a few basic bullet points, but the resulting article read less like a real archaeological expedition and more like the epic, mythologized trials of Tang Sanzang seeking the Buddhist scriptures in Journey to the West.
"Adapting a story is fine, but completely fabricating it is just reckless. Morgans really let his imagination run wild," Bardock chuckled, handing the newspaper to Robin.
Honestly, he was quite satisfied with the outcome. With this front-page spread, the entire world now knew that the legendary explorer Mont Blanc Noland had never lied. It was the incompetent, pathetic King of Lvneel who had foolishly executed a hero and completely missed out on the greatest treasure in history.
Noland discovering the Golden City, only to be executed as a liar, would forever remain an indelible, humiliating stain on the Lvneel Royal Family's legacy.
The New World. Dressrosa, Green Bit.
"King Gancho! Look! Look!" Viola yelled, sprinting through the underground tunnels, completely out of breath. "It's Mansherry and Leo! They actually found the Golden City!"
She thrust the newspaper into the tiny King's hands. Seeing the photo, Viola couldn't help but recall her brief time with the crew. She truly hadn't expected them to actually accomplish something no one had managed in four centuries.
King Gancho grabbed the newspaper with trembling hands. To be fair, Leo and Mansherry had already called him via Den Den Mushi weeks ago to tell him the good news. But reading Morgans' highly exaggerated, dramatic account of the 'impossible, death-defying trials' they supposedly endured... the old King burst into tears. He completely believed the article, assuming the two young dwarves had just been downplaying the extreme danger over the phone so he wouldn't worry.
The Calm Belt. Amazon Lily.
"Sister! Look! It's Bardock, Mansherry, and the others!" Sandersonia and Marigold rushed into the palace, having just snatched the newspaper from Elder Nyon. "They actually found it!"
Boa Hancock elegantly took the newspaper. Her eyes instantly zeroed in on the photograph.
Her brow furrowed dangerously. "Who are those two women?"
"Huh?"
Her two massive sisters stared at her blankly, completely unable to follow her thought process. They were talking about a legendary city of gold, and her immediate focus was the pink-haired ghost girl and the tall archaeologist standing next to Bardock?!
"Never mind," Hancock huffed, tossing the newspaper aside. "Bardock's name is already ringing across the globe. I need to accelerate my plans! First step: I will officially ascend as the Empress of Amazon Lily. Then, I will immediately lead the Kuja Pirates out to sea!"
Hancock sharply turned on her heel and marched off to find Elder Nyon. She was taking the throne today.
The North Blue.
Aboard a small pirate ship, a young pirate waved a newspaper frantically. "Captain! Is this Mont Blanc Noland guy your ancestor?! Someone actually found his Golden City!"
Mont Blanc Cricket snatched the paper. He only read the first few sentences before silent tears began streaming down his rugged face.
What the hell was this timing? He had literally just finalized his plans to set sail for Jaya to dive into the ocean and search for the Golden City himself to clear his family's name! And now, out of nowhere, some random adventurers had already found it and vindicated his ancestor in front of the entire world?!
He wiped his tears, a massive, genuine grin breaking across his face.
"I always knew it! Noland wasn't a liar! The Golden City is real! Listen up, boys! Set a course for the Grand Line!"
"YEAHHH!"
Meanwhile, halfway across the North Blue, the current King of the Lvneel Kingdom was currently having an absolute meltdown.
"GET MORGANS ON THE DEN DEN MUSHI RIGHT NOW! FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE WORLD GOVERNMENT! CENSOR THIS DEFAMATION IMMEDIATELY!"
Over the next few days, anyone who had previously crossed paths with Bardock eventually saw the newspaper.
The Dandelion Trading Company in the West Blue, Capone Bege, Don Chinjao, Gecko Moria on Thriller Bark, Crocodile in Alabasta, Dr. Kureha on Drum Island, the bounty hunters of Whiskey Peak, and Silvers Rayleigh and Shakky on the Sabaody Archipelago. They all saw the blinding gold of Shandora, and they all saw Bardock's smirking face.
