Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: News Bird

The energy device made by Queen is quite efficient, but the power source relies on pedal charging, and after pedaling for a while, enough energy can be accumulated.

Although it’s quite unscientific, it’s very reasonable. In this world where cola can be used as an energy source, Newton’s coffin lid can’t hold it anymore.

Yeah, Tesla’s estimation probably can’t hold it either.

Arceus has also used that pedal, mainly because he was bored and had nothing to do.

Because during the voyage days, Arceus couldn’t think of a suitable adjective other than the word boredom.

For days, he hadn’t seen any islands; surrounding him was nothing but seawater. Given the situation, he couldn’t even go fishing if he wanted to.

If this situation continued much longer, he would have to choose to go into a dormant state.

Kaidou, after finishing a phone call with Big Mom, drank all the remaining alcohol and then slept for several days without any intention of getting up.

Queen, except when scouting the situation, spent time studying himself, mainly modifying his mechanical hand.

King and Shaina sometimes sparred with each other, and other times aimlessly gazed at the distant coastline, lost in their thoughts.

”Queen, how much longer until we enter the Windless Zone?”

”About seven more days. But we need to resupply on a nearby island, as we are running low on food. Thankfully, with Brother Kaidou sleeping all the time, we have just enough. It would be best to get a new ship.”

The food Queen referred to was mainly fruits, vegetables, and staples. There were plenty of fish and meat in The Sea. Although Arceus couldn’t fish, Queen had a way to fish with electricity.

Ever since tasting the bananas from Tropius, Queen had become particularly obsessed with fruits. Most of the fruit reserves on this ship ended up in his belly.

For Arceus, food wasn’t a necessity. He could absorb the energy freely from the air with Plates to replenish his stamina. Eating and drinking was more about habit or satisfying some craving.

Kaidou wasn’t an ordinary race, let alone the fact that he was snoring away.

The Lunarians could survive in various environments as if it were no joke. Even with just water, they could endure much longer than normal humans.

Queen was the most ordinary one on this ship, but he was a Modified Person. Ordinary concerns like scurvy were generally irrelevant to them.

For this little group, supplies weren’t urgent, but who would want to be a friar if they could sail comfortably?

”Are there any islands nearby?”

Of course, this is the South Sea, not the Grand Line. The nautical charts are still useful here.”

Just as they were speaking, a News Bird flew over.

”See, the News Bird has appeared. These guys have a limited flying range. Wherever a News Bird appears must be within an island’s range.”

News Birds are a diligent group of workers, and they haven’t been around for long. The world is constantly changing, not just in the turnover of pirates and the Navy, but in the booming development of journalism.

A few years ago, the teenage Morgans flooded into the news industry. Along with him came the News Birds spread across the world.

Morgans, a Zoan-type with the Bird-Bird Fruit in the form of an albatross, always appeared in his Human-Beast Form, never in his true form.

Although possessing a bird fruit, he couldn’t fly. News was his favorite thing.

The World Economic News Agency rapidly expanded under his management, partly due to these News Birds. Morgans seemed to have a special ability to communicate with birds, and the intelligence level of the race known as News Birds was very high.

Under Morgans’ control, these News Birds became his most important employees.

Every morning in fixed spots, they picked up newspapers, flew across their designated areas with them, and approached ships to see if anyone needed a newspaper.

A few years ago, a newspaper was forty Bellys, but now it’s fifty Bellys, and in a few decades, it will reach a hundred Bellys.

News Birds have their uniforms and carry specially made money pouches. Even pirates would pay the News Birds honestly, as they were an important source of intelligence.

Though the reports weren’t one hundred percent true, at least they provided a glimpse into the external world. Otherwise, sailing the sea for months without updates could have serious consequences.

Not paying isn’t an option, but this would result in being blacklisted by the News Birds, and they would never approach people on this pirate ship again.

Moreover, News Birds seemed to have the ability to sense the death of their comrades. If a pirate killed a News Bird, their ship might forever attract a flock of News Birds hovering above. Birds have special body structures to reduce weight.

This means that those people would be forever showered in bird droppings, along with attracting the Navy brought in by the News Birds.

To avoid trouble, pirates wouldn’t skimp on tens of Bellys.

In fact, many pirates would honestly pay for items to avoid trouble.

Since pirates are, after all, more scumbags and jerks, it’s a small kindness if they don’t kill or rob, let alone pay for things.

Therefore, those who dared to do business with pirates often had some fighting ability themselves, preventing the other party from failing to pay.

However, when pirates wanted to avoid trouble, they would obediently fork over the money, such as when there was a nearby Navy base, a powerful bounty hunter, or other peers. These factors could change a pirate’s mind.

Earning money is for spending. If they relied solely on robbery, then pirates wouldn’t need to seek treasures.

Forget about World Government affiliate countries, Naval posts, or kingdoms with strong garrisons—even flying under the flag of a Great Pirate could pacify many.\

Ultimately, the ones suffering are the ordinary folks born unlucky in non-adhering countries without strength or backing.

Even within affiliate countries, it depends on how well they are born.

The definition of pirates here is quite broad. People like Arceus, who cooperated with Kaidou, would inevitably be seen as pirates. But identity wasn’t most important; evil naval officers existed too. Just because he cooperated with Kaidou didn’t mean he would become a villain committing arson and plunder.

What determines a person’s actions is themselves.

The conflict between the World Government and the Lunarians could not be reconciled. The once-glorious Divine Race was on the brink of extinction, using him as an experiment and research subject. This grudge was already established, even without the fusion of Arceus’ body.

”Brother Kaidou, you’ve made it to the news, but they didn’t mention anything else at all.”