NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 85: A Difficult Choice
Morgans possesses the Bird-Bird Fruit, Albatross Form, but ironically cannot fly. Although Morgans is the president of the World Economy News Paper, he is also a journalist himself, often appearing in various locations to uncover news.
He is deeply interested in major stories, always eager to expose significant events to the world. Morgans is even willing to risk his life to obtain sensational material. However, he sometimes exaggerates the facts or fabricates news for attention or sensationalism.
Most notably, he despises others controlling his reporting. The content of the newspapers must always be determined by him alone.
Since Morgans appeared here, it was clear that he had already filmed the earlier battle.
Glancing at the camera, Kaos didn't pick it up but asked calmly, "You know me?"
"Some guesses."
Morgans scratched his head, and a pale expression was evident on his albatross-shaped face.
He wasn't injured—just terrified.
As Kaos suspected, Morgans, while searching the world for news, happened to pass by and discovered the battle here. Excited, he began secretly filming, only to be discovered by Imu. Before Morgans could escape, he was captured.
When filming earlier, Morgans was thrilled by the lineup protecting Kaos. But now, he was consumed by sheer fear.
Among the fearsome figures:
Admiral Akainu from Marine Headquarters.
Stussy, formerly of Happy Street and now with CP0. She was far stronger than she once was.
Zero, whose terrifying aura was unmistakable.
And, of course, Kaos and Imu.
Even the mighty Golden Lion had fallen to these individuals.
Facing such a group of terrifying entities, Morgans felt utterly insignificant. It was a miracle he hadn't been immediately killed.
Kaos nodded, waving a hand.
Stussy picked up the camera and handed it to Kaos. After flipping through the photos—images of Akainu, Stussy, Zero, the Golden Lion, Imu, and himself—Kaos casually tossed the camera aside.
"Are there backups of these photos?" Kaos asked.
Morgans hastily shook his head. "No, no, absolutely not. I was arrested before I had time to back them up."
"Really?" Kaos sneered, clearly unconvinced.
Without needing an order, Zero stepped forward.
With a crashing sound, one of Morgans' feet was crushed under Zero's foot.
"Ahhh!" Morgans screamed, cold sweat pouring down his face.
Kaos remained calm. "What now?"
Morgans, gritting his teeth, still shook his head.
"Forget it. Kill him," Kaos said, as casually as ordering someone to dispose of trash.
Upon hearing this, Stussy raised her hand without hesitation.
"Wait! Don't kill me! I'll talk! There are backups!" Morgans blurted out in terror.
Stussy stopped.
Morgans sighed in relief, his clothes soaked with sweat. He realized Kaos wasn't bluffing—delay any longer, and he'd be dead.
In the past, he had always managed to bargain his way out of trouble, using the leverage of his backups to negotiate or escape. This time, Kaos wasn't playing by those rules.
Kaos sneered. "Where are the backups?"
Morgans hesitated briefly before confessing. "They've already been sent back to headquarters."
Kaos frowned. Morgans had clearly intended to use the photos for news, broadcasting them worldwide.
While Kaos didn't care much about his own images, the same wasn't true for Imu. Imu was their trump card, a hidden force best revealed only at critical moments. Premature exposure could provoke chaos among the New World pirates, creating unnecessary complications.
Kaos' frown deepened. "An organization like the World Economy News Paper shouldn't operate outside the World Government's control."
Morgans swallowed nervously. "W-what do you mean?"
Kaos didn't bother explaining. Pointing to Imu, he commanded, "Contact the World Economic News Paper. Tell them to delete the photos, especially the ones of her.
"Otherwise, you won't leave here alive. You'll be buried under this sea."
Morgans hesitated. As a journalist, he had always sought to reveal the truth, especially big stories. The news he captured this time—whether it was the Buster Call, Kaos' identity, the Golden Lion's death, or the appearance of Imu—was monumental.
But now, he faced a difficult choice.
Each of these revelations alone would be enough to send shockwaves across the world.
Let alone so many things coming together?
Morgons could have predicted that if the news was released this time, countless people would be shocked. Even those terrifying monsters of the New World.
Yet, it was this brief hesitation that sealed his fate.
Bang!
Zero lifted his foot and brought it down hard.
Crack!
Another one of Morgans' legs was brutally crushed.
A piercing scream echoed as Morgans writhed in agony, veins bulging on his pale face, his entire body trembling from the pain.
Kaos regarded him coldly. "You have ten seconds to decide: cooperate or die."
The murderous intent surrounding Morgans was suffocating, snapping him out of his pain-induced haze.
He cursed himself internally for his stubbornness and the habit that had now placed him in this miserable position.
Without hesitation, he nodded frantically. "I—I agree! I'll do it now!"
Fumbling through his pockets, Morgans pulled out a Den Den Mushi and immediately made a call.
The line connected quickly.
"Boss? What's up?" came the voice on the other end.
"Delete all the photos I sent earlier," Morgans ordered.
"Huh? Boss, are you serious? That's major news!"
"Shut up! Delete them immediately!" Morgans roared, his voice trembling with both fear and anger. "If I find out you kept any backups, you'll die—and so will your entire family!"
His survival now depended entirely on satisfying Kaos and the others. He couldn't afford any missteps, especially with the people on the other end of the line potentially complicating things.
Fortunately, Morgans was still the king of the underground world. Ruthlessness came naturally to him.
With his threats, the subordinates on the other end of the call quickly complied, assuring him the photos were destroyed.
After a tense moment, they confirmed the job was done.
Morgans hung up the Den Den Mushi and turned to Kaos with a smile. "Your Highness, what do you think now?"
Kaos couldn't help but laugh coldly at the sight of Morgans, the so-called king of the underground world, groveling like this.
He picked up the camera again, carefully deleting any remaining photos of Imu. Then, in a calm but firm voice, he said, "As I mentioned before, an organization like the World Economic News Paper has no business operating outside the dominion of the World Government. Do you understand what I mean?"
Morgans' face turned pale.
Of course, he understood.
The World Government had hinted at this very idea in the past.
But Morgans had always refused outright.
This agency was his life's work, his empire. There was no way he could hand it over to anyone else—not even the World Government.
What's more, he believed he held leverage over the World Government, enough to keep them at bay.
His expression hardened as he gritted his teeth and said, "I refuse."
"And what if I reveal the secrets of Explosive Rock to the world?"
Morgans' defiance was clear, even in the face of Kaos' overwhelming presence.
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