(If Little Garden had a newspaper delivery service, Dorry and Brogy would have undoubtedly laughed uproariously as well.)
And the influence of the news continued to violently ripple outward, reaching the absolute apex predators of the sea.
The New World. The Moby Dick.
Edward Newgate, 'Whitebeard', chuckled deeply as he tossed the newspaper aside. "Gurararara! These brats today are certainly making some noise! Finding the legendary City of Gold... that calls for a drink!"
"Pops, you're just looking for any excuse to drink booze!" Marco the Phoenix scolded him, crossing his arms. Whitebeard's health was already showing minor signs of decline, and heavy drinking certainly wasn't helping.
"Marco, good booze is the best medicine! Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed, casually downing a massive bowl of sake.
"Hahaha, Noland the Liar! Every kid from the North Blue grew up reading that fairy tale!" Vista the Flower Sword laughed, stroking his mustache. "To think it was actually real! That definitely deserves a toast!"
Marshall D. Teach picked up the discarded newspaper, his eyes lingering on the photograph for a brief moment before he grinned widely. "Zehahahaha! Come on, Marco, don't ruin Pops' good mood!"
Totto Land. Whole Cake Island.
Charlotte Linlin stuffed a massive handful of pastries into her mouth as she scanned the front page.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma! Keep a very close eye on these little brats," Big Mom ordered, her eyes gleaming with absolute greed. "The moment they set foot in the New World, deploy the fleet and capture them alive. I want that City of Gold for myself."
"Yes, Mama!"
The numerous Charlotte children standing below the throne bowed their heads respectfully. Unlike the Whitebeard Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates were bound by blood but ruled entirely by sheer terror. Every single child feared their mother's wrath.
Wano Country. Onigashima.
As the ultimate man of action, Kaido didn't just read the news; the moment he saw the word 'Gold', he immediately transformed into his massive Azure Dragon form and flew into the sky.
The Beast Pirates had been expanding rapidly over the past few years, but Kaido was perpetually plagued by a severe lack of funds to purchase Joker's weapons. If he could find this kid, he could violently extort an endless supply of funding!
The East Blue.
The Red Hair Pirates were currently lounging on a tropical beach when the News Coo arrived.
"The Golden City..." Shanks murmured, looking at the photo with a nostalgic smile. "I remember going there with the Captain when I was a kid. There was a massive, incredibly loud Golden Bell..."
Benn Beckman blew out a cloud of cigar smoke. As a native of the North Blue, he felt the irony deeper than most. "To think that an entire ocean's beloved children's fairy tale was completely fabricated, and the 'Liar' was the only one telling the truth. The world truly is absurd."
"Hahaha! Hey, Boss!" Lucky Roux laughed around a massive chunk of meat. "When are we heading back to the Grand Line? It's been a few years since we saw Bardock!"
"Soon," Shanks smiled, looking out at the ocean. "We'll finish out the year in the East Blue, and then we'll head straight back to the New World."
Elsewhere in the East Blue, Buggy the Clown was currently stomping on a newspaper in absolute, tearful rage. If the Grand Line wasn't so terrifyingly dangerous, he would have found that gold first! All that beautiful treasure, wasted on those brats!
Within the ranks of the Navy, the names of Bardock and his crew were rapidly gaining notoriety. Vice Admiral Kuzan had already formally reported his findings, and now heavy hitters like Sakazuki and Borsalino were beginning to memorize Bardock's face. Fleet Admiral Sengoku, having already been briefed by Tsuru, placed the crew on a highly classified watchlist.
And high above the clouds, completely unbeknownst to the rest of the world, the Five Elders of the World Government sat in the Room of Authority in Mary Geoise, staring at the exact same photograph.
What they discussed in that silent, oppressive room, no outsider would ever know.