Chapter 148: The New Sea Emperor
Sea Circle Calendar, January 2, 1511.
This day will undoubtedly go down in history.
As the saying goes, "courtesy is reciprocal." Since Morgans had been promoting the "Grandigne New World" through the World Economy Newspaper, the "Cross Family" quickly became a dominant force in the entertainment world.
It was clear Morgans had invested in Kahn. After defeating Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, Kahn sent a few photos to Morgans via Den Den Mushi.
These images captured the defeat of Kaido and King, bound in seastone handcuffs and chains, and the "Cross Family" flag planted on Onigashima.
Morgans, upon receiving the photos, was ecstatic and immediately called Kahn to inquire about the details of the battle.
During the conversation, Morgans couldn't help but express some regret.
Had his friendship with Kahn been closer, he might have been invited to witness the war firsthand. He even complained, half-jokingly, about why Kahn didn't notify him earlier. If he had known, he would've sent his best news birds to capture the incredible battle scenes from the sky.
Of course, Morgans understood why Kahn kept things quiet.
The clash with Kaido wasn't just a one-on-one fight between emperors—it was a war where two titans vied for dominance, with the winner claiming everything. And since Kahn was leading the assault, it was impossible to share such information with an outsider.
Yet, the photos of Kaido and King in chains, along with the Cross Family flag on Onigashima, were enough for Morgans to ignite a media frenzy on January 2, 1511.
So, in the early hours of that day, tens of thousands of newsbirds flew across the world, carrying freshly printed newspapers.
A bold headline reading, "The New Emperor of the Sea: The World's Strongest Creature Defeated!" caused a global sensation.
Kahn, who had entered the Grand Line in 1503 and gained worldwide fame that same year, had officially been in the New World for eight years now.
In those eight years, the "Cross Family" had evolved from a small-time force into a true powerhouse.
With "Grandine New World" hailed as the world's top entertainment city and the "Cross Family" becoming a dominant player in entertainment, no one doubted that they could rise to become one of the four great forces of the New World.
In fact, many believed that the "Cross Family" would not only dominate the underworld but also the pirate world.
And with Cross Kahn, known as the "Walking Natural Disaster," demonstrating his power, it became clear that he wasn't afraid of the other emperors.
It was only a matter of time before the fourth Emperor of the Sea emerged.
No one expected the "Cross Family" to ascend to the top in such a jaw-dropping manner.
Cross Kahn didn't declare his strength by merely challenging another emperor.
Instead, an Emperor of the Sea was openly and decisively brought down from their position of overlord, and Kahn took their place as the new ruler of the seas.
There's no greater shock than defeating an overlord, claiming their power, and becoming the new overlord.
Challenging an overlord and declaring yourself as their equal is one thing, but defeating them and taking their position means the "Cross Family" has the power to surpass even an emperor.
Even though the overlord defeated by the "Cross Family" was the recently crowned Emperor of the Sea, the fact remains that the victory showcased the strength and might of Cross Kahn and his family.
Kahn, who had kept a low profile for years, made a move that sent shockwaves through the world. In just one strike, the "Walking Natural Disaster" became the brightest star on everyone's radar, the centre of the global discussion.
Thanks to his close cooperation with the World Government, Kahn's bounty, which had remained stagnant for years, was updated by Marine Headquarters on the same day Morgans' explosive headlines were published across the globe.
On January 3, 1511, Morgans' newspapers prominently displayed Kahn's new bounty:
*"The World's Strongest Creature: The Man with a 4.555 Billion Berries Bounty!"*
Kahn's bounty had skyrocketed from 1.555 billion berries to 4.555 billion berries—an astounding increase of three billion!
In truth, Marine had been eager to raise Kahn's bounty for a while, especially given the "Cross Family's" dominance in both the arms and pharmaceutical industries. But due to orders from the World Government, the Marine had no choice but to turn a blind eye to the sailboats bearing the "Cross Family" flag, avoiding direct confrontation with Kahn.
Over the past few years, Kahn focused on building his family and expanding his power base. His initial rise to fame came when he took down a major New World pirate, showing the world his power early on. As a result, few dared to challenge him, including Kaido and the Beasts Pirates, whose clashes with the "Cross Family" were primarily skirmishes between top officers.
Notably, the epic battle between Kahn and Kaido, known as the "Double Dragon Battle," took place 10,000 meters in the sky. And since the destruction of an island near the Sabaody Archipelago, Kahn hadn't made a move in years, leaving Marine unable to gauge his true strength.
But now, with Kahn's victory over Kaido, whether he fought alone or alongside the Pirate Empress, the record of defeating a newly crowned Emperor of the Sea was enough to solidify Kahn as one of the top overlords.
Thus, his bounty surged to 4.555 billion berries.
This new bounty was the second highest in the Great Pirate Era, surpassing Charlotte Linlin, one of the three great monsters, and second only to the legendary "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, the strongest man in the world.
Kaido, despite being known as the "World's Strongest Creature," hadn't yet reached the pinnacle in terms of raw power or bounty. At this point, his bounty still lagged behind that of Charlotte Linlin and hadn't yet crossed the 4 billion mark.
If Queen hadn't been killed, and Kaido had more time to develop, building experimental bases across Wano Country and partnering with Doflamingo to become a global arms dealer, his threat level might have eventually surpassed Linlin's.
But that future was no longer possible.
Now, Kaido would never achieve the same heights as in the original timeline.
Because Cross Kahn, with his natural destructive abilities and Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, is a man who possesses two monstrous strengths. He is more fitting for the title of the "World's Strongest Creature" than Kaido and a more natural destroyer than Charlotte Linlin.
As Kahn's new bounty was spread across the world, he officially became the second most dangerous figure in the pirate world, standing as a symbol of the shifting eras alongside Whitebeard.
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